Summer in Naples means beaches! The city doesn't offer only art, culture and good food, but also fantastic and uncontaminated seaside that has nothing to envy other dream destinations in the world. 

In Summer 2021, 10 beaches in the city have been declared swimming, 8 of these promoted with excellent water's quality.

The city coast stretches from Lungomare Mergellina to Posillipo. Besides sandy beaches, there are also beautiful bays and small beaches reachable only by boat. 

Let's go to discover together the most suggestive locations in Naples where to swim and, if you want, to stay there to enjoy the Sunset. 

Where to swim in Naples in 2025 for the perfect bath

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During neapolitan summer, tourists and city dwellers are united by the same Hamletic doubt that is repeated time and time again: where to swim near Naples for the perfect bath. Let's try to solve the mystery by choosing between corners of paradise overlooking the Gulf and urban spots with eternal charm.

The summer of 2025 in Naples will be experienced above all by the sea, among traditional lidos and free beaches, or even unique coves. In the shadow of Vesuvius, the sea is unicum with the everyday landscape.

We have incomparable views that can be seen and experienced in places like Gaiola, Marechiaro or even Bagno Elena, stopping off at Posillipo.

We can also stray into the Phlegrean area, with a pearl in and around Bacoli. All that remains for us to do is to dive in search of the perfect places for bathing: woe betide you if you are found unprepared!


7. A swim during Naples Summer 2025 at Mappatella Beach

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If you are not looking for luxury, but want to experience Neapolitan folklore even in the summer sun, you cannot fail to take a dip at Lido Mappatella, a true symbol of the Neapolitan summer! It can be reached from the Mergellina seafront, precisely at the height of the Rotonda Diaz. It is by definition the beach of the Neapolitan people.

No need to book or spend money, here you just choose your spot, lay out your towel and dive into the sea. It is the free beach in Naples closest to the city centre, hence its large turnout at all hours in the summer. We therefore advise you to head to the beach early if you want to find a place.

It may not be a place of luxury and glitz, but do you want to put the freedom and at the same time the aesthetics of being on a free beach on the most beautiful seafront in the world? A priceless feeling. If you want to experience summer in Naples like a true Neapolitan, Lido Mappatella is the perfect place to start.

6. How to swim in freedom in Naples: the Spiaggia delle Monache

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One of the most beautiful and evocative beaches to discover in Naples in 2025 is undoubtedly the Spiaggia delle Monache. It’s an unspoilt corner surrounded by nature among the cliffs of Posillipo. Unlike Lido Mappatella, here we are a little more hidden away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre.

Nature dominates the scene in the hilly area of the city with a sea view. The Spiaggia delle Monache is a free beach but requires a reservation. Last March, the Campania Regional Administrative Court had ruled that the closed number was illegitimate, yet on 6th June, the city council set a limit of 480 admissions per day for the beach.

The operation is simple: just go to the Spiagge Libere site and proceed with the desired time. Failure to be present by 1 p.m. will result in the cancellation of the reservation. 

5. Swimming in Naples relaxing: the Bagno Elena in Posillipo

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Let's stay in the Posillipo area and talk about one of the best beaches in Naples and the whole of Italy, this time in a different key. If previously we talked about free beaches and more rustic settings, now we move on to a place with every possible comfort.

We are talking about Bagno Elena, a bathing establishment active since the 19th century and located a few steps from the historic Palazzo Donn'Anna. With its tradition and charm, it is still one of the reference bathing destinations for Neapolitans. It is the best choice for quality bathing and total relaxation, amidst sand and crystal-clear water.

Sunbeds, beach umbrellas, showers, restaurants and much more: nothing is really missing here. As this is a private establishment, we recommend booking in advance on the establishment's website to avoid unexpected sell-outs.

4. Swimming in Naples like a local: taking a dip in Marechiaro

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Summer 2025 in Naples is definitely taking a dip in Marechiaro, a moral obligation that every Neapolitan must fulfil at least once a summer. We are talking about an iconic and romantic place that to call it poetic is very little, given its unique and inimitable location. To premise, we are still in Posillipo, we have not moved much.

Marechiaro is a small seaside village in the aforementioned hillside district characterised above all by the famous Scoglione, a large platform where you can sunbathe and dive; to access it, you need to take a small boat moored in front of the “Cicciotto” restaurant, which costs 5 euro each way.

In short, the chill version of sea bathing in Naples is back. It goes without saying that the area has no facilities of any kind, so you need to come prepared.

3. Swimming in Naples in an hidden cave: The Schiacchetiello

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There is a place for summer sea bathing in Naples in 2025 that is much underrated, or rather, perhaps too hidden from the mainstream and social attention. And yet, its beauty and charm touch the highest levels. We are talking about Bacoli's Schiacchetiello Beach.

It is a small inlet set among the tufa rocks overlooking the islet of Punta Pennata. Therefore, one should not expect services or amenities, but unique natural beauty and clear waters in which to bathe. Moreover, since it is a small beach, we recommend going there early in the morning to ensure a place to lay your towel and enjoy the scorching sun.

This cove is now part of the Campi Flegrei Regional Park marine reserve, a protected area that preserves a historical and natural heritage of inestimable value. To reach Schiacchetiello we recommend either renting a car heading towards the Piscina Mirabillis or one of the buses to Miseno that leave from Torregaveta.

2. Summer 2025 in Naples immersed in Baia delle Rocce Verdi comfort

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We leave the Campi Flegrei and our journey through the best beaches in Naples where to swim for summer 2025 returns to Posillipo. We find ourselves at the Baia delle Rocce Verdi, one of the most beautiful and exclusive seaside resorts in the Neapolitan city.

It is an equipped bathing reef that is part of the Hotel Villa Fattorusso complex. The bay is set between tufa walls and panoramic terraces that enjoy exclusive views of the Gulf of Naples and the islands of Capri, Ischia and Procida.

So don't expect a sandy beach or the like, far from it. However, there are all kinds of facilities available for you: sunbeds, solariums, saltwater pools, and ladders for diving into the sea.

It must be said, the facility is absolutely private, but before leaving the bay there is the possibility of stopping in a small free cove. And it is precisely from this point that unmissable kayak tours depart over the crystal-clear waters of Posillipino.

To reach Posillipo's Baia delle Rocce Verdi you need to take bus 140 and get off near Via Posillipo 68. If you have your own means of transport, there are outdoor car parks where you can leave your car or motorbike.

1. Swimming in Naples in the magical waters of the Gaiola

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We end our journey through the best places to swim in Naples with perhaps the most beautiful and spectacular spot in the entire city: Gaiola. Located in Posillipo within the Underwater Park of the same name, this is a protected marine area that is an incredible natural oasis.

Access to the sea at Gaiola is via steps that are carved into the rock. It was along the entrance steps that a sinkhole formed last 25th May, which led to the closure of the beach until it was repaired. Now access is back to normal, with the Gaiola ready to welcome bathers again.

You will find no lidos, services or sunbeds. On the contrary, we must emphasise that it is absolutely forbidden to bring umbrellas, deckchairs or food, precisely to preserve the balance of the ecosystem. In short, elements that make the Gaiola experience even more unique.

Access to this special place is free, but there is an online booking system to control the flow of people day by day. Let's now figure out how to get to the Gaiola, since, we premise, it is not very easy.

First of all, you can only get down to the beach on foot and there is no parking nearby. We strongly recommend the use of a scooter, given the summer traffic, to be left at Via Tito Lucrezio Caro, where the descent to the sea then begins. If you need public transport, there are three bus lines: the C1, the C21 and the C31.