5 Best Sights in Capri, Ischia, and Procida, Italy

Marina Piccola is a delightfully picturesque inlet that provides the Capresi and other sun worshippers with their best access to beaches and safe swimming. The entire cove is lined with stabilimenti—elegant bathing lidos where the striped cabanas are often air-conditioned. The most famous of these lidos (there's a fee to use the facilities) is La Canzone del Mare. Its seaside restaurant offers a dreamy view of the Faraglioni and a luncheon here, although pricey, can serve as an indelible Capri moment. Jutting out into the bay at the center of the marina is the Scoglio delle Sirene, or Sirens' Rock—a small natural promontory—which the ancients believed to be the haunt of the Sirens, the mythical temptresses whose song seduced Odysseus in Homer's Odyssey. 

The free beach at Marina Grande, under the J.K. Place hotel, is usually crowded, so social go-getters prefer the historic Bagni di Tiberio beach to the east. Here you can swim around the ruins of Tiberius's Palazzo a Mare and dine at the family-run beach club, which is best reached by boat from Marina Grande. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Rather than visiting public beaches, many sun worshippers opt to enjoy the island's fabled stabilimenti balneari (private bathing lidos), some of which offer real relaxation and unbelievable views. One of the most famous is La Fontelina. At the foot of the Faraglioni rocks, the lido has a magical setting. There's no beach here, so the lido isn't suitable for children, and booking in advance is essential. You can get to La Fontelina by using a rocky path that begins at the end of Via Tragara; others prefer to take a ferry (€6) from the more accessible Marina Piccola during the afternoon. The excellent but pricey restaurant is open for lunch only. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

The Lido del Faro, set amid rocks with a natural basin as a seawater swimming pool, is open from April to October during daylight hours. The sun usually beats down on this westerly headland all day while on summer nights the restaurant provides a unique setting for enjoying the freshest fish. The lido is easily accessible by bus from Anacapri. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Although Capri is not noted for fine beaches, Marina Piccola is generally considered to have the best beach on the island. It's certainly the most historic: Homer believed this to be the legendary spot where the Sirens nearly snared Odysseus. Expect to pay about €16 per person for the use of showers, lockers, and a sun chair/sun bed or search for a spot on the pebble-covered free beach and just lay out your towel. It's definitely worth investing in snorkeling gear, as the sea is rich in marine life, and visibility is often excellent. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; showers; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.