The best beaches near Paestum run from the long sandy shore of Paestum itself, about 10 minutes from our B&B, to the coves of the Cilento: Trentova bay at Agropoli, Santa Maria di Castellabate, Punta Licosa, Acciaroli, Palinuro and Cala Bianca at Marina di Camerota, about an hour and a half away. Pollica, with Acciaroli and Pioppi, tops the 2026 Guida Blu.
Heading south, the coast changes character: the fine sand and pinewood of the Sele plain give way to headlands covered in Mediterranean scrub, small fishing harbours and cliffs riddled with sea caves. Below you will find the beaches in order from north to south, with driving times and a few practical tips.
How far are the beaches from the B&B?
Indicative driving times from the B&B on Via Filette in Capaccio Scalo, without traffic. In July and August allow a few extra minutes, especially at weekends.
| Beach | Municipality | By car | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paestum beach | Capaccio Paestum | 10 min | families, long walks |
| Trentova bay | Agropoli | 25 min | snorkelling, coastal trails |
| Santa Maria di Castellabate | Castellabate | 35 min | families, evening strolls |
| Punta Licosa | Castellabate | 40 min, plus the walk | nature, unspoilt sea, no facilities |
| Acciaroli | Pollica | 55 min | fishing village, award-winning sea |
| Pioppi | Pollica | 1 h | a quiet atmosphere |
| Palinuro | Centola | 1 h 20 | boat trips, sea caves |
| Marina di Camerota and Cala Bianca | Camerota | 1 h 30 | coves reached on foot or by boat |
Paestum beach: the closest one
Paestum beach, about 10 minutes by car, is a long stretch of fine sand running for more than ten kilometres, backed by pinewood and with a seabed that shelves gently: the easiest choice for families with children. Equipped beach clubs alternate with long free stretches, and at sunset the light over the plain makes for a lovely walk along the water's edge.
The temples stand inland, a few kilometres from the sea: a morning among the columns and an afternoon on the beach is the simplest combination of any stay, as we explain in our guide to the Temples of Paestum.
Trentova bay, Agropoli
Beyond Agropoli, south of Paestum and about 20 minutes by car, a road drops down to Trentova bay, a cove framed by headlands covered in Mediterranean scrub. Its clear water makes it one of the most popular snorkelling spots near Paestum: with a mask you can see the Posidonia meadows, which here, as everywhere in the Cilento, deserve protecting. In summer, arrive early to find parking.
Above the bay starts the Trentova-Tresino trail network, including the coastal path to Santa Maria di Castellabate: you will find the trail facts in our guide to hiking in the Cilento. The municipality of Agropoli holds a Blue Flag for 2026.
Santa Maria di Castellabate: why do families love it?
About 35 minutes away, Santa Maria di Castellabate is the seaside part of the municipality of Castellabate, awarded both the Blue Flag and the "Cinque Vele" (Five Sails) of the Legambiente and Touring Club Italiano Guida Blu in 2026. The seafront is lined with sandy beaches and shallow water, beach clubs and free stretches; in the evening the little harbour and the square fill with people out for a stroll.
The sea here is part of the Santa Maria di Castellabate Marine Protected Area. On the hill above, a few minutes away, sits the medieval village of Castellabate, where the film "Benvenuti al Sud" was shot: read more in our guide to Cilento's most beautiful villages.
Punta Licosa: how do you get there?
Punta Licosa, the headland that closes the Gulf of Salerno to the south, is reached on foot from the harbour of San Marco di Castellabate, about 40 minutes by car, along a coastal path of roughly 4.5 kilometres, almost entirely flat. Small rocky coves with clear water open up along the shore; legend has it that the islet off the point is the body of the siren Leucosia.
There are no facilities: bring water, food and some shade if you plan to stay a while. Walking times and details are in the Punta Licosa fact sheet of our hiking guide.
Acciaroli and Pioppi: the sea praised by the Guida Blu
The municipality of Pollica, with its villages of Acciaroli and Pioppi, ranks first in the 2026 Guida Blu by Legambiente and Touring Club Italiano, which awards "Cinque Vele" to the coastal resorts most committed to sea quality and sustainability; it is also among the 2026 Blue Flags. A new Guida Blu comes out every year at the start of summer. Acciaroli, about 55 minutes away, combines a marina, a small fishing quarter and beaches looking out over clear water.
A few kilometres further south, Pioppi is a small village by the sea, about an hour by car. Palazzo Vinciprova houses the Living Museum of the Mediterranean Diet, linked to the physiologist Ancel Keys: we tell the story in our guide to the Mediterranean diet in the Cilento.
Palinuro: the Arco Naturale, Buondormire and the sea caves
About an hour and twenty minutes away, Palinuro, in the municipality of Centola (Blue Flag 2026), is the most dramatic stretch of the southern Cilento coast. The Arco Naturale, a rock bridge carved by erosion, stands near the mouth of the Mingardo river; just beyond it lies the Mingardo beach, broader and wilder.
From the harbour, boats run to Cala Buondormire, a cove enclosed by cliffs, and round-the-cape excursions stop at the sea caves, the best known being the Grotta Azzurra, the Grotta del Sangue and the Grotta dei Monaci. In high season it is worth booking the day before. Keen walkers can pair the sea with the trails of Capo Palinuro.
Marina di Camerota: how do you reach Cala Bianca?
At the southern end of this route, about an hour and a half away, Marina di Camerota, in the municipality of Camerota (Blue Flag 2026), hides some of the finest coves on the coast. Cala Bianca, voted Italy's most beautiful beach in 2013 in Legambiente's online contest "La più bella sei tu", is reached on foot along the path from Lentiscelle via Pozzallo beach: about 20 to 30 minutes from the car park above Pozzallo, with moderate stretches that call for hiking shoes. Alternatively, sea shuttles leave from the harbour.
Further south lies the bay of the Infreschi, within the Costa degli Infreschi e della Masseta Marine Protected Area: a sheltered inlet reached by boat or by continuing along the same coastal path.
| Blue Flags 2026 in the Cilento | Among others: Agropoli, Castellabate, Montecorice, San Mauro Cilento, Pollica, Casal Velino, Ascea, Pisciotta, Centola (Palinuro), Camerota and some towns on the Gulf of Policastro. The 2027 list is published in spring, usually in May. |
|---|---|
| Cinque Vele 2026 | Pollica (Acciaroli and Pioppi) ranked first in the Legambiente and Touring Club Italiano Guida Blu; Castellabate also awarded. The 2027 Guida Blu usually comes out in June. |
| Marine protected areas | Santa Maria di Castellabate; Costa degli Infreschi e della Masseta |
| Boat trips | From the harbours of Palinuro and Marina di Camerota; in high season book the day before |
Source: Blue Flag, Foundation for Environmental Education; Legambiente and Touring Club Italiano Guida Blu 2026. Awards are renewed every year: check the current list.
Which beach should you choose?
- With young children: Paestum (10 minutes) or Santa Maria di Castellabate (35 minutes), with shallow water and facilities.
- For snorkelling: Trentova bay (25 minutes) and Punta Licosa (40 minutes plus the walk).
- To combine a walk and a swim: Punta Licosa and Cala Bianca.
- For a boat trip: Palinuro (1 h 20), with the sea caves and Cala Buondormire.
- For sea and village together: Acciaroli and Pioppi (about an hour).
Practical tips for Cilento beaches
- Set off early in July and August: the car parks near the best-known coves fill up quickly.
- Carry some cash: a few kiosks and car parks in the smaller places do not take cards.
- Pack water shoes: useful on pebble and rocky beaches such as Punta Licosa and Cala Bianca.
- Avoid the Ferragosto weekend at the closest beaches: pick a weekday or one of the more distant coves.
- Respect the Posidonia and the marine protected areas: do not anchor on the seagrass and take your rubbish home.
For the more distant beaches, such as Palinuro and Cala Bianca, leave straight after breakfast and save the coast around Paestum for lazier afternoons. If the day turns windy, ask us in the morning and we will help you pick a more sheltered cove.
From the B&B you have Paestum beach ten minutes away and the rest of the coast within an easy day trip; back home, the seasonal pool in the garden is waiting. To plan your stay, take a look at our rooms.
Frequently asked questions
Which beach is closest to Il Giardino dei Pini B&B?
Paestum beach, about 10 minutes by car: fine sand, pinewood behind, shallow water and a mix of equipped beach clubs and free stretches.
Which Cilento resorts have a Blue Flag?
The 2026 list includes, among others, Agropoli, Castellabate, Montecorice, San Mauro Cilento, Pollica, Casal Velino, Ascea, Pisciotta, Centola (Palinuro) and Camerota. The list changes every year and the new one is published in spring: check the current list on the official Blue Flag website.
How do you get to Cala Bianca?
On foot from Marina di Camerota, along the path from Lentiscelle via Pozzallo beach: about 20 to 30 minutes from the car park above Pozzallo, in hiking shoes. Alternatively, take one of the sea shuttles from the harbour.
Where can you snorkel near Paestum?
The closest spots are Trentova bay at Agropoli, about 25 minutes away, and Punta Licosa, reached on foot from San Marco di Castellabate. Further south, Palinuro and the Infreschi coast offer a great variety of seabed.
