My husband and I are planning our next holiday, and I think we've decided on Rome/Amalfi Coast in May. My question: how are the beaches along the Amalfi coast? Sandy? Pebbles? If there is a mix depending on location, where can we go for sandy beaches?

Thanks,
MP

Beaches are not like Carribean beaches - if that is the "sandy" you are looking for.
The beaches are small and vary from rocky to sandy (but not powdery white sand like in Carribean). A lot of people rent beach chairs to sit on.
I remember the beaches on Capri being a little more sandy than those in Positano and Amalfi.

There are no beaches on the Amalfi Coast. Sandy beaches do not exist here. If you are looking for sandy beaches, then look elsewhere. VERY, wonderful, beautiful, destination,........but no sandy beaches!! At least none of note.

Its not that beaches dont exist there - they are just completely unspectacular.
There are many fantastic, wonderful, beautiful things about the Amalfi Coast, but beaches are not on the list as being outstanding.

There are beaches, some of them hidden from the casual observer but they are not fine sand as others have noted. Rent a beach chair and have fun.

Leigh, do you purposely come on this site to give incorrect information? Last time it was that Paris is cheaper than London.

MacPrague, there ARE beaches on the Amalfi coast. There is, for instance, a very lovely one in the little village of Atrani, a short walk south of Amalfi. It is a perfect little cove of a beach with lots of sand and good swimming.

To me, yes, different from the Caribbean, but still spectacular in its own way.

Ooops, I meant to say that you said London is cheaper than Paris. Which is so incorrect that I couldn't even type it the first time around

Leigh's information is not really incorrect....
I think she is just trying to exaggerate the point that the #1 reason to go to Amalfi Coast is NOT for the "sandy" beaches.
If that was the OPs main goal - they would be dissapointed with the destination.

That "There are no beaches" on the A.C. is incorrect. I'm not sure why we should think Leigh meant it in anything but a literal way. That he goes on to say "at least none of note" simply confuses things. What, after all, is a beach "of note"?

The fact is that there are very nice beaches on the A.C. I saw them, and spent time on them. I would hate for MacPrague to change her plans due to misleading, non-fact-based information.

youre just being a tad harsh.

Cimbrone, sorry that you take exception to my reply to this post. I have visited The Amalfi Coast several times and my very clear experience is that there are NO SANDY BEACHES. If MacPrague is looking for for a sandy beach, then IMO, she wont find much on Amalfi Coast.
Re Paris v London costs. I live in Leigh on Sea, just outside London and visit Paris frequently and again IMO, Paris is MUCH more expensive than London.
You may not like my opinions but they are honest and based only on my personal experiences.
Happy Travels!

Well, I apologize for coming across as harsh. (Seriously!)

I just hope you'll think a bit more before posting in the future. If you say "There are NO beaches" someone is likely to take you seriously. Wouldn't it be better to say "I didn't see any beaches that would appeal to me"? That would have actually been true.

And your experiences re: paris and london may be your experiences. But an objective look at hotel and restaurant costs do not back up your findings.

Anyway, sorry again for my harsh tone before. Happy travels to you, too!

If you are willing to spend a lot of money, the Hotel San Pietro has a very small sandy beach. I think they maintain it by bringing in the sand from and outside source. The Amalfi Coast is not the place to go if you are looking to relax on a sandy beach, especially in May when the water is still pretty cold. It would be warmer in Sicily and there are plenty of sandy beaches there, Sardinia also.

From the destinations section of Fodors:

Except for the showpieces at Positano, Atrani, Maiori, and Minori, the beaches of the Amalfi Coast are generally disappointing, as they usually consist of small patches of coarse gray sand, or just a few rocks below the precipices. In these parts, it's the water that compels: infinite shades of aquamarine, lapis, and amethyst -- shimmering in sunshine, glowing silver in moonlight, and becoming transparent in coves. Sometimes the best regional beaches are the most unheralded, such as those hidden along the Sorrento Peninsula, to the west and south, many of them reachable only by footpath or boat. The longest and widest beaches on the Amalfi Coast are in Maiori and Minori.

Thanks to all of you! We're still working on our general plan, and this helps a lot.

I'll post again once we have finally figured out where we will go!

Thanks again!
MP