Bagni della Regina Giovanna
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The Bagni della Regina Giovanna ("Queen Joan's Baths") are a natural sea pool on the tip of Capo di Sorrento, just west of Sorrento. Rocks and cliffs enclose a triangle of clear water, joined to the open sea by a channel under a natural stone arch. Around it stand the ruins of the Roman villa of Pollio Felix, one of the grand maritime villas built on this coast in the first century. The name comes from the legend that Queen Joan of Anjou liked to bathe here.
It costs nothing. There is no ticket office and, as far as we could find, no booking system: you walk down a path from the road at Capo di Sorrento, about 20 to 30 minutes, or roughly 30 minutes on foot from the center of Sorrento. EAV's line A bus stops at Sorrento Capo, about 10 minutes from the station, every 20 minutes. There are no facilities at the pool.
At a glance
- Admission
- Free, open access along the footpath. No ticket, no booking system that we could find.
- Getting there
- EAV line A from Sorrento station to the Sorrento Capo stop, about 10 minutes, every 20 minutes (€1.30 in town). Then a path of 20 to 30 minutes. About 30 minutes on foot from central Sorrento.
- What it is
- A natural pool joined to the sea by an opening under a rock arch, next to the ruins of the Roman villa of Pollio Felix.
- Facilities
- None at the pool: bring water, shoes for rocks and anything you need.
- Time needed
- Two hours with a swim; one hour just to walk and look.
- Best time
- Early morning or late afternoon; avoid midday in summer.
In this guide
Getting there
From Sorrento: EAV line A (Meta-Sorrento-Massa Lubrense) runs from outside Sorrento's Circumvesuviana station to the stop called Sorrento Capo, about 10 to 11 minutes, every 20 minutes on the timetable from September 15, 2026. A ride within Sorrento costs €1.30; a day ticket €3.90. From the stop, a path leads down through olive groves and Mediterranean scrub to the headland. Italia.it, the national tourism portal, calls it "a nice walk of about 30 minutes from the center".
From Naples: Circumvesuviana to Sorrento, 69 minutes on direct trains and €4.60, then the bus. Allow two hours door to door. See our Sorrento page.
By sea: kayak and paddleboard tours from the Sorrento coast visit the pool from the water in the warm months; they are run by private operators and we have not priced them.
The pool and the Roman villa
The pool is shallow in parts and deeper toward the arch. Its bottom and edges are rock, so wear water shoes and watch the slippery stones and steps. The water is clearest on calm days; in a swell, waves push through the arch into the pool.
Walk out to the point of the cape to see what is left of the Villa of Pollio Felix: walls, vaulted rooms and terraces that once looked out toward Vesuvius, Ischia and Capri. Along the path beyond, further stairs lead down to a rocky cove with deeper sea swimming. The headland is open ground above the sea; keep children close.
Swimming, rules and safety
- No lifeguards or services were mentioned by any source we checked. Swim only in calm conditions and not alone.
- No jumping from the arch or rocks into shallow water; the pool is not deep everywhere.
- Respect the ruins: do not climb on the Roman walls.
- Carry your rubbish out. Leave the pool as you found it.
We looked for a 2026 municipal ordinance limiting access or swimming and found none; rules for beaches on this coast can change by summer ordinance, so read any notices on the path.
Crowds and when to go
In high summer the rocks around the pool fill by late morning, and the italia.it page advises avoiding the middle of the day: go at dawn or toward sunset. In October and on spring weekdays it is far quieter, and the walk is pleasant even when the water is too cold or rough for a swim. After rain the path and rocks are slippery.
This is a half-day at most. Pair it with the rest of Sorrento, a boat to Capri, or a bus along the Amalfi Coast. If you want an organized day on the water instead, see the Amalfi Coast boat day.
Who was Queen Giovanna?
Two queens of Naples from the house of Anjou were called Giovanna (Joan): Joan I in the 14th century and Joan II in the 15th. Local tradition credits one of them, stories differ on which, with bathing here in private and meeting lovers at the pool. It is a legend, attached to a place whose real history is Roman: the villa of Pollio Felix was already a ruin long before either queen was born.
Tickets and tours you can book
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to visit the Bagni della Regina Giovanna?
No. Access is free along the footpath from Capo di Sorrento. There is no ticket office, and we found no booking or numbered-access system in 2026.
How do I get to the Bagni della Regina Giovanna from Sorrento?
Take EAV line A from Sorrento station to the Sorrento Capo stop, about 10 minutes, every 20 minutes, €1.30. Then follow the path down for 20 to 30 minutes. From the center of Sorrento on foot, allow about 30 minutes.
Can you swim at the Bagni della Regina Giovanna?
Yes, in calm weather. There is no sand, the edges are rock, and we found no lifeguard service. Wear water shoes, do not jump from the rocks, and avoid swimming when waves come through the arch.
When is the best time to visit?
Early morning or late afternoon, especially in summer, when the rocks are crowded at midday. In October the pool is quieter, but the sea can be too rough or cold for a comfortable swim.
Is it worth visiting in winter?
As a walk, yes: the path, the arch and the Roman ruins are there all year and cost nothing, and you will often have them almost to yourself. As a swim, rarely. Go on a dry day, since wet rock and steps are slippery, and time your return for the line A bus, which runs every 20 minutes.
Is the Bagni della Regina Giovanna suitable for children?
For older children who can manage steps and uneven rock, it is a memorable outing. With toddlers or a stroller it is hard work: the last part is stairs and rock, there is little shade and there are no facilities. Keep children close on the open headland.
Are there toilets or a bar at the Bagni della Regina Giovanna?
Not at the pool. Bring water and food, and use facilities in Sorrento or at Capo di Sorrento before you walk down.
Further reading
Official sources
- Italia.it - Bagni della Regina Giovanna and the Roman villa of Capo di Sorrento (official Italian tourism portal) – Walk of about 30 minutes from central Sorrento, villa of Pollio Felix, free access from the path, avoid midday in high season; checked September 30, 2026
- EAV - Line A Meta-Massa Lubrense timetable from September 15, 2026 (official PDF) – Sorrento station to Sorrento Capo stop, every 20 minutes; checked September 30, 2026
- UnicoCampania - Fare finder, Sorrento urban (official) – €1.30 single, €3.90 daily within Sorrento; checked September 30, 2026
- Summer in Italy - Bagni della Regina Giovanna – Footpath of about 20 minutes from Capo di Sorrento, staircase down to the pool, second cove with deeper water, water shoes; checked September 30, 2026
- Spiagge.it - Bagni della Regina Giovanna guide 2026 – Path of 20 to 30 minutes from the Capo di Sorrento road, bus from Sorrento station; checked September 30, 2026
