Top Things to do in Sorrento – The Gateway to the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento is a picture-perfect coastal town in southwestern Italy, near the bustling city of Naples and at beginning of the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is perched high up on cliffs, overlooking the Bay of Naples. It has loads of charm with its narrow streets full of restaurants, shops, chapels, lemon groves, and stunning coastline. Though it is a spectacular destination in its own right, it also makes a great home base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and is often the starting point for those wanting to explore this magnificent coastline. Another reason Sorrento is a great place to stay is that it’s more affordable than staying somewhere further down the Amalfi coast, such as Positano or Amalfi.

Getting to Sorrento

To get to Sorrento a, you will likely fly into Rome or Naples. If you fly into Rome, you can take the train to Naples. The high-speed train between the two cities is only one hour and ten minutes. Once you arrive in Naples, you have 3 options to get to Sorrento, private car transfer, train, or ferry.

Private Car is your most expensive option of around 100 euros or more, it is the most comfortable. The approximate time is 40-45 minutes. Some of the private car companies can add on stops for a fee, stopping at places like Mount Vesuvius, Pompei or Herculaneum Archaeological site.

Train is probably the least expensive way to get to Sorrento (around 2-10 euros). If you are traveling to Naples by train from Rome or another destination, you will arrive at Naples Central Terminal. You can buy train tickets to Sorrento at this station and you will depart from there as well. You can take the Circumvesuviana train or the Campania Express. Campania runs less frequently but is definitely the better of the two. This journey will take you about one hour.

The third option is to arrive in Sorrento by Ferry. This is the mid-range cost option of about 15 euros. This is what we did. There was something nice about arriving at this impressive location by sea. The Ferry only runs during the high season, May-September.

Things to do

Sorrento can easily be discovered on foot. Sorrento is small enough that you could see most of it in one day. You’ll discover hidden gems down its narrow streets. The main square, Piazza Tasso, is alive with restaurants and shops. Fuano Bar is in the heart of the Piazza and a wonderful place to get a cocktail and people watch. You will discover quickly that Sorrento has great shopping, with its fashion boutiques, gorgeous ceramics, and leather goods. Just east of the Piazzo Tasso, you’ll find Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main shopping street.

Visit I Giardini di Cataldo, a family-owned lemon grove. The beautiful grove serves as a stunning backdrop for photos. They even have apartments for rent, if you wish to stay on the property. How fabulous would it be to wake up to the scent of fresh citrus and lush greenery! They also have a bar which can be a little tricky to find but they can point you in the right direction.

Don’t leave Sorrento without trying Limoncello. Limoncello is an Italian liqueur produced in Sorrento, made from a lemon variety native to the area. You can find it at almost any store and restaurant. It also makes a great souvenir!

If you arrive at Sorrento by ferry, you will arrive at the Marina Grande. This harbor is filled with charming fishing boats. Cats are found feasting on fish left behind by the fisherman. It’s fun to walk along the marina or grab a bite to eat or sip a cocktail at one of the nearby establishments. You will also find a small volcanic sand beach.

To get from the beach and port up to the Piazzo Tasso, you can either take the windy road, walk up a steep stairway or ride the Sorrento Lift. At the top of the lift, you can take a short walk to breathtaking views of the ocean and Mt. Vesuvius.

While in Sorrento, visit the Vallone deli Mulini. This historical site is a 13th-century sawmill that was closed and abandoned in 1940. It is sunk down in a valley and overrun by a variety of rare plants. We just happened to walk past it, unaware of what it was at the time.

Where to Eat

There are too many great restaurants in Sorrento to list them all. Here are some fabulous restaurants, I either discovered myself or read great reviews about and are popular among locals.

• Gelateria David Stop in for some of the best gelato in Sorrento and at a very central location.
• Pizzeria Da Franco is Very popular amongst locals and tourists alike. People swear it is the best Neopolitan pizza in Sorrento.
• Trattoria Da Emilia sits at the Marina Grande. It has some of the best seafood in Sorrento and is rumored to have been a favorite of Sophia Loren. The seafood is so fresh. You can see it being taken straight from the fishing boats right into their kitchen.
• Terrazza Bosquet is located at the Excelsior Vittoria Hotel. It is Michelin starred and has also hosted some of Hollywood’s biggest stars and has spectacular views.
• Don Pedro’s has amazing views and some of the best seafood and Mediterranean dishes in Sorrento.
• Il Buco has a lovely and charming atmosphere and a Michelin-starred fine dining establishment. They adapt their menu by season to offer you the freshest, local ingredients.
• Ristorante Tavernallegra serves delicious Italian and Neopolitan dishes in the beautiful vaulted ceiling stables of a 15th-century palace.

Where to Stay

You can find lodging at any price point in Sorrento, from Budget (starting at 60 euros/night) up to Luxury, which can exceed 1000 euros per night. There is a good mix of well-established hotels in the area to charming Airbnbs. Below, I outlined a few in varying price points.

Luxury

• Hotel Bellevue Syrene is a grand hotel with stunning views of the coastline overlooking the Bay of Naples. The beautiful property has suites, a pool, a spa, and fabulous dining.
• Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria is stately, picturesque, and stunning offering one-of-a-kind rooms, suites, apartments, two restaurants, and a spa.
• Grand Hotel Royal is beautiful and serene with its own private beach. This five-star estate is classy and stylish.

Moderate

• Grand Hotel Aminta is charming and comfortable with fantastic views. Features open-air dining, a pool and a bar.
• Hotel Cristina offers a panoramic swimming pool, nice views of the Bay of Naples, and close proximity to Piazza Tasso.
• Hotel Antiche Mura is cozy, quaint, and comfortable, offering a pool.

Budget

• Hotel Del Corso offers complimentary breakfast, restaurant, and terrace views of the ocean right in the middle of Sorrento.
• Casa Sorrentina has free wifi and a complimentary breakfast. Talk about location… it’s just steps from the Piazza Tasso!

Day trips from Sorrento

Capri

The famous island of Capri has long been a destination of the rich and famous and Frank Sinatra sang about the beautiful island in the 1957 hit Isle of Capri. The island is often called the “Emerald Island” due to its sparkling aqua-green water. It is known for its rugged terrain, world-class shopping, yachts, and the Blue Grotto.

It is easy to book a day trip to Capri from Sorrento, by ferry or private boat. Ferries depart Sorrento’s port every 30-45 minutes and it is only a 30 minute ride to arrive in the isle. You can easily purchase tickets right at the port.

Positano, Ravello and Amalfi

Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi are towns easily reached on a day trip from Sorrento. Positano is the most famous town on the Amalfi Coast and arguably so with its stunning pastel homes and hotels cascading down the Cliffsides overlooking the dramatic coastline. Positano deserves a few days of its own but it is easily accessible and you can see a lot on a day trip. To make the day trip to Positano, Ravello, or Amalfi , you can do so by bus, boat/ferry, or taxi. Positano is the closest of the three (about 30 minutes) and Amalfi the furthest (a little over an hour). Hint…if you take a bus or car transport, sit on the right side for the best views.

Pompeii

Take a day trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Pompeii – the ancient ruins of a Roman city that was destroyed and buried by the deadly eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. The fascinating ruins are easy to get to and just a 20-minute train ride away. Take the Circumvesuviana train right to the station, just across from the entrance to the archaeological site.