Gelato, aperol spritzs’, fresh homemade pasta, shots of limoncello, beach clubs, boat trips around the Amalfi Coast and gorgeous seacliff views… Bellissimo. Read why Sorrento is the perfect hub to travel around the Amalfi Coast plus everything to see, do and eat here!
Sorrento is a small, charming, historic city in Campania admired for its cliffside views overlooking the waters surrounding Ischia and Capri and the Bay of Naples. It is lauded for its acclaimed lemon, olive oil, and wine production and as the birthplace of the Italian liqueur, Limoncello. When visiting the Amalfi Coast, travelers often choose Sorrento as their home base due to its close proximity to other destinations, such as Positano. The city has a lot of hotels and many of the modern conveniences that smaller towns lack.
Currency: Euro (€)
Language: Italian
But, almost all people speak English well.
Best Time To Visit:
The best time-frame to visit Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast is the end of May until mid-October. Crowds and prices naturally peak in July and August so I would try and avoid if possible. I have visited in both June and October and experienced amazing, sunny weather with chilly, but refreshing ocean water.
One can easily spend an entire summer exploring the southern coastal towns of Italy, but if you’re pressed for time and chose Sorrento as your hub, I recommend a minimum of 5 nights here! You’ll need at least 2 full days in Sorrento and 2-3 days exploring nearby towns.
Traveling To Sorrento
From Naples International Airport:
Bus: ($) Curreri Viaggi offers shuttle service to downtown Sorrento for only 10€. The trip takes around 75 minutes. *I would opt out if you have a lot of luggage because you will have to walk from the bus station to your hotel.
Private Driver: ($$) Book a private transfer through GetYourGuide or Viator in advance! Expensive, but only about a 45 minute drive directly to your hotel.
Car Rental: ($$$) Hertz, Avis and Maggiore are located directly outside the arrivals terminal. I would suggest this option only for experienced drivers as roads are narrow and parking is limited!
From Positano, Capri, and Amalfi:
The fastest way to Sorrento is by ferry – it’s painless and inexpensive. Unfortunately the ferry service does not run 24/7 so your time in each town is limited to the schedule. Book here!
Sorrento to Positano: 40 min ferry
Sorrento to Capri: 20 min ferry
Sorrento to Amalfi: 50 min ferry
Where To Stay:
A significant advantage to staying in Sorrento is the abundance of hotels. Popular accommodations book up fast in peak summer months, so make sure to reserve at least three months in advance! Here’s a list of some of my favorite options.
Best Hotels in Sorrento:
Where To Eat:
Food in Italy is arguably the best in the world – it definitely has my vote! You can not go wrong with a reservation at any of these places. I found that most restaurants in Sorrento are moderately priced and you don’t have to break the bank on food. Make sure to grab some gelato for dessert!
Bagni Delfino: seafood restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Naples
O’Parrucchiano La Favorita: dinner in a dreamy atmosphere under lemon trees
Accènto: well-known for delicious pasta dishes
Semola Pasta Bar: serving pasta dishes in the heart of downtown Sorrento
Ristorante Museo Caruso: vintage-style experience
L’Antica Trattoria: cozy main room with outdoor terrace seating
Soul & Fish: seafood with deck overlooking Marina Grande
Drinks & Nightlife:
D’Anton: cocktails and charcuterie
English Inn: large outdoor terrace with late night music and drinks
Filou Club: small club with a lively room and entertaining piano man
Shot Bar: popular bar among international visitors
Da Ciro Taverna: delicious charcuterie and live music
Bellavista Cocktail Bar: rooftop bar in Grand Hotel La Favorita; perfect for sunset
What To Do:
1. Relax at a beach club.
Most of Sorrento’s coastline is made up of rocky cliffs with limited sandy beach for sunbathing and swimming. Therefore, in summer months, beach clubs are in high demand! Most of the popular beach clubs are located in Marina Piccolo, not far from the ferry service. You can book lounge chairs in advance, but most seats come on a first come first serve basis. Plan to get there nice and early to snag a good spot.
Marameo Beach – newly renovated club with access to changing rooms, king size lounge chairs, floating sun beds, a leisure zone and for extra $$, a private jacuzzi
Leonelli’s Beach – popular and affordable family-owned beach club with a small sandy beach area appropriate for children and inexperienced swimmers
La Merinella – upscale beach club with a notable restaurant located on Sant’Agnello beach
2. Hop on the ferry to Capri, Positano, or Amalfi.
Catch the public ferry from Marina Piccola to any of these towns. If you haven’t purchased tickets in advance, you will find a ticket kiosks for companies that operate services in and out of Sorrento. These trips are all great options, but if I had to narrow it down, I would choose Capri and Positano. Both are unique and luxurious in their own ways. The town built into the cliffside of Positano is picture-perfect, while Capri has luxurious beach clubs, shopping, and restaurants.
3. Visit the countryside.
Escape from the city and head to the beautiful countryside of Sorrento where you can visit some of the local farms and explore the vineyards, citrus groves & oil areas. Many of the tours include tastings, pizza making, and of course, limoncello.
4. Shop and stroll along Corso Italia.
Corsa Italia is the main road through the center of Sorrento. The pedestrian-only section begins at Piazzo Tasso and along the way you’ll find souvenir shops, bars, restaurants, gelaterias, and coffee shops. Make sure to veer off onto some of the smaller side streets to find some hidden gems.
5. Charter a boat.
A hefty price, but worth the splurge! To save on cash, consider booking with a group tour – I’ve seen some tours that max out around 8 people. For many of the private charter companies you can choose where the boat will go throughout the day. The most popular option is to sail around Capri and swim in the blue grotto.
6. Take a day trip and explore the city of Pompeii.
The city of Pompeii was once an advanced and thriving Roman economic and social hub. In 79 A.D. the eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the city and covered it in 19 feet of ash and volcanic debris. It is estimated that around two thousand people died. The city was abandoned until a group of explorers rediscovered the site in 1748. Beneath the thick layer of dust and debris, Pompeii was still mostly intact! Visitors can now visit the preserved ruins of streets and homes.
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