SORRENTO, ITALY
Although the Amalfi Coast only stretches 35 miles, its unparalleled beauty has long made it one of Italy’s most popular vacation destinations. Of the many cities on the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento finds itself at the top of the list due to its accessibility and proximity to other tourist attractions in the area. With its gorgeous views, Mediterranean breeze, and world-famous lemons, it is not hard to see why everyone loves it here. As they say, “When life gives you lemons, make Limoncello!”
Attractions:
Piazza Tasso: Surrounded by many cafés and restaurants, the city’s main public square is always bustling and full of life. Take a load off and soak in the piazza’s energy over a meal or drink!
Villa Comunale: Sorrento’s largest public park is the perfect place for an early evening "passeggiata". Sitting up high on a cliff, the views of the Gulf of Naples are incredible! Its gardens and terrace make it an ideal place to catch the sunset as well.
Explore the Old Town: The main street running through Sorrento, Corso Italia, is souvenir central! This is where you will see plenty of tourists carrying around their lemon-patterned wine stoppers, bottles of Limoncello, and brightly-colored ceramic mosaics. It is certainly worth wandering around for a few hours!
Visit Positano: Coined the “Pearl of the Amalfi Coast”, this cute and colorful town is an obligatory stop for all beach lovers. There are not many views that can beat the panorama of Positano Beach! Daily buses run between Sorrento and Positano hourly between 6:30am-7:00pm; the ride is 45 minutes and costs €2. Tickets can be purchased at the SITA bus stop, right outside Sorrento Station. Note that there are two bus stops in Positano. The first is Chiesa Nuova, which is high up above town and gives you an excellent bird’s eye view of the surrounding area. From here, follow the steep, winding path for 20 minutes through town and you will end up at Positano Beach. The second stop, Sponda, is right next to the beach itself. Coming from Sorrento, get off the bus at Chiesa Nuova. On the way back, board the bus at Sponda. Do not be surprised if you are not able to board the first bus that pulls up or have to wait in a long line. You are not the only one who thought a day-trip to Positano was a good idea!
Archaeological Park of Pompeii: When Mt. Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago, the city of Pompeii was engulfed in the blink of an eye. This quick burial allowed for it to stay wonderfully preserved for centuries. When archaeologists discovered the site in the 16th century, they were shocked to find it in such good shape. Many say it looks like it was frozen in time! By train, Pompeii is 30 minutes from Sorrento and costs €3.60; trains run every 30 minutes. The site is conveniently located across the street from the Pompeii Scavi-Villa Dei Misteri train station. Entrance tickets cost €16 and it is open daily from 9:00am-7:30pm.
Take a Ferry to Capri: This stunning island is just a short ferry ride from Sorrento! Boats run multiple times daily and round-trip tickets cost less than €40. Depending on the ferry operator, the trip can last between 30-60 minutes. With mind-blowing beauty, such as the Blue Grotto, Faraglioni, Spiaggia di Marina Piccola, and Pizzolungo, it is very clear why people make the journey here!
Boat Cruise: Why not experience the allure of the Amalfi Coast by sea? Whether you’re looking for a sunset and dinner cruise to Capri or a private tour to Positano, Mamma Mia has you covered!
Hike Mt. Vesuvius: In 79 AD, Mt. Vesuvius infamously buried the above-mentioned city of Pompeii. Since then, historians estimate it has erupted at least 50 additional times! While it is still active today, it is safe to visit. The park is open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm and entrance costs €10. There are many hikes in the park, but the most popular path is to the top of the volcano. This trek takes 20 minutes and does not require a guide, although they are available. For those with a vehicle, parking in the lot costs €6, plus an additional €2 for the shuttle bus to the entrance. For those without a vehicle, ride the train from Sorrento to Pompeii (30 minutes; €3.60) and then ride the “Fermata EAV” bus to Mt. Vesuvius’ trail head (50 minutes; €2.70). Trains leave every 30 minutes from 6:00am-10:00pm and buses leave roughly every hour from 8:30am-4:30pm.
Other spots to check out include: Path of the Gods, Baia di Ieranto, Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Vallone dei Mulini, Museum Correale, and Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo.
Accommodation:
Hotel - Hotel Rivage Sorrento: Simply put, Rivage fits the bill with its restaurant, terrace, and pool. It is also just a 10-minute walk from the city center - a short stroll that will save you nearly €100/night! Wouldn’t you rather have those Euros go toward a delicious meal or boat ride anyway? As its 3-star rating implies, it’s not flashy, but it certainly does the trick!
Hostel - Seven Hostel: This hostel offers both dorm beds and private rooms. The best part is the beautiful terrace, which gives you a jaw-dropping view of the surrounding region! On foot, it is 30 minutes from both Piazza Tasso and Sorrento Train Station.
Airbnb - Pasquale’s AirBnB: During a visit to Sorrento with my family, we stayed here. The location is great because it feels like it’s tucked away from town although it is just a 20-minute walk from Piazza Tasso. This spot is perfect for groups of 4-6 and the view from the rooftop is incredible! Pasquale and his family are extremely accommodating!
Transportation:
Unfortunately, there are not many direct transit routes between Italy’s major travel destinations and Sorrento (unless, of course, you have a vehicle). Regardless of where you are coming from, most journeys require a transfer of some kind in Naples. While you can also travel through Salerno, there are no direct routes to Sorrento from there either (just infrequent, indirect ferries). To reach Sorrento from Naples, you have two options - train or ferry. The train ride is 1 hour and costs €3.60; trains run every 30 minutes from 6:00am-10:00pm between Porta Nolana Train Station and Sorrento Train Station. The ferry ride is 45 minutes and costs €14; ferries run five times daily between the Port of Naples and the Port of Sorrento. All of this is pertinent because the below transit information is based on travel times and prices to Naples, not Sorrento.
The main train station in Naples is Naples Central Station; all trains below leave from here. Naples Central Station is 10 minutes on foot from Porta Nolana Train Station mentioned above. The main bus station in Naples is Metropark Centrale; all buses below leave from here.
Rome is 1.5 hours by train from Naples and costs €39. The bus ride is 3 hours and costs €30.
Florence is 3 hours by train from Naples and costs €54. The bus ride is 6.5 hours and costs €47.
Bari is 5 hours by train from Naples (indirect) and costs €25. The bus ride is 3 hours and costs €20.
Milan is 5 hours by train from Naples and costs €83. The bus ride is 10 hours and costs €60.
Venice is 5.5 hours by train from Naples and costs €86. The bus ride is 11 hours and costs €62.
The closest airport to Sorrento is Naples International Airport (NAP), 52km (32 miles) away. It is accessible to Sorrento via shuttle bus and taxi. All below transit routes run between NAP and Sorrento Train Station.
Shuttle Bus: The ride is 75 minutes and costs €10; buses run roughly every two hours from 8:00am-8:00pm.
Taxi: The ride is 75 minutes and costs €85-€95 depending on the time of day.
The photos on this page were taken by my sisters, Antoinette and Jackie. Thanks, sistaz!