In a nutshell
- This guide covers the best things to do in Sorrento — from the lemon-scented old town to cliff-top viewpoints and day trips along the coast.
- Sorrento is famous for its lemon groves, its dramatic coastal cliffs (over 100 meters in places), and its charming historic center.
- Book a centrally located hotel so you can easily reach both the harbor and the train station. Our top pick with a great rooftop terrace: Hotel Sorrento City.
- A day trip to Capri is an absolute must. Just make sure to book your ferry ticket well in advance — they sell out fast in summer.
What You Should Know About Sorrento
- Sorrento sits on the Gulf of Naples, on the Sorrentine Peninsula. It’s not technically part of the Amalfi Coast, but it makes a fantastic base for exploring it.
- It’s famous for its lemon groves. The Sorrento lemon — Limone di Sorrento — is its own protected variety.
- In the old town you’ll find winding alleyways packed with restaurants and shops. You absolutely have to try the limoncello and lemon gelato while you’re there.
- Using public transportation, you can easily reach Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, or the highlights of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento.
- The best time to visit is April to May and September to October — the weather is pleasantly warm and the crowds are manageable.
Getting to Sorrento
You can reach Sorrento from Naples either by car or by three different forms of public transportation:
By Ferry: The fastest option is the ferry from the Molo Beverello terminal, which gets you to Sorrento in about 45 minutes and runs several times a day.
By Train: The Circumvesuviana railroad takes you from Naples Central Station (Napoli Centrale) to Sorrento in about an hour, with trains running every 30 minutes.
By Bus: The cheapest but most time-consuming option is the bus from Garibaldi Station, which travels along the scenic coastal road — count on about 1.5 hours of travel time and possible delays, especially during peak season.
Sights in Sorrento
The best way to experience things to do in Sorrento is simply to wander through the historic center at your own pace. Start at the central Piazza Tasso and then dive into the winding alleyways from there.
The old town isn’t that large, so you can reach all the main attractions pretty quickly on foot.
Here’s everything you shouldn’t miss along the way:
Piazza Tasso
Piazza Tasso is the central square of the city. When we were in Sorrento and asked for directions, it was always the first landmark people mentioned.
The square is always lively and lined with restaurants and cafés — though they tend to be pretty touristy, meaning higher prices and not the most authentic food in town.
That said, it’s absolutely worth strolling through at least once. There’s a real “see and be seen” energy here that’s very Sorrento.
Valley of the Mills
Right in the heart of Sorrento, hidden in a deep gorge, lies the atmospheric Valle dei Mulini — the Valley of the Mills.
The abandoned grain mill from the 13th century, surrounded by towering rock walls and slowly being reclaimed by nature, is one of the most memorable sights in Sorrento.
The high humidity in the gorge has created a unique microclimate over the centuries, where rare plant species now thrive.
Unfortunately, you can’t enter the gorge itself — but you can peer down into it from above. The best vantage point is from the road Viale Enrico Caruso, near Piazza Tasso.
Chiostro di San Francesco
The cloister of this 14th-century Franciscan monastery is a genuinely peaceful oasis in the middle of a busy city.
The ivy-covered arches and columns create a really special atmosphere — and they make for some seriously beautiful photos.
Admission is free, but keep in mind that this is a religious building, so the usual dress code applies: covered knees and covered shoulders.
Our tip: Right next to the monastery is Café La Villa, with a gorgeous terrace overlooking the sea. Touristy, yes — but the view is one of a kind!
Villa Comunale
Villa Comunale is a small park with palm trees and benches, and it has a great panorama over the Gulf of Naples.
From the railing, a steep staircase leads all the way down to the sea.
Note: Lots of visitors walk right past this one without realizing: there’s an elevator inside the park that takes you down to the water for 2 euros — saving you the full trek down the stairs to the beach.
The word “Villa” in southern Italy is often used to mean “city park.” This goes back to the fact that Italy’s first public parks were the gardens of aristocratic villas that were eventually opened to the public. We noticed this a lot in Basilicata as well.
Marina Grande
Marina Grande is a small neighborhood of Sorrento, cut off from the rest of the city by steep cliff faces.
You reach it via a steep staircase from the center, and once you’re down there, you’ll find a much more authentic, less touristy side of Sorrento.
The colorful fishing boats in the little harbor and the traditional restaurants serving freshly caught fish are simply wonderful — and there’s a small sandy beach too.
Sorrento Accommodations: Our Hotel Picks
Because Sorrento sits right between Naples and the Amalfi Coast and has solid transport connections, it’s a smart place to base yourself for a few nights.
Hotels here are only slightly cheaper than hotels on the Amalfi Coast, but from Sorrento you can reach many of the area’s highlights much more easily.
We stayed here ourselves on our trip to the Amalfi Coast.
These are the hotels we recommend in Sorrento:
La Viuzza: Bed & breakfast right in the pedestrian zone, with very good prices for Sorrento.
Hotel Sorrento City: Super central, with a rooftop terrace and really comfortable beds.
Hotel Bristol: A luxury option in a quiet spot with sea and Vesuvius views. Gorgeous garden and pool.
Beaches in Sorrento
There are hardly any sandy beaches in Sorrento — the coastline is simply too steep and rocky for that. But you can still have a great beach vacation here.
There are several lovely swimming coves accessible via staircases. Most of these spots are set up with wooden jetties and bathing platforms you can jump straight into the water from.
Here are some of the best swimming spots and beaches in Sorrento:
- Marina Piccola — The main city beach with clear water and good facilities, though it gets very crowded in summer. There are both public and private areas with lounge chairs and umbrellas. The elevator from Villa Comunale park takes you right down to it.
- Regina Giovanna — A natural swimming spot set within an ancient Roman villa, with crystal-clear water and an impressive sea cave. Perfect for snorkelers and anyone who loves a bit of history with their swim.
- Marina Grande — The traditional fishing harbor has a small free beach and a handful of great restaurants right nearby.
From Sorrento to Capri
Capri is THE day-trip destination from Sorrento. Dozens of ferries and speedboats head there every day.
And even with that many sailings, they still sell out fast during peak season — so make sure to grab your tickets online in advance at Direct Ferries.
There are also ticket counters right at the harbor, but expect to wait in line.
The crossing to Capri takes between 10 and 30 minutes depending on whether you take a ferry or a speedboat. A round-trip ticket costs around 45 euros.
Our tip: The last ferry back to Sorrento leaves at around 6 PM. So head out as early as possible to give yourself plenty of time on the island. The first ferry departs at around 7 AM.
Alternatively, you can book a boat tour that takes you directly from Sorrento to the Blue Grotto on Capri, with snorkeling and free time on the island included. A great way to skip the ferry crowds.
Book the boat tour to Capri from Sorrento
From Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast
The easiest way to reach the Amalfi Coast is also by ferry. Several sailings run daily to Positano and Amalfi. The trip to Positano takes about 1.5 hours; to Amalfi it’s two hours.
Here too, book your tickets online at Direct Ferries in advance — it’s really worth it:
Book your ferry from Sorrento to Positano
Book your ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi
The bus is another option, running from Sorrento’s main station to Positano and Amalfi.
Honestly, we’d only recommend this during the off-season, when things are quieter.
From June through September, the buses between Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are so packed that you often can’t even get on — or you end up standing the whole way on a very winding road for about 45 minutes.
You can also explore the Amalfi Coast on a guided day trip from Sorrento, taking in Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello in one go.
