10 Best Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy
Back in college I had the great pleasure of calling Florence my home for a semester, and I got the chance to explore Europe for the first time and got to see some truly spectacular places. I never thought I would find another Italian love, like I found in the city of Florence, but I have to admit that Sorrento has definitely stolen a piece of my heart!
This beautiful southern Italian city is a coastal town in the Campania region, that overlooks the Bay of Naples with a magnificent view of Mount Vesuvius. There is so much to see and do in Sorrento and it makes for the best home base for a trip around the Amalfi Coast.
My family and I had such a wonderful time on our travels in this new-to-us city this past spring, and I thought it would be fun to share some of my favorite sights and places that we visited. Will this travel guide just be a long love letter to our perfect Airbnb? Maybe! But anyways, here we go. Buckle in, this is gonna be a long one!
10 BEST THINGS TO DO IN SORRENTO, ITALY
CASA FIORTIA
Guys, I truly wish that we had rented out this airbnb for a whole summer. It was so magical and made for the most perfect Sorrento experience! Casa Fiorita is a charming Italian home in Capo di Sorrento, meaning it is about 3 km west of the town city center further out on the peninsula. The house sleeps up to 9 guests with 4 separate bedrooms, so it is perfect for a larger family or group of friends.
The interior design of the space is impeccable, down to the ornate Italian tiles and the elegant vintage furniture pieces. There was so much thought and design put into the decorations. But not only does it look beautiful, it is also full of so many amenities. Every room has it’s own bathroom/shower, there is a fully stocked kitchen with all appliances and dishes you might need, a cozy living room and dining space, and the crown jewel is the enormous covered patio overlooking the sea.
I just can’t get over how spacious this rental property is, we truly felt like we were living in our own personal Italian villa. We had aperitivo out on the patio while we watched the sunset over the water each evening. Pure heaven.
A quick tip for picking the right place to stay in Sorrento — if you are not a fan of long walks and want to just step outside your door into the hustle and bustle of the city, then definitely make sure you pick a hotel or airbnb that is nearby Piazza Tasso. If you’re looking for a quieter, less touristy feel, then I would recommend something a bit further out of town, like Capo di Sorrento. It’s more work to get to the restaurants and sights from this location, but in my opinion it is worth it for the peacefulness.
2. EXPLORE THE MAIN CITY CENTER
To begin your trip around Sorrento, you will want to start in the center of town, Piazza Tasso. This bustling square is home to a ton of great restaurants and people watching galore. Corso Italia is the main road that cuts through the town which is also a great place for finding a quick cafe or popping into a shop or two. I specifically love looking at all the amazing architecture on this street, all the decorative street lamps and charming balconies. My sister and I said we felt like we were walking down a real life version of Main Street in Disneyland! This area, also known as Centro Storico, is home to twisty narrow streets full of trattorias, bars, and souvenir shops. You can spend a good chunk of time just wandering down each and every road.
As you walk further north down these tiny streets you will run into Saint Francis Church and Convent. You can peak your head inside to admire the beautiful interior of the church and the attached cloisters.
Next door to the church is Villa Communale Park which has a breathtaking view of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius. People say this is the best view in Sorrento and a great place to watch the sunset. I would argue that there really aren’t many bad views in Sorrento but it was fun to look down at the marina and the beach clubs along the water.
3. I GIARDINI DI CATALDO
Although you will see a lemon tree just about everywhere you look in Sorrento, I would still highly recommend checking out I Giardini Di Cataldo (Via Corral, 27, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). This charming family owned citrus orchard is located just off Piazza Tasso down Via Correale.
They were not officially open when we walked past the door (due to it being off-season) but we peaked our heads inside and, to our delight, they still welcomed us in and offered to give us a tour of the beautiful and tranquil lemon groves and the attached limoncello factory.
Our guide could not have been more friendly, he was so welcoming and we felt like we had our very own private tour and tasting. He gave us samples of all the types of limoncello they produce; lemon, orange, mandarin, and even a licorice liquor (which was surprisingly good and did not taste like American black licorice, which I hate!). Not only do they sell limoncello, but they offer tons of different citrus flavored treats like marmalades and candy.
If you are in the market for some souvenirs to bring back from your travels for friends and family (or even for yourself to enjoy!), my number one pick would be a bottle of Limoncello from I Gardini di Cataldo. I can honestly say we sampled a GOOD amount of Limoncello during our time in Italy, and this was definitely one of the best. Also a great momento from a lovely experience!
4. VALLE DEI MULINI
Another interesting spot, just off of Piazza Tasso, is the Valle dei Mulini — or the “Valley of Mills” (Viale Enrico Caruso Sorrento, 80067 Italy). This one is pretty hard to miss as you’re walking through the city center. Just look for the giant valley in the middle of town. It is a grouping of modern ruins down in a natural crevasse, dating back to the 13th century. These buildings were originally used as a plethora of different types of mills throughout the years, due to their close proximity to the advantageous stream at the bottom of the valley. These mills became abandoned once milling moved out of the area and all this natural greenery formed in what was left of the buildings.
5. RELAX BY THE MARINA
After a long day of walking around we needed a bit of rest, so we made our way down to Marina Piccola, which is the main port of Sorrento, where all the ferries come in and out of the city. From Piazza Tasso, you will take the steep steps down to Via Luigi di Maio, which leads directly to the marina. There is a small park area with benches and we enjoyed relaxing here next to the sea while we warmed up in the sun.
If you want to access the marina but are not keen on the stairs, you can actually walk to Villa Comunale Park and you will see signs for a lift (that costs €1 per person) that will take you down to sea level. Turn right when exiting the lift and you’ll run into Marina Piccola.
Since we were visiting in early spring (March), it was still a bit chilly so we didn’t get to take full advantage of all the beaches Sorrento has to offer. But if you’re traveling in the warmer months, you will also find the well-known Leonelli’s Beach (Via Marina Piccola, 55, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy) located right off the lift exit. This is a private bathing establishment and restaurant that is located on three terraces out in the bay, complete with plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas.
Another place we unfortunately missed was Marina Grande, this is the other marina located a bit further out the peninsula in Sorrento. It seems to be the place where more private boats enter and exit the city. But I’ve heard there are some great seafood restaurants in this marina and even a public beach area for anyone to enjoy!
6. FOOD & DRINKS
And now, for the most important bit of information. Food.
In the center of Piazza Tasso, you will see the iconic Fauno Bar (Piazza Torquato Tasso, 13, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). Unfortunately this bistro-style restaurant was closed still for the season during our stay, but I hear it’s an awesome place for a morning coffee or an afternoon aperitivo while people watching in the busy central square.
We had heard that the best places to eat in Italy are the ones that do not have a server standing outside ushering people in, so when we walked up to our first lunch spot we knew it was a good sign that we were not even sure we were in the right place. But we followed the steps up through several levels of dining rooms and found ourselves at O Parrucchiano La Favorita (Corso Italia, 71, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). This magical restaurant offers a very classic Italian dining experience that has the most stunning atmosphere. You are completely surrounded by beautiful gardens and lemon trees. Our waiter was great and again, since we were there during slow season, we had a large area all to ourselves, but I can image this place is just bustling during the summer months. I had the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, and it was delish!
If you’re looking for a quick lunch spot, definitely look no further than Pizzeria da Franco (Corso Italia, 265, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). This is a much more casual dining experience with bench style seating and pizza, sandwiches, and beer. But the pizza was to die for, and you know it’s good because the restaurant was filled with locals! They serve very classic Naples-style pizza, and I would have definitely made a second stop if we had been in town longer.
Another quick must see during your explorations of Sorrento is Gelateria David (Via Marziale, 19, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). No day in Italy is complete without a gelato, and this place has some delicious flavors!
If you’re looking for a good dinner spot in town, we also really enjoyed our meal and experience at Cafe Latino (Corso Italia, 24, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). Similarly to O Parrucchiano La Favorita, this restaurant is set back inside an unassuming entrance, but the minute you walk in you feel like you have been transported to a secret garden. The dining tables are situated around a large citrus garden, with a mix of outdoor tables and three indoor gazebos. At night the whole garden is lit up with fairy lights and it truly looks magical!
But our all time favorite dining experience was definitely the night we had dinner at La Tavernetta, located in Marina Di Puolo, but I will talk more about that below.
7. WALK THE FOOT PATHS
One of my personal favorite experiences, while in Sorrento, were our daily walks into the town center. Since we were staying in Capo di Sorrento, it was about a 30-40 minute walk into Sorrento. You can easily follow the main road (Via Capo) to get into town, but I will say it is a bit dangerous because there are no sidewalks and lots of twists and turns on the road that create blind spots for oncoming drivers.
So the best paths to take into town are actually a series of local trails that cut directly through the peninsula. They are beautifully paved and marked by tile trail markers. There are street lamps for walking in the evenings and the views and sights along the way really make the experience!
Along the way, we found ourselves surrounded by lemon groves and olive trees everywhere we looked. And nothing will beat the amazing views of the city of Sorrento as we ventured down the path into town. I will warn you that these can sometimes be very steep trails, but we considered this hiking the best form of exercise after all the gelato and pasta we had been eating! :)
If you’re staying in Sorrento, I would highly recommend taking a day to walk up the paths and through the countryside. My whole family and I agreed that getting to experience the Capo di Sorrento area made the whole trip feel a lot less touristy and we really got a glimpse into a local Italian way of life. Bellisimo!
Note! You will also want to utilize these foot paths if you’re going to be accessing my next two recommendations… I will share the directions below.
8. MARINA DI PUOLO
Marina di Puolo is a small fishing town down the coast from Sorrento. It is a bit of hike from the Sorrento city center (maybe 45-60 min hike), but it is definitely doable! Or you can take a local bus, car, or taxi — but I actually think the walk is a whole adventure on its own!
To get to Marina di Puolo - Starting from Piazza Tasso, you will travel west along Corso Italia until you reach Via Capodimonte. Follow this street up to the nearest foot path. You will then briefly cross the road at Via Nastro Verde, but that will put you back on the path headed west. Follow that until you reach Via Traversa Pantano which will turn into Via Pantano. Take that street back down to Via Capo. Turn left and walk down Via Capo until you reach Via Calata di Puolo. This will lead you to Via Marina di Puolo and directly down to the marina.
This charming seaside town offers a quiet, relaxing beach that seems a lot less touristy than Sorrento. There are a handful of awesome restaurants in the marina, mostly known for their seafood, of course!
And this is where we found our favorite restaurant, La Tavernetta (Via Marina di Puolo 10, 80061, Massa Lubrenese Italy). We were recommended this spot by our Airbnb host and we walked down to the marina one evening to unfortunately find the entire community closed down for the night. Since we were off season the restaurants were mainly operating only at lunch time since the nearby hotels were still closed and tourists were few and far between.
The next day we tried calling the restaurant to see if they would be open for 6 guests that evening and they said they could accommodate us at 8pm. We walked back down to the marina that evening to find La Tavernetta all lit up and a table prepared for our party on their outdoor patio. They had opened their doors just for us! And our amazing host met us and couldn’t have been more friendly and inviting. He helped us pick out a personalized menu for our evening and kept the wine flowing! We sampled a ton of amazing seafood that was brought in from the marina earlier that day (like he could literally point to the boat it came in on) — I don’t even normally like seafood and I actually loved each and every dish they served us!
We later found out this is a family owned restaurant and our server was part owner with his brother, who was the chef for the evening. It was truly one of the most special, once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Delicious, fresh food. Thoughtful service. And an amazing ambience seated right next to the sea. La dolce vita, indeed. Needless to say, I highly recommend checking out La Tavernetta! It is worth the walk from Sorrento.
9. BAGNI DI REGINA GIOVANNA
If you are making a day trip down to Marina di Puolo, you can easily pair that with a trip to Bagni Di Regina Giovanna. This was another one of my favorite sites from our trip!
To get to Bagni Regina Giovanna using the foot paths — Starting from Piazza Tasso, you will travel west along Corso Italia until you reach Via Capodimonte. Follow this street up to the nearest foot path. You will then briefly cross the road at Via Nastro Verde, but that will put you back on the path headed west. Follow that until you reach Via Traversa Pantano which will turn into Via Pantano. Take that street back down to Via Capo. Cross Via Capo and continue down the street until you run into Traversa Punta Capo. This trail ends at Bagni Regina Giovanna.
Bagni di Regina Giovanna is an amazing swimming hole cove with a natural rock arch that is surrounded by the ruins of a Roman villa. It is an awesome place to spend the day climbing through an old archeological site with incredible views out to sea. You can even bring your swimsuit and take a dip if it’s warm out!
While you’re in this area, another delicious restaurant that we visited was Ristorante Verdemare (Via Capo, 70, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy). Another very classic Italian dining experience with friendly staff and great food. We ended our meal that evening with our first Italian affogato of the trip and it was delectable.
10. TRAVEL TO NEARBY CITIES: THE AMALFI COAST, CAPRI, NAPLES, OR POMPEII
Arguably, the very best part about Sorrento is the location. While it is not actually considered part of the Amalfi Coast, it is situated in the perfect location for day trips to some of the most amazing Southern Italian cities.
Since we were only in Sorrento for a total of 4 nights, we definitely didn’t have time to see every place we hoped to see. But we did take one day trip to Positano and another to Capri! I am hoping to write up a blog post for both of these locations of our favorite sights and places, so stay tuned for those posts!
The easiest way to Travel to Positano from Sorrento (if you do not rent a car) is via the public bus. The trip was roughly only about 60 minutes or so and it was a beautiful, scenic ride along the coast! — although I would recommend taking some motion sickness medicine before you take off because it is a very windy ride.
To buy tickets, you will want to head to the Sorrento Railway Station. Before you enter the main entrance steps up into the train station, you will see a Ticket Office to your right. Inside you are able to purchase bus tickets from the counter, just let them know you are looking to travel round trip from Sorrento to Positano and back, and the clerk can even tell you when the last bus is back to Sorrento for the day. Head back out to the street and you will see a line of SITA buses. Look for the one going towards Postiano/Amalfi.
Positano is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen, but be warned! The bus will drop you off at the top of this scenic town, so it is a very steep walk down a set of steps (follow the city center signs) and a very steep (& painful) walk back up the steps at the end of the day — it’s definitely not for the faint of heart! :P
The best way to get to Capri from Sorrento is via boat! There is a direct ferry that takes off from the Port of Sorrento (located by Marina Piccola). You can buy round trip tickets right in the marina, just look for the window that says “Capri” but I would maybe recommend purchasing your tickets days ahead of time or even online to make sure you can take the earliest ferry there and the latest ferry back to have the longest day possible on the island. We found out the hard way that they do sell out and they also have a limited amount of ferries traveling back and forth during slow season.
There is so much to see and fun excursions to do on the island (like the famous Blue Grotto tour or the Monte Solaro chair lift) so you will definitely want as much time as possible on this gorgeous island!
I hope this list gives you some good ideas for your next trip to this little slice of heaven! Sorrento has truly become one of my favorite places in the world, and I am already day dreaming about my next trip to this special place — and how I can permanently move into that Airbnb! :P Now I’m off to make myself a limoncello spritz and pretend I’m looking out over the Gulf of Naples!
Arrivederci! xo Rachael
