17 Best Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy (Plus Top Day Trips)

The best things to do in Sorrento include clifftop viewpoints over the Bay of Naples, beach clubs built out over the water, and easy day trips to Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Pompeii, making Sorrento one of the best home bases in this part of Italy.

We’ve been to Sorrento on two different trips: a quick pass through in 2014, and a full week based here in 2022. That second visit gave us time to get past the obvious highlights and actually get to know the town: which viewpoints are worth the walk, where to eat more than once, and how day trips fit in without feeling rushed. Everything in this guide reflects what we’d actually recommend, not just what’s easy to find online.

Sorrento is a small city built along a line of cliffs on the Sorrentine Peninsula, overlooking the Bay of Naples. On a clear day, you can see Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Because it’s built on cliffs, Sorrento doesn’t have the sandy beaches you’ll find in some Amalfi Coast towns, but its beach clubs sit on long concrete or wooden docks that form protected coves, which work just as well for swimming.

Around town, you’ll find limoncello shops, gelaterias, shops selling handmade sandals and ceramics, and plenty of outdoor cafes and bars. Even on the fastest itinerary, it’s worth carving out at least an afternoon here to see the highlights and have dinner. If you have more time, our 3 days in Sorrento itinerary shows how it fits into a longer trip covering Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Sorrento, plus practical tips for planning your visit.

The Essentials

LOCATION | Sorrentine Peninsula, Bay of Naples, Italy

BEST FOR | First-time visitors, families, and anyone using Sorrento as a home base for Capri, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast

TOP EXPERIENCES | Clifftop viewpoints, beach clubs, limoncello tastings, day trips to Capri and the Amalfi Coast

HOW TO GET AROUND | Walkable in town; train, ferry, and bus for day trips — no rental car needed

IDEAL TRIP LENGTH | Half a day for the highlights, 3+ days if you add day trips

BEST TIME TO VISIT | April, May, September, October

Table of Contents

July 2026 Update: Added a Top 5 Experiences shortlist for readers short on time, refreshed the Where to Stay section, verified Mount Vesuvius ticket details, and updated the title and internal links.

Top 5 Sorrento Experiences (If You’re Short on Time)

If you only have a few hours in Sorrento, skip the full list below and focus on these:

Taste limoncello. Grab a free sample at Limonoro, right in the town center, or make the short walk out to I Giardini di Cataldo for a proper lemon grove setting.
Go shopping on Via S. Cesareo and Corso Italia. Sorrento’s two main shopping streets are lined with ceramics, leather, and limoncello shops. They’re worth a stroll even if you don’t buy anything.
Take in the view from Piazza della Vittoria. One of the best views in town, looking out over Marina Piccola and the Bay of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius visible on a clear day.
Wander down to Marina Grande. This working fishing marina, with its colorful buildings and small boats, feels like a different side of Sorrento than the town center.
Eat well. Gelato at Gelateria David, seafood at Marina Grande, and gnocchi alla Sorrentina at Fauno Bar. If you only eat three things in Sorrento, make it these.

Sorrento, Italy

Best Things to Do in Sorrento

1. Enjoy the view from Piazza della Vittoria

For one of the best views of Sorrento, be sure to visit Piazza della Vittoria. This terrace overlooks Marina Piccola, the beach clubs, and from here, you can look down the long line of cliffs to the hotels and restaurants that overlook the Bay of Naples. On a clear day, you will be able to see Mount Vesuvius on the opposite side of the Bay of Naples.

Sitting next to Piazza della Vittoria is the Bellevue Syrene, one of the most luxurious 5-star hotels in Sorrento. Stroll through the shaded entranceway and have a drink or dinner on the outdoor terrace. This is a beautiful spot to watch the sunset and you don’t have to be a hotel guest to dine here.

Piazza della Vittoria

The view from Piazza della Vittoria

2. Take in the View from Villa Comunale di Sorrento

This is another spectacular viewpoint from Sorrento. The view is similar to Piazza della Vittoria, but here you can have a drink at one of the outdoor cafes.

From this viewpoint, a winding path makes it way down to the beach clubs, but there is also an elevator which will save you a lot of steps.

Villa Comunale di Sorrento | Best Things to Do in Sorrento

The view from Villa Comunale di Sorrento

3. Cool Off at a Beach Club

The “beaches” in Sorrento are not made of sand. Instead, they are wooden or concrete docks that are lined with lounge chairs and umbrellas. These docks form sheltered coves which are perfect for swimming.

Leonelli’s Beach, Marameo Beach Club, and Peter’s Beach are all located next to each other, just below Villa Comunale di Sorrento. Each club offers some combination of sun loungers, changing cabins, food, drinks, and toilets. Expect to pay a fee for the use of their facilities and of course anything you order to eat and drink.

To get here, take the lift from Villa Comunale di Sorrento (small fee) or the path down (free).

Sorrento Beach Clubs | Best Things to Do in Sorrento

A view of the Sorrento Beach Clubs

4. Wander Marina Grande’s Harborfront

Marina Grande is a charming marina with colorful buildings, piers, small fishing boats, and numerous seafood restaurants. It is a little out of the way from the heart of Sorrento but it is a special side of Sorrento to experience.

To get here, it is a 10-15 minute walk from Villa Comunale di Sorrento. It will be a mostly downhill walk to get to the marina and then an uphill walk on the return.

Marina Grande

There are two restaurants here that we recommend.

We ate lunch at Ristorante Bagni Delfino. This restaurant has a gorgeous setting on a dock with views of both Mount Vesuvius and Marina Grande. We had the Risotto Delfino, risotto with various seafood mixed in like octopus, mussels, shrimp, and more, and it was amazing as was the service.

Ristorante Bagni Delfino

Seafood risotto

Porta Marina Seafood is also highly rated. This busy restaurant is open for lunch and dinner. It doesn’t have the same picturesque setting as Bagni Delfino but it is one of the highest rated restaurants in Sorrento and the prices are very reasonable.

Porta Marina Seafood Restaurant

5. Catch the Ferry from Marina Piccola

Marina Piccola is the ferry port in Sorrento. This is where you will go to take a ferry to Capri, Naples, or the Amalfi Coast.

Other than to catch a ferry, there is no need to put Marina Piccola on your Sorrento to-do list, we are simply mentioning it here so you know what it is.

6. Soak Up the Evening at Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso is the main piazza in Sorrento. This square is lined with bars and restaurants. Two popular shopping streets, Corso Italia and Via S. Cesareo, start on the west end of the square.

At night, this place is hopping. The buildings around the piazza are beautifully illuminated, the restaurants are packed, and sometimes you can catch live entertainment in the square.

We really enjoyed dinner at Bar Fauno. It’s a bit touristy, but the service was fast and friendly and the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina was the best I had in Sorrento (we tried it at several restaurants).

Piazza Tasso

Fauno Bar

7. Peer into Vallone dei Mulini

Just a quick walk from Piazza Tasso is Vallone dei Mulini, aka the Valley of the Mills. From street level, you look down into a crevasse containing old mills (sawmills, flour mills, pasta mills), that once took advantage of the stream running through the valley. The mills have been abandoned for years and are slowly being swallowed by vegetation.

We stopped here ourselves, and honestly, it felt a bit overrated compared to how it’s talked up. Still, it’s free, takes two minutes, and sits right off Piazza Tasso, so it’s worth a quick peek if you’re already in the area, just don’t go out of your way for it.

Vallone dei Mulini

8. Swim at Bagni Regina Giovanna

A short drive from Sorrento is Bagni Regina Giovanna. Sitting on the rocky coastline of the Sorrentine peninsula is a natural pool surrounded by the ruins of a Roman villa dating back to the 1st century BC.

Bagni Regina Giovanna

We stopped here with a rental car while transferring from Positano to Sorrento, which made it an easy detour. Public transportation (bus 5070) technically gets you here too, but between the limited schedule and the walk involved, we’d only recommend this stop if you already have a car. Our honest take: the views are nice and it’s an interesting bit of history, but it didn’t quite live up to the hype for us.

To get here, it is a 20-minute drive from Sorrento. If you have a car, park at Parcheggio Regina Giovanna. From here, it is a 1 km walk (about 10 to 15 minutes) on a small cobblestone road and dirt trail to reach the swimming hole and coast.

Once here, you can hike the trails that loop around the swimming hole, visit the viewpoints at the end of the point, see the ruins, and go sunbathing.

You can also kayak to Bagni Regina Giovanna from Sorrento, which avoids the driving and walking altogether and gets you great views of the coastline along the way.

9. Shop Sorrento’s Two Main Streets

Two shopping streets run parallel to one another in Sorrento. Both start on the west end of Piazza Tasso.

Via S. Cesareo is narrower and busier and it is filled with shops selling leather, sandals, ceramics, souvenirs, jewelry, gelato, and limoncello.

Corso Italia is a wider street that is lined with clothing stores and restaurants. Of the two streets, Via S. Cesareo is more interesting, but it’s easy to walk down one and back up the other, forming a loop.

Sorrento Shopping | Best Things to Do in Sorrento

Via S. Cesareo

10. Taste Your Way Through Sorrento’s Limoncello Shops

One of the best things to do in Sorrento is to taste limoncello and you have a few options.

Limonoro is the most popular limoncello shop in Sorrento. They bottle their limoncello right in the store and they also sell an assortment of chocolates. Stop in for a free sample but be warned, it’s hard to walk out of there with only a free sample.

Limonoro

Limoncello at Limonoro

I Giardini di Cataldo is located farther away from the city center but it is a better overall experience. You are transported into a lemon grove where you can sit and relax, sample their limoncello, or have an apertif. It’s worth the walk to get here…many people state that they make the best limoncello in Sorrento.

I Giardini di Cataldo

11. Save Room for Gelato

Gelato shops, or gelaterias, can be found throughout most Italian cities and Sorrento is no different. We have two places to recommend.

Amorino is a gelato shop that can be found throughout the world. They promote that they use organic agriculture. Amorino is located right on Via S. Cesareo so they are perfectly located for those looking for a treat while shopping or exploring the things to do in this guide.

Gelato at Amorino

The second place to try is Gelateria David, a local gelateria that consistently gets rave reviews. Gelateria David is located near Sorrento’s Circumvesuviana station, so they are conveniently located if you will be riding the Circumvesuviana train.

We thought the gelato at Gelateria David was notably better than Amorino, so it is worth going out of your way to try it.

Gelateria David

12. Step Inside Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo

The Cathedral of Saints Philip and James was the first cathedral in Sorrento. Since it was first built in the 11th century, it has undergone several changes. It was rebuilt in a Baroque style after a Turkish invasion in 1573, and given a neo-Gothic facade in a 1924 renovation.

We stopped in ourselves, and honestly, this one is only worth the visit if you’re specifically interested in churches. If that’s not you, it’s easy to skip without missing much.

Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo

13. Visit the Chiostro di San Francesco

This 14th-century cloister sits next to Villa Comunale Park and is free to visit.

We really liked this stop. The inner courtyard is beautiful and one of the more photogenic spots in Sorrento. Since it’s free and centrally located, right along the walk between the Villa Comunale viewpoint and the rest of town, there’s no real reason to skip it.

Chiostro di San Francesco

14. Explore Sorrento’s Museums

There are two notable museums in Sorrento: the Museo della Tarsia Lignea, dedicated to the region’s inlaid woodworking tradition, and the Museo Correale di Terranova, which houses archaeological finds, paintings, and porcelain.

We skipped both on our visits, so we can’t personally vouch for them, but if you have a specific interest in decorative arts or local craft traditions, they’re worth considering as an add-on rather than a must-see.

15. Take a Day Trip to Capri

One of the best things to do in Sorrento is to take a day trip to Capri.

Marina Grande, Capri

Capri, Italy

On the to-do list in Capri are a boat tour of the island, a visit to the Blue Grotto, a ride on the chairlift to Monte Solaro for panoramic views, and a bit of shopping in lovely Capri town.

To day trip to Capri from Sorrento, you can either take the ferry, join a tour, or hire a private boat. Learn how to do this in our guide How to Spend One Perfect Day in Capri.

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16. Spend a Day on the Amalfi Coast

Visiting the Amalfi Coast just may be the #1 item on your Sorrento to-do list. Many people travel to Sorrento just to visit the Amalfi Coast.

There are numerous ways to day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento. You can join a tour, hire a driver to take you to a few towns, cruise along the Amalfi Coast by ferry or private boat, or use the bus to hop from town to town.

For budget travelers, the bus is the most economical option. But you need to have patience, as buses rarely run on schedule, are often crowded, and get stuck in traffic jams along Amalfi Drive. It’s better to take the ferry. You’ll spend a little more money, but you’ll avoid the traffic and get to see the Amalfi Coast from the sea, which is beautiful.

Hiring a driver for the day is another popular way to visit the Amalfi Coast. This has the advantages of being able to travel on your own schedule and visit the places you want to go. However, you still run the risk of getting stuck in traffic jams on Amalfi Drive, particularly the months of July and August.

The most expensive way to day trip to the Amalfi Coast is to hire a private boat. However, it is an awesome experience. Not only do you get to avoid the traffic on the roads, but you can also relax on the boat, sip on prosecco, enjoy the views, and zip up and down the Amalfi Coast faster than any car, bus, or ferry. We rented a private boat for the day during our stay in Positano and it is one of our favorite experiences in Italy.

For more information on all of these modes of transportation, take a look at our article How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast.

Positano

Ravello

Finally, taking a tour is another popular way to day trip to the Amalfi Coast. These range from small group boat tours to tours that include both a drive on the Amalfi Coast and a quick boat ride. Joining a tour takes out the hassle of arranging transportation and deciding where to go.

Amalfi Coast Tours

And where should you go on a day trip to the Amalfi Coast? We recommend Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, three of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast. These can all be visited in one day by private driver or by bus.

For more information on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast.

17. Explore Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, and Herculaneum

From Sorrento, it is easy to get to Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius, and Herculaneum. These three sites can be visited in one busy day trip or you can simply combine Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.

Pompeii, Italy

Pompeii

To day trip to Pompeii, from Sorrento ride the Campania Express train or the Circumvesuviana. The Campania Express is a tourist train that gets to Pompeii a little faster, since it doesn’t have as many stops, plus it is air conditioned and you can have a guaranteed seat (the Circumvesuviana is hot, crowded, and slower).

You can also visit Pompeii on a guided tour from Sorrento, such as this highly rated tour.

Mount Vesuvius

Mount Vesuvius is an active volcano on the mainland of Italy. It last erupted in 1944. In 79 AD, the eruption destroyed Pompeii, Herculaneaum, Stabiae, and Oplontis.

A visit to Mount Vesuvius can be combined with Pompeii. From the train station in Pompeii, you can take a bus or a shuttle to Mount Vesuvius and then you can walk the Great Cono trail around the crater.

To visit Mount Vesuvius, purchase your ticket online in advance (and if you will have a car, purchase your parking pass online in advance). Tickets cannot be purchased upon arrival and the cell service on Vesuvius isn’t reliable enough to purchase tickets online upon arrival. Furthermore, they only sell 50 tickets for each 10-minute time slot. While this might sound like a lot, they do sell out.

The official website provides opening times, costs, the link to purchase your entry ticket, the link to purchase your parking pass, directions to the parking areas, how to get there via a combination of train + taxi or train + bus, etc.

Once on Mount Vesuvius, hike the Great Cono Trail (trail number 5) around the crater. It is an out and back hike that is 3.4 km (2.1 miles) roundtrip with 175 meters (575 feet) of total ascent.

To eliminate the hassle of public transportation, and to visit Pompeii with a knowledgeable guide, here is a highly rated t our of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius from Sorrento.

Herculaneum

Like Pompeii, Herculaneum is a town that was covered in ash from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Herculaneum was the seaside retreat for wealthy Romans. The ash preserved much of the town and things to see here are the boat houses and the Villa of the Papyri.

The best way to get to Herculaneum from Sorrento is the Campania Express. Other options include the Circumvesuviana or a private driver.

You can also take a guided tour of Herculaneum from Sorrento.

Where to Eat in Sorrento

Before we get into where to eat, it is good to know what to eat in Sorrento.

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina: gnocchi baked in a tomato and mozzarella sauce
Limoncello Spritz: similar to an Aperol Spritz but made with limoncello instead of Aperol (so it is limoncello, prosecco, and soda water)
Delizia al Limone: (Lemon Delight): This small, cream filled cake is topped with a thick, delectable layer of icing
Caprese Almond Cake: A flourless chocolate cake make with almonds

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina at Fauno Bar

Here are our favorite restaurants and bars in Sorrento.

Ristorante Lorelei is a Michelin-starred fine-dining restaurant. We liked this restaurant so much that we ate here twice. Ristorante Lorelei has outdoor seating with views of Sorrento, making this a great restaurant to have dinner outside and watch the sunset. If you have an indoor seat, you can watch the chefs work their magic through the huge glass windows. The attentive and friendly staff, the setting, and the food were all phenomenal. And picking out your olive oil from the olive oil menu is nice touch.

Fauno Bar is a casual dining experience located right on Piazza Tasso. This popular restaurant serves great Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, our favorite in Sorrento.

Enjoy Restaurant (aka Enjoy The Little Things Bistrot) is a casual dining experience and one of the highest rated restaurants in Sorrento. It is located on Via S. Cesareo. They have a few tables inside and a few more on the street. It is first come, first serve and due to their rave reviews, it is not uncommon to see people waiting in line to eat here. The cannelloni that Tim had was awesome but we like the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina at Fauno Bar more.

Lunch at Enjoy Restaurant

At Hotel Vittoria, there is a garden bar that is a beautiful, quiet spot to have a cocktail. This is associated with a luxury hotel so it is not casual and the drinks will cost more than at a place like Fauno Bar.

Drinks at Hotel Vittoria

Bellevue Syrene Terrace is a fine dining experience at the Bellevue Syrene hotel. This outdoor terrace has beautiful views of Sorrento and the best time to have dinner here is right at sunset.

Bellevue Syrene

Note: We do not have sunset photos since our visit was at the end of October. The sun set at 6:15, which was before many restaurants opened, which is typically 7:30 pm. If you are here from May through September, plan your dinner to coincide with sunset for the best experience.

Map of Things to Do in Sorrento

How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. To take this map with you, click the star next to the title of the map which adds it to your Google account. Next, within your Google Maps app, select ‘Saved’ and then select ‘Maps’. This map title will now appear in your list.

Best Time to Visit Sorrento

We’ve visited Sorrento in two very different seasons, and the contrast was night and day. Our first trip was in July, and it was hot, crowded, and expensive. It was the kind of visit where you end up planning around the crowds more than your own preferences.

We came back in October and had a completely different experience: things still felt busy, but nowhere near overwhelming, with daytime temperatures still in the mid-80s°F.

If we’re going back, it’ll be in October, and we’d steer clear of peak summer if we can help it.

Winter (November–March): The quietest season with the fewest crowds and lowest prices, but some restaurants, shops, and seasonal services (including the Campania Express) shut down until spring.
Spring (April–May): Warm, pleasant weather with lighter crowds. Ferries to Capri and the Amalfi Coast are running on a fuller schedule, and most restaurants and shops are open for the season.
Summer (June–August): Hot, and the busiest and most expensive time to visit. Book dinner reservations, tours, and ferry tickets well in advance.
Fall (September–October): Our favorite. September is still fairly busy, but by October crowds thin out noticeably while the weather stays warm — this is when we’d go back ourselves.

56°F 42°F

Jan

58°F 44°F

Feb

61°F 47°F

Mar

67°F 52°F

Apr

74°F 59°F

May

83°F 67°F

Jun

89°F 73°F

Jul

89°F 73°F

Aug

81°F 66°F

Sep

73°F 58°F

Oct

65°F 51°F

Nov

59°F 44°F

Dec

Average High/Low Temperatures – near Sorrento

3.4in

Jan

1.9in

Feb

1.5in

Mar

1.8in

Apr

2.0in

May

0.9in

Jun

0.1in

Jul

1.0in

Aug

3.2in

Sep

2.9in

Oct

5.1in

Nov

2.7in

Dec

Average Precipitation – near Sorrento

ALTERNATING LICENSE PLATE SYSTEM: An alternating license plate system for Sorrento Coast Drive is in effect from April through September. For exact dates, times and more information, read this article. If you have a rental car, you will not be permitted to drive Sorrento Coast Drive on odd or even days, depending on the number of your license plate.

Torre dell’Orologio

Where to Stay in Sorrento

For our specific hotel picks in Sorrento, including where we stayed ourselves, take a look at the Where to Stay section in our 3 Days in Sorrento itinerary, which covers a range of options from a cliffside splurge to a budget-friendly hostel.

If you’re weighing Sorrento against other Amalfi Coast towns as your home base, our guide on Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast breaks it down town by town.

Hotel Guide

Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast: A First-Timer’s Guide

Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast, by location and travel style.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Sorrento?

To get to Sorrento from Rome using public transportation, first take a train to Naples. From Naples, continue on to Sorrento by train, either the regular Circumvesuviana or the seasonal Campania Express, or by ferry. Hiring a private driver from Naples to Sorrento is another option if you’d rather skip the transfers. For the full breakdown of routes, timing, and every option in between, see our guide on How to Travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast.

Which is better, Sorrento or Positano?

Sorrento is larger than Positano and easier to get to, since it sits and the end of the Circumvesuviana and Campania Express train lines. There are also frequent ferries connecting Sorrento and Naples. If you have limited time in the area, Sorrento is a better choice, since it takes less time to get here and it is very easy to day trip to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.

However, Positano is a beautiful town on the Amalfi Coast, but you will spend more money and time to get here. Staying in Positano is best for those with at least 3 days in the area, those with more money to spend, and for those celebrating something special. Positano is a wonderful place to spend your honeymoon, a big life event, or to just simply relax and unwind.

We have stayed in both Sorrento and Positano. Sorrento is cheaper, easier to get to, and has a more convenient location, particularly on a quick visit to this part of Italy. But Positano has a better vibe, better beaches, and it is one of the most beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast, but it takes more time to get here and can be more expensive.

How much time do you need in Sorrento?

To simply visit the main sights in town, a half to a full day is all that you need. However, Sorrento makes a great home base for exploring this area, so add on a day for Capri and at least one day to visit the Amalfi Coast. That brings the total up to 3 days in Sorrento, but that is the minimum that we recommend. You can also day trip to Pompeii or spend more time on the Amalfi Coast, if you add more days.

Plan Your Sorrento Trip

Want a day-by-day plan for Sorrento? → Our 3 Days in Sorrento itinerary walks through exactly how to fit in Pompeii, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast.
Getting to Sorrento from Rome → Our How to Travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast guide walks through your options.
Plan your Capri day trip → Our One Day in Capri guide walks through timing, tickets, and how to fit in the Blue Grotto and Monte Solaro.
Wondering if the Blue Grotto is worth it → Our Is the Blue Grotto Worth It? guide breaks down the cost, the wait, and whether it’s really worth the hassle.
Discover the Amalfi Coast → Our Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast guide covers the best towns and experiences end to end.
Planning a bigger Italy trip beyond the Amalfi Coast → Our 10 Days in Italy guide offers five different itinerary ideas for combining Italy’s top destinations.

If you have any questions about the best things to do in Sorrento, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.

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Best things to do in Sorrento, Italy, plus how to day trip to Capri, the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Vesuvius, and Herculaneum.

Best Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy (Plus Top Day Trips)