Three Days in Sorrento, Italy | Capri, the Amalfi Coast & Pompeii

Spending three days in Sorrento is one of the easiest and most convenient ways to experience the best of the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Pompeii, and you don’t need a car or a big budget to do it. Sorrento makes an ideal home base for this part of Italy, since it’s well connected by train, ferry, and bus to everywhere on this itinerary.

We first put this itinerary together after spending three days here ourselves in 2014, passing through Sorrento with our kids at the very start of a year-long trip around the world. Money and time were both tight, so this reflects what actually worked on a fast, budget-conscious visit.

We’ve been back since. A few years ago, we spent a full week in Sorrento and another in Positano, exploring the region in much more depth. That longer visit shaped a few changes we’ve made below: what’s worth the extra effort on a short visit, and what we’d skip if time is limited.

This itinerary is designed for travelers with limited time in the region who don’t want to spend a small fortune (which is very easy to do here). If you have more time, or want to see other ways to structure your visit, take a look at our Amalfi Coast Itinerary, which covers options from a few days up to a full week.

Three Days in Sorrento: At a Glance

TRIP LENGTH | 3 days

BEST FOR | First-time visitors, families, and budget-conscious travelers

HIGHLIGHTS | Pompeii’s ruins, Capri’s Blue Grotto, the cliffside towns of Positano and Amalfi

HOW TO GET AROUND | Train, ferry, and public bus; no rental car needed

BEST TIME TO VISIT | April, May, September, October: avoid peak season crowds and prices and still have great weather

Table of Contents

July 2026 Update: Restructured Day 1 around a Pompeii-only day trip with a full afternoon in Sorrento, added an FAQ, refreshed our hotel recommendations, corrected the Campania Express seasonal schedule, and updated internal links throughout.

Is 3 Days Enough Time in Sorrento?

Yes, three days is enough time to see the highlights of Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast, but it’s a fast, whirlwind pace with very little downtime.

What 3 Days Does Well

Pompeii, one of Italy’s must-see ancient sites
A full day trip to Capri, including the Blue Grotto and Monte Solaro
A full day on the Amalfi Coast, taking in Positano and Amalfi

What You’ll Miss

Time to relax by the pool, beach, or at a beach club
Additional Amalfi Coast towns you’d otherwise skip, like Ravello
Any buffer if weather, ferries, or crowds throw off your schedule
A deeper feel for Sorrento itself, beyond a quick pass through town

Our Take

We first did this itinerary, traveling with our kids, and it worked well for what it was: an efficient, budget-friendly introduction to the region. When we returned and spent a full week in Positano and another in Sorrento, we saw just how much this region rewards a slower pace. Towns we’d rushed through the first time became some of our favorite places once we had time to actually settle in. If three days is genuinely all the time you have, this itinerary makes the most of it. If you can stretch to five days or a week, we’d encourage you to.

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3 Days in Sorrento

Day 1: Pompeii Day Trip

This itinerary assumes you’ve already arrived in Sorrento. See our guide on how to get from Rome to Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast for that leg. Prefer to combine travel and Pompeii into one day instead? That works too, just budget for a long day.

Morning: Pompeii

Take the Campania Express or Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri, right at the entrance to the ruins. It’s about 25 to 30 minutes each way.

Once there, you can tour the site on your own, hire a guide, or do what we did on our first visit and follow along with the Rick Steves guidebook. It worked, but we came away feeling like we’d missed a lot of the context and stories that make the ruins come alive. If we were doing this again, we’d hire a guide or join a guided tour instead. For a site this significant, the extra cost is worth it.

It takes 2 to 4 hours to visit Pompeii, depending on whether you take a tour and how much of the site you want to explore.

For pricing, hours, and to purchase tickets in advance, here is the link to the official Pompeii website.

Pompeii

Note: The Campania Express only runs mid-March through mid-October. Outside that window, use the Circumvesuviana instead. It runs year-round on the same route, just with more stops and no guaranteed seat.

Afternoon (Optional): Vesuvius

If you’re moving fast and want to fit in more, Mount Vesuvius can be added on right after Pompeii. From the Pompeii train station, take a bus or shuttle up to the entrance, then hike the short trail to the crater rim. But after a full morning at the ruins, we’d rather spend the afternoon settling into Sorrento, especially with kids or on a tight schedule.

Afternoon: Travel to Sorrento

Take the train back to Sorrento, which is about 25 to 30 minutes from Pompeii, and spend the rest of the day exploring town at an easy pace. Check into your hotel, wander the shops and viewpoints, and have dinner. For ideas on what to see and where to eat, take a look at our guide to the Best Things to Do in Sorrento.

PRO TRAVEL TIP: There are two train lines that run between Naples and Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana and the Campania Express. The Campania Express is a newer, tourist line that makes fewer stops, has air conditioning, and has guaranteed seats. It’s a little more expensive, but having ridden the Circumvesuviana in the hot, crowded summer months, it’s worth it to have AC and a seat. Note: The Campania Express only runs during peak tourist season, which is April through October.

Marina Grande, Sorrento

Limoncello in Sorrento

Day 2: Capri Day Trip

A day trip to Capri from Sorrento is refreshingly simple. Ferries leave right from Marina Piccola, the port at the base of Sorrento, and the crossing takes just 20 to 30 minutes depending on whether you take the ferry or the faster hydrofoil. Take one of the first departures of the day, because Capri fills up fast by mid-morning, especially in summer, and an early start gets you more time on the island before the crowds (and the cruise ship day-trippers) arrive.

We’ve done this day trip on both of our visits, and no two days looked the same. There’s genuinely a lot to do on Capri.

The first time, traveling with our kids, we did the classic version: a boat tour around the island, the Blue Grotto, and the chairlift up to Monte Solaro. Our kids loved the Blue Grotto and still say it was 100% worth it. Kara was so enthralled by it that she insisted she’d get married there someday. On our return trip, Tim and I skipped all of that and explored by scooter instead, hiking, walking, and visiting towns we hadn’t seen the first time.

Those two very different days shaped the guides below, which we wrote after our second trip and lay out what we think is the best way to spend one full day on Capri. They’ve gotten great feedback from readers since we published them.

Plan Your Capri Day Trip

One Day In Capri: How to Plan Your Capri Day Trip
Top 10 Things to Do in Capri
Is the Blue Grotto Worth It?

The view from Monte Solaro

The Blue Grotto

Via Camerelle in Capri

Italy Travel Guide

See all of our articles

Day 3: The Amalfi Coast

There are several different ways to day trip to the Amalfi Coast, and the right choice mostly comes down to budget and season.

On our first visit in 2014, we were traveling on a tight budget, so we used the public bus system, and had a rough experience. Buses were consistently late, and on more than one occasion, never showed up at all. We’ve since spent a full week based in Positano, and even in the quieter month of October, we still saw long lines for the bus. If you plan to use it, come with patience and expect to wait.

If you’re here in summer, also be aware that traffic on Amalfi Drive backs up for kilometers at a time. Buses and cars both get stuck in it, so even hiring a private driver doesn’t guarantee you’ll avoid the jams.

Getting around by ferry is a much better experience in summer. You’ll skip the traffic entirely, and seeing the Amalfi Coast from the water is stunning in its own right. We recommend the ferry, or a small boat tour, especially from June through September.

In one day, you can realistically visit a couple of towns. Positano and Amalfi are the most popular choices, since they’re beautiful and easy to reach by both bus and ferry. Ravello is also worth the time, but it sits high in the hills and isn’t accessible by boat, so you’ll need the bus, a taxi, or a tour that includes it. It’s a harder add-on for a single day trip from Sorrento.

On our day trip from Sorrento, we visited Positano in the morning. We went kayaking here, which was the highlight of our day. After lunch, we waited a long time for the bus and then continued on to Amalfi. By the time we wrapped up there, it was mid-afternoon, so we took the bus back to Sorrento, arriving between 4 and 5 pm.

Kayaking in Positano

The Amalfi Coast

Having since spent a full week based in Positano, we can say with confidence: Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello are the three towns most worth your time on a day trip from Sorrento, and all three can be visited in one day with a private driver or by bus.

For more on what to see and do once you’re there, read our guide to the Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast.

If you like the idea of taking a guided tour of the Amalfi Coast, either by boat or by driver, here are some of the most highly rated tours on GetYourGuide. One major advantage of booking your tour through GetYourGuide is the ability to cancel your tour within 24 hours and still get a full refund.

Tours of the Amalfi Coast

Where to Stay in Sorrento

LUXURY: Bellevue Syrene. Perched on the cliffs of Sorrento, this 5-star hotel offers a wide variety of rooms, most with a balcony and sea view, including suites with a hot tub or private pool. We stayed here ourselves. It was a splurge, but our room had its own balcony looking straight out over the water, with Mount Vesuvius visible in the distance, and it’s one of the most memorable hotel stays we’ve had in Italy. Even if you aren’t staying here, the outdoor terrace is worth a visit for a drink or dinner.

UPSCALE: Bella Sorrento B&B. This small property boasts an excellent location in Sorrento and gets rave reviews by prior guests. Breakfast is served in the garden and some rooms offer views of the sea. If you are traveling as a family, there is a room that can accommodate up to four people.

UPSCALE: Maison La Minervetta. This hotel, with its cliff top setting, offers amazing views over Sorrento, the Bay of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius. Rooms have a nautical theme. If you are looking for a room with an unforgettable view, check out the superior corner suite with sea view.

MID-RANGE: Hotel Sorrento City. Located right in the heart of Sorrento next to Piazza Tasso, it’s just a short walk from the train station. Rooms are modernly decorated, each has a small balcony, and rooms range from singles to quadruple rooms.

HOSTEL: Ostello Le Sirene. This hostel is centrally located in Sorrento and has rooms ranging from mixed dormitory and all-male dormitory rooms to private double and quad rooms. It gets good reviews on Booking.com, with good scores for location, staff, and cleanliness, but gets ripped for its mediocre WiFi.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don’t want to visit Pompeii?

Pompeii isn’t required. If you’d rather skip it, use that day to explore Sorrento at a more relaxed pace and spend some time at a beach club, hike the Path of the Gods (one of the best hikes on the Amalfi Coast), or add on another day exploring more Amalfi Coast towns instead.

What if I only have 2 days?

Sorrento is still doable in 2 days, but you’ll need to give something up. The easiest trade-off is choosing either Capri or the Amalfi Coast rather than both, paired with Pompeii and some time in Sorrento itself. It’s tighter than we’d recommend, but it can still work if 2 days is genuinely all the time you have.

What is Sorrento like in the summer?

Hot, busy, and worth planning ahead for. In our experience, temperatures were high, and Sorrento (along with Capri and the Amalfi Coast), was crowded with visitors. Ferry tickets to Capri and the Amalfi Coast sold out for the best departure times, so we’d recommend booking those in advance rather than counting on walking up and going.

Plan Your Sorrento Trip

Starting your Italy planning from scratch → Our Italy Travel Guide covers everything from Rome and Florence to the Dolomites, Sicily, and Puglia.
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.
Wanting more depth on your Capri day → Our Things to Do in Capri guide rounds up the island’s best experiences beyond the basics.
Planning your Amalfi Coast day in more detail → Our Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast guide covers the best towns and experiences end to end.
Figuring out the trip from Rome → Our How to Travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri & the Amalfi Coast guide walks through your options.
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 how to spend three days in Sorrento, let us know in the comment section below.

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