Sorrento:
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Top sights
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Sorrento checks all the boxes of a perfect vacation: a dramatic cliff rising directly above the waters of Italy’s Mediterranean coastline, offering spectacular views over the Bay of Naples; a historic center made up of a maze of narrow lanes lined with shops, cafès, restaurants, and limoncello sellers; to one side, the crystalline sea, and to the other, lush hills covered in citrus groves. Plus, highlights such as Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Mt. Vesuvius, and Ischia are within striking distance for a day trip. To top it all off, you'll find a mild climate year round and the delectable cuisine of southern Italy.
All of this and more is what makes Sorrento one of the most famous and popular tourist destinations in Italy. It’s a place you’ll want to return to over and over again.
Where is Sorrento?
Sorrento is in the Italian region of Campania about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Naples (Napoli) and 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Salerno.
This resort town is the capital of the Sorrentine Peninsula, a tongue of land that is home to the towns of Sorrento, Sant’Agnello, Piano di Sorrento, Meta, and Vico Equense. The Amalfi Coast lines the opposite side of the peninsula, with A-list villages like Positano and Amalfi seeing millions of visitors a year.
Where should I stay in Sorrento?
The main square in Sorrento is Piazza Tasso, which is also the starting point for the pedestrian-only streets Corso Italia and Via San Cesareo. This is the heart of the historic center (“centro storico”) and the best area to book your accommodation in Sorrento. It’s convenient to get around on foot and has a wide variety of nearby trattorias and cafés to choose from. It's also a strategic point for exploring the area’s highlights, from Pompeii at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius to the Amalfi Coast. The town’s port sits just below the main square, where you can catch a boat tour or ferry to Capri (home of the Blue Grotto) and other destinations in the Bay of Naples. The Circumvesuviana train station is just a few minutes away on foot, where you can catch a train to Pompeii or Herculaneum or a Sita bus to Positano or Amalfi.
What should I see in Sorrento?
The history of Sorrento stretches back 1,000 years, so the town has a wealth of historic and cultural sights. For a good overview of the area’s history, stop at the Museo del Correale di Terranova Museum to visit its archaeological collection. It contains artifacts from ancient Greece and Rome, as well as a collection of precious Capodimonte porcelain and paintings from the Neapolitan school. Be sure to take a stroll through the garden as well.
As you explore Sorrento’s historic center on foot, stop in to view the frescoed ceiling of the Sedil Dominova building, where local nobility used to gather. From here, walk the narrow lanes downhill to the entrance of the Villa Comunale, a beautiful public garden with a panoramic terrace that takes in the entire Bay of Naples. Along the way, stop to visit the Cloister of San Francesco, built in the 1300s, and the adjacent church. Take a moment to visit the local Church of Sant’Antonino as well, to admire its fascinating collection of votive objects on the lower floor. Once you return to the main square Piazza Tasso, look over the railing to the Valley of the Mills (Vallone dei Mulini), one of the many gorges that cut through the coastline from the mountain peaks to the water’s edge. Here you can take in the remains of a historic mill and woodworks. As evening falls, head down to Marina Grande, a charming fishing village where you can enjoy a dinner of fresh fish and seafood right on the water.
While you’re staying in Sorrento, visit the lovely Bagni della Regina Giovanna in Capo di Sorrento. This unique spot has a natural pool in the remains of an ancient Roman villa. Enthusiastic hikers can also take on the Punta Campanella trail, leading to the furthest point of the Sorrentine Peninsula.