Sorrento: Getting Your Bearings

Sorrento is located in southeast Italy, just south of Naples. Along with Capri and the Amalfi Coast - is a spectacular destination in the region of Campania and is set on the Sorrentine Peninsula overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Sorrento and the other towns on the Sorrentine Peninsula (Sant'Agnello, Piano and Meta) are all located on a clifftop that stands about 100 meters above the sea. The beaches and ports are located at sea level, far from the centers of these cliff towns.

Sorrento is not geographically part of the Amalfi Coast, but instead is located on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Regardless, getting to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento is very easy.

The center of Sorrento is laid out in a grid pattern that centers around Piazza Tasso, the city's main square which is lined with cafès and restaurants along all four sides. The main thoroughfare is Corso Italia, in particular the stretch between Piazza Angelina Lauro and the hospital. The town's most fashionable stores and boutiques are all clustered here, but parallel to Corso Italia the picturesque lanes of the historic center are crowded with artisanal workshops and charming local restaurants and cafès, If you take these narrow streets down, you will reach the Villa Comunale gardens overlooking the sea.

Marina Grande was once the fisherman's wharf, and today is home to some of the best seafood restaurants in the city. You can easily reach this waterfront stretch on foot, but there is also a bus line which runs from the center of Sorrento above to Marina Grande below.

This is where Sorrento's port is located, where ferries to Capri and Naples depart. There are a few small beach clubs next to the port built on platforms above the water. You can reach Marina Piccola with the public elevator from Villa Comunale, by bus, or by the stairs which lead down from Piazza Tasso.

Casarlano, Priora, Colli, and Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi are the hilltop villages outside the center, and can be reached by local bus.

This quiet village outside Sorrento has a relaxed, authentic atmosphere and beautiful views over the sea. It is well-connected by bus and the Circumvesuviana train line, or you can walk into town.

The city's historic hotels, opened during the century of the Grand Tour, are all located on the cliff's edge directly above the water. Some also offer private access to the beach or cliffs below. These are all luxury hotels, so if you are looking for a more affordable option that offers sea views, you can opt for a hotel located in the surrounding hills. Most of these accommodations offer shuttle services to the center of Sorrento.

The neighborhood surrounding Piazza Angelina Lauro is just a few minutes from the train station, bus terminal, and port.

Sorrento does not have a sand or pebble beach, but has a number of platforms with beach clubs on the water's edge. If you have your heart set on a beach vacation, you may want to opt to stay in Massa Lubrense or Positano, which have proper beaches.

There has been an explosion of B&B, private room, and holiday apartment accommodations in Sorrento's historic center. Often, these are very clean, comfortable, and even stylish options that offer a fun alternative that won't break the bank! To stay in your travel budget, you can also find lodging in the other towns on the Sorrento Coast, like Sant'Agnello, Piano, or Meta.