9 Family-Friendly Things To Do in Sorrento

Sorrento’s lively waterfront anchors this historic resort town, and a quick swim or full day of fun in the sun is a perennial hit with all ages. Blue Flag-listed Marina Piccola is perfect for families with younger kids and is easy to reach via the Villa Comunale public elevator; its beach clubs offer a full range of services, including restrooms, showers, umbrellas, loungers, restaurants, and snack bars. If your kids are older (and more adventurous), they may prefer exploring the Baths of Queen Giovanna on a boat tour or a guided excursion by kayak.

The compact and relatively traffic-free old town of Sorrento is easy to explore during a walking tour in just an hour or two. Start from Piazza Tasso and dive into the narrow streets of the historic center to make your way to the Villa Comunale di Sorrento, where kids can let off some steam at the park while the grown-ups sip a spritz at the open-air café. Browse souvenir shops, pop into the Basilica di Sant’Antonino and Chiostro di San Francesco, and treat your kids to a gelato cone for a quintessential, kid-friendly day in Sorrento.

Steeped in history, the Roman ruins of Pompeii are a fascinating cultural excursion for older kids, especially when explored during a family-friendly tour. Follow an archaeologist guide along the original paved streets to admire frescoed villas and baths, intact theaters, temples, and more. Learn about daily life in ancient times and listen to tales recounting the final hours of this bustling city before it was buried in AD 79. If you have real Roman history buffs in your family, you can even pair your Pompeii tour with a guided visit to the nearby ruins of Herculaneum.

Snarled traffic, shoulder-to-shoulder crowds, and steep streets can make visiting the Amalfi Coast by land a chore for both kids and adults. Avoid getting stuck in tourist gridlock and make the most of your day along Italy’s most famous coastline with a boat tour. Private and small-group boat tours from Sorrento generally dock at Positano and/or Amalfi, so you can hop off the boat and explore the sights or grab a bite to eat. Plus, boats often drop anchor along the coast for swimming and snorkeling breaks, and many also visit the Emerald Grotto.

The Bay of Naples is known for its authentic pizza napolitana, and you can break up your sightseeing with a family-friendly pizza-making experience in Sorrento’s old town or at a farm in the surrounding hills. Pick up tips and techniques from your pizzaiolo (pizza chef) instructor and get hands-on by kneading the dough and loading the pie with toppings to be baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. End the class by sampling your handiwork and feasting on your custom pie.

No family Sorrento travel guide would be complete without a mention of the trio of islands that sit just off the coastline in the Bay of Naples: Capri, Ischia, and Procida. Sorrento is a major cruise port, and boat tours set off daily for the islands, so there's a destination for every family.

Capri can tricky for families with small children, but fashion-forward teens love the high-end boutiques, VIP atmosphere, and Insta-worthy Blue Grotto. Otherwise, outdoorsy families can explore Ischia’s wild hot springs and undeveloped beaches, while parents of toddlers may enjoy sleepy Procida best for its smaller crowds and shallow, sandy beaches ideal for little swimmers.

Mt. Vesuvius looms above the Bay of Naples and can be spotted from Sorrento across the water. Though it may seem imposing from afar, this dormant volcano is actually relatively easy to climb—and one of the top family destinations in Sorrento. From the parking area about halfway up its slopes, the trail leads to the massive summit crater left after its many eruptions over the centuries, one of which buried the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum below. Hike with a guide to learn about the mountain’s destructive past and continued threat, plus take in sweeping views over the bay.

Though Sorrento is best known as a warm-weather playground, the surrounding hills have long been home to small family farms where the area’s heirloom Sorrento lemons are grown. A tour and tasting at a limoneto (lemon farm) is one of the most unique Sorrento activities for children, taking them away from the tourist-heavy old town and into the quieter surrounding farmland. Learn about the history of lemon production and other local delicacies—such as olive oil, cheese, and wine—and sample farm-fresh lemonade, jams, and more.

Sprawling Naples can be overwhelming for many families with younger kids, but the Naples Historic Center is a perfect excursion from Sorrento for city-loving teens. Explore with a local guide who knows how to bring the charm of this gritty yet glorious metropolis to the fore, and be sure to stop along the way to sample local street-food delicacies. In addition to the shop-lined Spaccanapoli thoroughfare, top family-friendly sights in Naples include its pair of castles—Castel dell’Ovo and Castel Nuovo—and the atmospheric tunnels and chambers hidden deep under the modern city in Naples Underground.