Itineraries for Your Trip to Sorrento
2 Days in Sorrento for First Timers
No town captures the sunny, “la dolce vita” vibe of Italy’s southern coast like Sorrento. This popular vacation hot spot has been on the travel map for millennia, beginning with the ancient Roman emperors drawn to its soaring cliffs, crystalline waters, and lush hillsides. Bookended by the Bay of Naples and Amalfi Coast, Sorrento is well-placed to see the area’s highlights. It offers an atmospheric old town, inviting waterfront, and robust dining scene.
I often land in Sorrento when taking a seaside break in southern Italy. The resort town offers more affordable sleeping and eating options than the Amalfi Coast without the relentless bustle of Naples. You can cover both Sorrento and the surrounding area in two days. Here’s how.
The summer sun is great for Sorrento’s lemons, but can make touring a chore—keep a hat and sunblock handy.
If you only have time for one thing, make it the experience of eating a lemon-laced treat made with Sorrento’s heirloom citrus.
Dedicate your first day to taking in the best of Sorrento, beginning with its picturesque—and largely traffic-free—historic center. A walking tour helps you cover the highlights such as Piazza Tasso, St. Anthony’s Basilica and the Cloister of San Francesco, the Marina Grande fishing hamlet, and Villa Comunale scenic terrace in just a few hours, with time for a gelato or sfogliatella pastry break.
Now that you’ve checked off Sorrento’s old town set off for the surrounding hills with a culinary tour that stops at a family farm to sample mozzarella and other artisan cheeses, extra-virgin olive oil, authentic limoncello, and other delicacies. Combine your farm tour and tasting with a cooking class to hone your pizza- and pasta-making skills.
Don’t miss Sorrento’s theatrical sunset, which is best seen from the water. Book a private or small-group sunset cruise and set sail as the sun begins to lower over the water, dropping anchor to swim or toast with a glass of bubbly. Sunset cruises skirt the Sorrentine coastline or head as far as the Amalfi Coast or Capri Island.
Sorrento is often used as a base for exploring the most famous sights around the Bay of Naples, so today venture beyond the resort town to admire top attractions farther afield. Beat the heat and crowds this morning by heading straight to Pompeii, the ancient city that’s among Italy’s premier archaeological treasures. Tour with a guide to cover the highlights of the massive site in just hours.
We wouldn’t have Pompeii without Mt. Vesuvius (Monte Vesuvio), the volcano that buried the Roman city in ash and debris in 79 AD. After exploring the ruins, head up the volcanic slopes to hike to the crater and take in bird’s-eye views of Naples and its namesake bay. Many Mt. Vesuvius tours also include a stop at one of the wineries that produce wine on the mountain’s fertile volcanic slopes for a winery tour and tasting lunch.
End your adventures around the Bay of Naples by exploring the city of Naples, with its vibrant historic center (centro storico), spectacular statue of the Veiled Christ in the Sansevero Chapel (Museo Cappella Sansevero), and shop-lined Via Toledo thoroughfare. The city is known for its excellent street food scene, so opt for a food tour to take in the sights while sampling Neapolitan classics such as pizza and sfogliatella pastries.
