- Enjoy the sweeping views of the bay from Villa Comunale
- Cool off at one of the lively beach clubs
- Tuck in to some delicious seafood in Marina Grande
- Do a spot of shopping on Corso Italia and the side streets leading off it
- Take the ferry to the island of Capri
- Brave the bus ride to Positano
Villa Comunale and Sorrento beach clubs
A short walk from Corso Italia, Villa Comunale is a small park but the views across the bay Marina Grande and Vesuvius on the horizon are wonderful. From here you can take the stairs or elevator down to the beach below.
Backed by cliffs, the beach is small and pebbly but the waters are very clear and the lively beach clubs offer a place to relax away from the bustling streets above. There is a small area of public beach too with colourful beach huts. In summer temperatures, a chance to cool off in the sea would be much needed. In April it was just a paddle.
Corso Italia
Corso Italia is the main street through the town from the train station to the other side almost as far as Marina Grande. The pedestrianised part from the cathedral is the most attractive and popular with tourists and locals taking their evening passeggiata. The narrow side streets leading off it are especially atmospheric in the evening when the bars and restaurants come alive.
Marina Grande
Around 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of Sorrento, Marina Grande is a charming village with a relaxed atmosphere and retains the feeling of a working harbour with fishing boats moored and washing hanging from the balconies. At night, watching the sunset with Vesuvius in the distance is just stunning. This is also the best spot if you love seafood. Enjoy the catch of the day in one of the traditional restaurants with simple dishes done well. There are also several boat companies here, if you fancy booking a trip to the Amalfi coast or over to Capri. They get very booked up though so probably worth planning on the first day or in advance in peak season.
Capri
A must do day trip from Sorrento is a visit to the island of Capri. Regular ferries depart from the port just a short walk from the centre and it takes around 30 minutes. Tickets can be purchased on the day but the queues are pretty long and you’ll need a full day to explore Capri so definitely try and get an early ferry.
Arriving into Marina Grande, you are met with so many options and crowds of tourists all disembarking here so it’s good to have an idea where you want to head to first. A very strenuous choice which will give you a workout but worth it for the spectacular views, is to climb the 300 steps to Anacapri. Heading up past white washed houses and beautiful gardens dotted with lemon trees, the sparkling sea glistening below, take your time and enjoy. You’ll also leave the crowds behind and have it almost to yourself.
Once you reach Anacapri, you can then head up even higher with a ride on the Monte Solaro chairlift which costs €14 per person for the return journey. In the village there are some nice little cafes, boutique shops with ceramics and homewares and plenty of granita stands. The church and square are very pretty and the Casa Rosso.
To save our legs on the way back down, we took an exhilarating taxi ride round hairpin bends hugging the cliff edge, with a convertible car and a comical driver. Back down in Capri Town, which was heaving with tourists, we didn’t stick around for long. Here you’ll find busy squares with packed restaurants and designer shops. We decided to walk back down the quiet cobble streets but the funicular is a fun, cheap and quick (around 4 minutes) way to travel between Capri Town and Marina Grande, though the queues can be lengthy.
If you can get over to Capri early in the morning, adding in a boat trip to enjoy the grottos and rock formations is a great way to see more of the island. These depart from Marina Grande. We underestimated the size of it so unfortunately couldn’t fit it in but seeing it from the water would’ve been lovely.
Positano
A 50-minute white knuckle bus ride along hairpin bends from Sorrento (the views are breathtaking though) and you reach Positano. The Amalfi coast is easy to visit from Sorrento using public transport if you don’t have a car or don’t fancy the drive. Positano is the closest town and takes around 40-50 minutes by bus but you can purchase a hop on hop off type ticket to take in other towns too. You can pick up tickets next to the train station and regular buses depart from just outside. They fill up very quickly though. We visited on a stormy day and trying to get one home wasn’t easy. Two passed us by on the way back already full. Ferry is another, much more expensive option.
The bus drops you at Chiesa Nueva and from here you’ll have incredible views of the town which cascades down the limestone cliffs to the small beach with dark sands. A pretty stunning setting and one that certainly looks dramatic in a thunder storm with lighting flashing over the mountains. As you head downhill into town through old cobbled streets, you’ll find souvenir shops everywhere with a lemon theme to most from limoncello to perfume and textiles. Sandals custom made in store and dresses are also popular. Little carts selling lemon granitas are also a refreshing treat. Along the seafront, there are some casual restaurants ideal for a morning coffee. In the heart of the centre, just a few steps from the beach, the iconic Church of Santa Maria Assunta with its golden dome tiled with blues, greens and yellows glistens in the sun (although not on our visit with dark clouds looming). A charming town in a beautiful position worth visiting, but be prepared for crowds of tourists filling the tiny narrow streets.
Where to eat in Sorrento
Franky’s Pizza – Delicious pizza with an extensive menu. A laid back but buzzy setting down a little side street.
Porto Marina Seafood – Right on the harbour, this popular fish restaurant with blue and white checked tablecloths and magnificent views of Vesuvius, is a great choice. Fresh swordfish, calamari and salad and Sorrento Gnocchi (tomato and mozzarella) finished off with a regional Easter dessert of Pastiera di Grano. Somewhere between a pie and a cheesecake filled with ricotta and candied orange – delicious!
Bollicine Wine Bar – Hidden within the maze of narrow streets, a cosy winebar with a restaurant serving Italian favourites including Lasagne, Aubergine Parmigiana, Ragu and perfectly cooked steak. Reasonably priced with good value set menus if you fancy two or three courses. Excellent selection of wines.
Where to stay
We stayed in a stylish two bedroom apartment booked through Airbnb. Located on the pedestrianised part of Corso Italia, overlooking gardens with lemon trees, it was ideal for our family of four. Brightly coloured interiors typical to this region and spacious bedrooms and living area. Check it out here.
Getting from the airport
A taxi from Naples airport to Naples Centrale train station will cost around €20 for up to 4 people. We realised this after paying €5 each for a bus ticket. Both options take around 15 minutes. To make your way onto Sorrento, the Circumvesuviana is the cheaper, slower, more crowded and basic choice but at a price of €4 a ticket as opposed to €15 for the Campania Express, it does the job. You’ll get a scenic view as you travel along the coastline and buskers playing music to keep you entertained.
Next on the blog and coming soon… a two night break in Naples – the perfect addition to your Sorrento or Amalfi itinerary.
Love Italy? Have a read of our Puglia and Venice blogs for inspiration.
Fam Full of Wanderlust 