Published: August 15, 2025
Perched high above the Bay of Naples, Sorrento, Italy is the kind of place that feels straight out of a postcard. With its pastel-hued buildings, sweeping sea views, and lemon-scented streets, it’s no wonder this Amalfi Coast gem has been charming visitors for centuries. Whether you’re here for a few days or just stopping by before heading to Capri or Positano, Sorrento is packed with things to see, do, and taste.
Here’s my guide to the top things to do in Sorrento—including local experiences, day trip ideas, and a few hidden gems most travelers miss.
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Use Sorrento as Your Amalfi Coast Base
Sorrento makes an excellent base for exploring the Amalfi Coast without the hassle of constantly changing hotels. You can take day trips to Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, then return to Sorrento each night for dinner and a stroll.
In addition to easy access to the Amalfi Coast, it is also easily accessible for day trips to Capri, Ischia, Pompeii and Naples.
(For more on why this is such a great strategy, check out my post on The Best Place to Stay on Italy’s Amalfi Coast: 7 Reasons to Choose Sorrento.)
Stroll Through Piazza Tasso & Historic Old Town
Piazza Tasso is Sorrento’s lively main square and the perfect place to start your visit. Lined with restaurants, bars, shops, and historic buildings, it’s ideal for people-watching and soaking in the town’s energy. Grab a cappuccino or gelato at an outdoor table and watch the vespas zip by—it’s pure Italian charm.
Just a few steps from Piazza Tasso, you’ll find a maze of narrow cobblestone streets filled with artisan shops, boutiques, and tiny trattorias. Stroll Via San Cesareo for souvenirs like handmade ceramics, limoncello, and leather sandals. You’ll also find plenty of picturesque corners perfect for photos.
Pro tip: Come back in the evening when the Piazza is beautifully lit and full of street performers and locals enjoying their nightly passeggiata (evening stroll).
Watch the Sunset From Villa Comunale Park
For one of the best views in Sorrento, head to Villa Comunale Park. From here, you’ll see the Bay of Naples, Mount Vesuvius, and on a clear day, even Capri. It’s especially beautiful at sunset–the sun sets directly over the ocean! Villa Comunale Park is also the starting point for the elevator or steps down to Marina Piccola.
Visit the Cloister of San Francesco
Just steps from Villa Comunale, the Cloister of San Francesco is a peaceful 14th-century cloister is a quiet escape from the bustle of town. The vine-covered arches and tranquil courtyard make it a popular spot for weddings and photography.
Sip & Savor on a Farm Limoncello Tour 🍋
Sorrento is famous for its lemons, and a Farm Limoncello Tour is the perfect way to experience them firsthand. You’ll visit a family-run lemon grove, learn how these massive, fragrant lemons are grown, and taste fresh limoncello straight from the source. It’s the ultimate Sorrento souvenir (and it tastes even better when you’re standing in the grove!).
Bagni Regina Giovanna
This stunning natural swimming spot is known for its crystal-clear water and dramatic limestone cliffs. The stone archway overlooking the water also makes it a photo hot spot. This is one of the most popular swimming spots in Sorrento.
You can reach it on your own by land (a short walk from the Piazza) or by car, although parking is limited. Another popular way to reach Bagni Regina Giovanna is by kayak tour. The kayak tour takes you along the scenic Sorrento coastline before stopping here to swim.
Visit Marina Grande
Despite its name, Marina Grande is a small fishing village tucked along Sorrento’s waterfront. Colorful houses line the shore, fishing boats bob in the water, and seafood restaurants serve the freshest catch of the day. It’s a peaceful spot to enjoy lunch with your toes practically in the sea.
Relax at a Beach Club
While Sorrento’s shoreline is rocky rather than sandy, the town’s beach clubs offer the perfect way to swim, sunbathe, and enjoy the clear blue water. These popular beach clubs are located in Marina Piccola:
Leonelli’s Beach – Family-friendly, great facilities, and classic wooden sun decks.
Marameo Beach – Trendy and stylish, with comfy loungers and a buzzy vibe.
Peter’s Beach – A local favorite for decades, with a laid-back charm.
💡 Tip: The Sorrento Lift makes it easy to get from the clifftop town center down to Marina Piccola, where many of the beach clubs are located.
Take a Day Trip Along the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento is the perfect base for exploring the iconic Amalfi Coast. For those fabulous views of the water by land, take an Amalfi Coast Driving Tour to visit Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello in a single day — without the stress of navigating those hairpin turns and parking hassles by yourself.
A trip to the Amalfi Coast would be incomplete without seeing the postcard images of the coastline that can only be seen from the water. Amalfi Coast Boat Tours stop for a few hours in both Positano and Amalfi and also include swim and snorkel stops along the way.
I highly recommend doing both! You have to experience the Amalfi Coastline from both land and sea. The perspectives are completely different but equally stunning!
Cook Like a Local in a Sorrento Cooking Class
Sorrento is a food lover’s paradise, so why not learn to cook like a local? In this Cooking Class, you’ll visit a local home or cooking school, prepare a full Italian meal (think fresh pasta, local seafood, and decadent desserts), and then sit down to enjoy your creations with wine. It’s a delicious way to immerse yourself in Italian culture.
Take a Day Trip to Capri
From Sorrento’s marina, it’s just a short ferry or boat ride to the island of Capri—famous for its Blue Grotto, chic shopping streets, and stunning viewpoints. Spend the day exploring Anacapri, enjoying a beach club, or taking a chairlift to Monte Solaro for incredible views.
We took a boat tour to Capri that included a the blue grotto, and also explored other caves and grottoes along the coastline. It was one of the highlights of our entire trip! The boat tours give you a few hours of free time to explore the island on your own. You can also take a ferry over and spend a full day–you just don’t get the scenic views and grottoes that you would from a boat tour.
Be sure to check out my post on How to Spend One Day in Capri for full day and mini 3 hour itineraries.
Explore Pompeii, Herculaneum & Mt. Vesuvius
If you’re a history lover, you can’t miss these ancient Roman cities preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. They’re just a short train ride from Sorrento, making them perfect day trips. You can explore on your own or take a guided tour. Many of the tour options include a combination of 2 or more of these destinations and some even include transportation from Sorrento.
👉 Book your guided tour of Pompeii and Herculaneum here
👉 Book your guided tour of Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius with transportation here
👉 Book your Wine Tour, Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius guided tour with transportation here
Take a Boat Tour to Ischia and Procida
While Capri tends to get all the attention, the nearby islands of Ischia and Procida offer a more relaxed, authentic vibe — and they’re just a boat ride away.
Ischia is known for its thermal hot springs, lush gardens, and medieval Castello Aragonese.
Procida, Italy’s 2022 Capital of Culture, charms with pastel-colored harbors and quiet beaches.
Many day trips combine both islands, with time to explore, swim stops, and snacks on board.
Dine at Sorrento’s Best Restaurants
From fresh seafood by the water to homemade pasta in family-run trattorias, Sorrento is a food lover’s dream. If you want to know exactly where to go, see my full guide to The Best Restaurants in Sorrento.
Final Thoughts
Sorrento is more than just a stop on the way to the Amalfi Coast — it’s a destination worth savoring in its own right. Whether you’re sipping limoncello at sunset, wandering cobbled lanes, or hopping on a ferry to Capri, every day here feels like a dream.
Explore my other Amalfi Coast posts at the bottom of this page, including my 5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary.
@postcardsfromcarrie # Reasons to stay in Sorrento when visiting the Amalfi Coast of Italy ✨ 1. It is much less crowded than Positano or Amalfi ✨ 2. It is mostly flat. No need to climb hundreds of stairs every day. ✨ 3. Easy to get to other Amalfi Coast towns. Most of the boat and car tours leave from Sorrento. ✨ 4. The island of Capri is only a 25 minute ferry ride from Sorrento. ✨ 5. The Piazzo Tasso-the main square in Sorrento-is full of hundreds of shops and restaurants, all within walking distance of your stay. ✨ And bonus… Sorrento is only 30 miles from the Naples airport. You can get from Naples to Sorrento by water taxi, train, bus or car. Have you stayed in Sorrento? Do you agree? ✨ Follow for more ⬇️ ✨ #sorrento #amalficoastitaly #italy #italy🇮🇹 #sorrentoitaly🇮🇹 #amalficoast #travel #traveltiktok #traveltips #italytravel #exploreitaly #italytravel #sorrentocoast ♬ original sound - Postcards From Carrie | Travel
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