Set on a spectacular headland, Sorrento is located on one of the most magnificent coastlines in Italy, with breathtaking views sweeping across the Bay of Naples. It is both an ideal base from which to explore the main sights of the Neapolitan region and an enchanting town in its own right.
It's hard not to fall in love with Sorrento, an idyllic town celebrated by poets, artists and musicians for centuries. Sorrento has been attracting visitors for centuries who flock to the region to enjoy an encounter with nature and history. You'll be struck by the beauty of its winding, cobblestoned streets giving way to elegant piazzas where pretty little pavement cafes invite you to sit awhile, sip a coffee, admire the spectacular views sweeping across the Bay of Naples, and enjoy a taste of la dolce vita, Sorrento style.
In the evenings, life tends to centre round the main square, Piazza Tasso, where good value, high quality restaurants abound and there are lovely pavement cafes from where you can watch the town come alive.
To get an instant feel for Sorrento whilst on holiday and soak up the kind of local knowledge, do not miss the welcome meeting which takes place as you stroll through the town centre. Steeped in history, you will find the town is small enough to walk around easily yet it is within easy reach of many must-see landmarks, not least the mighty volcano Mount Vesuvius and the towns it destroyed namely Pompeii and Herculaneum.
Sorrento is a great base for discovering the surrounding regions. There are numerous excursions on offer, 2 of the most popular are the Amalfi Coast Drive & Pompeii & Vesuvius.
Amalfi Coast Drive
Prepare for a thrilling drive along one of the most jaw-droppingly romantic coastal routes to the beautiful town of Amalfi 50km away and the nearby towns of Minori and Maiori, which share the same charm and pretty beaches of their more famous neighbour. In between are the picture-postcard resorts of Positano and Ravello, quiet little hilltop villages where you can do a little shopping, enjoy a coffee and most importantly, take in the spectacular views spread out below.
Pompeii & Vesuvius
The beautiful bay of Naples is dominated by two important landmarks, the archaeological site of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. Together with your guide you'll start to explore the main features of the ancient city of Pompeii From here, if you wish, you can walk up to the crater of the Sleeping Giant accompanied by an authorized Alpine guide who will lead you around the crater and will be at your disposal for any questions.
Tours, Twin Centre & Multi Centre Holidays
A host of tours and twin & multi centre holiday options combining a stay in Sorrento are available. Choose from Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Pompeii & Vesuvius Tour which incorporates a visit to the Amalfi Coast, a full day excursion to Pompeii & Vesuvius and an evening at a Sorrento musical. This is a truly wonderful option encompassing the best the region has to offer. For those who would like to personalise their holiday twin and multi centre holidays are a great way to do this. Combinations include Rome & Sorrento, Amalfi Coast & Sorrento, Sorrento & Capri or a multi centre option of Ischia, Amalfi & Sorrento.
Sorrento has a sunny and warm Mediterranean climate. The summers are hot and dry with an average maximum temperature of 29 degrees Celsius (84° Fahrenheit) in the warmest months. The winters are mild with an average temperature of around 13 ° C (55° F). It often rains in winter.
What's the best time to go to Sorrento in Italy? Here are some annual weather facts we collected from our historical climate data:
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On average, the warmest month(s) are July and August.
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Most rainfall (rainy season) is seen in January, October, November and December.
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On average, the warmest month is August.
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On average, the coolest month is January.
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November is the wettest month. This month should be avoided if you don't like too much rain.
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July is the driest month.
Getting Around Sorrento
Sorrento is often used as a base to visit the nearby Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, and Capri... so it's important to know how to get around.
The best way to get from Sorrento to:
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Pompeii: Circumvesuviana train (20 minutes)
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Positano and Amalfi: bus or rental scooter
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Capri: ferry or private boat
Public transportation in the center of Sorrento
The center of Sorrento is quite small and can be easily explored on foot. The areas around Marina Piccola and Marina Grande are located beneath the center, so it's more convenient to take a bus to get up the hillside to the center. Both these areas are linked to the center by EAV and Cooperativa Tasso buses.
Public bus
EAV buses are red and orange, and smaller in size than Sita buses. EAV buses run between Sorrento and Meta, Piano, Sant'Agnello, and Massa Lubrense.
Tickets cost €1.20 and can be purchased at tobacco shops ("tabaccaio") or at the Circumvesuviana train station.
Tickets cannot be purchased on board.
Usually buses running to and from Sorrento are relatively on time and run about every 20 minutes, but they can get off schedule due to heavy traffic.
There are a number of routes:
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Linea A: Meta - Massa Lubrense
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Linea B: Sorrento, port of Sorrento, Sant'Agnello
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Linea C: Sorrento, port of Sorrento, Piano
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Linea D: Sorrento, Marina Grande
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Linea E: Sorrento - upper part of Sorrento
To travel between the towns on the Sorrentine Peninsula, you can take the Cooperativa Tasso bus line that runs from Meta to Sorrento Porto and is a convenient way to catch the ferry for Capri. They are the white buses, and tickets can be purchased on board.
Circumvesuviana Trains
The Circumvesuviana is the local rail line that links the towns in the province of Naples. It is a commuter line, much like a subway in a large city though above ground. There is limited seating and you can't reserve a seat. There is no luggage storage and you may find that you have to travel standing up. Regardless, trains generally run on time and this is the best way to get to Pompeii from Sorrento. It takes less than 30 minutes since there is no traffic and the Pompei Villa dei Misteri stop is directly across from the entrance to Pompeii.
Ticket prices vary according to your route. Tickets for Pompeii cost around €2 and for Naples around €3.50.
Where to Go Dancing in Sorrento
Though Sorrento is a resort town, it's not Ibiza: you won't find huge clubs and crazy partying going on all night long. That said, there are a number of smaller clubs where you can dance til the wee hours.
Tips
Clubs in Sorrento don't get really going until after midnight.
Couples and women have no problem getting in the door.
Italians dress up for the club, so avoid flip-flops and beachwear...and shorts for men.
Many clubs located outside the center of Sorrento offer a shuttle service, so look up their Facebook pages for more information.
Clubs in Sorrento
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Fauno: one of the most historic clubs beneath Piazza Tasso. Access is next to the bar, and this is a popular spot among the youngest crowd, especially in winter.
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Filou: a nightclub on Vicolo della Pietà which is tiny and always packed. They play live sets featuring Italian classics. Popular among those older than 30.
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Spicy: just outside the center of Sorrento (with a shuttle service), this is a combination restaurant and club.
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BluMareClub: an open-air club on the water's edge in Cala di Puolo, open only in summer.
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Daniele's Club: located in Piazza Tasso along the staircase down to the port that holds karaoke nights and is open to the wee hours.
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Insolito': lounge bar on Corso Italia in Sorrento with music and drinks from happy-hour until late into the night.
Cafés and Bars in Sorrento
In Italy's coastal town of Sorrento, the streets and squares are lined with "bars" - as cafés are commonly called in Italy - where you can stop for a drink, chat, and people-watching any time day or night.
The most popular cafés in Sorrento are those located in Piazza Tasso; if you'd like your drink served with a view, you should stop in a café in Marina Grande, Marina Piccola, or a hotel terrace ovelooking the sea.
The prices Sorrento's various cafés are more or less the same, so you can stop at any one which looks good!
The "Aperitivo"
The "aperitivo" - a cocktail hour lasting from late afternoon until before dinner - is a popular custom among Italians and includes a light cocktail paired with anything from finger food to more filling offerings. Though it is most common in the evening, you can also have an aperitivo before lunch. The classic aperitivo drink is the "Spritz", made with Prosecco, Aperol (or Campari) bitter soda, and tonic water. The aperitivo hour reaches its peak around 7:30pm, when most cafés and bars automatically serve finger food with any drinks ordered for a small extra charge.
Beer
Many Italian cafés and bars do not offer a large selection of beers besides the classic Peroni on tap. If you would like a more varied selection, try the Bar del Carmine in Piazza Tasso or in pubs popular with English tourists like Chaplin, Crazy Horse, and the English Inn. These also serve classic English fare like hamburgers e fish and chips. The English Inn also serves an English breakfast.
Limoncello
Limoncello is Sorrento's traditional sweet liqueur made with local lemons. It is very high in alcohol and consumed as an after-dinner drink.
It's hard to keep your inner shopaholic under wraps while in Sorrento! One of Italy's most famous coastal resort towns, Sorrento is chock full of great artisan and souvenir shops...but if you are looking for something local and traditional, here are our suggestions for the perfect souvenir:
"Intarsio Sorrentino", or Inlaid Wood
Sorrento's intricate local inlaid wood furniture and art has been famous since the European nobility began visiting this stretch of coast as part of the Grand Tour in the 19th century. Still today, there are a number of workshops and galleries which show and sell everything from small inlaid boxes to breathtaking pieces of furniture. A jewelry box can be purchased at a reasonable price and is a perfect souvenir, decorated with classical floral designs or pastoral scenes, or you can opt for a more contemporary geometric pattern.
Limoncello
It's easy to believe that the fountains of Sorrento gush pungent Limoncello instead of water when visiting Sorrento: this sweet, thick lemon liqueur is ubiquitous in the workshops, restaurants, and cafés of the city. Stop in one of the artisan shops for a limoncello tasting and choose which secret recipe you like best! There are a number of lesser famous, but still delicious, citrus liqueurs also produced artisanally in Sorrento's shops.
Sandals
The most famous sandals in southern Italy are those made on the island of Capri, but there are a number of artisan workshops in Sorrento where traditional shoemakers handcraft sandals to measure. You can choose the leather, decorations, and heel height, and the artisan will craft a pair of one-of-a-kind sandals in your size (which, by the way, will cost you much less than those made in Positano or on Capri).