Sorrento in 3 days

Cliffside balcony over the Bay of Naples: lemon groves, pastel lanes and the gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Best time to visit: May-June and September-October. Average daily budget: $120 to $210 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Centro Storico, The pedestrian heart around Via San Cesareo, packed with lemon shops, cameo workshops and trattorias.

Morning: Day trip to Capri. Take the early ferry, ride the chairlift up Monte Solaro and see the island before the crowds land.

Afternoon: Explore Centro Storico, The pedestrian heart around Via San Cesareo, packed with lemon shops, cameo workshops and trattorias.

Evening: Sunset from Villa Comunale. Watch Vesuvius turn pink from the cliff-edge public gardens, the town's best free view.

Eat: Gnocchi alla sorrentina baked with tomato and fior di latte

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Marina Grande, The old fishing village below town, with seafood restaurants right on the water and a small beach.

Morning: Pompeii by train. Ride the Circumvesuviana 30 minutes to the excavations and walk the Roman streets.

Afternoon: Explore Marina Grande, The old fishing village below town, with seafood restaurants right on the water and a small beach.

Evening: Amalfi Coast drive. Take the SITA bus or a boat to Positano and Amalfi along one of the world's great coast roads.

Eat: Limoncello made from the giant local sfusato lemons

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Marina Piccola, The working port where ferries leave for Capri, Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Morning: The Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural sea pool in Roman ruins west of town.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Afternoon: Explore Marina Piccola, The working port where ferries leave for Capri, Naples and the Amalfi Coast.

Evening: The Vallone dei Mulini, an abandoned mill sunk in a green ravine in the centre.. A local favourite most visitors miss, worth the detour.

Eat: Delizia al limone, the local lemon sponge dessert

Hidden gems

The Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural sea pool in Roman ruins west of town.
The Vallone dei Mulini, an abandoned mill sunk in a green ravine in the centre.
The cloister of San Francesco, a quiet arcaded courtyard steps from the main square.
Sunset aperitivo at Marina Grande instead of the packed centre.

Getting around

Sorrento's centre is small and entirely walkable. The Circumvesuviana train links Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum, SITA buses run the Amalfi Coast road, and ferries from Marina Piccola serve Capri, Ischia, Positano and Naples. Book ferries ahead in summer and avoid driving: the coast road is narrow and parking is expensive.

Safety

Sorrento is very safe, including for solo female travellers, with a relaxed tourist-town feel and busy evening streets. Petty theft is rare but possible on crowded Circumvesuviana trains, so keep bags in front. The real hazards are sun exposure, steep steps down to the marinas and traffic on narrow roads with no pavement.

Sorrento in 5 days | Sorrento in 7 days | Full Sorrento guide