The 5 Best Reasons To Visit Sorrento on Italy’s Southern Coast

Perched along the Sorrentine Peninsula coast, Sorrento is a sun-soaked paradise. Looking out towards the Bay of Naples, the town boasts dazzling views of the sea and the mighty Vesuvius in the distance. Away from the shoreline, its Old Town is a charming jumble of cobbled streets and historic buildings. We’re Sorrento experts over here at Plum Guide, and have spent many lazy days sipping limoncello at the beachfront restaurants. If you’re still mulling over whether to book those tickets, let us share with you our top reasons to visit Sorrento – you’ll thank us later.

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Like many Italian villages, Sorrento has an Old Town full of beautiful architecture, winding lanes and lively cafes and shops. Unless you have special access, it’s forbidden to drive through Sorrento’s historic centre, making it ideal for pedestrians. Take your time strolling down the streets, dipping into little courtyards and exploring the many side streets. If you need to pick up a few souvenirs (or a few bottles of limoncello for yourself), it’s impossible to visit Via San Cesareo and come away empty-handed. There’s a great choice of outdoor market stalls and boutiques, as well as bars and alfresco cafes should you need to stop for a cold drink.

Continue your explorations onto Villa Comunale Park, perched on top of the cliffs. You’ll want to get your camera out, as the photo opportunities from here are unbeatable – you can see all the way out to the islands of Ischia and Procida while Vesuvius looms in the background. With its manicured gardens and proximity to the Church and Cloisters of San Francesco, this is one of Sorrento’s prettiest and most romantic spots.

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If you’re the type of traveller who likes to plan their holiday around food, then you’ll love Sorrento. Thanks to its coastal location, fresh seafood is in abundance here, and you can dine on everything from grilled octopus to battered and fried shrimp, all caught that very morning. You’ll also find seafood in a variety of traditional dishes, including spaghetti alle vongole (spaghetti with clams, garlic, parsley and olive oil), as well as seafood risotto and pasta with squid ink sauce.

One of the dishes you must try is gnocchi alla Sorrentina. Gnocchi are a type of small dumpling made from flour, potatoes, eggs and salt. There are many different sauces you can pair it with, but this particular version from Sorrento uses a rich, basil-flavoured tomato sauce. The gnocchi is then topped with cheese before being cooked in a small clay pot in the oven until a golden crust appears on top.

Sorrento is known for its lemons, and you’ll find them featured in many savoury and sweet dishes. Finish every meal with a lemon-flavoured dessert such as gelato or delizia al limone, a delicious dome of sponge filled with lemon custard and coated in a lemon glaze.

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Speaking of lemons, one of the best reasons to visit Sorrento is for the limoncello. This sweet and zesty liqueur is perfect for hot summer days, something you can sip on as a digestif, or mixed into a cocktail. You could even pour it over ice cream for a boozy dessert. However you choose to serve it, make sure it’s ice cold.

Limoncello is traditionally produced using Femminello St. Teresa lemons, also known as Sorrento or Sfusato lemons native to the Sorrentine peninsula. The peels are steeped in alcohol to release the oils before being mixed with simple syrup. In Sorrento, you’ll commonly find it served in little ceramic glasses that have been pre-chilled – it’s a lovely way to clear the palette at the end of a meal. You’ll find variants of limoncello here, too – including arancello made from orange – as well as crema di limoncello, which uses milk instead of simple syrup.

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Set along the coastline between Punta del Capo and Punta Germano, the Punta Campanella Natural Marine Reserve is a wonderful place to escape Sorrento’s crowds. These protected waters boast a healthy marine ecosystem home to colourful fish, mysterious ruins and underwater caves. It’s a popular scuba diving and snorkelling destination – beginners and professionals alike can venture into the sparkling blue waters. To join a dive tour, we recommend PADI-certified Nettuno Diving, who operate in the reserve.

If you prefer to stay above the surface, kayaking is a fantastic way to admire the scenery. Paddle to Ieranto Bay, where you can hike through picturesque Mediterranean flora and olive groves. There are many other hikes and walking trails along the peninsula, all of them offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples and the Amalfi Coast. While you’re here, keep an eye out for various bird species that nest in the caves and limestone cliffs.

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While you’re in this part of Italy, you may as well explore the amazing towns and sights around you. One of the best reasons to visit Sorrento is that you’re well-placed for day trips, with many exciting destinations just a short drive away. Below are some of the top places for a day trip from Sorrento.

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You can’t come to Sorrento and not visit the Amalfi Coast. This picturesque stretch of coastline roughly begins in Positano in the west (just a half-hour drive from Sorrento) and finishes in Vietri sul Mare in the east. Its pretty towns and idyllic beaches have long been a favourite holiday destination for actors and artists, including Picasso, Elizabeth Taylor and John Steinbeck.

There are plenty of places to visit along the coast, and you could easily drive from one end to another in around an hour and a half. If you want to spend more time sightseeing and enjoying the views, we recommend picking a few places you'd like to visit most rather than packing your schedule.

Positano is one of the most popular towns on the Amalfi Coast, where postcard-perfect houses are set into the cliffside. It’s quite an upscale destination, great for shopping and nightlife. For something a little more low-key, Praiano and nearby Conca dei Marini are a lovely alternative. Here you can enjoy a more relaxed beach atmosphere, discover the legendary Grotta dello Smeraldo sea cave, or take on the famous Sentiero degli Dei hiking trail. Those on a romantic break will want to visit Ravello, a beautiful village with all the glamour of Positano but without the crowds. Meanwhile, Amalfi is the largest town along the coast and a favourite amongst those looking for a little bit of everything.

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If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to vacation in Capri like an A-lister, this is your chance. This luxurious island is just a thirty-minute ferry ride from Sorrento and is easily doable in a day. Stroll around Capri Town, splashing the cash in the boutiques and celeb-watching in Piazzetta Capri. The quieter town of Anacapri is also worth a visit for its dramatic views of the island and the surrounding coastline – we recommend taking a chairlift up to the top of Monte Solaro if you aren’t afraid of heights.

Capri is also known for its attractive beaches and crystal-clear waters. Marina Grande is a popular swimming spot with its sandy beach and calm, blue waters. Its proximity to the harbour means there are plenty of restaurants and shops nearby. Marina Piccola is another one of the island’s main beaches, offering fantastic views of the Faraglioni rock formations. Want to see them up close? We recommend hiring a boat and sailing around the island – you’ll also get to visit sea caves like the Blue Grotto and stop at secluded beaches for a swim.

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For history lovers, the intriguing World Heritage Site of Pompeii is one of the top reasons to visit Sorrento. It’s easy to get to – simply jump on the Circumvesuviana train, which runs between Sorrento and Naples. The Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station is just thirty to forty minutes away.

The site is huge, and sightseeing can easily take up the whole day. Start at the Forum of Pompeii, which was the centre of all things political, religious and economic – you can picture just how splendid it once was. Catch a glimpse of frescoes and decorations in the House of the Vettii, and imagine what it would’ve been like to be a well-heeled member of society living here. Don’t miss the Garden of the Fugitives, where you can see a rather harrowing display of plaster casts of victims, perfectly preserved in time.

For a different perspective on the eruption, visit Herculaneum, just a few stops along from Pompeii on the train. The town was also destroyed by Vesuvius but is much better preserved, with many of its buildings still boasting their upper storeys.

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