A One Day itinerary for the enchanting Sorrento, Italy

For anyone visiting Italy for the first time, Sorrento, Italy is such a charming town. Located in southern Italy, it sits on the edge of the Bay of Naples next to the island of Capri. Boasting beautiful views, a relaxed atmosphere, and limoncello everywhere, it is not a town to be missed.

Getting there

There are several options for public transport to Sorrento. From Naples, it takes about an hour on Circumvesuviana Train. It is an easy day trip if you are staying in Naples or the surrounding area. The train station is a short walk from the city center and it is easy to navigate.

The easiest way is by car which is quicker, of course, but there’s also having to find parking. In the peak season, this could be almost impossible. However, having a car makes it easy to take a scenic drive up the Amalfi Coast to take in the views of Capri and the Mediterranean Sea.

You can also taxi or uber in, but make sure you set a price. We found out it takes about €100 for a taxi.

A bus ride is the cheapest option but also the slowest. It takes about 90 minutes on way.

If you hire a private transfer or a private tour, it will take about 45 minutes from Naples.

You can also take a ferry ride from Naples to Sorrento. The ride is about 35-40 minutes and you get a lovely view of Mount Vesuvius from the water. Tickets are around €35 per person and there are 3 ferries a day–so if you are returning to Naples, make sure you get the timing right!

Our Sorrento Itinerary

Sorrento is small but there are plenty of things to do while you are there. You can take a walk around old town and explore the streets and shops along the way. It is the perfect place to find a souvenir whether it be trinkets or fine jewelry. The town has a unique atmosphere that blends its past with its vibrant present.

Sorrento Cathedral

The Duomo di Sorrento, dedicated to Saints Philip and James, is a must-visit. This 15th-century cathedral boasts a stunning marble altar, intricate frescoes, and a distinctive bell tower. Look out for the beautiful inlaid wood doors and the Bishop’s throne.

To say it was beautiful would be quite an understatement. When you enter the sanctuary, your eyes automatically gaze up to the ceiling to the incredible painting. Each part of the church is elaborately decorated with paintings and statues of saints.

But as we exited, we came across the most incredible nativity scene I have ever witnessed. Set in a window, it depicts a village with all the inhabitants including Mary, Joseph and Jesus. The 3-D model continued deep into the window with such detail, we could have stood there for hours and never noticed all the details. There were even flying angels! To my surprise, these nativities are common across Italy, especially around Naples.

You can check out the video below to see the other pics taken inside the church, which was stunning, to say the least.

Sorrento’s Historic Center

The best way to explore this area is on foot. The streets are narrow, of course but it also allows you to soak in the atmosphere, discover hidden corners and enjoy the lively Italian ambiance. In the summer months the area gets rather crowded so watch your belongings. Sorrento is more laid back that Naples, but there are still those that target tourists.

Piazza Tasso, the main square of Sorrento is a good starting point for a walk. It’s lined with cafes, shops, and is great for people-watching. We found some great souvineers to take back including some jewery and ceramics. Make sure you walk through Corso Italia, the main shopping street, perfect for a leisurely stroll and window shopping.

The best restaurants in Sorrento

One of our favorite places to have lunch is at the wonderful O’Parruchiano in the garden area. This local restaurant is located right in Old Town and the atmosphere alone is a great reason to eat here. We sat out in the garden and had limoncello spritzes and pasta dishes for lunch. What a perfect meal in Sorrento.

Other places we would recommend are Ristorante Bagni Delfino where you can enjoy fresh seafood with panoramic views; The Inn Bufalito who Specializes in buffalo mozzarella dishes and other local delicacies; and the Gelateria Davide with the best artisanal gelato in unique flavors. It makes a hot summer day much cooler!

Visit a Lemon Farm

Sorrento is known for their lemons and limoncello. You can take a tour of a local lemon grove to learn about cultivation and limoncello production. One of the most famous is Giardini di Cataldo but we recommend La Masseria! It is smaller, charming and where we had the best limoncello ever!.

La Masseria literally means “the farm.” It is run by the Gargiulo family and they have owned the place for 3 generations. It maintains a huge lemon grove, olive trees, bees, and other animals, herbs, nut trees, grapes, and vegetables that make the farm self-sustaining.

For a fee, one of the brothers, Raffaele, will take you on a tour and show you how they grow and harvest lemons and olives. The mother, Maria, will cook you a small meal of bread, pasta, and dessert so that you can sample the olive oils, honey, jams, and my personal favourite, limoncello!

The tour takes 2-3 hours and is actually up on the hill from Sorrento, about a half-hour drive because it is so curvy. They offer a shuttle service so getting there is very easy. You can also schedule through Viator but I recommend calling or emailing the farm.

It’s easy to lose track of time when you are engulfed in such beauty and sensuality, but the family politely shuffled us back down the hill to Sorrento where we enjoyed the beautiful sunset. It was a fantastic day.

Tours

Of course you can take tours in Sorrento if you don’t want to wander like we do. Here is a list I’ve compiled to links to either Viator or Get Your Guide.

**Wandering Works for Us contains affiliate links is part of Viator, Get Your Guide, Booking.com, trip advisor and Amazon Services Associates Program LLC. If you make a purchase using one of the links, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

• Private Boat Tour
• Walking tour with Limoncello tasting
• Guided tour of Amalfi Coast (Sorrento, Postiano from Naples)
• Small group tour–boat
• Boat tours to Capri

Next Time?

Since we did not have a car, we had to depend on the train to get to and from Sorrento. Next time, I’d like to see more of the Amalfi Coast and maybe even take a trip over to Capri. It is one of the most popular day trips and we missed seeing the famous blue grotto.

Also, we would pop down to Marina Grande, the fishing village down on the water, or Marina Piccola, the port. They offer a more authentic, less touristy experience. We hear the seafood is amazing and the views of the colorful boats and waterfront are not to be missed.

I felt as though I had seen enough of Sorrento in one day to get the feel of it, but would not mind spending a few more days eating the food, drinking more wine, and soaking up the relaxed and sun-shiny atmosphere. I hear the beaches here are incredible so I will definitely be checking them out next time!

Want to find out what else we have done it Italy? Check out our Day in Pompeii or what we loved about Florence!