Sorrento in 3 Days

In the region of Campania lies a small but vibrant town known as Sorrento, very close to Naples. In Sorrento you will never stop seeing and doing things and most importantly, you will never stop resting; Sorrento is the epitome of dolce far niente.

Sorrento is the ideal place to stay, as it is a central point for tours to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento or from here to Naples. The town is known for hosting beautiful expeditions to the island of Capri or to historical sites such as Herculaneum. Would you like to plan your itinerary with me? Here is a plan for you to spend three amazing days in Sorrento.

Ciao, Sorrento! I know that any trip within a travel itinerary is exhausting and even more so if you took a transfer from Naples airport but once you're in Sorrento, you'll see that it's a very friendly town and you won't need a car to get around. Everything is very centrally located and designed for comfortable walking.

Your first day will consist of exploring the old town and visiting central sites such as Piazza Lauro, the Villa Comunale, the Cathedral of Sorrento, among other outdoor activities while enjoying a delicious ice cream or refreshing limoncello.

Start your day in Piazza Lauro

Let's start the tour at around 10 am, ending the morning, in one of the most colourful and traditional centres in all of Italy. Here it is best to start in Piazza Lauro. This large and modern square, created in the mid 70's, is considered one of the two most important squares in Sorrento. It is located in the commercial area of the city, at the crossroads of Corso Italia and the Circumvesuviana railway station which I recommend you use to get there.

The square welcomes you with its beautiful palm trees and leafy trees to shelter you from the heat and sun, especially if you stop at one of the beautiful cafes nearby. In fact, this is the perfect place to have breakfast. Here you can try a delicious sfogliatella frolla, a round fruit and ricotta cake, native only to the region. In addition, this square is an important starting point for various excursions throughout the area.

Towards Corso Italia and the Cathedral of Sorrento

From Piazza Lauro, head into Corso Italia, the heart of Sorrento, down the southern side of the square. Walk along Sorrento's main shopping destination as you marvel at the commercial diversity this beautiful street has to offer. This will be your transition area as you make your way to the magnificent Sorrento Cathedral.

Located about a five minute walk from where you departed from Corso Italia to the east, stands the Cathedral of Saints Philip and James. When you enter, a beautiful Roman Catholic church, built in the 10th century and rebuilt in Romanesque style in the 16th century, awaits you.

If you visit this cathedral, you can learn about a page of Italian history when the region was invaded by the Ottoman Empire in 1558, through the marble remains of the first cathedral from the 10th century. Once you finish this tour, I suggest you go to one of the restaurants in Corso Italia and enjoy a delicious limoncello for a snack or a main course for lunch.

Practical information

• Location: Corso Italia, Via Santa Maria della Pietà, 44, 80067

• Price: free

• Opening hours: Monday to Monday from 8am to 12.30pm and from 4.30pm to 9pm.

Stroll through the old town

After your religious experience in the cathedral, return to Corso Italia and continue east until you reach Via Torquato Tasso. Congratulations! You have just started your tour of the Old Town.

I recommend you walk up Via Tasso where you will see the facades of the noblemen's residences with their Catalan style architecture. Immediately after you will continue until you reach the corner of Via S. Cesario where you will walk along this busy pedestrian street. You will then turn right onto Via Luigi de Maio, an area known for its picturesque shops.

After walking a couple of streets you will come to Piazza Sant'Antonino which is right next to the Basilica of San Antonino. You will probably want to visit the emblem of the city: the Basilica of San Antonino. It is an 11th century building where the tomb of San Antonino, patron saint of the town, rests.

You can conclude your stroll through the old town with an incredible evening in one of its seafood restaurants at the Ristorante Zi Ntonio on Via Luigi de Maio. You can enjoy a delicious pizza at Ristorante Pizzeria Sant'Antonino which is tucked away in an alleyway just off Piazza San Antonino. If you want pasta with Mediterranean ingredients, then head to Fauno across Piazza Tasso.

End your day with a gelato in Piazza Tasso

If you head south down Via Luigi de Maio you'll come to Corso Italia. Here you can either stop in Piazza Tasso and take advantage of the route to stop at one of the ice-cream parlours in the old town and buy a tasty lemon ice-cream.

Yes, indeed. There's nothing like ending an overflowing and exciting day by resting your feet in the beautiful Piazza Tasso and eating an ice cream. I'm sure you'll think there are many things you left out by the time you get to Piazza Tasso, but don't worry, the itinerary for the second day starts at this point. From the square you can take a bus to the bus stop closest to your hotel or you can walk if it is close to the centre.

Traveller Tip

If you decide to drive to Sorrento and if you don't want to waste time looking for parking in the city, check if your hotel booking includes parking for your car.

After a stroll through the main streets and a visit to three churches, the second day is a well-deserved rest. We start early in the morning where I will show you three historical sites: Piazza Tasso, the Museo Correale di Terranova and the Vallone dei Mulini.

All three are close to each other, making your visit enjoyable as you can walk to each one. It's the perfect excuse to continue exploring the streets of Sorrento. Before you know it you'll be swimming the warm beaches of Marina Grande and lounging on the spa chairs.

We pick up where we left off: in Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso is the soul of the town: from here no one gets lost and this is one of the meeting points for tours from Sorrento that take you to other nearby sites. In short, all roads lead to Piazza Tasso. The statue of Saint Antoninus Abbot, patron saint of Sorrento, blesses your day with a good Italian coffee from the cafes that line the bustling Piazza Tasso.

The square you met the night before is perched atop a cliff. Now you have the opportunity, in daylight and in the daily life of the Sorrentines, to see the different historical aesthetics of the facades of the various buildings that surround the square. You can stop by the historic Bar Fauno and order a limoncello or the colourful souvenir shop Fattoria Terranova.

The square is dominated by beautiful historic buildings such as the Palazzo Correale, which I will recommend you to visit. You can also go back to the baroque church of Santa Maria del Carmine that you visited the night before and check out its beautiful exterior façade.

Share the city's affection for its Vallone dei Mulini

From the square, head towards the Vallone dei Mulini. Turn south on Via Caruso. From here it is only a two minute walk south and you will find them less than 200 metres from the square. It is a small valley with a mill for grinding wheat that may date back to the 15th or 16th century. The fissure in the rock, which occurred about 35,000 years ago.

The origin of the valley is the result of the most violent eruption in the history of the volcanic caldera, the Phlegraean Fields. The erosion of the waters and time polished this natural wonder where the tuff base, which was the natural channel of the sea water that made the mill work, was gradually etched away. A natural reminiscence of the native landscapes of Italy where you can take fantastic photos.

History awaits you at the Correale Museum in Terranova

After seeing the impressive mill it's time to walk back to Piazza Tasso along Via Caruso and from here head towards the historic Museo Correale. When you are in the square walk east along Corso Italia and immediately cross over to the north, which will take you along Via Correale. The museum is at the end of this street across Via Capasso.

This is today the Museo Correale in Terranova, inaugurated in 1924, but formerly, this villa was known as the Palazzo Correale. It has 24 exhibition rooms on four floors in the residential complex. The rooms are arranged according to a chronological layout where you will learn about the history of the Kingdom of Naples through its furniture and porcelain from Capodimonte. The 17th century frescoes will tell you about the spirit of the Counter-Reformation period, which was at its height at the time.

The most impressive aspect of its facilities is that you will be able to access one of the most beautiful gardens in the city, and even in Italy, from the entrance hall. The tour can take two or three hours, depending on the time you spend in the works, the installations and the garden.

Practical information

• Location: Via Correale, 50, 80067, Sorrento

• Price: Tickets to the Museo Correale in Terranova range from €3-8.

• Opening hours: Monday to Saturday opening hours are between 9:00 am and 2:00 pm. I suggest you buy your tickets before 12 noon so that you can at least enjoy the museum for the remaining two hours. Closed on Sundays.

Have a proper lunch at the wonderful Marina Grande

OK, I've shown you three historic sites; now it's time to enjoy the beach. From the museum, walk to Lauro Park, a small sanctuary adjacent to Piazza Lauro, and walk down the park to Corso Italia. From here it is best to take the D-E, EAV, SITA bus which will take you directly to Marina Grande. The cost of the trip is no more than €1.5 on public transport.

You deserve a good lunch with its subsequent limoncello for digestion at the amazing restaurants, Trattoria da Emilia Porta Marina which offers incredible seafood dishes and also Il Monazzero di Teresina where you can eat pizzas with fresh Sorrento tomatoes.

Spend the afternoon in the beautiful Marina Grande burg of Sorrento

Marina Grande is a picturesque fishing community. The fish, seafood and tomatoes will accompany you with a refreshing wine along the shores that blend the vivid colours of the buildings with the placid turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, from where you can take the beautiful boat tours to the most beautiful beaches and coasts of Italy from Sorrento.

Spend your afternoon here as you take a beach nap with your loved ones, enjoying a glass of wine on the shores of the Mediterranean; the sea embracing you with its aroma and the waves crashing in your ears. This is one of the best things to do in Sorrento with the kids.

Traveller Tip

Sorrento is characterised by its unevenness. If you get very tired or have mobility problems and can't go up or down stairs, the city has public lifts available at a cost of no more than €2.

End your day celebrating in Piazza Lauro's nightclubs

Still energised? Next to Piazza Lauro you'll find venues where you can go and dance to the music that's all the rage in the country or the region. The area is quite safe. I am sure you will love the parties and the nightlife in Sorrento. In this case, my recommendation is to go to Fauno Notte Club, the most traditional and historic discotheque in Sorrento that can welcome you all night long.

After enjoying the beach, wash off the sea salt in one of the public showers on the beaches and head to your hotel if you want to change your clothes or have a nice shower. Buses D-E, EAV and SITA will take you directly to Lauro Square.

The area is in stark contrast to the old town as the architecture here is more modern and the shops are more contemporary than the familiar brands. You can dine here and sample the risottos or Mediterranean casseroles sold in the restaurants near the square.

At dawn on your third day you can have a leisurely breakfast and then set off for Piazza Gargiulo. From there you will go to three more sites that the city has to offer: the Convent of San Francesco, the Church of San Francesco, the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum and I suggest you finish with a unique sunset at the Villa Comunale, adjacent to the convent.

These sites are close to each other and easy to reach on foot. In addition, from the Villa Comunale you can walk down to the harbour and the Marina Piccola of Sorrento for a last meal on the shores of Sorrento.

Start at Piazza Gargiulo

Piazza San Francesco Saverio Gargiulo is one of the most energetic places in the city because of the peace conveyed by its fountain. Again your starting point is Piazza Tasso where you will walk up Via Sant'Antonino, adjacent to the square you have already seen. From Tasso to the convent is a five-minute walk as they are 300 metres from each other.

The square is named after San Francesco Saverio Gargiulo (1840-1922), a famous jurist and philosopher of the area. This space is taken as a reference point for many concerts or exhibitions held throughout the year in Sorrento. I tell you that you will appreciate the peace of this place and you will want to just stop time to enjoy the locals' everyday city. The square is just metres from the beautiful Church and Cloister of San Francesco.

Revel in the silence and peace of the Cloister of San Francesco

The Cloister of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the oldest monuments in Sorrento. Across Piazza Gargiulo you will find the building that houses three institutions: the cloister, the church of San Francesco and the Leonardo Da Vinci museum. This dynamic architectural structure dating back to the 14th century is unique in its design.

The cloister was built on the remains of a 7th century monastery. Inside you will find archaeological excavations where you can see remnants of pagan temples in the baroque style of the 14th century. In the courtyard lies an ancient and beautiful tree with an oblique trunk, which is the setting for the many weddings that take place inside the cloister.

The church that adjoins the monastery is embellished with a garden of flowering shrubs and ornamental trees. In summer, the cloister welcomes art in its spaces and becomes an exhibition gallery. Admission is free of charge.

Practical information about the monastery

• Location: Via S. Francesco, 12, 80067

• Price: free

• Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The art and history of the Quattrocento await you at the Italian Pride Museum

Just a stone's throw from the church is the entrance to the Italian Pride Museum where Leonardo da Vinci is the protagonist. In the museum you can learn about the life and work of the enigmatic artist in an exhibition that alternates physical objects with virtual rooms that condense the historical narratives behind the myth and legend of Da Vinci.

But it is not only Da Vinci who is the focus of this museum. Various excursions and events on other great Italian figures have been organised here. Admission to the museum costs less than €10, but there are discounts for children under 12, and it is completely free for children under six.

Practical information

• Location: Via S. Francesco, 12, 80067

• Price: the entrance fee is around 10 €.

• Opening hours: 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

Have lunch at the Villa Comunale and visit the archaeological museum

The Villa Comunale in Sorrento is the best place to admire the Sorrento sunset. It is located on the same street as the square and cloister of San Francesco. Ideally, you can refresh yourself in the baths here, enjoy lunch and a sweet treat with a good coffee while relaxing in the gardens at La Villa Restaurant & Bar, a panoramic restaurant with the best views of Sorrento.

When you are there, you will realise that the villa stands on the gardens of the Franciscan friars, where it was built in 1877 and 1879. It is described as a small park with the best views of the sea and has beautiful walks through gardens and olive trees dating back centuries.

In addition to this, inside you will also have the chance to visit the George Vallet Archaeological Museum which has incredible finds from the excavations that have been carried out in Sorrento along with a valuable mosaic depicting a nymphaeum. This museum even resembles the Archaeological Museum in Naples.

End your day on the shores of Marina Piccola

You already visited Marina Grande the day before, now you will get to know the little one: Marina Piccola. From the Villa you can go down to Marina Piccola for less than 2 euros by an efficient and comfortable lift and if you want to save those euros then you can opt for the free stairs.

I suggest you go down to Marina Piccola when the beautiful sunset has passed at the Villa Comunale and have dinner after contemplating the wonderful scenery of the Amalfi Coast where you can watch as travellers return from their water tours of this beautiful spot.

Will you need to rent a car in Sorrento? Well... no. Sorrento has an efficient public transport system that includes lifts to get you around the city. Now, if you want to plan an excursion to nearby towns and you are wondering how to visit Pompeii on your own, then using a car is the best way to get there.

But Sorrento also has tours to Pompeii that you can take quickly and cheaply to these unmissable destinations in Italy, without needing a car. What is the most important limitation to owning a car? Without a doubt, parking. In high season, Sorrento gets crowded and it can be a headache to get a free spot inside. Not to mention the cost of private car parks which can cost up to €10 an hour.

Summer temperatures in Sorrento are extremely hot, with temperatures easily exceeding 30°C (86°F). For this reason, I advise you to invest in a good sunscreen. Hydrate yourself as much as possible and always carry a bottle of water in your backpack. This will also be necessary if you go in winter, but with a coat. Winters in Sorrento are not that cold, but you should still pack at least a jumper and a jacket.

Be sure to bring good sports shoes for walking along the ancient cobblestone streets of the city and, if you want, combine them with a fashionable hat or cap. Sorrento is synonymous with constant walking and it is possible to take tours that will help you not to get so tired, but you still need to be comfortable at all times.