15+ Things to do in Sorrento, Italy

Sorrento, Italy earned the nickname of “gateway to the Amalfi Coast” for many reasons. Located along the Bay of Naples with Mount Vesuvius looming ahead, it was a perfect base to explore this beautiful part of the Italian coastline. These were most of our favorite things to do in Sorrento.

We spent one Spring week in this lovely town and it was so hard to leave. Its reputation extends beyond large lemons and the limoncello drink; Sorrento also offers much to visitors and families.

1. Do a Sightseeing Tour

One of the best ways to get an orientation of Sorrento is through a sightseeing tour. It may sound quite touristy but the tours cover quite a bit of the main attractions in a short time.

The City Sightseeing® Sorrento red buses offer a couple of tours that take visitors through Sorrento’s history and culture and the nearby peninsula. One of the options is the flexible Hop-On Hop-Off Tour.

Visitors can stop and spend time at one of the six designated stopovers. It comes with a pre-recorded commentary offered in various languages.

The train ride was ideal for families. This guided tour went down Sorrento’s streets, the port and the terraces. It was a slow, relaxing ride and came with a commentary to learn more about Sorrento’s history, culture and attractions.

2. Walk Around Old Sorrento

Sorrento was small enough to easily explore. Walking its streets, we enjoyed seeing the citrus trees lining the sidewalks. It was very tempting to pick fruits while out for a stroll.

We really enjoyed wandering the old area of Sorrento. There were many narrow streets and corners to explore. You never really know what architectural gem was around the next alleyway. We loved strolling past shops and looking up at the most charming buildings.

You don’t need a map. Get lost and explore and you won’t regret it.

Though, if you want a more meaningful stroll, this self-guided walking tour of Sorrento is a great one to follow. On a side note, we felt perfectly safe walking around at night.

3. Go Shopping

As a town that caters to tourists, there were plenty of shops here for the shopaholics and casual window shoppers. There were so many wonderful treasures here I could have spent all my time shopping in Sorrento.

19^th century buildings occupied by many shops flanked Corso Italia. It was such a joy to walk through.

Though, my favorite area for shopping was wandering through the narrow alleys and side streets in the historical center. There were so many shops selling souvenirs, leather goods, clothing and fruits and vegetables. Of course, lemons were everywhere.

We have never seen so many lemon items being sold before from lemon candy to lemon soap to lemon cookies. Chances are you’ll also spot vendors selling the largest lemons you’ve ever seen.

We saw many shops selling limoncello which was Sorrento’s popular lemon liqueur. Many provided samples for the adults. It was a bit too strong for me but my husband certainly enjoyed the sampling.

4. Visit the Marinas

There are two marinas below Sorrento’s cliff top location. Restaurants, shops, and homes line the Port of Marina Grande along a small bay.

This harbor area is one of the best places to eat fresh seafood. It has retained its rustic charm as a fishing village where visitors can see the fishermen hauling in their catch and cleaning their boats.

Marina Piccola is Sorrento’s main water transportation hub for getting off and on the ferries and hydrofoils to Capri, Naples and other towns along the Amalfi Coast. This waterfront area also includes some restaurants and a small beach, likely becoming very crowded during the summer.

5. Look out into the Vallone dei Mulini or Valley of the Mills

Sorrento used to have three gorges but only one currently remains from a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. We saw this valley known as Vallone dei Mulini or “Valley of the Mills” off the main square and Via Fuorimura. There was a small lookout into this verdant looking area.

But, the most fascinating things were the sawmill ruins that were now covered with moss, weeds and thick vegetation. These mills, which produced flour and contributed to Italy’s pasta production, had been in operation since the 1300s but were abandoned in the mid-1800s.

The valley derives its name from the mills that succumbed to time and the elements. There was something hauntingly beautiful about this valley and the abandoned mills. It is also a popular spot for hikers to get a closer look into these buildings.

6. People Watch at Piazza Tasso

The Piazza Tasso is Sorrento’s main square. It was smaller than the other European towns’ squares we’ve visited.

It was also not closed off for pedestrians only. But, it was still considered the town’s social centerpiece and always full of activities.

Restaurants and hotels surrounded the open area. Many of the eateries have outdoor patios which make it the best place to hang out and people watch.

One could also walk around here and stop at distinguished buildings like the baroque Church del Carmine, Palazzo Correale and of course, the statue of Saint Antonino Abbate who was Sorrento’s patron saint.

7. Discover Cathedrals and Churches

There was no shortage of churches around Sorrento. Though, the 12th century Basilica di Sant’Antonino is a popular spot for visitors. Named after the town’s beloved patron saint, San Antonino’s bones were also underneath the church’s crypts.

Don’t miss the Duomo, or Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo (Cathedral dedicated to Saints Phillip and James) which has a beautiful clock tower. Located in the town center along the Corso Italia shopping area. Another noteworthy church was the Chiesa di San Francescoor Church of St. Francis.

Be sure to visit the interior of these churches. The church interiors here included some treasures like magnificent architecture, paintings, woodworks, ornate interiors and decorative objects. Please remember to dress appropriately when visiting the churches and ensuring your shoulders and knees are covered.

We were lucky enough to be here during Holy Week leading up to Easter. This was one of the best places to observe religious rituals. If you’re here during Holy Thursday, don’t miss the White parade procession.

It was a surreal experience to witness this procession of men and boys in white robes and hoods walk from church to church. There was music, hooded figures carrying various religious items and torches. The Black Parade is on Good Friday which is more somber with black hooded figures walking.

8. Hang out at Villa Comunale

The Villa Comunale public park was a wonderful area to hang out. This green oasis wasn’t very big and had several flower beds and palms.

But, it offered beautiful panoramic views of the Bay of Naples, outlying islands and Mount Vesuvius on a clear day. It was located on a cliff and a telescope was available for closer views. Free restrooms were also on the park.

There was a terrace here overlooking the bay with benches perfect for watching the sunset. There was also an elevator here that went down to the beach, marina and harbor area.

We walked down instead on the Via Luigi de Maio and took the elevator up for about a euro. The pathway was well maintained and not as steep as we expected and offered some wonderful ocean views

9. Visit the Cloister of San Francesco

The cloisters and courtyard of the 14^th century Chiesa di San Francesco or Church of St. Francis were worth a quick stop. There was a beautiful and tranquil courtyard here.

It was a fantastic place to stop for a bit of relaxation while enjoying the Arabic porticos. This has also become a popular backdrop for wedding photos so don’t be surprised if you bump into a bridal party here.

If you have time, the Sorrento International Photo School was located upstairs with beautiful exhibits of black and white photos. This was located right outside of the Villa Comunale public park.

10. Eat around Sorrento

It’s easy to gain weight when traveling in Italy with all their delicious food. Pasta, pizza, gelato and all the other desserts made for unforgettable meals. We ate some meals with pizzas on the go, followed by gelato while walking around.

One can’t really go wrong with pizzas in Italy. Of course, there were many great cafes and restaurants around Sorrento too. Here are a three of our recommendations.

L’Antica Trattoria Ristorante – If you’ve ever wanted to try a Michelin rated restaurant, this Michelin one-star restaurant offered great ambience and delicious food for a reasonable price.

We went here during lunch for their weekday specials from noon to 6:30 PM. For 19.50 euros, we had a three-course meal that was our favorite meal during this entire trip even exceeding restaurants in Rome.

Il Pozzo – We found this restaurant in one of the narrow streets in the old town section. They were busy but our wait was minimal.

They had a variety of pizzas and my kids certainly loved their food. The atmosphere was great and food reasonably priced for being in the tourist area.

Ristorante Zi’Ntonio – Located near Piazza Tasso, we walked into this gem since they offered an extensive menu and no cover charge. We loved the food which were reasonably priced and attentive staff. There was even live music to entertain us.

11. Go on Day Trips

While we could have spent all our time exploring Sorrento, we also managed to do a few day trips. Some of the day trips still left some time to explore Sorrento in the late afternoons and evenings. These were the three most popular day trips from Sorrento.

Amalfi Coast

Undoubtedly, going to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento was one of our best day trips ever. We managed to visit Positano and Amalfi during this trip.

There are plenty of excursions with tour companies from Sorrento too. But, we did a DIY version by taking the SITA bus.

These two towns were so charming and beautiful. They were ideal places for strolls and sightseeing. Positano had many colorful houses perched on a cliff with a beach.

Amalfi also had beaches as well as many medieval buildings filled with history and culture including the stunning Cathedral of St. Andrew or the Duomo.

Read more about our day trip to Positano and Amalfi from Sorrento.

Pompeii

Mount Vesuvius’ powerful eruption in 79 AD buried the ancient city of Pompeii. Today, it is the world’s most visited archaeological site. The volcanic ash buried this city and kept it well-preserved when it was discovered in the 18^th century.

This UNESCO World heritage site was an easy 20-minute ride on a direct train route from Sorrento. Be sure to go on a tour to learn more about the structures and this important site.

The area is huge and harder to cover without the tour guides. It gave us a glimpse of a Roman city and a day in the lives of the citizens on that fateful day.

Capri

The island of Capri was only a 25-minute ferry ride from Sorrento. This enchanting island also known as the Blue Island or Isola Azzura, due to its surrounding waters, which offers so much for visitors especially during warmer months.

Visitors can explore the towns of Capri and Anacapri which has plenty of attractions even for daytrippers or opt for longer stays. We loved exploring Capri’s charming streets and enjoying its panoramic views.

Read more about how we spent our day in Capri Island.

We would love to return to Sorrento. Unfortunately, our time (like many vacations) is limited so some activities got left out. On our return trip, we definitely plan to do these activities. Hopefully, you can fit it into your itinerary.

12. Cooking or Pizza Making lessons

There are a variety of cooking and pizza making classes around Sorrento depending on what you want to make and how long each lessons are. How fun would it be to step into an Italian kitchen and make some delicious pasta and pizza. Some like Villa Ida looks very family-friendly.

13. Make Gelato

David Gelateria offers a 45-minute class on preparing handmade gelato with eating them afterwards too. My kids really wanted to do this.

Unfortunately, they were closed during our Easter Week visit. They’re located near the train station.

14. Visit A Farm

We passed by many lemon trees and farms along the Amalfi coast. I wish we had another day to tour one of these farms. This 19^th century farm offers guided tours that includes plenty of eating, wine and limoncello tastings

15. Explore Porta Parsano Bastion

Sorrento has a long history of being attacked. It’s no wonder it was surrounded by defensive walls, towers and entrance gates over the years.

Today, remains of the historic walls can be seen and visited. Admission to the site is free and accessed from Via Antonino Sersale. It is open daily from 10 AM to 1 PM and during the evenings in the summer

*What other things to do in Sorrento can you add?

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