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Grand Hotel Cocumella, Sorrento

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Sorrento

Updated 1 October 2026 · 16 things to do

Pictured: Grand Hotel Cocumella

Sorrento sits on a cliff above the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius smouldering across the water and the island of Capri on the horizon. It smells of lemons and sea air, and the evening passeggiata around the main square is a small show of its own. It's a good-natured, slightly old-fashioned resort, and it has the best location on this stretch of coast.

That location is the point. The Circumvesuviana train takes you to Herculaneum, Pompeii and Naples; ferries run to Capri, Positano and Amalfi; and the unspoilt tip of the peninsula, with its coves and walking trails, is right behind the town. Come for the sights, stay for the long dinners.

Don't miss

  1. 1Pompeii
  2. 2Capri
  3. 3Positano
  4. 4The Path of the Gods
  5. 5Piazza Tasso

Sorrento itself

A pleasant town to wander, with a lively centre and a tiny fishing harbour.

  1. Piazza Tasso

    Landmark

    Piazza Tasso, the main square of Sorrento
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    The town's lively heart, named after the poet Torquato Tasso, who was born here. Cafés spill onto the square, and the evening stroll is the best time to join the local crowd. A statue of the poet looks down on it all.

    Streets lead off into the old centre, where shops sell lemon products, inlaid wood and leather sandals.

  2. Chiostro di San Francesco

    Landmark

    The arches of the Chiostro di San Francesco cloister in Sorrento
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A tranquil medieval cloister beside the church of San Francesco, hung with bougainvillea and framed by arches of different styles. A peaceful pocket of the old town, a few steps from the busy streets.

  3. Marina Grande

    Neighbourhood

    Marina Grande, Sorrento's old fishing harbour, at golden hour
    Photo: DimiTalen, CC0

    Below the cliffs to the west, the old fishing quarter of Sorrento is a tangle of pastel houses around a little harbour, with boats pulled up on the sand. It's the place for a fish dinner by the water, especially at sunset.

Ancient wonders

The eruption of Vesuvius in AD 79 froze two Roman towns in time.

  1. Pompeii

    Day trip

    The ruins of Pompeii with Mount Vesuvius behind
    Photo: Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China, Public domain

    The Roman city buried by ash is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most astonishing places in Europe. You walk down paved streets with chariot ruts, past bakeries, bars, villas with mosaics and frescoes, and a forum with Vesuvius looming behind.

    It's vast, so allow at least half a day. The Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento stops right by the entrance.

    Tip: Bring water, a hat and good shoes: there is little shade among the ruins.

  2. Herculaneum

    Day trip

    The excavated Roman streets of Herculaneum
    Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Smaller, quieter and in some ways more moving than Pompeii, Herculaneum was buried under volcanic mud, which preserved wooden beams, furniture and mosaics. You can see the whole thing in a couple of hours.

  3. Mount Vesuvius

    Nature

    The crater rim of Mount Vesuvius
    Photo: Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0

    You can drive or take a bus most of the way up, then walk the last stretch on a gravel path to the crater rim. Down below, the Bay of Naples spreads out in a blue sweep, and you realise how close the cities are to the volcano.

    Tip: Go in clear weather: cloud can hide the view completely.

The Amalfi Coast

Pastel villages piled up on cliffs, a boat ride away.

  1. Positano

    Neighbourhood

    Pastel houses of Positano climbing the Amalfi Coast hillside
    Photo: Alexis Lours, CC BY 4.0

    The postcard Amalfi Coast village: pastel houses stacked in a tumble down a steep hillside to a pebble beach and a cluster of beach clubs. Climb the stairs, browse the boutiques and have a spritz overlooking the dome of Santa Maria Assunta.

    In summer, take the ferry from Sorrento rather than the coast road, which can jam.

  2. Amalfi

    Landmark

    The cathedral of Amalfi rising above the town
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Once a maritime republic that rivalled Venice, now a small harbour town dominated by its striped cathedral at the top of a broad flight of steps. Behind the square, narrow lanes climb into the valley, where the town made its famous paper.

  3. Ravello

    Landmark

    A hilltop village high above the coast, calm and cultured, where the gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone hang over a dizzying drop to the sea. Composers came here for inspiration, and the setting still draws concerts in summer.

  4. The Path of the Gods

    Nature

    The Sentiero degli Dei trail above the Amalfi Coast
    Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please, CC BY-SA 3.0

    Sentiero degli Dei is a high-level trail along the cliffs above the coast, from Bomerano to Nocelle, with sweeping views of Positano, Capri and the sea far below. It's the most famous walk in the area.

    Allow a few hours, take water, and wear sturdy shoes.

    Tip: Walk it downhill from Bomerano, and start early to beat the heat.

Capri and the peninsula

  1. Capri

    Day trip

    The Faraglioni sea stacks off the coast of Capri
    Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A short ferry ride from Sorrento, this glamorous island of limestone cliffs has been a retreat for emperors and film stars alike. See the Faraglioni sea stacks, wander the lanes of Capri town and take the chairlift up Monte Solaro from Anacapri for the biggest view.

    Tip: Book your ferry, and go early to beat the day-trippers.

  2. Punta Campanella

    Nature

    The Punta Campanella lighthouse at the tip of the Sorrento peninsula
    Photo: DimiTalen, CC0

    The wild tip of the Sorrento peninsula, a protected marine area facing Capri, where a quiet trail leads past ancient ruins to a lighthouse. The nearby Bay of Ieranto is a stunning cove with clear water for swimming.

  3. Bagni della Regina Giovanna

    Beach

    A rocky cove just east of Sorrento's cape, with a natural rock pool beside the ruins of a Roman villa. You reach it on foot from the main road, and the setting, with clear water and no sand, feels a long way from the resort.

  4. Vico Equense

    Day trip

    A cliff-top town along the coast from Sorrento, famous for pizza sold by the metre and for a handful of small beaches at Marina di Equa. A good lunch stop on the way along the coast.

Eat and drink

  1. Gnocchi alla sorrentina

    Food

    A plate of gnocchi alla sorrentina
    Photo: Davide Zambelli, CC BY 3.0

    The town's signature dish: pillowy potato gnocchi baked in tomato sauce under molten mozzarella, bubbling in a terracotta dish. Rich, simple and perfect after a day of sightseeing.

  2. Lemons and limoncello

    Food

    The huge, fragrant lemons of the Sorrento coast turn up in everything: lemon granita, lemon cake, lemon marmalade and, of course, limoncello. Sip a glass ice-cold after dinner, and buy a bottle from a small producer rather than a souvenir stand.

Where to stay in Sorrento

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay in Sorrento →

Getting around

Sorrento is the end of the Circumvesuviana line from Naples, which also stops at Herculaneum and Pompeii. Ferries run from the port to Capri, Positano and Amalfi in the warmer months, and buses cover the coast road. Driving along the Amalfi Drive is slow and tricky in summer, so most visitors leave the car behind.

When to go

Late spring and early autumn are the sweet spot: warm, bright and less crowded than summer. July and August are hot and busy, and some ferries and beach clubs slow down or close in winter.

Questions about visiting Sorrento

What is Sorrento best known for?
Its clifftop setting over the Bay of Naples, lemons and limoncello, and being the best base for Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
Is Sorrento worth visiting?
Yes. It's a charming town in its own right and a very convenient base for Pompeii, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
How many days do you need in Sorrento?
Four or five days gives you time for Pompeii, a day on Capri, a day on the Amalfi Coast and a lazy day in town.
Do you need a car in Sorrento?
No. Trains, ferries and buses reach the main sights, and driving on the coast road is slow and stressful in summer.

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