Sorrento Peninsula · Hub for Capri & Coast
Sorrento
Limoncello and wood inlay, overlooking the Gulf with Vesuvius and Capri. Ideal base for Campania.
Sorrento is a city of contrasts: the bustling energy of Piazza Tasso and the silent alleys of the historic center, waterfront tourist spots and hidden trattorias where locals have dined for generations.
World-famous for its limoncello (made here with PGI lemons), its inlaid wood art (a Renaissance tradition), and its status as the perfect logistical hub: from here, you can reach Naples, Pompeii, Capri, Positano, or Amalfi in about an hour.
Did you know?
70 min
from Naples via Circumvesuviana
25 min
to Capri by hydrofoil
16,000
residents
The name "Sorrento" may derive from the Greek Surrentum or from Seirenoussai (the Sirens): according to mythology, these shores were home to the sirens who tried to lure Ulysses.
What to see in Sorrento
Piazza Tasso
The heart of Sorrento: bars, restaurants, and the statue of Torquato Tasso. It is the mandatory evening meeting point for locals and tourists alike. All the main roads of the center depart from here.
Cloister of San Francesco
Sorrento's most beautiful monument: a 14th-century Gothic-Arabian cloister with interlaced arches and a wisteria garden. Free entry, open year-round. Hosts summer concerts and art exhibitions.
Villa Comunale & Belvedere
Public gardens with the most spectacular terrace in Sorrento: views of Vesuvius, the Gulf of Naples, and Capri on the horizon. Free, open all day. The best spot for a sunset aperitivo without the bar markup.
Marina Grande
The fishing harbor, reachable via the stone steps of via Marina Grande (15 min from center). Colorful houses, beached boats, and authentic seafood restaurants. Less touristy than Marina Piccola.
Vallone dei Mulini
A natural canyon steps away from Piazza Tasso, completely forgotten by tourists: an abandoned mill covered in tropical vegetation 40 m below street level. Visible for free from the via Fuorimura bridge.
Getting to Sorrento
Circumvesuviana (from Naples)
EAV train from Naples Porta Nolana or Naples Central (Piazza Garibaldi) toward Sorrento. Duration: ~70 min. Cost: ~€3.90. Stops at Herculaneum (Scavi), Pompeii (Scavi Villa dei Misteri), Castellammare di Stabia, Vico Equense. Frequency: every 30–40 min from 6:00 to 22:00.
* Watch for pickpockets. Check timetables at eavsrl.it
| Naples Depart | Sorrento Arrive | Company |
|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | 08:05 | Alilauro |
| 08:30 | 09:35 | Alilauro |
| 10:00 | 11:05 | Alilauro |
| 12:00 | 13:05 | Alilauro |
| 15:00 | 16:05 | Alilauro |
| 17:00 | 18:05 | Alilauro |
* Indicative summer 2026 timetable. Check alilauro.it
Sorrento off the beaten path
Sedile Dominova
A 15th-century open loggia with original frescoes, hidden in an alley of the old town. Once the seat of the local noble assembly, today used as a social club by neighborhood elders. Free, always open.
Via San Cesareo
The real Sorrento shopping street: wood inlay workshops, artisanal limoncello shops, delis and cheese makers. Much less expensive and more authentic than Corso Italia.
Museum of Wood Inlay
Sorrento's marquetry museum, housed in an 18th-century palazzo with frescoed ceilings. Collection of inlaid furniture and objects from the 16th to 19th century. Entry ~€8.
Sunset at Capo di Sorrento
The Roman ruins of the Bagni della Regina Giovanna at Capo di Sorrento: reachable on foot in 45 min from the center along the coastal path. Natural rock pools, sunset over open sea. Free.
Local Tip
Vallone dei Mulini - free entry
The Vallone dei Mulini is a deep gorge in the center of Sorrento with lush vegetation. View it from via Fuorimura for free: look for the railing on the road and peer down. A spot most tourists never find.