The city of Sorrento is perched on a cliff overlooking the Bay of Naples and views for miles,…read morequaint cobblestone streets and shop filled alleys, detailed historic architecture and lemon & orange trees everywhere, I instantly fell in love!
With the casual vibe of a seaside town, friendly people, exquisitely delicious food and fabulous local wine, it's impossible not to love Sorrento! My eight days there, whether exploring Sorrento itself or the surrounding areas, were glorious and already I want to return!
The sherbert colored buildings, centuries old wooden and iron doors and detailed architecture line the streets and are a feast for your eyes. Make sure to walk along Via Correale with the upscale hotels and the best views of the pools and hotels built into the cliffs going down to the beach. To access the beach you need to take a lift from a hotel or on the west end of town, a public lift for $1 euro each way. It's totally worth it! There is also a path of switchbacks that takes you down.
The beach is rocky and there are floating docks with recliners and stairs to the deep aqua blue waters. Lots of cafes down at water level, too.
Views from the top are like a postcard or in todays terms, Instagram worthy. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner at one of the hotel restaurants. The food is fabulous and the atmosphere transports you. I recommend the Lorelei and it's outdoor patio with tables under white umbrellas and unparalleled views of Mt. Vesuvius. Or at the opposite end, sit under the lemon tree covered pergola at a table overlooking the cliffs and bathing docks below, the blue sky and the blue water of The Bay of Naples merging into one. Both meals were memorable and I will definitely be going back to both!
In the heart of the city is I Giardini de Cataldo, a lemon grove with an entrance on the sidewalk of Via Corso Italia. You can wander and explore for free and try their limoncello and gelato, both available for purchase.
Past the Piazza Tasso, the central square, there are narrow streets filled with shops, cafes, churches, museums, restaurants, and bars. The gorgeous centuries old doorways framed by hanging plants, bougainvillea, iron window boxes spilling over with geraniums, with and flag pendants and laundry hanging above. It is as charming as you have imagined, even better!
Go down to the port and catch a ferry to the island of Capri where the boats in the harbor and pastel buildings great you. Many high end shops, restaurants and a boat ride to the blue grotto will be a full day.
Hire a tour guide to drive you down the Amalfi Coast with stops in Positano, Rovello and Amalfi Town, each with their own beauty and charm. And lots and lots of steps and steep roads! The drive is incredibly beautiful but do leave the driving up to the skilled and experienced drivers.
We also did a day trip to Salerno to visit a buffallo Mozzerella farm and have a farm fresh lunch; to Mt. Vesuvius to hike up to the crater; an afternoon taking in the wonders of Pompeii and this preserved ancient city; and a day in Naples where they truly have the worlds best pizza. Really!
Even with all that, I had four full days in Sorrento and never ran out of things to do. There are cooking classes, which I highly recommend. Various tours. Lots of shopping. And too many restaurants to name! The food is some of the best in the world and it was surprisingly affordable especially the wine. Delicious pasta dishes for $10 and a bottle of wine for $8. I could live here!
If Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are not in your bucket list, they should be! Best time to go is early April or October as the summer months are super hot and the streets overflowing with tourists. We were there the last two weeks of October and it was sunny, 75-80 degrees, and blue skies every day. Plenty of people so you didn't feel like the town was isolated but never too crowded.
Sorrento is a beautiful place in every way. Can not wait to return!
