Sorrento – A Town with a Southern Charm

Sorrento Has Sun, Sea, Good Food and Everything for La Dolce Vita

Sorrento harbour

Sorrento is a well-developed holiday resort town that is popular as a package-holiday destination. Although its history dates back to the times of the Etruscans, the Greeks and the Romans, it’s not history that attracts visitors to Sorrento. With its ideal location on the Sorrentine Peninsula and overlooking the Bay of Naples, Sorrento offers beautiful landscape, sun, sea, relaxation, good food and easy access to the much sought-after Amalfi Coast region.

Sorrento Attractions

Sorrento is a modern city with many luxurious hotels and beautiful cliff-side resorts. Although this is a package-holiday destination, the number of times we’ve stopped here, we’ve never felt overwhelmed by the number of tourists. Being an ideal base from which to explore important tourist sites like Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Ischia, Naples, Positano and Amalfi, most visitors are out and about exploring during the day. There are many sightseeing tours that you can join from Sorrento and the many ferry and hydrofoil services that connect Sorrento with Naples, Capri, Positano and the rest of the Amalfi Coast provide easy access to these popular destinations.

Going to the Beach in Sorrento

Closer to home, beach and water sports are very popular, although in Sorrento, the ‘beach‘ takes on a new meaning. The rugged coastline makes it difficult for anyone to take a swim in the Bay of Naples, but enterprising businesses at the Spiaggia San Francesco and the Marina Grande rent out deck chairs and umbrellas on concrete piers in the Bay. Some of the hotels also have their own floating docks with umbrellas and deck chairs.  The quirkiest sight are the rentable sun beds floating in the water.

A Cultural Trail

For those who seek art, history and culture, it is worth noting that Sorrento was a destination on the “Grand Tour” and many of the young European nobles came to Sorrento looking for sun and inspiration. Amongst these notable guests were Byron, Keats, Scott, Dickens, Goethe, Wagner, Ibsen and Nietzsche. Some attractions along the cultural trail include palaces from the 13th and 14th centuries and a couple of museums like the Correale di Terranova Museum and the Wooden Marquetry Shop-Museum.

Shopping in Sorrento

Shopping in Sorrento

From the seafront to the narrow streets in the historical centre, there are shops selling all kinds of Sorrentine artisan products and souvenirs. Sorrento is of course famous for its limoncello and bottles of limoncello in all shapes and sizes make nice gifts to take back home. Although the souvenir shops all around town sell this lemon liqueur, it’s nicer to buy it from shops such as Limonoro on Via San Cesareo who actually produce it. Along with the limoncello you’ll also find all kinds of products with lemon-designs, such as pottery, lemon soaps and perfumes.

Sorrento is also famous for its inlaid wood and you can buy anything from a small inlaid wood jewelry box to exquisite pieces of furniture.

Spaghetti Vongole at Zi’Ntonio Mare

Food in Sorrento

There are plenty of cafes and restaurants in Sorrento and depending on the type of food you like, your hotel will no doubt be able to recommend some. We were mainly looking for seafood and enjoyed a very nice meal at Zi’Ntonio at Marina Grande.  Ristorante Parco Ibsen, Ristorante Museo Caruso and O Parrucchiano were also restaurants that were recommended to us.

How to Get to Sorrento

Sorrento can be reached by train, air, boat and bus. For more on how to get to Sorrento, see Here.

See more photos of Sorrento at Travelsignposts Sorrento albums Here.

For more about Sorrento, see our Sorrento Trip Planner Here.

Things to do in Sorrento and around

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