15 Best Things to Do in Sorrento for First-Timers

Planning a trip and looking for the best things to do in Sorrento, Italy? This guide covers everything worth prioritizing on your first visit, from the piazzas and churches in the historic center to the best day trips from Sorrento.

I’ll admit it, I didn’t expect much from Sorrento going in. It’s not technically part of the Amalfi Coast, so I figured it would just be a convenient home base and nothing more. I couldn’t have been more wrong!

The historic center is full of character, the lemon groves scent the air everywhere you walk, and the views over the Bay of Naples rival anything you’ll find further down the coast. It’s an incredibly underrated city in its own right, not just a gateway to Positano, Amalfi, and Capri.

Whether you’re putting together a Sorrento bucket list or just trying to figure out what to do with your time, here are the 15 things worth prioritizing on your visit.

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Best Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy

1. Piazza Tasso

Piazza Tasso is the main square in Sorrento’s historic center, and it’s where most people start their visit. Every street in town seems to lead back to it eventually!

The square is named after Torquato Tasso, the Renaissance poet born in Sorrento, and his statue stands at one corner. The yellow Baroque facade of the Church of Santa Maria del Carmine sits on the other side, worth a quick look inside if it’s open.

Grab a seat at Fauno Bar, the most famous spot on the square, and do some people watching over an espresso or a spritz. On the north side of the piazza, look down toward Via Luigi De Maio, the road that winds down to Marina Piccola. It’s one of the best photo spots in town!

From here, you can head to Corso Italia for shopping, walk down toward Marina Piccola, or wander into the old town’s narrow lanes.

2. Sorrento Cathedral

Just steps from Piazza Tasso, visiting the Sorrento Cathedral is one of the best things to do in Sorrento if you’re into architecture and history.

Officially called the Cathedral of Saints Philip and James, it’s been rebuilt and expanded so many times over the centuries that it’s now a mix of Romanesque, Baroque, and neo-Gothic styles.

The facade is fairly understated, but the interior tells a different story. Inside, you’ll find intricate Sorrento wood inlay on the choir stalls, marble detailing, and a bell tower that incorporates fragments of an ancient Roman temple.

It’s free to visit and usually not crowded, which makes it an easy stop to fold into a walk through the historic center. Even if you’re not particularly into churches, the woodwork alone is worth the five minutes it takes to pop inside.

3. Day trip to the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento is the perfect base for exploring the Amalfi Coast, and honestly, a guided tour is the best way to do it!

Getting around the coast independently can be a bit of a hassle, so if you want to do it yourself, I recommend picking only one town for the day. Obviously, my top pick would be Positano! You can take a ferry or a bus from Sorrento and spend the whole day there.

If you want to see more of the coast, a guided tour is the way to go, and you’ve got a few solid options.

This minibus tour takes you along the coast to Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, all in one day. It’s the easiest way to hit all three towns without worrying about ferries or bus schedules.

You can also book an Amalfi Coast boat tour that focuses more on time on the water, with stops for swimming and snorkeling along the way. You’ll still get some time in the towns, but the day is mostly spent out on the sea.

For something different, a Vespa tour lets you ride along the coastal road with a driver, taking in the views from the back of the scooter while stopping at several spots along the way. This was hands down my favorite way to experience the Amalfi Coast!

4. Corso Italia

Corso Italia is Sorrento’s main street, running from the train station through Piazza Tasso and continuing on toward Sant’Agnello. Only part of it is pedestrianized, but that’s the section worth spending time on.

You’ll find everything from high-end boutiques to small shops selling limoncello, ceramics, and Sorrento’s famous wood inlay work. It’s also lined with cafes and gelaterias if you need a break between stores.

The Sorrento Cathedral sits along this stretch too, so it’s an easy stop to fold into your walk down the street.

5. Marina Grande

Walking down to Marina Grande for lunch with a view is one of the best things to do in Sorrento if you want a break from the crowds in the historic center!

Marina Grande is Sorrento’s old fishing village, tucked below the cliffs on the western side of town. It’s a completely different pace from the busy streets around Piazza Tasso.

Colorful boats line the small harbor, and the handful of restaurants here serve some of the freshest seafood in Sorrento. It’s a popular filming location too, and you’ll see why once you’re standing in it.

6. Beach day at Marina Piccola

If you want to spend a day on the beach, head down to Marina Piccola. This is where you’ll find Sorrento’s main beach spot, with beach clubs lining the water.

There are a few sandy patches, but most of it is built out over the rocks with wooden platforms. The vibe is great, even though it gets crowded and you’ll have to pay for a sunbed and umbrella. It’s still worth it for a few hours in the sun.

To get there, take the stairs down from Villa Comunale, or use the elevator, which is especially handy on the way back up.

7. Boat trip to Capri

Capri is only a 30 minute ferry ride from Sorrento, which makes it one of the easiest day trips on this list. If you want to visit by yourself, this is the way to go, and you can spend the whole day exploring the island at your own pace, whether that’s shopping in the Piazzetta, riding the chairlift up Monte Solaro, or just finding a quiet spot with a view.

But seeing Capri from the water is an entirely different experience, so I recommend booking a boat tour from Sorrento instead!

This way transport is included, you can also stop by the famous Blue Grotto, sail around the island past spots like the Faraglioni rocks, and get a real sense of the coastline and its caves that you’d otherwise miss from land.

Most boat tours also build in time for swimming, plus some free time on the island itself, so you’re not choosing between the two experiences. You get the best of both worlds in a single day, and honestly, that view of the Faraglioni from the water is worth the trip on its own.

8. Piazza della Vittoria

Piazza della Vittoria sits between Marina Grande and Marina Piccola, and it has one of the best views in Sorrento. From the terrace, you get a wide, uninterrupted look over the Bay of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius visible in the distance on a clear day.

The square itself is small and quiet compared to Piazza Tasso, with a shaded garden and benches if you want to sit for a while. In the center stands the Monument to the Sorrentine Fallen of the First World War, a white marble sculpture built in 1926.

It’s right next to the Bellevue Syrene, one of Sorrento’s most luxurious hotels, and you don’t need to be a guest to grab a drink on their terrace and enjoy the same view.

9. Villa Comunale

Locals call Villa Comunale the “balcony of Sorrento,” and it’s easy to see why once you’re standing at the terrace railing. Built in the late 1800s on land that once belonged to Franciscan monks, it’s now one of the best spots in town for a sweeping view over the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

Shaded paths, centuries-old olive trees, and a small cafe make it an easy place to slow down for a bit. It also connects to the elevator down to Marina Piccola, so it’s worth timing your visit here right before or after a beach day.

I recommend visiting both in the daytime and around sunset as the vibes are very different!

10. Chiostro di San Francesco

Right next door to Villa Comunale sits the Chiostro di San Francesco, a 14th-century cloister built on the ruins of an even older 7th-century monastery. It’s one of the oldest structures still standing in Sorrento!

Inside, arches in a mix of styles wrap around a small courtyard garden, all under a canopy of bougainvillea. It’s a popular wedding venue, so don’t be surprised if you catch a ceremony in progress.

It’s free to visit and takes maybe 15 minutes to walk through, so it’s an easy add-on to a walk through Villa Comunale or the historic center.

Also, don’t miss the small photo gallery showing black and white work by local photographer Raffaele Celentano!

11. Cooking class

A cooking class is one of the best ways to actually understand Sorrento’s food instead of just eating it. Most classes run three to four hours and take place in a home kitchen or a farmhouse just outside town, often with sweeping views over the coast.

You’ll typically make a couple of pasta shapes from scratch, like gnocchi or fresh fettuccine, along with something local like eggplant parmigiana or Neapolitan pizza. Tiramisu usually rounds things out at the end, and there’s almost always wine or limoncello involved.

Transport is often included if the class is held outside the center, so check when you book. It’s a great activity for solo travelers too, since you’re seated with a small group by the end.

12. Limoncello tasting

Limoncello is Sorrento’s signature liqueur, made by steeping local lemon zest in alcohol before mixing in sugar syrup. It’s bright, citrusy, and served ice cold, usually as a after-meal digestif.

A lot of shops around town offer free tastings, so it’s easy to sample a few and find one you like before buying a bottle.

If you want to go all in, book a walking tour that includes a Limoncello tasting stop, or a full Limoncello making and tasting experience where you’ll learn the process from a local producer and take a bottle home with you.

13. Day trip to Pompeii

Pompeii is one of the easiest day trips from Sorrento, since the Circumvesuviana train gets you there in about 30 to 40 minutes. Get off at Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri, not the Pompei town stop, since that’s the one right by the entrance.

Although it’s a pretty easy route, fair warning that the train experience is not so good! The trains are almost always crowded and there is no AC or seat reservation, so it’s a bit of a struggle in the summer season.

If you’d rather not take this route, I recommend booking a guided tour to Pompeii that includes transport in an air-conditioned coach.

Also, the site is huge, and there’s very little signage once you’re inside, so it’s worth having some kind of guide, whether that’s a booked tour, an audio guide, or at least a map from the visitor center.

Bring water and sun protection, since there’s almost no shade once you’re inside the site. Some tours also pair Pompeii with a stop at Mount Vesuvius if you want to make a full day of it!

14. Vallone dei Mulini

Just a short walk from Piazza Tasso, Via Fuorimura looks out over the Vallone dei Mulini, or Valley of the Mills, one of Sorrento’s most photographed spots. A stone flour mill dating back to the 13th century sits at the bottom of the gorge, completely swallowed up by moss and ferns.

The valley was cut off from the sea when Piazza Tasso was built in 1866, trapping in humidity that made the mills impossible to keep running. What’s left today is basically an abandoned ruin reclaimed by nature, and the contrast between the greenery and the crumbling stone is what makes it such a striking sight.

You can’t actually walk down into the valley since it’s private property, but the viewpoint along the railing gives you a clear look, and it’s just as striking lit up at night.

15. Aperitivo with a view

One of the best spots for aperitivo in Sorrento is Vittoria’s Bar at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, right off Piazza Tasso. You don’t need to be a guest, non-residents are welcome, though it’s worth calling ahead to book.

The terrace looks straight out over the Bay of Naples, and it’s especially stunning around sunset. Order one of their signature cocktails or an Aperol spritz and take it all in.

It’s on the pricier side, given the setting, but it’s worth it at least once for the view alone.

Where to Stay in Sorrento

If it’s your first time in Sorrento, stay in the historic center, as close to Piazza Tasso as you can. Everything, from restaurants to the elevator down to the beach clubs, is within walking distance from there.

Just be careful when you’re browsing hotels, since Sorrento is bigger than it looks on a map. Some properties look stunning in photos but are actually a fair distance from the center, and you’ll end up relying on taxis or buses to get anywhere.

Here are some amazing options right in the heart of the city for different budgets:

• Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria: A historic 5-star hotel right on Piazza Tasso, with clifftop gardens, a Michelin-starred restaurant, and a private elevator down to the port. It’s one of Sorrento’s most iconic (and priciest) stays.
• Imperial Hotel Tramontano: A grand hotel dating back to the 16th century, with terraces overlooking the Gulf of Naples and a private beach reachable by elevator. A great luxury pick if Excelsior Vittoria is fully booked.
• Hotel Rivage: A mid-range option on the western end of Corso Italia, with a rooftop pool and terrace looking out over the Gulf of Naples and Vesuvius. A bit of a walk from Piazza Tasso, but quieter for it.
• Hotel Antiche Mura: A solid mid-range pick with a pool, right off Piazza Tasso.
• Hotel Del Corso: A budget-friendly option on Corso Italia, just steps from the main square.

Where to Eat in Sorrento

Sorrento’s food scene ranges from centuries-old institutions to casual spots tucked into side streets, so there’s a good mix whether you want a special occasion dinner or a quick bite between sightseeing.

Reservations are a good idea for the more popular spots, especially in the evening! Here are my favorite spots:

• Fauno Bar: The most iconic cafe on Piazza Tasso, perfect for people watching over an espresso, spritz, or gelato.
• O’Parrucchiano La Favorita: A historic restaurant dating back to 1868, known for dining under a lemon grove and for inventing the cannelloni still on its menu today.
• Frankie’s Pizza Bar: A laid-back pizzeria with a garden terrace, known for Neapolitan-style pizza and a solid range of vegan and gluten-free options.
• Radical Sorrento: A bright, modern brunch spot known for Turkish eggs, avo toast, and fresh juices, a nice change of pace from the classic trattorias.
• Ristobiblioteramuseo L’Osteria del Buonconvento: A one-of-a-kind restaurant set in the former cellars of a 16th-century monastery, with vaulted ceilings and antique decor that make you feel like you’re dining inside a museum.
• Fuoro: A cozy restaurant tucked into a narrow alley in the historic center, known for its lemon pasta and fresh seafood.
• Bagni Delfino: A seafood restaurant built on a pier in Marina Grande, serving fresh catch with sweeping views over the Bay of Naples, especially beautiful at sunset.