Comparison · Naples vs Sorrento · Italy
Naples vs Sorrento
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Richard Nevell, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Naples for Pizza, Pompeii and lower day-to-day costs; choose Sorrento for Limoncello, Bay of Naples views and free sights. Naples is generally less expensive, and the two are about 27 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 27 km
- Less expensive
- Naples
- Best time for Naples
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Sorrento
- May–June and September
Side by side
| Naples | Sorrento | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Pizza, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius | Limoncello, Bay of Naples views and Ferries to Capri |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 4 days | 5 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $120–$220 | $180–$320 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 30°C (86°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 13°C (55°F) | January, 13°C (55°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 14 |
| Day trips in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Beaches | Gaiola Underwater Park | Marina Grande |
| Airports | NAP | NAP |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Naples for…
Pizza, Pompeii and lower day-to-day costs. Naples spreads around its bay beneath Mount Vesuvius, with a UNESCO-listed historic centre laid out on the grid of the Greek city of Neapolis. Spaccanapoli cuts straight through it past churches, street shrines and pizzerias, while the National…
Choose Sorrento for…
Limoncello, Bay of Naples views and free sights. Sorrento sits on tuff cliffs above the Bay of Naples, facing Vesuvius across the water, at the end of the Circumvesuviana railway from Naples. Its compact centre around Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia is flat and walkable, while lifts and stairways drop to…
Top sights compared
| # | Naples | Sorrento |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | National Archaeological Museum | Piazza Tasso |
| 2 | Sansevero Chapel and the Veiled Christ | Vallone dei Mulini |
| 3 | Spaccanapoli and the decumani | Villa Comunale |
| 4 | Via San Gregorio Armeno | Cloister of San Francesco |
| 5 | Naples Underground | Sorrento Cathedral |
Food compared
| Naples | Sorrento |
|---|---|
| Neapolitan pizza | Gnocchi alla sorrentina |
| Fried pizza | Limoncello |
| Sfogliatella | Delizia al limone |
| Babà | Spaghetti alla Nerano |
Which is cheaper?
Naples is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $120–$220 per person there, against $180–$320 in Sorrento (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Naples on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Naples and Sorrento are about 27 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 4 days in Naples and 5 in Sorrento.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Naples or Sorrento cheaper?
Naples is usually less expensive: about $120–$220 a day mid-range against $180–$320 (estimates).
+Is Naples or Sorrento better for a first trip?
Pick Naples for Pizza, Pompeii and lower day-to-day costs, or Sorrento for Limoncello, Bay of Naples views and free sights.
+How far is Naples from Sorrento?
About 27 km in a straight line.