5 days in Sorrento

Day by day

1. Day 1: Piazza Tasso and Vallone dei Mulini

   Piazza Tasso, Vallone dei Mulini and Villa Comunale, then Via San Cesareo in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Piazza Tasso

      Take an evening coffee or gelato here around 9pm, when locals come out for the passeggiata along Corso Italia. (30 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Vallone dei Mulini

      Look from the viewpoint on Via Fuorimura, a minute's walk from Piazza Tasso. (15 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Gnocchi alla sorrentina

      Trattorias across the old town and Marina Grande; it usually arrives in its own small terracotta dish.

   4. Afternoon

      Villa Comunale

      Come at sunset, then take the lift down to the port for a seafront walk. (30 minutes, free).

   5. Evening

      Via San Cesareo

      Many shops offer limoncello tastings; compare a few before buying.

2. Day 2: Cloister of San Francesco and Sorrento Cathedral

   Cloister of San Francesco, Sorrento Cathedral and Museobottega della Tarsia Lignea, then Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Cloister of San Francesco

      Visit in the morning before weddings and events, when the cloister is often quiet. (20 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Sorrento Cathedral

      Look closely at the inlaid-wood choir stalls and stations of the cross, a good introduction to Sorrento's intarsia tradition. (30 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Limoncello

      Restaurants offer it as a digestif; shops on Via San Cesareo and lemon-grove visits offer tastings.

   4. Afternoon

      Museobottega della Tarsia Lignea

      Visit before buying inlaid-wood souvenirs so you can recognise quality work. (1 hour, low cost).

   5. Evening

      Piazza Tasso and Corso Italia

      Café terraces, cocktail bars and the evening passeggiata on the pedestrianised stretches of Corso Italia.

3. Day 3: Museo Correale di Terranova and Marina Grande

   Museo Correale di Terranova, Marina Grande and Bagni della Regina Giovanna, then Old-town lanes in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Museo Correale di Terranova

      Save it for a hot afternoon or a rainy day, and finish at the garden belvedere. (1.5 hours, low cost).

   2. Late morning

      Marina Grande

      Walk down for a seafood lunch, then swim from one of the bathing platforms. (2 hours, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Delizia al limone

      Pastry shops (pasticcerie) along Corso Italia and in Sant'Agnello, and on most restaurant dessert menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Bagni della Regina Giovanna

      Bring water shoes and food; there are no facilities and the rocks are uneven. (2–3 hours, free).

   5. Evening

      Old-town lanes

      Wine bars and pubs around Via San Cesareo and the lanes towards the Sedile Dominova.

4. Day 4: Day trip to Capri

   About 20–25 minutes by fast ferry each way. Getting there: Ferry or hydrofoil from Marina Piccola.

   1. Morning

      Travel to Capri

      About 20–25 minutes by fast ferry (Ferry or hydrofoil from Marina Piccola); about 15 km.

   2. Day

      Capri

      Capri's funicular climbs from Marina Grande to the Piazzetta, from where paths lead to the Gardens of Augustus, Villa Jovis and the Faraglioni viewpoints. Best for first-timers, couples and luxury.

   3. Evening

      Back in Sorrento

      Dinner: try Spaghetti alla Nerano.

5. Day 5: Sedile Dominova and Basilica of Sant'Antonino

   Sedile Dominova, Basilica of Sant'Antonino and Punta Campanella, then Marina Grande in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Sedile Dominova

      It sits on Via San Cesareo, so combine it with a stroll down the lane. (10 minutes, free).

   2. Late morning

      Basilica of Sant'Antonino

      Visit on 14 February to see the saint's feast-day procession. (20 minutes, free).

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Spaghetti alla Nerano

      Restaurants at Marina del Cantone and Nerano, and on many menus in Sorrento in summer.

   4. Afternoon

      Punta Campanella

      Start early in summer; the trail has almost no shade and the return is uphill. (2.5 hours return, free).

   5. Evening

      Marina Grande

      Late, unhurried dinners and drinks by the water, much quieter than the centre.

Before you go

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 5 nights, Centro storico and Piazza Tasso keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Marina Grande ($$$) suits couples, food lovers, quiet stays and beach. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 13–14 hours of visiting over 5 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Sorrento
• 2 days in Sorrento
• 3 days in Sorrento

Questions travellers ask