Travel tips · Sorrento · Italy
Sorrento travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Kim Traynor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Sorrento has welcomed travellers since the Grand Tour, and tourism shapes the town, yet it keeps strong local traditions: Holy Week processions, the cult of Sant'Antonino, intarsia workshops and family lemon groves. Life follows a southern Italian rhythm, with a long lunch break and an evening passeggiata.
Key facts
- Language
- Italian
- Currency
- EUR
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for taste.
- Emergency
- 112 (European emergency number)
Things to know
- Greet people with 'Buongiorno' before noon and 'Buonasera' in the afternoon and evening.
- Cover shoulders and knees in churches, and avoid visiting during services.
- Swimwear is for the beach; cover up when walking through town and in restaurants.
- Queue for buses can be informal; keep your ground politely and have a ticket ready before boarding.
- Coffee is usually drunk standing at the bar, where it costs less than at a table.
- Use the Circumvesuviana and SITA buses instead of private transfers; the savings are large.
Tipping
Tipping is not expected, and a cover charge or service charge may already be on the bill. Leaving a few euros or rounding up for good service is appreciated.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Buongiorno | Good morning / hello |
| Grazie mille | Thank you very much |
| Il conto, per favore | The bill, please |
| Un biglietto per Capri | A ticket to Capri |
| Quanto costa? | How much is it? |
What to wear
Light, breathable clothes in summer, with a cover-up for churches; comfortable sandals or shoes with grip for steps and smooth paving stones.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for taste.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Mobile coverage is good in town and patchy on some coastal trails; EU roaming applies to European SIMs.
- Time zone
- Europe/Rome
Sorrento is generally relaxed for visitors, but pickpocketing happens on the crowded Circumvesuviana and at busy ferry piers. Take care with heat and sun at Pompeii in summer, and swim only where you can climb out easily, as the sea is deep off the platforms.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Italy's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Sorrento?
Tipping is not expected, and a cover charge or service charge may already be on the bill. Leaving a few euros or rounding up for good service is appreciated.
+Can you drink the tap water in Sorrento?
Tap water is safe to drink, though many locals prefer bottled water for taste.
+What plugs are used in Sorrento?
Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Sorrento?
Italian.