Sorrento is perhaps the largest resort on the Amalfi Coast. The town has truly amazing landscapes. Situated on a flat rocky terrace, Sorrento juts out into the sea and offers views of the Gulf of Naples and the volcano Vesuvius visible in the distance. It is also surrounded by lemon groves. There are different ways of how to get to Sorrento, but the most popular starting points are usually Rome and Naples.
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When to travel to Sorrento
The climate in Sorrento is Mediterranean. It means that the weather is mild and mostly sunny. The swimming season lasts from June to September. For excursion purposes you can visit Sorrento all year round.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Sorrento. I figured out how to get to Sorrento, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to this beautiful place.
How to get to Sorrento
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Where do you fly into to get to Sorrento? You can get to Sorrento from Rome or Naples, because the closest international airports are located exactly there. Both direct and connecting flights land in Rome as well as in Naples. The current flight timetable can be checked via specialized online services such as Aviasales and others. I often use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options at the same time.
How to get to Sorrento from Rome
There is a great variety of ways of how to get to Sorrento, because there is a train station nearby as well as good-quality roads leading exactly here.
How to get to Sorrento from Rome by bus
From Rome to Sorrento, you can take buses, which run three times a day and are operated by Flixbus and Marozzi. The journey takes about 4 hours. In Rome, buses leave from the Autostazione Tiburtina bus station. The price of a bus ticket starts from 14 euros one-way.
How to get to Sorrento from Rome by train
Since direct buses from Rome to Sorrento only run a few times a day, another popular option for getting from one city to the other is to take the train to Naples and then make a change to a local bus which is carried out by Sita Sud company. The total travel time is about 2.5 hours to Naples and another hour or so to Sorrento. You can check the train timetable from Rome to Naples via the Raileurope railway service and others.
How to get to Sorrento from Rome by taxi
You can get directly from Rome airport to Sorrento by taxi. This is not the cheapest way, but you won’t have to waste time on making changes along the way as in case of public transport. You can find a taxi upon arrival. You can also book a taxi in advance via various international services that provide such services, for example, via Intui.Travel, Kiwitaxi and others. The travel time by taxi is approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
How to get to Sorrento from Rome by car
You can get from Rome to Sorrento by car along picturesque motorways. Car rental in Rome is quite popular among tourists, so you can rent a car both at numerous points in the city and at the airport. The # E45 motorway connects Rome and Sorrento (see on the map). The distance is about 270 km. Keep in mind that the approximate travel time is a little over 3 hours. You can find a suitable car rental option in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others.
How to get to Sorrento from Naples
The same ways of how to get to Sorrento are available from Naples. Tourists can use public transport, a taxi and a car. Car rental is a particular nice option in case you are planning to travel along the whole Amalfi Coast.
How to get to Sorrento from Naples by bus
From Naples to Sorrento, you can get on a direct regional bus of the Sita Sud company. Such buses run throughout the day along the entire coast. The same buses can be used from Sorrento to Amalfi, Positano, Maiori, etc. Buses in Naples leave from the Ferraris Stazione Vesuviana station. Buses is probably one of the most budgetary and popular ways of how to get to Sorrento from Naples.
How to get to Sorrento from Naples by taxi
If you need to get directly from the airport to Sorrento, for example, at night, when public transport does not work, you can use taxi. A taxi car can be found right at the arrival’s terminal at Naples airport. Tourists can also order a taxi in advance, and by the time of your arrival it is already waiting for you with a nameplate.
Taxi options from Naples to Sorrento can be viewed on the different online booking services such as Intui.Travel, Kiwitaxi and others. According to my research, both services have a lot of positive reviews so I can definitely recommend them. The travel time is about 1 hour 30 minutes.
How to get to Sorrento from Naples by car
There are a lot of car rental companies in Naples, so, if necessary, you can hire a car here for further trips along the Amalfi Coast. The # A3/E45 and SS145 motorways lead from Naples to Sorrento (see on the map). Keep in mind that the travel time is no more than an hour and a half. The distance is slightly more than 50 km. You can find a suitable car rental option in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Anyway, a car is one of the most convenient ways of how to get to Sorrento.
Where to stay in Sorrento
Sorrento has more accommodation options than any other town on the Amalfi Coast, but in the summer, they can be crowded, as Sorrento is very popular with both Italians and foreign tourists. In this regard, I would recommend booking hotels as early as possible. You can stay in Sorrento in hotels of any star category, apartments, guest houses, bed and breakfasts and even villas.
Hotels
Boutique Hotel Helios 4* is located in a quiet area, a 20-minute walk from the center. The hotel has a fitness center with a solarium and hydromassage. There is a sun terrace on the roof. Wi-Fi is free. The hotel offers standard, superior and deluxe rooms. The rooms have a safe, air conditioning, hairdryer, TV, telephone, minibar and wireless Internet. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel has a luggage storage, currency exchange and a tour desk.
Relais Regina Giovanna 4* offers its guests a private beach area, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi and free public parking nearby. It is important to have a parking place in case you choose a car as a way of how to get to Sorrento. The hotel also has a sun terrace and a garden. You can stay in classic or family rooms, as well as apartments with one or two bedrooms. The rooms are equipped with a TV, telephone, safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer, a minibar and a kettle. Some types of rooms include breakfast. The hotel has a luggage storage room.
Hotel La Vue d’Or 4* is located in a picturesque area in the immediate surroundings of Sorrento. A free shuttle service is available to the town center. The hotel has a rooftop terrace and a swimming pool with views of the Gulf of Naples. The hotel also has a bar and a restaurant with panoramic views. Wi-Fi and parking are free. The hotel has classic and superior rooms. All rooms are equipped with a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer and a TV. Buffet breakfast is included in the price. The hotel has a luggage storage room, a tour desk, and a currency exchange office.
Apartments
Donna Caterina apartment in Sorrento is located a 10-minute walk from the nearest beach. There are cafes and restaurants serving local cuisine nearby. The apartment is a studio. Wi-Fi is free. Inside you can find a safe, air conditioning, a dining area and a hairdryer. The kitchenette is equipped with a refrigerator, a microwave oven, a kettle and a stove.
Flower Suites Sorrento apartments are within walking distance of the gulf and a few minutes’ walk from the main attractions of Sorrento. Wi-Fi is free. You can choose from one-bedroom apartments, with a balcony or with a sun terrace. All apartments are equipped with TV, air conditioning, iron, hairdryer, refrigerator, microwave, kettle and a coffee pot. Breakfast can be included in the price upon request. Cleaning of the apartment is paid additionally in the amount of 15 euros.
What to see in Sorrento
Sorrento is not only a picturesque sea resort, but also a town that has preserved many architectural monuments from cathedrals and churches to elegant villas, galleries and museums. In addition, in the surroundings of Sorrento there are small villages that attract with their mountainous landscapes and beaches of volcanic ash.
Historical Attractions
Once you get to the historic center of Sorrento, you will be surprised by the number of historical sites that have been preserved here. These include, in particular, the Sorrento Cathedral and Piazza Tasso, the Basilica of San Antonio and the Church of San Francesco. All of these buildings date back to the early Middle Ages, which makes it all the more surprising how well they have been preserved. If you are a fan of Salvador Dali, then in Sorrento there is a museum dedicated to his works called the Sorrento Foundation Gallery. The museum exhibits not only the master’s paintings, but also his sculptures.
- The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm.
I would also recommend seeing elegant villas and blossoming gardens in Sorrento. For instance, be sure to visit Villa Comunale, where you will find the Church of San Francesco and a landscaped park. It is a great place for a walk in the midday heat, where you can hide under the shade of the trees. Villa Fiorentino is also interesting. Its interiors will amaze you with their luxury, and the huge park surrounding the villa will fascinate you with its size and diversity.
Where to go from Sorrento
Near Sorrento there are a lot of historic villages that have preserved their charm. Here you can observe the best views of Sorrento and find out secluded beaches of volcanic ash. If possible, be sure to visit the villages of Castellammare di Stabia, St. Agnello, Massa Lubrense, Vico Equense and some others.
Of course, you can visit other popular Amalfi Coast resorts from Sorrento. I can call Amalfi town, Maiori, Minori and Positano among them. If you prefer mountains to sea, I would recommend visiting magnificent Ravello. All the towns can be viewed by bus routes. Another good option, in my opinion, is to rent a car to explore the entire coast.
Sorrento Beaches
Sorrento is not that place which can boast broad sandy beaches. The town is located on a flat rock slab and its landscape is significantly different from neighboring towns, which are located on stepped rock terraces. There are almost no natural beaches in Sorrento, because the rock slab on which it is located cuts into the sea with cliffs. For swimming in Sorrento, piers with stairs have been built for easy descent into the water.
The small stretches of beach in secluded gulfs are most often private beach areas that belong to local hotels. To be able to relax and swim here, you need to stay at the hotel. In this case, it is better to look for a hotel with a private beach.
Yet it is difficult to imagine a holiday in Sorrento without swimming, because its shores are washed by the waters of the warmest Tyrrhenian Sea. To swim and sunbathe, tourists choose the surroundings of Sorrento, where there are untouched sandy beaches consisting of a mixture of sand and volcanic ash are located. The best beach areas can be found in the villages of Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Marina di Cassano, Marina Grande and Marina Piccola.
In conclusion
In my point of view, Sorrento is a magnificent town with its own charm. Travellers can enjoy the local architecture, beautiful sea views, unique gastronomy and a great variety of entertainment. There are different ways of how to get to Sorrento, so tourists can choose the best suitable for them.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Daniel Eliashevskyi
Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…
