Tours, stays, eats… and more!

The region of Campania, Italy is a beautiful area of the country; surrounded by high cliffs, stunning coastlines and little towns nestled into the cliff-sides – it’s no wonder millions of people flock here year-round.

Most people would think of Positano or Amalfi when planning a trip to this region, but Sorrento brings something different to the table.

In this travel guide, I outline some incredible places to visit, eat and even recommended tours that I did myself – a must if you’re planning a trip to southern Italy this summer!

An eye on Sorrento

A vibrant coastal town, Sorrento sits in a little cove in the Gulf of Italy. It’s a relatively small place compared to other cities in the region – which makes it the perfect stay for people who dislike large crowds (like me!).

It’s in the perfect place for day trips: Naples, Pompeii, Capri and more are all easy and quick to get to if you’re staying here.

First thing’s first: Food

Look, Italian food is just the best (in my opinion), and Sorrento offers beautiful and relatively cheap (compared with Positano) restaurants and cafes. I’ve outlined a few of my favourites below.

📍Torna a Surriento Trattoria Pizzeria

Honestly, this was the most welcoming, homely restaurant I have ever had the pleasure to visit.

This hidden gem is just a short walk from the city centre, specialising in pizza, pasta and seafood – what more could you want from your first meal in Italy?!

Ensure you make a reservation in advance, the restaurant is relatively small and can get very busy – and you don’t want to miss out!

This is a one-of-a-kind place which throws you headfirst into the deep end of Italian hospitality – I would recommend saving this till last if you need ‘swimming’ lessons first 😉

📍O’Parrucchiano La Favorita

If you’re looking for an aesthetic experience, I would absolutely recommend O’Parrucchiano La Favorita – a unique dining setting under a lush canopy of lemon tress.

Located on Via Corso, in the heart of Sorrento, this beautiful place is rather romantic, especially at night – the garden of lemon trees is lit up by hundreds of fairy lights. The fantasy reader in me really enjoyed the magic of it all.

📍Osteria del Buonconvento

Another really unique restaurant in the centre of town, Osteria del Buonconvento is set in a converted church – you really can’t miss it’s front entrance. The decor is so distinct: suits of armour, extensive bookshelves and historical architecture paired with this florescent blue lighting.

Of course, most importantly: the cuisine is traditional, homemade Italian classics (the pasta was to die for).

Recommended day trips

Sorrento is a fantastic place to stay if you are interested in exploring more of the region! I’ve outlined some of the best places I visited below:

To the north: Naples, Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii

📍Naples:

To visit Sorrento, if travelling by plane, you’ll likely be flying into Napoli airport (NAP). If you’re not able to stay here (or don’t wish to) for a couple of nights, it’s still so easy to get here from Sorrento.

The easiest way is by train; you can travel direct from Sorrento to Naples in just over 1 hour, which costs about €15-25 (cheaper if you book online and in advance).

Napoli is the birthplace of pizza – so I’d absolutely recommend visiting at least one of the best pizza restaurants in the city! A few examples are:

• L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele: Famously featured in Eat, Pray, Love, this spot offers only two classic, highly regarded options: Margherita and Marinara.
• Pizzeria Di Matteo: Known for traditional, high-quality, and affordable pizza, including portafoglio (folded) pizza.
• Starita a Materdei: Famous for its montanara (deep-fried pizza) and diverse menu, featured in classic films.
• Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba: Often cited as the world’s first pizzeria, serving for over a century.

Pictured below left, you can also visit the Catacombs of San Gennaro, the largest paleo-Christian burial and worship sites in southern Italy. (Tickets are about €13).

Pictured middle, climbing to the top of Castel Sant’Elmo offers incredible views over the city, the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius in the distance. (Free).

Pictures below right, there are plenty of beautiful churches to explore, this particular one being San Gregorio Armeno church. (Free).

📍Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius:

You can easily visit both Pompeii and Vesuvius in the same day if you’re willing to wake up early – the train (the same one you can ride to Naples) stops at Pompeii along the way, and there is a bus which leaves from the Piazza Anfiteatro exit to take you halfway up Vesuvius. Thankfully, when you take the train, you enter Pompeii on the opposite side to the Piazza Anfiteatro exit, allowing you to walk through and explore before leaving for the volcano!

Be warned – there is a closing time for Mount Vesuvius: if you take too long coming down, the bus will leave without you, so be sure to listen to the locals when they tell you it’s time to go!

If you’d rather do the trips separately, there are plenty of tours which will pick you up from Sorrento, drive you to Pompeii, and bring you back. I was in Sorrento with my Mum, who did this tour and said it was excellent (despite the rain).

To the south: Capri, Amalfi & Positano

The south of Italy offers, of course, the world-famous UNESCO World Heritage site of the Amalfi Coast, featuring dramatic cliffs and colourful towns.

It can be noticeably more expensive in Capri, Amalfi and Positano compared to Sorrento, which is why I recommend utilising the many day trips available instead.

📍Capri

Capri is a beautiful island, featuring many seafood restaurants, cute little shops and a great funicular to take you from the coast, up to the main square.

It’s super easy to catch a ferry here from Sorrento, taking around 30 minutes (about €40-50).

One of the main attractions is the Blue Grotto, a cave which uses sunlight to make the water glow as if from below. Personally – I would be careful about what tour you use to take this, as we were unaware that it would cost an extra €20 to actually go in the grotto, on top of the €25 we paid for the boat to take us there.

📍Amalfi & Positano

Amalfi and Positano are likely one of the most famous parts of Italy, and you can really see why once you are there!

The UNESCO site blends natural beauty, rich history, and local culture – making it one of Italy’s most unforgettable destinations.

If you’re based in Sorrento, the easiest way of seeing these two towns has to be by boat! You can take a speedboat tour from Sorrento and spend 1-2 hours in each destination before being taken back home. We did this one below, and found it was the perfect amount of time in each town! (Cost £100 pp).

You have enough time to wander around both towns and have lunch in Positano on the beach front. Make sure you try the lemon sorbet in Amalfi – served in those famous giant lemons!

I hope you found this guide helpful! This is such a beautiful part of Italy, and I’d love to know if you used any of my tips here on your own trip. Any more questions, you can follow me on Instagram or comment below 🍋

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