16+ Wonderful Things To Do in Sorrento, Italy (Lemons, Sunsets & Capri Day Trips)
MISSTRAVELTHEWORLD is supported by readers like you. Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book through them — at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy.
When I think back to Sorrento, I can almost smell the citrusy scent of fresh lemons lingering in the air. I remember sipping on my Aperol Spritz outside a tiny bar, people-watching along Corso Italia, and slow mornings spent eating focaccia before cooling off in a natural swimming spot, Mount Vesuvius rising in the distance.
Like so many travellers, my sister and I originally chose Sorrento simply as a base for exploring the sun-soaked Amalfi Coast. No more than that. It was easy to get to from Naples, more affordable than staying in Positano or Amalfi, and perfectly located for quick ferry trips over to Capri.
But something unexpected happened: we fell in love with Sorrento itself.
In fact, we never even made it to any of the Amalfi Coast villages. Instead, we spent our days strolling around the Centro Storico, lingering over cappuccinos, discovering hidden lemon gardens, and watching the most beautiful Sorrento sunsets melt into the Bay of Naples.
Yes, Sorrento is very popular (and for good reason), but if you stray a little further from the crowded streets, you’ll still find peaceful corners, local bars and cafés, and amazing experiences.
Here’s my guide to all the typical Sorrento attractions, plus a few finds that will surprise you!
Top 3 Picks: Things to Do in Sorrento, Italy
Experience Sorrento’s Famous Lemons 🍋
Sorrento being called the “City of Lemons” is not an exaggeration. These bright yellow lemons are gigantic, with a thick peel packed full of aromatic oils. And you’ll see them absolutely everywhere; either in real shape and form or painted on ceramics, printed on dresses, you name it.
And what do you do with that many lemons? You make limoncello, lemon sorbet, lemon drops, lemon soap, lemon-infused olive oil… basically lemon everything! And we tourists, of course, are digging it big time!
1. Drink a Limoncello Spritz Beneath the Lemon Trees
For an aperitivo under the lemon trees, visit I Giardini di Cataldo. We literally stumbled upon this little lemon oasis in town on our way back from the ferry port to our bed and breakfast in Sant’Agnello.
A Limoncello Spritz here isn’t cheap (around 10€), but to be fair, they were very tasty and strong (I’ll admit one of those is enough to get me tipsy!), and you’ll also be served a variety of salty snacks. I mean, how often do you get to sip a spritz in the shade beneath a lemon canopy?
There’s also a little shop on-site where you can try and buy anything that remotely looks, smells, or tastes like lemon. They do regular limoncello mini-tastings in the shop too, just in case you want an excuse to linger a little longer… 😋
2. Make Your Own Bottle of Limoncello
Can’t get enough of that sweet, citrusy liqueur? Join a limoncello-making (and tasting) class! It takes place in a lemon garden at sunset, which sounds incredible in itself, and you’ll try a limoncello tiramisu for dessert.
You’ll bring home your own bottle of lemony Sorrento gold, and every time you take a sip, it’ll transport you right back to this dreamy lemon garden in Sorrento!
Save these Sorrento guides for later:
3. Stay in an Agriturismo Amongst Lemon Groves
To get a taste of authentic Sorrento Peninsula life, book a few nights at this family-run agriturismo in Massa Lubrense. It’s a small farmhouse surrounded by a centuries-old citrus grove, where they still grow their lemons under straw-covered pergolas.
If you’re staying overnight at Il Giardino Di Vigliano, make sure to enjoy a meal here too: the family cooks with fresh ingredients from their garden, still makes pasta by hand, makes mozzarella from their own cows’ milk, and bakes bread in their wood-fired oven.
P.S.: Gordon Ramsay, Gino D’Acampo, and Fred Sirieix filmed part of their road trip show here for the Italy episode — you can watch it here!
4. Try Lemon Sorbet
Another lemon-themed treat you need to try while you’re here is lemon sorbet, beautifully presented inside half a Sorrento lemon.
You’ll find it all around Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast. It’s not cheap (~7-10€), but I’d say it’s worth trying once. If nothing else, for the typical lemon-sorbet-with-an-Amalfi-backdrop photo!
The sorbet tastes sooo refreshing. If I had to describe it, I’d say: slightly acidic, perfectly sweet and citrusy all at once. Exactly what you need in the heat of a Southern Italian summer!
Where to find some of the best lemon sorbet in Sorrento 🍋🍨:
- Fresco Sorrento
- Antica Gelateria Sorrentina
- I Giardini di Cataldo (you can enjoy it right under the lemon trees)
- La Frutteria del Caribe
Wander Through Sorrento’s Centro Storico 🏛️
There’s so much to see and do in Sorrento’s historic city centre, and it’s wonderfully walkable!
5. Aperitivo & People-Watching at Corso Italia
Corso Italia is the big shopping street that runs through the whole town, and makes for a great pre- or post-dinner stroll.
One evening, before dinner, we were strolling along Corso Italia when we spotted this cute little bar. We sat down at one of the outside tables at Truffle Bar, ordered two delicious Aperol Spritzes, and stayed for an hour having the best time chatting away and people-watching. Definitely recommend!
Another great spot to do the same is Bar Fauna on Piazza Tasso.
6. Shop Souvenirs at Via San Cesareo
Via San Cesareo used to be the central street of the ancient Roman city and branches off Corso Italia.
The narrow alleyway is still the beating heart of Sorrento, lined with souvenir shops, gelaterias, and little bars and cafés. Bonus: it’s naturally shaded, thanks to the tall buildings on either side.
You can buy plenty of souvenirs (with or without lemons), whether it be a dress, ceramics, leather goods, or a bottle of sweet limoncello. Fair warning: limoncello tastings will find you whether you want them or not!
7. Chiostro di San Francesco
We stumbled upon this beautiful little place just after watching the sunset from Piazza della Vittoria.
The ambience inside this 14th-century cloister was sooo peaceful; I was the only one wandering around beneath arches lined with purple bougainvillaea.
Chiostro di San Francesco was initially built on the ruins of an even older 7th-century monastery, and its arches blend a mix of Arabic and Gothic architectural styles. Today, it’s a popular wedding venue, and in summer, it occasionally hosts small art exhibitions or concerts.
It’s free to enter and definitely worth checking out when you’re in the area.
8. Sedile Dominova
Sedile Dominova is another piece of Sorrento’s history you can easily walk straight past without realising it.
You’ll find this centuries-old loggia in a corner of the bustling Via San Cesareo. Originally built in the 14th century, it served as a meeting place for the city’s noble families to discuss local politics and make important decisions.
Step inside and look up to admire the dome, along with faded frescoes on the walls (visitors are welcome!).
I visited early in the morning, when it was still empty, but these days it’s a popular spot where elderly local men play cards. Definitely a more fun way to make use of the space than discussing politics!
9. Vallone dei Mulini
Okay, did you expect to find an eerie, enchanting place like this in the middle of Sorrento’s historic centre, just a few steps from Piazza Tasso? Me neither!
Vallone dei Mulini (literally “Valley of the Mills”) is basically what happens when humans give up on a place and nature quietly takes it back over. The gorge itself was created by a volcanic eruption over 35,000 years ago.
Flour mills operated here from the 13th century until the growing city and creation of Piazza Tasso caused its abandonment in the early 1900s.
Nature’s been reclaiming it ever since, and today the stone ruins are swallowed by lush vegetation.
There’s nothing to actually do here, but it’s 100% worth the two-minute detour on your way through town and a very unique photo op!
10. Witness an Epic Sunset Over Mount Vesuvius
When it comes to magical sunsets, Sorrento delivers! Because the town is built on a cliffside facing directly out over the Bay of Naples, the views from up here are just sooo much better.
We got here right on time, just as the sun slowly sank into the ocean, painting the sky in the most amazing hues of pink and orange. And Mount Vesuvius in the backdrop was just the cherry on the cake!
Prime sunset spots in Sorrento are Villa Comunale (a public park with sea views) or Piazza della Vittoria.
✨💑 If you don’t want to share this sunset moment with other tourists, stay at one of the luxury cliffside hotels and watch it from your own private balcony with a spritz in hand! 🌅🍹
Spend Time by the Sea 🌊
11. Go Swimming at Bagni Regina Giovanna
One of my core memories of our summer in Sorrento! Bagni Regina Giovanna is a natural swimming spot surrounded by the ruins of an ancient Roman seaside villa.
I recommend visiting early in the morning, since it gets a lot busier throughout the day. Bring lots of water, some food, sunscreen, and water shoes if you have them. It’s rocky, there’s practically no shade, and the nearest place to buy food and drinks is a 15-20min uphill walk!
You can either walk here from Sorrento town centre (from Piazza Tasso, it’s roughly 45 minutes) or take the local bus.
12. Sunbathe at a Lido (Beach Club)
If you have an extra day between busy Capri day trips and boat tours along the Amalfi Coast, spend it unwinding at a typical Italian lido.
Since Sorrento doesn’t really have natural beaches, they’re basically wooden or concrete platforms built out from the cliffs into the sea, and fitted with rows of deckchairs and umbrellas on top.
Most are clustered around Marina Piccola, and popular ones like Bagni Salvatore, Leonelli’s, or Peter’s Beach also have restaurants and bars on-site.
They’re insanely pricey, I’m not gonna lie. You can expect to pay anywhere from 15€ up to 40-50€ for a sunbed and umbrella per day, depending on the lido and whether it’s a weekday or weekend.
Since I get bored after a maximum of one hour of lying on a deckchair trying to relax, I didn’t do this. But if you’re happy to switch off properly for a whole day, it might be worth checking out.
13. End the Day with a Sunset Dinner at Marina Grande
Marina Grande is a historic little fishing village below Sorrento’s clifftop old town.
Although the name means “Big Marina”, it’s actually the smaller and quieter one of Sorrento’s two ports (Marina Piccola is where the ferries to Capri and the Amalfi Coast dock instead).
As Sorrento’s oldest waterfront, it’s a very picturesque spot: pastel-coloured houses line the shore, traditional wooden fishing boats bob in the water, and everything just feels a lot slower compared to the bustling Piazza Tasso above.
It’s also one of the best spots in Sorrento to enjoy a sunset dinner in one of the family-run seafood restaurants by the waterside:
- Ndulì Osteria Di Mare
- Porta Marina Seafood
- Bagni Delfino
- La Finestrella
Best Day Trips from Sorrento ⛵
Thanks to its strategic location, you’ve got so many great day trip options from Sorrento: Capri is just a 25-minute ferry ride away, you can cruise along the Amalfi Coast for the day, explore the ruins of Pompeii, or head into Naples to eat some proper Neapolitan pizza.
14. Take a Capri Day Trip
Capri is a gem of an island and one of the easiest places to reach from Sorrento.
You can visit the electric-blue Blue Grotto, see the iconic Faraglioni Rocks up close, take the Montesolaro Chair Lift for insane views over Capri and the Bay of Naples, look down on Via Krupp from the beautiful Gardens of Augustus, or shop the luxury boutiques in Capri Town if that’s your thing.
That said, if you want to make the most of your time on the island and avoid disappointment, either plan out your day properly or book an organised boat tour to Capri. Don’t underestimate how long it takes to get around if you rely on the public minibuses; I learned that the hard way!
15. Cruise the Amalfi Coast
This is the one thing I really regret not doing. We were so shattered after our day trip to Capri that we couldn’t face another jam-packed day squeezing through crowded Amalfi Coast staircases and alleyways.
If only I had known there was a more relaxed way to see it!! Next time I visit Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, I’ll definitely look into booking this relaxed, small group tour to Amalfi and Positano.
You get free time to explore both villages, and spend your time on the water enjoying an aperitivo, lunch, snorkelling, and soaking in the Amalfi Coast views.
16. Visit Pompeii & Hike Mount Vesuvius
Pompeii makes a great half-day trip from Sorrento. It’s halfway to Naples on the Circumvesuviana or Campania Express train, so you’ll get there in around 30 minutes (get off at Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri; it’s just a couple of minutes from the entrance).
If you have more time, you could pair it with Herculaneum (the smaller, better-preserved site), or hike up Mount Vesuvius for a bit of active adventure and epic views over the Bay of Naples.
Final Thoughts on What to Do in Sorrento
This wraps up all my recommendations for the best things to do in Sorrento, Italy. But if I’m being honest, it juuust about scratches the surface of what a slower trip here could look like.
We went there thinking Sorrento would just be our strategic home base, and we were so wrong!
Some of my favourite Sorrento moments weren’t the “big” ones. They were the small things: stumbling onto the quiet cloister of San Francesco just after sunset and having it all to myself, or starting my morning with a cappuccino at Villa Comunale Park with the Tyrrhenian Sea and Mount Vesuvius right in front of me.
Okay, okay, I’ll admit that doesn’t sound so everyday anymore, considering the views!!
If I could do it again, I would definitely give myself more time, and I’d probably book the Amalfi Coast small-group boat tour over doing a self-organised trip to Capri.
Hopefully, this guide helps you fall for Sorrento the way I did. I always love hearing how people spend their time there, so let me know which experience ends up being your favourite!
