Seven Days in Sorrento

Sorrento: Gulf of Naples 

This is a beautiful place to base yourself when exploring some of the most popular sites in Italy’s Campania region. With great connections to surrounding islands, towns and cities, this destination is perfect for any traveller.

DAY 1 - POMPEII

 

I recommend hiring a tour guide as the site covers several miles and can take days to see. A two hour guided tour ensures you visit all the key spots and means you have plenty of time to explore more of Pompeii at your own pace. I recommend spending a full day here.

DAY 2 - HERCULANEUM AND VESUVIUS

          

The site of Herculaneum is smaller than that of Pompeii so is easier to navigate on your own especially with the detailed map provided with your entry ticket. I opted not to use a tour guide in Herculaneum but instead used my knowledge of Pompeii to explore the city, which can be done in half a day.

 
After seeing the destruction caused by Mount Vesuvius I recommend climbing the still active volcano which is visible from almost everywhere in Sorrento. You can either hike all the way up or take a bus to the top then hike around 20 minutes to the crater. These buses are available from both Pompeii and Herculaneum.

DAY 3 - CAPRI

 

Ferries leave regularly from the port of Sorrento to Capri. When heading down to the port you can take an elevator built into the rock for just 1 euro, this is called The Sorrento Lift. I recommend taking a full day to explore this island but some of the must-sees include: the chairlift to Monte Solaro from Anacapri (there’s a bar at the bottom and top if you need some Dutch courage): head down to the blue grotto – you can either go on a boat tour around Capri to see this or take a local island bus which drops you off at the steps to head straight onto one of the row boats which takes you directly into the cave.

 DAY 4 - ISCHIA

           

You can take the hydrofoil from the port of Sorrento over to the volcanic island of Ischia with the journey time only slightly longer than that of Capri. This is a great location to relax and explore at your leisure. One of the main attractions is the Aragonese Castle. The castle is extremely atmospheric and full of history, art and unnerving stories...

DAY 5 - POSITANO AND AMALFI

  

You can take a public bus along the coast from Sorrento which allows you to stop at as many towns as you like however the two cliffside towns of Positano and Amalfi are the most popular. An alternative is a private minibus which provides a tour guide for your journey however it can be an experience in itself to explore these towns on your own.

DAY 6 - NAPLES

Visiting a busy city can make for an interesting change from the quiet of an Italian town. The train journey from Sorrento to Naples on the Campania Express lasts about 1 hour making Naples very accessible for a day out. Of the many tourist attractions, I would recommend a visit to the Museo Archeologica Nazionale di Napoli which houses artefacts from Pompeii. When in Naples be sure to try a traditional Neapolitan Pizza as this is its birthplace.

DAY 7 - SORRENTO

   

I used my evenings and final day to explore the town of Sorrento. It is a beautiful town to wander around in but if you want to learn more, take a short guided walking or train tour. During your time in Sorrento you must try Limoncello which is a specialty drink, native to that region. There is also some amazing Italian restaurants: one of my favourites was La Lanterna. I visited in October which is an ideal time as there are less tourists whilst still having great weather. I also recommend checking out Hotel La Meridiana which is where I stayed. The location of this hotel is great as it is only a short walk from the train station, port and Piazza Tasso which makes it a central location for your trip. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully you found it helpful. Please feel free to leave any comments!!!