8 things you need to do in Sorrento on your next visit

If you plan on heading to the Amalfi coast, there are a number of things to do in Sorrento that it’s probably your safest bet to stay there. As one of the bigger cities in the Souther coast of Italy it’s also a great spot for finding accommodations as well.

Back in May some of you might remember I travelled to Italy to attend a wedding. Because of this I didn’t have a lot of time to actually explore the Amalfi coast as much as would have liked to. I did however get to explore Sorrento during the day. It’s a beautifully quaint town with lots of beauty, nestled below a mountainous (or hilly) landscape and just above the ocean. You don’t need much time to explore Sorrento because it is a rather small city – 2 days would be plenty.

Walk the streets of old Sorrento:

The small streets are filled with local merchants with colourful and inviting product on display. You’ll find anything from local lemons to Italian leather purses as you wander the alleyways. The merchants are pleasant and do not hassle you – which is always nice. I found a lot of them also spoke English. It’s important to note thoug that because Sorrento is a port for many cruise ships the small streets can get very overcrowded. Try to schedule your day so that you are there ear,lied in the morning or in the afternoon once the patrons of the cruise ships have gone back.

Have a drink in the Piazza Tasso

This city square is the hub of Sorrento and a great place to watch the world go by. There are a number of cafes and restaurants to choose from so grab a table, some local wine and a caprese salad and enjoy the people Watching.

Venture to the water:

While Sorrento doesn’t have the best of beaches it’s still worth a walk down to the water. Because Sorrento is built upon the rocks and cliffs you have to trek it down several flights of stairs or wander down windy stone paths. Once there you’ll easily find a number of restaurants to grab a drink or a quick bite while watching the water and the breathtaking yachts that sail by.

Take a hop-on hop-off tour:

I’m usually not one to take these tours quite frankly but because I didn’t know too much about Sorrento (and didn’t do a lot of homework about the area before going) I thought it would be worth trying. I’m glad we did. It was a great way to learn about the city’s history and see even more than we could have on foot.

Day trip to Positano:

I know I know, this doesn’t really count as something to do in Sorrento but it’s definitly worth doing. The bus ride was only about 45 Minutes up, down and through the windy streets. The drive itself was something of a wonder. At times it felt as if we were going to go right over the edge because the roads were so narrow (I’m so glad we didn’t drive) but that is what makes for some of the best pictures. Once in Positano wander the streets down to the main beachfront, enjoy the view and have a bite to eat at one of the shoreline restaurants. It’s a quaint little town amassed with beauty.

Visit the abandoned Old Mill: 

Walking a little ways from the city, you’re greeted with a seemingly displaced valley with an abandoned building at the bottom. The city is built on either side of this valley and unless you walk to it it’s hard to know is even there. The beauty of the abandoned mill is definitely something worth seeing in the small town of Sorrento, it’s covered in greenery and the stone has largely eroded away.

Try the Limoncello: 

While I’m sure you can find Limoncello all over Italy, you’ll be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t try it in Sorrento. With so many lemon stands and merchants selling this sour fruit, literally the size of your face, you’ll want to take a sip. I’m not partial to the liquor but I’m glad I had the opportunity to do a shot while I could. While you’re at it there’s a great place in the market that sells lemon cookies – buy those, I very much regret not doing that.

Buy some Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar: 

I did do this. There are a number of places in the market that sell homemade olive oil and balsamic. They’ll even let you try it before purchasing if you want. There are lots of options as the olive oil is infused with different spices to give it more flavour. Every so often Ben and I will buy ourselves a baguette, poor some olive oil and balsamic on a plate and eat on our patio reminiscing about the trip. There you have it! I did skip over a day trip to Capri and Pompeii because sadly we didn’t have enough time to do this. Which is why we’ll just HAVE to go back (oh no!). Sorrento is a beautifully picturesque town in Southern Italy. Lots of charm and the people are friendly. There are plenty of opportunities for pictures, great food, and delicious alcohol.