Sorrento walking tour & city guide

A walk through the old town

The centre of town is Piazza Tasso, a busy square built over a deep ravine. From there, Corso Italia is the main shopping street, while the narrow lanes of the old town, especially Via San Cesareo, are lined with shops selling lemons, limoncello, ceramics and inlaid woodwork.

A short walk leads to the cloister of San Francesco, with its delicate arches, and to the Villa Comunale gardens, which have one of the best views over the bay. Nearby, the Vallone dei Mulini is a ravine with the ruins of an old mill, visible from the street above.

Down to the sea

Stairways and a lift lead down the cliffs to the waterfront. Marina Piccola is the port for ferries to Capri, Naples and the Amalfi Coast, while Marina Grande is an old fishing village with colourful boats and seafood restaurants by the water.

Sorrento has few sandy beaches; instead, wooden platforms built on stilts over the sea serve as beach clubs. The Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural rock pool with Roman ruins, is a short walk west of town.

Visiting tips

The Circumvesuviana train links Sorrento with Naples and stops at Pompeii and Herculaneum. Buses run along the Amalfi Coast road to Positano and Amalfi, and ferries are a scenic alternative in summer. The evening passeggiata on Corso Italia is a highlight of the day.