Hotels in Sorrento

Sorrento: Cliffside Gateway to the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento sits on a tufa cliff 50 metres above the Bay of Naples, directly across the water from Vesuvius. The town of roughly 16,000 residents has anchored tourism on the Sorrentine Peninsula since the 18th-century Grand Tour, when British and German travellers made it a base for excursions to Pompeii (30 km northeast) and Capri (ferry crossing, approximately 25 minutes). The historic centre concentrates around Piazza Tasso, named after the 16th-century poet Torquato Tasso who was born here, and the narrow lanes of the centro storico hold workshops producing the region's signature intarsia wood marquetry.

Where to Stay

Hotels range from clifftop properties with lift access to the Marina Piccola below, to mid-range options in the residential streets behind Corso Italia. Marina Grande, Sorrento's older fishing quarter 800 m west of the centre, offers quieter accommodation away from the main coach traffic. The Circumvesuviana rail line connects Sorrento to Naples Centrale in approximately 70 minutes, making the town a viable base for day trips along the entire Bay of Naples.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Circumvesuviana trains run roughly every 30 minutes from Naples.
• Ferries: Seasonal hydrofoils reach Positano in 35 minutes and Amalfi in 75 minutes from Marina Piccola.
• Crowds: August sees maximum hotel rates; late September and October offer cooler temperatures and shorter queues at ferry docks.
• Local product: Limoncello produced from Femminello lemons is sold throughout the centro storico.