5-Day Amalfi Coast & Sorrento Itinerary (Including Capri and Pompeii)

Why Choose Sorrento as a Base?

Sorrento is a convenient base if you want to explore more than just the Amalfi Coast.

Sorrento is well connected

While not technically part of the Amalfi Coast, it’s well-connected to it. Sorrento also offers easy access to Pompeii and Herculanem. Sorrento has frequent train connections to Naples. And regular ferries to Capri. In fact, Sorrento is the closest point on the mainland to Capri. Making it the quickest ferry ride to reach the island. Around 20 minutes or even less, depending on the ferry you choose.

Sorrento is a great option if you want to see the highlights of the region in a short amount of time. But if your more interested to visit the Amalfi Coast, I’d recommend spending at least a couple of nights in one of its towns or villages. Check out my 3-day Amalfi Coast itinerary for ideas.

Great Choice of Accommodations

Lot of accommodations are available. In general, staying in Sorrento is much more affordable than Positano. You can find great budget friendly options too. As well as fantastic 5 stars in the centre.

Also, while on the Amalfi Coast, you should book month ahead, in Sorrento you may find some decent last-minute deals.

Buzzing Nightlife

Sure, it’s a touristy town compared to Salerno, but that also means there’s great nightlife and plenty of things to do.

In the evening, the streets come alive with pubs, restaurants, and cocktail bars. Sorrento has a great atmosphere. It’s also livelier than other coastal town during low season.

Souvenir Shopping

There’s a lot of souvenir shopping opportunity. And prices are generally lower than on the Amalfi Coast.

You’ll find everything from handmade sandals to linen dresses, and local liquors. And also classic wooden souvenirs unique to Sorrento.

Visit the Museum of Intarsia, where you can learn about the traditional wood inlay craftsmanship.

Detailed 5-Days Itinerary

Day 1: Pompeii & Evening in Sorrento

If you’re arriving from Naples, you can stop at Pompeii on the way.

How to get to Pompeii:

Take the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri (same line as Sorrento).
Pintour shuttle buses operate in season, and stops at Pompeii. You can take it directly from the airport.
You can arrange a private transfer with a stop in Pompeii.

Time needed to visit Pompeii: At least 3 hours for the archaeological site. There’s free luggage storage available for visitors.

Evening in Sorrento

One of the nicest places in Sorrento for dinner is Marina Grande. You can walk down or take a local bus.

On the way, you’ll find bars right on the step going down with scenic views. Once you arrive, there are several fantastic seafood restaurants right by the sea. Its a perfect way to start your holiday in Sorrento with fresh seafood dinner at the waterfront.

Day 2: Amalfi & Positano

Amalfi: Take a ferry to Amalfi From Sorrento in the early morning.

Visit the Amalfi Cathedral & Cloister of Paradise
🍋 Try lemon sorbet at the main square
Walk to the village near by Atrani

While in Amalfi, visit to the Cathedral of St. Andrew and the Paradise Cloister. After sightseeing, go for a cake and café at Pasticceria Pansa, a historic café-shop right by the cathedral.

Try the limone sorbet.The sorbet is served inside a big local lemon, decorated with fresh lemon leaves. It’s a bit touristy, and prices range from €10-15, but it’s delicious, and look soo god on pics.

Explore spots beyond the Main Square. While the Piazza Duomo is the heart of Amalfi, there’s much more to see in the town. Walk around the hidden alleyways. Go up to the viewpoint under the cemetery.

Panoramic View of the Bell Tower: Sure, a bit of steps climbing up are part of the Amalfi Coast experience. In 10 minutes, you will be above the rooftops, and you can admire the decoration of the bell tower from closer up. The little street (Via Torre dello Ziro) is like a panoramic terrace over Amalfi’s historic center and the seaside. And you also escape the crowds of the main square.

Visit the Paper Museum

Here you can learn about Amalfi’s centuries-old tradition of paper making.Once, the valleys of the Amalfi Coast were filled with paper-making factories. Today, only a few remain in operation. The most famous is Amatruda, which has been the official paper supplier of the Vatican for centuries.

If you’re a watercolor artist, you’ll love the museum’s shop. You can find beautiful handmade papers, and other art supplies. If you’re planning a wedding it’s the perfect place to shop for unique invitation cards and stationery. And generally great place for hand-made souvenirs and gifts to bring home.

Want to stay longer in Amalfi?

If you’re planning to visit Positano on another day, you have a time for a hike. The Ferriere Valley is an easy hike through lush forest. You can see waterfalls, and ancient ruins of paper factories.

Visit the village of Atrani, its in a short walking distance from Amalfi. You can walk on the side of the main road, or try following the signs through the alleyways. Or take the pedestrian tunnel that connects Amalfi with the Luna Rossa parking.

Afternoon in Positano

Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Roman Villa Museum (guided tours only)
Grab a drink at Buca di Bacco or enjoy a pastry at Zagara

Once you’ve visited Amalfi, you can take a short ferry to get to Positano.

Buca di Bacco: This is the iconic bar of Positano directly on the main beach. You can stop by for an ice cream or an aperitivo, and they also have a restaurant.

Zagara: Located a bit higher up from the main beach, Zagara is Positano’s famous patisserie. It has a lovely indoor terrace where you can enjoy coffee and cake.

What to do in Positano?

Coming by ferry, you’ll arrive directly at the main beach.This is one of the most photogenic viewpoint of the town. From here, you can walk up to the main road. Near the Sponda bus stop, you will find another great view and photo opportunity. Along the way, you’ll pass many souvenir shops and the famous tailor shops of Positano.

The Cathedral and the Roman Villa under:

Don’t miss the beautiful cathedral, and if you have time, visit the Roman villa.

The tours are guided, so you may need to wait for the next one, usually every hour or half hour during the season

Enjoy beach time while in Positano: You can have a swim at the main beach. There are bathing establishment to rent sun-chairs, but there is also a free beach section. For a bit less crowd and cheaper prices, take a walk to Fornillo Beach. To get there, follow the footpath near the ferry dock. I you’re looking for more of a beach party vibe, check out one of the popular beach clubs, like Arienzo or Da Adolfo in Laurito. They’re not on the main beach, but both offer shuttle boats to take you there.

Dinner in Positano:

If you’re staying in Sorrento and want to have dinner in Positano, be aware that doing this with public transport can be tricky.

The last ferries usually depart around 6 pm, and the last bus is around 9 pm (or 10 pm during peak summer). But buses tend to fill up, so it’s best not to wait for the last one anyway. You can arrange a private transfer if you want to stay in Positano for longer.

Most Italian restaurants open for dinner around 7 pm. But because Positano is very touristy, the restaurants on the main beach have continuous hours. These are your best bets if you want to enjoy a pizza before catching the bus or ferry back to Sorrento.

Day 2: Exploring Sorrento & Surroundings

After all the sightseeing on day 2, day 3 should be a bit more relaxed. Choose one of the beautiful beaches on the Sorrentine Peninsula, or go for an easy yet scenic hike in nature.

Beaches to go for a Swim around Sorrento

Bagni Regina Giovanna
Marina di Cantone
Marina di Puolo

Hiking on the Sorrentine Peninsola

Punta Campanella Hike
Bay of Ieranto hike (where you can also have a swim)

Or Visit a Local Lemon Plantation

Best Beaches around Sorrento

Sorrento itself doesn’t have many beaches, as it’s built high on a cliff. Most of the bathing establishments in the city are on wooden platforms. But there are plenty of great spots nearby for a swim. You can choose from longer beaches with a mix of sand and small pebbles to wider, scenic spots between the rocks. Here is a bit of help:

Bagni Regina Giovanni:

A fantastic and very scenic spot to swim. It’s a bit more adventurous, as there aren’t any bathing establishments or beach clubs here. And the shore is rocky, with occasional steep path leading down to the water. So make sure to wear shoes with good grip (not a flip-flop).

There’s also a spot for cliff jumping if you’re up for it!

How to get here?

You can reach it from Sorrento by public bus (heading to Massa Lubrense) than walk around 15 minutes. Or by a short cab ride (you still need to walk a bit to reach the sea)

Marina del Cantone

The village of Nerano and Marina del Cantone are just a short bus ride from Sorrento. At Marina del Cantone, you’ll find a nice and spacious beach area. And restaurants to try the local pasta speciality: Spaghetti alla Nerano.

Reccomone Bay

Not far from here, there is Reccomone Beach. Which is a hidden shore that you can reach by walking along a path from Marina di Cantone. It takes around 30 minute walk on the coastline trail. Reccomone Bay is famous for the party beach club, Conca del Sogno.

Go for a Hike in the Sorrento Peninsula

From Termini to Punta Campanella

An easy but rewarding hike is the walk to Punta Campanella. This trail leads you to the very tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula. To start, take a bus to Termini. From there, you’ll find a footpath.

The hike is mostly on a well-built stone trail, so you won’t have to walk on uneven terrain. The hike is long and scenic, but there isn’t much shade. So make sure to bring sunscreen and plenty of water. Once you leave the village of Termini, there are no shops or cafes along the trail.The area of Punta Campanella is a protected marine reserve. Along the way, you’ll have beautiful views of the island of Capri.

From Punta Campanella To Bay of Ieranto

From Punta Campanella, it’s possible to continue the trail toward the Bay of Ieranto and the village of Nerano. But, this trail is more challenging, with steep hillsides, so it’s a bit tougher than the main hike.

There is also a small church (Capella Costanzo) on the top of the mountain if you want to continue hiking.

Hike and Swim

The Bay of Ieranto: From the village of Nerano, you can walk to this stunning bay in about 40 minutes. The trail passes by olive groves and mediterranean shrub-land. Along the way, you’ll also find a crossroad where you can hike up to the ancient watchtower (16th-century Montalto Tower). The bay itself is quite small, so it can feel crowded on weekends or during high season, as many locals come here to swim.

Day 4: Back to the Amalfi Coast / A Day Trip to Ravello

If you weren’t able to squeeze Ravello into your Amalfi Coast day trip, it’s worth dedicating a day to visit it.

Ravello is located up in the mountains, so it’s a bit harder to reach it from Sorrento. while Amalfi or Positano are only a short ferry ride, to get to Ravello you likely need to take a bus from Amalfi.

But If you enjoy walking then you can go to Minori by ferry.

Take the ferry from Sorrento to Minori or Maiori. From Maiori, you can walk to Minori along the beautiful Lemon Path (takes around 1 hour).

Walk from Minori To Ravello

Once in Minori, hike up to Ravello. This will take about 1.5 to 2 hours. The path passes through rural areas that are only accessible on foot. So, this is an excellent way to explore the Amalfi Coast and see hidden spots you would otherwise miss.

Click here for the full trail description from Minori to Ravello.

If you prefer a quicker route: You can take a ferry to Amalfi. Then either hop on the public bus or the shuttle service to Ravello. The tourist shuttle is seasonal, and the ticket price is higher than the public SITA bus, but it guarantees you a seat. There are also taxis available in the harbour of Amalfi, to bring you up to Ravello.

What to do in Ravello:

You’ll need around 3-4 hours to explore Ravello, if you wish to visit both gardens and walking around the town.

The main square of Ravello is where the cathedral is located, and there are some lovely cafes to sit and relax.

Villa Rufolo’s entrance is right at the corner of the main square, so it’s easy to find. To visit Villa Cimbrone, you’ll need to walk a bit further (about 600 meters, or 15 minutes). Just follow the small road, ‘Via Santa Chiara.'” At the end of this road, you’ll find the entrance to the park.

Both gardens are worth visiting, and if you can, try to see both. Villa Cimbrone is famous for its Infinity Terrace. This panorama terrace is built in such a privileged location, at the tip of a high rock where Ravello sits. A beautiful spot with an incredible view over the Amalfi Coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Villa Rufolo, Ravello’s is the other famous garden also has stunning views. And a tower you can climb for an even higher perspective. There’s a small museum in the tower worth checking out. And of course the famous pine tree of Ravello is visible from one of the lower terraces of the garden.

Alternative program for Day 4

If you don’t want to visit the Amalfi Coast again, or already visited Ravello you can take a day trip to Naples.

Ff a couple of night in Naples aren’t in your itinerary before or after your Sorrento holiday? Visit the city at least for a day trip.

There’s so much to see in the city that one day is barely enough.

If you visited Pompeii and enjoyed it, a trip to the National Archaeological Museum is a must. Most of the original artefacts from Pompeii are kept there. For example, the Alexander Mosaic at the Villa of the Faun in Pompeii is a copy. The original in the museum in Naples.

Naples is also great for authentic Neapolitan pizza and visiting its castles.

Sorrento and Naples are well connected, making it easy for a day trip. The last train back to Sorrento is around 11 PM.

You can also visit Herculaneum, and the Vesuvios from Sorrento, if Naples is already on your itinerary.

DAY 5 CAPRi

5-Day A trip to Capri

I left Capri for the last day because I think it’s worth staying overnight on the island. So it’s easy to fit into your itinerary between Sorrento and Naples (or Rome).

If you’re only planning a day trip, you can move it to an earlier day in the itinerary for better logistic.

Reaching Capri from Sorrento by ferry is very easy. Ferries depart from Marina Piccola Harbor in Sorrento. They are frequent, and the journey takes around 20 minutes to reach the island.

More research for Capri:

Things Not to Miss in Sorrento

This is a pretty packed 5 day-itinerary that uses Sorrento as your base. As Sorrento’s position is very convenient. But there’s plenty to see and do in Sorrento itself. Feel free to skip any activities that don’t interest you and spend more time exploring the town!

There are Lemon farms to visit and cooking classes to take nearby.

You can go for a kayaking tour tot the Bagni Regina Giovanna.

In the town don’t miss the Villa Comunale terrace. And visit the Cloister of St. Francis. Walk down to the Marina Grande for a dinner. For more ideas and info on Sorrento click here.

Additional research to plan your holiday

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