Vacationing in Sorrento? Lucky you! While the coastal town is irresistible in itself, going on day trips from Sorrento is one of the best activities to do there. Check out the ultimate destinations in this post!
Perched on top of magnificent cliffs over the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento is a charming Italian town featuring sweeping views, great food, and ancient architecture. One of its main attractions, though, is its location which makes it a great base for exploring other incredible destinations in Southern Italy.
In this article, you’ll discover 12 astounding day trips from Sorrento that you can embark on very easily, and which will allow you to discover the gems and breathtaking sights of some of the country’s most renowned locations. Read on to find out the places you’ll be visiting during your Italian holiday!
Positano & Amalfi
The Amalfi Coast is a staple of Southern Italy, featuring picturesque clifftop towns, beautiful bays, and pastel-colored villages right on by the shores of small beaches, dotted with colorful fishing boats.
Positano is one of said towns, situated on the cliffside and featuring charming little alleys full of cafes and shops, a stunning beachfront, and rugged cliffs best admired from the water.
Amalfi is also set against steep cliffs, boasting jaw-dropping scenery, Medieval architecture, and great history, having been a place of great importance in the Mediterranean trade routes.
Besides sunbathing, swimming in the warm, turquoise waters, going on a boat tour, and wandering around the towns, things to do in Positano and Amalfi include sampling the local food, renting a scooter to explore the coast, and checking out the most spectacular views from the numerous viewpoints!
How To Get to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento
▶️ Positano is a 30-minute ferry ride away from Sorrento, although the time can be up to 1.5 hours depending on the type of boat you get and weather conditions. The high-speed ferry, though, can get you there in just about 20 minutes.
The ferry departs from Marina Piccola Port in Sorrento, and there are around 10 ferries a day during the summertime, starting as early as 7.40 AM. Tickets cost 15-20€. An alternative is taking the Sita bus from Sorrento to Positano, but it’s not recommended as it takes way longer (1 to 2 hours!) and it’s not necessarily cheaper.
▶️ The ferry ride to Amalfi Town takes a little over an hour, and tickets cost from 15 to 25€. The Sita bus is also an option, but be aware that it can take up to 3 hours to arrive in Amalfi if there’s traffic.
Best Tours to Positano & Amalfi from Sorrento
If you’d rather enjoy an easy day trip from Sorrento and leave the planning to someone else, you could join one of the tours that take you to the Amalfi Coast for a fun day out. Check out the best options.
▶️ This Tour to the Amalfi Coast lasts a full day and takes you to Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. You’ll enjoy free time in each town, and benefit from the live commentary of your local guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ The Amalfi and Positano Boat Tour takes you on a picturesque ride along the striking coastline of Amalfi and the LI Galli Islands and includes free time for you to explore the gorgeous towns. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ This Full-Day Amalfi Coast Tour is a private experience that takes you and your group on a fabulous day trip. You’ll visit the towns of Ravello, Positano, and Amalfi and enjoy the live commentary of your knowledgeable guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Capri
Capri is a magnificent island located in the Bay of Naples, renowned for the dramatic rugged cliffs that fringe its coastline, its natural attractions, and high-end facilities that attract jet-setters from all over the world.
Striking viewpoints, azure waters, opulent mansions, charming piazzas, the ruin of an emperor’s Villa, and Capri’s most sought-after beach, Marina Piccola, are a few of the gems the island offers its visitors, and you’ll be able to enjoy them all whether you’re basing yourself in Capri or just dropping by for the day.
How To Get to Capri from Sorrento
If you’re planning your own Sorrento to Capri day trip, you’ll need to know, first and foremost, how to get there. Capri is easily reachable from Sorrento by ferry, which departs approximately every 30 minutes in the summer months.
You’ll board the ferry in Sorrento’s Marina Piccola Port and arrive at Capri’s Marina Grande half an hour later. The tickets cost 20-25€ one-way.
Best Tours to Capri from Sorrento
Looking for an organized day trip from Sorrento to Capri? You can book one of the following tours that cover both transportation and all the activities.
▶️ The Capri Boat Tour starts with a visit to Blue Grotto, beating the morning crowds, and takes you sailing around Capri with free time to snorkel, swim, and explore the island. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Coast and Capri Boat Tour offers the opportunity to sail along the Sorrento coast and through amazing grottos in Capri, before granting you a whole day to explore the island at your leisure. It also includes a Limoncello tasting. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ Capri Island & Blue Cave is a private 8-hour tour that includes sailing past all the major attractions in Capri, swimming in the Blue Grotto, snorkeling, and free time to roam around the island at your own pace. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
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Lemon Farm Experience with Pizza Making
Limoncello is the area’s very own liqueur, as it’s mainly produced in Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. It’s therefore a fantastic place not only to taste it but to witness how it’s made!
Sorrento is surrounded by several farms where you can enjoy the full farming experience and even learn the secrets of authentic pizza-making, discovering the formula behind many Italian recipes, sampling delicious local bites and, of course, sipping on limoncello.
How To Get There on Your Own
There are several farms you can choose to visit, so the means to get there will depend on where you’re headed. Since farms are usually family-owned and located far from the tourist trails, though, your best bet is to rent a car and drive yourself, having previously booked the experience with the farm and asked for accurate directions.
You could also inquire about arranging transportation with them.
Best Tour to the Lemon Farm Experience
➤ The Sorrento Farm Experience includes roundtrip transportation to the farm Limoneto Storico 1894, where you’ll learn about the production of limoncello, try your hand at pizza-making, and sample all sorts of local delicacies. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Pompeii
Pompeii is one of the most interesting Sorrento day trips you could embark on, being as it’s an incredible, very historic city with a past that’s known worldwide.
Discovered in the 16th century, Pompeii has remained pretty much unchanged since 79 AD, when Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried it completely, thus preserving the architecture, objects, and even inhabitants of the city until the ruins were dug out.
Among the most impressive sites in Pompeii are the Amphitheater, which dates back to 1st century BC; the public baths; the plaster casts that display the final moments of the citizens; the Villa dei Misteri; and the intricate Cave Canem Mosaic.
How To Get to Pompeii from Sorrento
The Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Pompeii takes around 30 minutes and departs approximately every half hour.
You’ll get off at Pompei Scavi-Villa dei Misteri station, which is right in front of Pompeii Archaeological Park. Aim to take the earliest train to avoid the crowds at the site!
Best Tours to Pompeii from Sorrento
▶️ The Pompeii Express Tour allows you to skip the lines at the entrance, gaining immediate access to the site. You’ll then enjoy a 2-hour guided tour of the ruins before boarding the train back to Sorrento. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ The Sorrento to Pompeii Tour + Mt. Vesuvius includes skip-the-line access to the archaeological site, which you’ll explore with a local guide, and a hike up the crater rim of the Vesuvius volcano. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
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Mount Vesuvius
Mount Vesuvius is a stratovolcano mostly known for having buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum in volcanic ash and pumice in the summer of 79 AD. While it remains an active volcano, it’s currently in a state of repose, its last eruption having taken place in 1944.
The volcano can safely be hiked to the top on a moderately difficult trail that doesn’t take longer than 30 minutes, and while there’s no lava to be seen, standing at the rim of the crater of the famous Mount Vesuvius is very impressive.
How To Get to Mount Vesuvius from Sorrento
To embark on a day trip to Mount Vesuvius from Sorrento you’ll first have to take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii.
Outside Pompeii Scavi train station you’ll find the ticket office for Vesuvius, where you’ll get your tickets and take the bus to the mountain. You’ll be dropped off at Vesuvius’ car park, where the trail to the crater begins.
Best Tours to Mount Vesuvius from Sorrento
▶️ This Mount Vesuvius Tour includes lunch and wine tasting, besides the experience of hiking to the rim of Vesuvius’ crater. You’ll also enjoy a scenic drive along the peninsula on your way there. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
▶️ The Full-Day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius Tour starts with a guided visit around Pompeii, where you’ll get to skip the lines and benefit from your guide’s insights. You’ll then hike all the way up to the crater of Mt. Vesuvius. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Naples
Naples is Italy’s third-largest city and the capital of the Campania region. Birthplace of the Margherita Pizza, home to a UNESCO-listed historic center, and boasting a fabulous combination of history and modernity, Naples is one of the most important destinations in Southern Italy.
Visiting the ruins of the 600 BC Greek settlement at Napoli Sotteranea, touring the museums, admiring Caravaggio’s paintings, walking through the Egg Castle, and stuffing on Margherita pizza – or, why not, learning how to make it yourself! – are some of the unmissable affairs in Naples.
How To Get from Sorrento to Naples
The train from Sorrento to Naples runs every 30 minutes starting at 6 AM. The one-way ticket costs 5€, and it takes 1-1.5 hours to make the journey.
You could alternatively take the bus, although it’s not a recommended route as it’s more expensive, takes slightly longer, and has considerably fewer daily departures.
If you’re traveling in the summer, a direct ferry can be a great option for a scenic (and faster) journey, although it’s not as cost-efficient as the train at 15-20€ per way.
Best Tours in Naples
There aren’t tours to Naples that depart from Sorrento, so you should first make your way to Naples, either by train or with a private transfer, and then join a tour in the city.
➤ The Street Food Tour will introduce you to the culinary scene of Naples, as a local guide takes you to traditional eateries where you’ll sample the tastiest bites of the region, and finish off with gelato and limoncello. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
➤ The Naples Underground Guided Tour offers you the chance to travel back in time as you discover over 2,000 years of history. You’ll explore the ancient Greek Aqueduct and settlement, and the remains of a Roman Theater with a knowledgeable guide. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
➤ With the Naples Downtown Tour you’ll explore the old city as a local guide provides insights into the history and culture of Naples, and you’ll also access the famous San Severo Chapel. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Ischia
Ischia is a staggering volcanic island situated on the Gulf of Naples, close to 30 miles off the coast of Sorrento. Its picturesque scenery is Ischia’s best attribute, featuring a hilly landscape, sandy beaches, and glorious natural springs.
A Medieval castle sits atop a volcanic plug and steals all the views from the island, which itself houses a combination of old buildings and modern, 5-star resorts. Relishing the local cuisine, getting pampered in the thermal spas, strolling along the narrow alleys, and catching the views from the viewpoints are some of the best things to do on a day trip to Ischia.
How To Get to Ischia from Sorrento
Getting to Ischia from Sorrento takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour and 20 minutes by ferry. There are few daily crossings between the two locations, so it’s advisable that you check the current schedule ahead of time and ideally take the first ferry of the day.
An alternative would be to get to Naples and take a ferry to Ischia there, as they run more frequently. However, you’d have to add some extra time to your journey.
Best Tour to Ischia from Sorrento
➤ This Sorrento to Ischia Day Trip lasts a full day and includes a boat trip to both Ischia and Procida, along with swimming and snorkeling time, a scenic cruise along the coast, and snacks. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Irpinia Wine Tour
Irpinia is a region in Campania mainly known for its production of red and white wine. It’s therefore the perfect destination for wine tasting, touring vineyards, and getting a few bottles of Italian vino to take back home.
Besides wineries, Irpinia is also home to Michelin-starred restaurants, high-end resorts, and a beautiful landscape of valleys and hills. Located about 85 miles northeast of Sorrento, this region of Italy is easily visited, and worth the trip.
How To Get to Irpinia from Sorrento
The best way to make the journey is to drive yourself. The trip takes a little longer than 2 hours, as Irpinia is 140 kilometers from Sorrento.
Getting to Irpinia using public transportation takes longer and it’s quite a hassle, but it’s doable if it’s your only alternative. You should first catch the train to Avellino, and from there take a local bus into the wine region. If you’re visiting a specific winery for a tour, it might be better to ask them for transfers from Avellino or take a taxi to get there.
Best Tour to Irpinia from Sorrento
➤ This Tour of the Vineyards includes transfers from Sorrento, and a guided visit of Cortecorbo Winery, along with a cooking class on-site, lunch, and tastings of the best wine in the region. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Herculaneum
One of the best excursions from Sorrento is to Herculaneum, another victim of the infamous eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Completely buried in 79 AD, the city was rediscovered in the 18th century, and today it’s an open-air museum that showcases the architecture, culture, and lifestyle of Herculaneum’s citizens before the tragedy.
It’s smaller than Pompeii, and it does not display any body casts but actual skeletons, which is one of the reasons Herculaneum is not as popular, even if both cities were casualties of which is considered one of the world’s most dangerous volcanoes.
Paintings, cases with jewelry and other valuable artifacts found during the excavation, the remains of a Roman Boarding House and several other buildings, a Mosaic Atrium, and Roman baths are some of the things visitors can see at the site.
How To Get to Herculaneum from Sorrento
The trip from Sorrento to Herculaneum only takes 40 minutes on the Circumvesuviana train. You’ll get off at Ercolano, a small town located on the shadow of Mount Vesuvius and merely 1600 feet from the ruins.
Best Tours to Herculaneum from Sorrento
➤ Half-Day Herculaneum Express is a 5-hour tour that includes skip-the-line tickets to the archaeological site, and a professional guide to help you make the most of your visit to the city. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
➤ Wondering whether Pompeii or Herculaneum are worth your visit? With this full-day excursion, you won’t have to choose. You’ll visit both sites, skipping the lines and enjoying an informative tour around the cities. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Path of the Gods
Path of the Gods is one of Amalfi Coast’s most famed hikes, and should be unmissable for outdoor enthusiasts! The hike is 5 miles long and it goes along an ancient route, the only link between the coast’s towns back in the day.
The path goes through villages and the occasional ruins of shepherd’s houses, and it offers jaw-dropping views of the coastline. In fact, it offers hands down the most rewarding views of the Amalfi Coast, and the scenery is unmatched – so you better not forget your camera!
The hike can take from 2 to 4 hours, depending on your pace and the stops you make. It’s of moderate difficulty, but it can be unbearably hot in the summer months as there is little to no shade! So make sure you start very early in the morning and are equipped with a hat, sunscreen, and a water bottle – which you’ll be able to refill along the way.
How To Get to the Path of Gods
Path of the Gods connects the town of Bomerano with the hilltop hamlet Nocelle, which is located above Positano. The most common route is to start in Bomerano, so you’ll need to make your way there from Sorrento. After the hike, you could spend the rest of the day in Positano; two birds with one stone!
There are buses that connect Amalfi Town with Bomerano, so you’ll first need to make your way to Amalfi. You can do so by taking the ferry or the Sita public bus that departs from the train station. I’d advise you to check the schedule for both and take the earliest means of transport to make the most of your time.
Best Tour to Path of the Gods from Sorrento
➤ This Path of the Gods Hike includes transfers from Sorrento, and the journey along the ancient route with a professional guide, allowing you to take in the breathtaking scenery and learn the myths and history behind the trail. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Procida
Procida is a lovely but very tiny island off the coast of Naples, known for featuring colorful houses, a staggering coastline, and historic sites. One of its highlights is, in fact, the walled Medieval village of Terra Murata, situated at the highest point of the island and which took on the roles of monastery, prison, and, nowadays, privileged viewpoint.
Things to do when in Procida include swimming in its azure waters, strolling along the vibrant Marina di Corricella, visiting the church, and crossing the bridge to the nearby Vivara Island, a fantastic State Nature Reserve.
How To Get to Procida from Sorrento
Procida is a one-hour ferry ride away from Sorrento. There are only two daily crossings to the island, so you’ll need to check the current schedule shortly before making the day trip to make sure you don’t miss it. I suggest taking the earliest ferry, which departs at around 9 AM, to enjoy a full day in Procida.
Best Tour to Procida from Sorrento
➤ Ischia and Procida Boat Tour is a great day out as it includes visits to both islands on the Bay of Naples, cruising around them on a comfortable boat and enjoying swimming and snorkeling stops on the way. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
Paestum
Paestum is an ancient Greek city built in the province of Salerno over 2500 years ago. Its oldest structure, the Temple of Hera, dates back to approximately 550 BC! It’s no wonder that it’s recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Situated on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the archaeological site was initially a Greek colony named Poseidonia, which was later conquered by the Romans who renamed it what it’s called today. The ruins of the three major temples, Paestum’s major attraction, are incredibly well preserved, making the visit thoroughly enjoyable and informative.
The temples of Hera, Neptune, and Athena feature Doric architecture and are equally impressive, but not the only thing to see at the site. A very interesting archaeological museum enlightens visitors on the history of the city, and the ancient houses and piazzas are also worth checking out.
How To Get to Paestum from Sorrento
Unless you’re driving, there’s no direct way to get from Sorrento to Paestum. By public transportation you’ll first need to make your way either to Naples or Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana train, and from there catch another train to Paestum. The ruins are a 15-minute walk from the station.
Best Tour to Paestum from Sorrento
➤ This Private Tour to Paestum includes a very comprehensive guided tour of the archaeological site, as well as buffalo mozzarella tasting, lunch, and free time at the beach. ➥ BOOK IT HERE
DAY TRIPS FROM SORRENTO FAQ
There are many fantastic locations that can be visited from Sorrento by train, including Naples, Positano, Paestum, Herculaneum, and Pompeii.
Positano is 30 minutes away by ferry from Sorrento, although the journey can take slightly longer depending on weather conditions.
Pompeii is a fantastic destination to spend a day exploring from Sorrento.
