10 Best Things to Do in Sorrento

As Sorrento’s main square, Piazza Torquato Tasso is where you can get a first impression of the city’s downtown scene. The square is small and lies at the junction of several main streets, with plenty of bars and cafes along the sidewalks. It’s usually bustling day and night with its steady flow of traffic and pedestrians. A notable landmark worth seeing is the baroque church of Santuario del Carmine, with the relaxing street-side patio of Bar del Carmine in the foyer – a great spot for a coffee and a bit of people watching.

Head east from Piazza Tasso and you'll find Corso Italia, downtown Sorrento’s main shopping street. The neatly paved sidewalks are shaded by tall trees down this otherwise traffic-packed route. You’ll pass various shops at the base of tall historical 5-storey buildings, ranging from souvenir kiosks, mini supermarkets to designer boutiques (though the variety is limited compared to Italy’s fashion capitals such as Rome or Milan). Some of Sorrento’s favorite city hotels, such as the Hotel Sorrento City and Hotel Michelangelo, also share the length of this road. Be careful during the summertime as the street can get hectic with zipping scooters.

Take a detour off Piazza Tasso, northwards along Via Luigi de Maio and Via San Francesco, and you’ll eventually reach Sorrento’s scenic coastline. Among the best spots to visit here is Villa Comunale. It's a vast green and tree-shaded public space by the bay that’s adorned with sculptures and fountains. It's also where you can get sweeping seascapes with the silhouettes of Mount Vesuvius in the background. You can take the “beach lift” to the harbor area below the cliff for around €2.

The grand 18th-century Palazzo Pomarici Santomasi houses Sorrento’s Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea (Wood Inlay Museum), where you can learn more about the city’s centuries-old woodworking artform. Its 4 floors showcase some of the greatest examples of intricate inlay craftsmanship, such as a wooden bed inlaid with nacre and a variety of antique pieces with bronze and silver Roman inlays. You can reach the museum in the city’s historic hub on Via San Nicola, around 7 minutes’ walk west from Piazza Tasso. Entrance is around €8 for adults.

As one of Sorrento’s lovely piazzas, Piazza Sant’Antonino is home to the basilica of the same name. The piazza’s a short walk north of Piazza Tasso along Via Luigi de Maio, but the traffic isn't as hectic. St. Anthony’s Basilica looks over the piazza with its unassuming façade. But step inside (access is free), and you’ll find a beautiful baroque interior with frescoes and various sculptures depicting St. Anthony’s legend of him rescuing of a child from a whale off the coast of Sorrento.

Sedil Dominova is both a historical landmark and a cool place to dine. It's just a couple of minutes' walk from Piazza Tasso, along the narrow Via S. Cesareo - spot the only old structure near the end of the street. Its ceiling and walls are covered in well-preserved frescoes, and its beautiful cupola is slightly visible from the adjacent Bar Monalisa Ristorante. This was a meeting place among nobility, but is now a cool and casual gathering spot where local elders enjoy beer and card games. Pop into Ristorante 2000 next door for wines or limoncello, or head to Bar Monalisa for a scoop of gelato.

Chiostro di San Francesco (Church of St. Francis) is a short walk southwest from Piazza Sant’Antonino, and right next to Villa Comunale. The 14th-century church features baroque architecture, and its main highlight is a beautiful shaded cloister surrounded by colonnades, with flowering shrubs and ornamental trees. Besides offering tranquillity away from Sorrento’s downtown crowds, the cloister transforms into an art and exhibition space in the summer, with various historical and contemporary works of art on display within its porches and open spaces. Entry is free.

The Antiche Mura (Ancient Walls) of Sorrento are ruins of an old Roman defense system that used to surround the city. You can view parts of the stockades throughout the city center, as part of the city’s groundworks. Some of the most notable remaining parts are on the southern side of the city, with the Bastion of Porsano as a great start (enter from Via Sersale, for free). Visit by day to enjoy the views from the top, or in the evenings for a mesmerizing sight when it’s lit with subtle lighting.

Sorrento has three marinas, a small one east of Villa Comunale and two at Marina Grande in the west. Sailboats and luxury yachts line the marina, while numerous cafes and restaurants dot the jetties with their uniform-colored parasols. Choose a spot at the water edge with Vesuvius on the far horizon. PortaMarina Seafood is among the favorite spots here, using fresh daily catches from the sea.

Teatro Tasso is Sorrento’s main theatre, right off Piazza Tasso in the city center. It’s an ideal spot to spend the evening – you can reserve a dinner with a local band serenading you with Neapolitan songs such as Pavarotti’s familiar O Sole Mio, or watch the highlighted high-octane, 4-act dance show, that features the Sorrentino folkdance, tarantella, performed by skilled dancers in vivid costumes. Shows last slightly over an hour, and tickets are available from a booth within the piazza, from around €25.