Sorrento

The train is the cheap, reliable choice and stops at Pompei Scavi on the way (29 minutes from Garibaldi), so you can combine the two. The boat is the comfortable choice with luggage, and arrives at Marina Piccola, below the town; a lift and steps climb to the center. Alilauro's September 16 to November 3 timetable shows departures at 9, 11 a.m., 1, 3:05 and 5:15 p.m. in one direction and 8:15, 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4:25 p.m. in the other. For train detail, see our Circumvesuviana guide.

• Piazza Tasso and the Vallone dei Mulini, the gorge with a ruined mill you look down into from the street.
• The old town lanes behind Corso Italia, with shops selling lemons, inlaid wood and limoncello.
• Villa Comunale, the cliff-top public garden with the classic view of the bay and Vesuvius.
• Marina Grande, the fishing harbor, for dinner by the water.
• The cloister of San Francesco, next to the Villa Comunale.

A walk around all of this takes half a day. Beaches are small and mostly private platforms; the best natural swim nearby is the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, 10 minutes by bus and 20 to 30 minutes on foot from Capo di Sorrento. For lemon groves, see limoncello and lemon grove visits.

• Capri: Caremar's fast ferry €17.40, 22 to 32 minutes; NLG €22. Plus the €5 landing charge until October 31.
• Amalfi Coast: SITA buses from outside the station: Positano about 40 minutes (€2.40), Amalfi about 1 hour 30 minutes (€3.40); or a CostieraSITA 24-hour pass for €10. Alilauro boats to Amalfi (€17.50) until November 3 and Positano (€19) until October 31.
• Pompeii: Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi, about 40 minutes, €2.80 in the Sorrento-Pompei fare band.
• Naples: 69 minutes back by train, until the last evening departures.

Whether to stay here or in the city is its own question: our Naples or Sorrento as a base page compares hotel prices and evenings, and where to stay covers the city side. Onward to the coast: the Amalfi Coast.

The center is walkable, and the station is a few minutes from Piazza Tasso. EAV runs the local buses: €1.30 a ride or €3.90 for a day within Sorrento. Line A runs from the station to Capo di Sorrento every 20 minutes, about 10 minutes, and on to Massa Lubrense; other lines serve Marina Grande and Marina Piccola. For the Amalfi Coast, SITA's buses leave from the station area; buy tickets before boarding.

Sorrento's season is long, and October is calmer than summer while the boats still run. Coastal boats stop in early November (Alilauro's Positano route ends October 31 and Amalfi on November 3), after which the coast depends on SITA buses. The Circumvesuviana runs all year; strikes are announced in advance on EAV's site, so check before a day that depends on it.

From Naples: Sorrento, Positano & Amalfi Premium Tour

An on-board host, then free time in each town; lunch not included and the Amalfi boat ride is optional at €15 on the spot. Needs 2 people from April to October, 4 in winter. The €49.50 from-price was for a November date.

8.5 hours

4.8★★★★★★★★★★(18,538 reviews)

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Sorrento: Exclusive Capri Boat Tour and Optional Blue Grotto

Not included, per the listing: the Capri landing and destination fee (€10), Blue Grotto entry (€18) and pickup (€5 each way). The grotto stop only comes with the early option.

5 to 8 hours

4.8★★★★★★★★★★(5,392 reviews)

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Rating as shown on GetYourGuide

Sorrento Farm and Food Experience including Olive Oil, Limoncello, Wine tasting

Transport runs from the bus parking at Via Correale 26, Sorrento. Listed as wheelchair accessible. Drinks only for over-18s.

4 hours

5.0★★★★★★★★★★(3,021 reviews)

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Rating as shown on Viator

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