Limoncello
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Limoncello is simple: the yellow peel of lemons, without the bitter white pith, is steeped in pure alcohol, then diluted with sugar and water. It is drunk ice-cold from small glasses at the end of a meal, and it is sold in every shop from Naples to Positano.
The price of a good bottle is modest. In Sorrento, I Giardini di Cataldo, a citrus grower on Via Correale, sells a 50 cl bottle for €15; in Naples, Scaturchio's online shop lists its 0.5 l limoncello at €15.90 (both checked September 30, 2026). In a restaurant, a glass after dinner costs €5 at Umberto in Chiaia.
At a glance
- What it is
- Lemon peel steeped in pure alcohol, then diluted with sugar syrup. Served ice-cold in a small glass after a meal.
- Price in 2026
- 50 cl: €15 at I Giardini di Cataldo in Sorrento; 0.5 l: €15.90 at Scaturchio's online shop. A glass after dinner: €5 at Umberto in Chiaia (June 2026).
- The IGP
- 'Limone di Sorrento IGP' and 'Limone Costa d'Amalfi IGP' protect the lemons. There is no IGP for limoncello itself.
- What to check
- The ingredients: lemon peel (named IGP if it is), alcohol, sugar, water. Skip bottles listing flavorings or colorings.
- Try before buying
- Sorrento shops and lemon-grove visits pour tastings; see our Sorrento limoncello page.
In this guide
The IGP covers the lemons, not the liqueur
Two lemons from this coast are protected by the EU as IGP (Protected Geographical Indication):
- Limone di Sorrento IGP, the "Ovale di Sorrento", grown in Massa Lubrense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Sorrento, Vico Equense, Capri and Anacapri. The consortium's rules tie it to the local femminello ovale lemon, traditionally grown under chestnut-pole pergolas.
- Limone Costa d'Amalfi IGP, the elongated "sfusato amalfitano", grown in 13 towns from Positano to Vietri sul Mare.
The protection applies to the fruit. "Limoncello" itself has no IGP, so any bottle anywhere can use the name. A label that names the IGP lemon inside is the thing to look for.
The tourist-shop trap
- Read the ingredients. A good limoncello lists lemon peel, alcohol, sugar and water. Flavorings or colorings mean it was not made from peel alone.
- The color of peel-only limoncello is a cloudy or pale yellow. A fluorescent yellow is a warning sign.
- Novelty bottles shaped like lemons or Vesuvius cost more for the glass, not the drink.
- Taste first. Shops in Sorrento pour samples; lemon-grove visits include a tasting (see our Sorrento limoncello page).
Homemade versus bottled
Plenty of Neapolitan families make their own, and some restaurants pour a house limoncello at the end of the meal. Sometimes it is on the house, sometimes on the bill: Umberto's list prices limoncello, amaro and grappa at €5 or €10 a glass. If a waiter offers one "della casa" without being asked, it is usually a courtesy; if you order it, expect to pay. Homemade ones vary from bottle to bottle, which is part of the point.
How to drink it, and carry it home
- From the freezer, in a small chilled glass, after dinner. Not before, not with food.
- Sip it. It is strong.
- Bottles over 100 ml go in checked luggage. Wrap them in clothes.
- Growers also sell other citrus liqueurs: Cataldo lists fennel, orange and mandarin versions from €15 for 50 cl.
Pair the purchase with a day in Sorrento or on the Amalfi Coast, where the lemon groves are.
Tickets and tours you can book
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.
Rating as shown on Viator
Sorrento: Pizza Lesson, Wine, and Limoncello at a Local Farm
The van leaves from the Vallone dei Mulini car park (Via Fuorimura 16) in Sorrento, not from hotels. Held outdoors, indoors if it rains; very bad weather can cancel it.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Sorrento Coast Cruise with Limoncello Tasting
Add the €10 harbour and service fee paid at check-in. Up to 11; bring ID and arrive 30 minutes early.
Rating as shown on Viator
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
How much is limoncello in Sorrento?
A 50 cl bottle costs €15 at I Giardini di Cataldo, a Sorrento grower, on its shop page checked September 30, 2026. Scaturchio in Naples sells 0.5 l for €15.90.
Is limoncello IGP?
No. The IGP protects the lemons (Limone di Sorrento and Limone Costa d'Amalfi). Look for a limoncello made with one of those lemons, named on the label.
Sorrento or Amalfi lemons for limoncello?
Both are IGP and both make good limoncello. The Sorrento lemon is the oval femminello; the Amalfi one is the long sfusato.
Can I take limoncello on a plane?
In checked luggage, yes. In hand luggage only in containers of 100 ml or less, unless bought after security.
Further reading
Official sources
- Consorzio di Tutela del Limone di Sorrento IGP (official) – Ovale di Sorrento; growing towns incl. Capri and Anacapri; checked September 30, 2026 (browser)
- Consorzio Limone di Sorrento IGP - disciplinare (official) – Femminello ovale ecotypes; IGP under EU regulation
- Wikipedia (Italian) - Limone Costa d'Amalfi – Sfusato amalfitano; 13 towns from Amalfi to Vietri sul Mare; used for limoncello
- I Giardini di Cataldo, Sorrento (official shop) – Limoncello 50 cl €15; fennel, orange, mandarin liqueurs; Via Correale 27; pergolas with chestnut poles
- Scaturchio - online shop (official) – Limoncello 0.5 l €15.90
- Umberto - menu June 2026 (official PDF) – Amaro, grappa, finocchietto, limoncello €5 / €10
