Things to Do in Sorrento: Boat Days, Capri, Pompeii and the Old Town

Many of the best things to do in Sorrento start at its harbor or its train station, because the town is a practical base for the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Pompeii.

Last updated: September 25, 2026

Sorrento is small, walkable and built on cliffs above the Bay of Naples, and most of what people come for is just beyond it. This guide covers the things to do in Sorrento itself and the day trips it is best placed for, with the official prices and the fall schedule changes that matter now. For the whole coast, see our Amalfi Coast travel guide.

Things to do in Sorrento itself

• Walk the old town and Piazza Tasso, then down to Marina Grande, the fishing harbor.
• Watch the sunset over the Bay of Naples from the Villa Comunale gardens, with Vesuvius across the water.
• Taste limoncello: the lemons grow on the terraces above town.
• Take a cooking day in the hills: the Sorrento cooking classes include a farm day with pizza, mozzarella and limoncello, rated 5.0 on Viator.

The Amalfi Coast by boat

The coast road from Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi is famous and slow. From the water you see the towns as they were meant to be seen, and you skip the traffic. The Amalfi Coast boat tours page compares a full day from Sorrento with a shorter tour from Positano or Amalfi. By bus, SITA SUD’s COSTIERASITA ticket costs €10 for 24 hours of unlimited rides across 20 towns, including Positano, Amalfi and Ravello; it is personal, so write your name on it, according to SITA SUD.

Capri and the Blue Grotto

Capri is the classic day from Sorrento. The Capri boat tours from Sorrento circle the island and stop in town. On your own, NLG ferries from Sorrento cost from €20.20 one way, plus a landing fee in Capri (checked September 2026). The Blue Grotto costs €6 to enter, with the rowboat paid separately; it is open until 6 pm from April to October and until 2 pm from November, and it closes in rough sea. Read Capri: what to see before you go.

Pompeii and Herculaneum

Both sites are on the Circumvesuviana line between Sorrento and Naples. Pompeii costs €20 for the ancient city, or €25 with the suburban villas and a shuttle; tickets carry your name and daily entries are capped at 20,000. From October 15 it closes at 5 pm, last entry 3:30 pm. Herculaneum, smaller and better preserved, costs €16 and closes at 5 pm from October 15 (all (checked September 2026)). For a guided day, compare the Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip and read Pompeii from Rome or Naples.

Getting to and around Sorrento

• From Naples: the Circumvesuviana train runs to Sorrento. From October 17, 2026, EAV’s new timetable has 68 trains a day, one every 30 minutes. The Campania Express tourist train is suspended from October 1, 2026 until further notice.
• To the Amalfi Coast: SITA SUD buses, or boats in season.
• To Capri: ferries from Marina Piccola. NLG’s summer schedule runs from April 1 to November 3, 2026; last winter it ran three departures a day from Sorrento.
• From Naples in one day: see the best day trips from Naples, and for a longer route, the southern Italy itinerary.

Limoncello is the local souvenir here. Our guide to Italian liqueurs explains the protected lemons, other regional liqueurs and customs allowances for the trip home.

Staying overnight in Sorrento? Compare places to stay below, and see our Amalfi Coast itinerary to plan the rest of the trip.

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Next, sort out the bed: see where to stay in Naples and on the Amalfi Coast for the best areas and their trade-offs.

Things to do in Sorrento: frequently asked questions

What are the best things to do in Sorrento?

Walk the old town and Marina Grande, watch the sunset from the Villa Comunale, take a cooking day in the lemon hills, and use Sorrento as a base for boat days on the Amalfi Coast and Capri, and for Pompeii and Herculaneum.

To cook rather than shop, our Amalfi Coast cooking class page compares two classes in the hills of Agerola, pasta, mozzarella and tiramisu, rated 5.0 and 4.9, from about $70 (checked September 2026).

How do you get from Sorrento to Capri?

By ferry from Marina Piccola. NLG fares start from €20.20 one way plus a landing fee in Capri, checked September 2026, and fall and winter schedules have fewer departures. A Capri boat tour from Sorrento includes the crossing.

Is Sorrento a good base for the Amalfi Coast?

Yes, especially without a car: it has the train to Naples, Pompeii and Herculaneum, boats to Capri and the coast, and SITA SUD buses to Positano and Amalfi.

How much does it cost to enter the Blue Grotto?

The entry costs €6 and the rowboat is paid separately. The grotto closes when the sea is rough.

How many days do you need in Sorrento?

Three days: one for the Amalfi Coast by boat, one for Capri and one for Pompeii or Herculaneum, with evenings in town.