HOW TO EXPLORE SORRENTO COAST, COMPLETE Guide to Transportation and Sightseeing
To Sorrento, which is located right across from Naples, where mermaids dance on its shores, is a bay famous for its lemon gardens, warm atmosphere, and views. It takes its name from a mermaid named Sirentum. Unlike seasonal holiday villages like Amalfi and Positano, Sorrento has a permanent population, so it is lively year-round, and perhaps for this reason, it has a more intimate ambiance. Since there are plenty of accommodation and dining options to suit every budget, you can use Sorrento as a base and explore the entire Amalfi Coast by ferry, bus, or private vehicle. How to get there? Getting to Sorrento, which is the first stop when exploring the Amalfi Coast from Naples, is very easy. By taking the Circumvesuviana train from the central station in Naples, it takes about 1-1.5 hours for a one-way trip at a cost of 4.5 EUR. By shuttle buses departing from Naples Airport, it takes approximately 1-1.5 hours (depending on traffic) for a one-way trip at a cost of 10 EUR. By sea buses departing from Naples Port, it takes 40 minutes at a cost of 13.5 EUR. How to explore the Amalfi Coast while staying in Sorrento?
VESUVIO VIEW FROM SORRENTO
Where to Stay? There are many hotels of various sizes in the center of Sorrento. The best area to stay in vibrant Sorrento, especially during summer evenings, is in the historical center of Sorrento, near the main square Piazza Tasso or close to Corso Italia.
PRIVATE BEACHES OF MARINA PICCOLO, VIEW FROM VILLA COMUNALE TERRACE
Where to Swim?
The paid beaches near the center of Sorrento are Marina Piccola, which is close to the harbor. You can reach them through the elevators or stairs in the Municipal Park. There is a free public beach in Marina Grande, and at Ristorante Bagni Sant'Anna located on the pier in the middle of the bay, you can use their sunbeds by dining for two people (min. 100 EUR for two). For more detailed information, read the article "Beaches in Amalfi Coast and Sorrento"
Sorrento, Marina Grande
Where to go? Sorrento's historic center - narrow streets When you come to Sorrento, you should wander the lemon-scented streets, shop, and enjoy the ice cream on Corso Italia, the closed-to-traffic street to the left of the main square, Piazza Tasso. Marina Grande It is called Big Marina, but it is a small fishing village. Like in many parts of Naples, you feel like you are in old Italian films here. But this is really a famous film set. The first color film of Sophia Loren, which made Italian Mambo famous in 1955, "Pane, Amore e.." was shot here. With its picturesque houses still inhabited by fishermen, colorful small boats, mountains rising behind it, and the lights of hotels on these mountains, it is an ideal place to eat in a typical and romantic atmosphere without spending a lot of money. There is a free public beach in Marina Grande, which is quieter during the day. Villa Comunale di Sorrento - Sorrento Municipal Park Terrace park with views of Naples and Vesuvius, built on the rocks of Sorrento. You can sit in the cafe in the park (Ristobar "La Villa Sorrento") to watch the view for a longer time. If you look down, you can see the beaches of Sorrento and the tourists swimming in its clear waters. After entering the park, you can go down to the beaches and the port (Marina Piccola) at the seaside with the paid elevators (single direction 1.10 eur, return 2 eur) on the left. You can also go down for free by the stairs that go down next to the railings overlooking the view. San Francesco Monastery and Courtyard If you pass through the small entrance on the right before entering the Sorrento Municipal Park, you will be greeted by the beautiful courtyard of the San Francesco Monastery. Marriages of weddings organized by American and British tourists in Sorrento are held here. If you go up the stairs from the courtyard of the monastery to the square, you will first come across photography or fine art exhibitions. If you continue up the stairs and go to the terrace of the monastery, there is a beautiful swing where you can take a photo with the backdrop of a century-old pine tree and the bay view. Il Sedil Dominova di Sorrento While wandering the busy but narrow streets of Sorrento, suddenly this building decorated with beautiful frescoes will appear in front of you on the corner. This has been the Workers' Relief Association since 1877. But once upon a time, the aristocrats of Sorrento used to gather here to make important decisions about the city. Tourists are not allowed to enter, and retired workers enjoy the beauty of this place by playing backgammon. The frescoes of the building, which was built at the end of the 14th century, belong to the 16th century
Dinner at the 5 Sisters restaurant, Marina Grande, with friendly (!) service
Where to eat in Sorrento? Sorrento has many options for eating out. The food is delicious everywhere, but it's also easy to fall into tourist traps. Here are our favorite places that we've been going to for years: 1. Pizzeria Da Franco Sorrento is not known for its Neapolitan pizza. Da Franco's pizza is something else. They have a variety of rectangular pizzas served on metal trays. The hall is very large and the acoustics are very bad, so if you go after 9pm in the evening, you should sit at the tables on the sidewalk outside so your head doesn't hurt. 2. Ristorante The 5 Di Leva Sisters: The restaurant with the lowest rating in Sorrento, this success is owed to the sympathy of its owners, the 5 sisters. Despite the delicious food, the tables on the seafront in Marina Grande, and the low prices, this restaurant is generally empty due to the sisters' natural behavior, which varies depending on their mood at the time. This restaurant is actually where Sophia Loren sold fish in the movie "Pane, Amore e..". When we go here, we always read the funniest English menu in the world, and no matter how badly we are treated, we laugh and eat Sorrento's most delicious mussels with pasta away from the chaos of other restaurants in Marina Grande. 3. Trattoria Da Emilia You can immediately recognize this restaurant at the entrance of Marina Grande thanks to the long queue in front of it. The food is good, the service is friendly, and the prices are reasonable. This restaurant, which has been known by everyone in Sorrento for years, is said to have never gotten along with the 5 sisters.
Sophia Loren's Scandal in Sorrento was filmed in Sorrento.