A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Heidelberg vs. Sorrento for Food, Couples, Backpackers, and Nightlife

Should you visit Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Heidelberg and Sorrento. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Heidelberg

Heidelberg is a energetic, lively, and charming town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. With a quaint atmosphere, it also offers a unique feeling. It's also known for nightlife, food, and shopping.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a colorful, historic, and relaxing small city. Because this is such a big city, visitors will find many sights and attractions around town. With stunning beauty, it attracts visitors from all around. It's also popular because of the food, beaches, and hiking.

Heidelberg and Sorrento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Sorrento than Heidelberg, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Sorrento is better known for its food, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, shopping, and big city activities, while Heidelberg is more popular for its nightlife, historical sights, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Heidelberg is well known for its picturesque beauty, romantic atmosphere, and its classic old town. Sorrento is well known for its lemon groves and limoncello, charming cafes, and access to the Amalfi coast. Also, Sorrento is famous for Marina Grande and Marina Piccola.

How is Heidelberg different from Sorrento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sorrento and Heidelberg. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is the Food Better in Heidelberg or Sorrento? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Sorrento is an amazing small city to visit for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through Sorrento, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The food is world class and you'll find most Italian classics here including pizza, fine cheeses, and fresh seafood. Many visitors enjoy taking a pasta or pizza making class while they're in town. You'll also find Limoncello everywhere, made from the locally grown lemons, which are impressive in both their size and flavor. Also make sure you allow for plenty of stops at gelato shops.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Heidelberg makes for a great culinary experience. The old town is filled with local restaurants that offer an assortment of traditional dishes. The restaurants offer a mix of outdoor and indoor seating and classic dishes include saumagen, lewwerkneedl, and dampfnudeln.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Nightlife?

Heidelberg is a great destination for nightlife. Also, Sorrento is still popular, but not quite as popular for nightlife and partying.

The people in Heidelberg know how to have a good time. As a university town, you'll find a very young population and many bars, pubs, and nightclubs where you can hang out.

If you're looking for night time activities Sorrento has a few options to choose from. The city is known for its laid back atmosphere, but there are still a number of clubs where you can dance the night away. While the main city center has its share of bars and activities, some of the best known clubs are actually a bit outside of the city center. Many visitors dress to impress and don't show up until after midnight, which is when the party really starts.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Resorts?

Sorrento is a great small city for its luxury resorts. However, Heidelberg is not a resort destination.

There are plenty of resorts in Sorrento to choose from. The city offers a wide selection of luxury and budget hotels, particularly in the Piazza Tasso area. Because of its accessibility, many people use it as a base for exploring the area, or stop off for a day or two in route to other towns.

Heidelberg is not a resort destination.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sorrento is adequate for snorkeling and scuba diving. However, Heidelberg is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

There are few places where you can go snorkeling in Sorrento. There are snorkeling excursions that you can book in the area, but this is often an overlooked activity for many visitors.

Heidelberg is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Beaches?

Sorrento is a good destination for the beach. However, Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

Sorrento offers a nice beach destination. The rugged coastline is filled with dramatic hills and rocky inlets that offer hidden beaches. Many of the most unique beaches can be challenging to access and the beaches closer to town get very crowded. Some of the best beaches in the area include Marina Piccola Beach, Regina Giovanna, and Puolo. Some beaches are public while others are private and come at a price.

Heidelberg is not a beach destination.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for its Old Town?

Heidelberg is renowned for its historic old town. However, Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

The old town of Heidelberg is one of the most recognized in the world. The charming old town, or Altstadt, is lined with cafes that spill out onto the street and churches with bells that chime hourly. The area is filled with activity and there are many shops, ice cream vendors, and restaurants to choose from.

Sorrento does not have a historic old town.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Hiking?

Sorrento is a great small city for hiking. However, Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

Many visitors go to Sorrento for the hiking trails. The area has a number of walking trails that you can explore. Many follow historic donkey trails that once connected the villages and today offer a well-established route with stunning views and pristine landscapes. The trails navigate the region's steep hills and offer a breathtaking look at the rugged coastline.

Heidelberg is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Sorrento is a great small city for its shopping areas. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for shopping.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Sorrento. Head to the heart of the city around Piazza Tasso for the best shopping opportunities. You can simply enjoy window shopping or pop in one of the many local boutiques or larger European brand stores. Popular items to purchase include leather goods, Limoncello, and inlaid wood items.

Heidelberg is a great destination for shopping. The pedestrian area is the best place to pass your time shopping. There are name brand stores mixed in with local independent shops which you'll mostly find on the side streets. Popular items to buy include wooden toys, Christmas decorations, and candy.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Families?

Sorrento is a great small city for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Sorrento. It makes a good base or first stop for families who want to enjoy the area. It's well connected with transportation and has all the kid approved foods you could need. The whole family will also enjoy taking a pasta making class or going for a swim in the Mediterranean. And make sure you allow plenty of time for everyone to eat their fill of gelato.

Heidelberg is a family-friendly place to visit. With its many ice cream shops, playgrounds, and impressive castle, this city makes a nice stop for families with kids. The restaurants usually have a kid's menu and there are a number of kid-friendly museums and activities.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Couples?

Sorrento is an amazing small city to visit for couples. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for romance.

Sorrento is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This beautiful romantic destination is one of the world's top honeymoon areas. It's a small city that offers access to the many nearby destinations, so it makes a good base or gateway city for visiting places like Capri and the Blue Grotto as well as the Amalfi Coast. You can enjoy romantic hikes full of stunning views, explore by kayak, dine at romantic restaurants, or experience a one-of-a-kind farm tour. If you base yourself in Sorrento, you'll likely be doing a lot of day trips.

Heidelberg is a very popular place to visit for couples. This beautiful city offers an impressive backdrop for a couple's getaway. The view from the castle looks out beautifully over the city and the old town has many excellent restaurants and activities that are great for couples.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sorrento is an amazing small city to visit for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Heidelberg is not as popular, but is still a nice town for backpackers.

A large number of backpackers visit Sorrento, as it is a very popular small city for budget travelers. Because its a small city with accessible transportation, you'll find a decent number of hostels that make it an affordable base for exploring the area. You can hit many nearby sights as day trips or use this as a first stop off point as you make your way along the coast.

Backpackers come from all over to visit Heidelberg. Prices are reasonable and there are a handful of hostels around town. As a university town, you can be assured there are plenty of fun activities and cheap places to eat.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Students?

Heidelberg is a town with good options for students. However, Sorrento is not popular with students.

Heidelberg is popular with students. It is a beautiful student town with a lot of activities for young visitors. This is not the most popular study abroad destination, but it does have a lot to offer for those who visit.

Sorrento is not popular with students.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Heidelberg and Sorrento both offer very good public transit to get you around.

Heidelberg offers a very effecient public transportation network. There are trams and buses that connect the old town to the train station.

Many visitors rely on the effecient and affordable public transportation in Sorrento. Buses travel around town and you can also visit nearby areas using the Circumvesuviana train line, EAV and Sita buses, Cooperativa Tasso minibuses, or one of the many ferry companies.

Is Heidelberg or Sorrento a more walkable city?

Heidelberg and Sorrento are very good when it comes to walkability.

Heidelberg is a very walkable destination. The old town is particularly walkable.

Sorrento is very walkable. The old town is fun to walk around and window shop, but bring good walking shoes as the area has a lot of hills.

For even more information, also check out Is Heidelberg Worth Visiting? and Is Sorrento Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Sorrento or Heidelberg?

How long in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Both Heidelberg and Sorrento have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Sorrento than in Heidelberg. Usually, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Heidelberg, and 3-7 days is enough time in Sorrento.

Families should spend more time in Sorrento than Heidelberg. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Sorrento, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Sorrento than Heidelberg. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Sorrento that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Sorrento than Heidelberg if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Sorrento.

One day in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

The beautiful town of Heidelberg offers nightlife and food. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. With all of its activities, you can easily fill one day here. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With shopping and nightlife around the accessible small city of Sorrento, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Heidelberg is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Heidelberg, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Sorrento, there's plenty to do. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. It offers something for everyone. One of the main draws to the area is the food. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Heidelberg is a popular choice for travelers. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Sorrento, a popular small city, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this small city. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Heidelberg is a great place to explore. Visiting the old town is also a must. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

Sorrento is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this small city makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the food. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this small city has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Vineyard & Wine Tours in Germany, The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Germany, The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy.

When comparing the travel costs between Heidelberg and Sorrento, we can see that Heidelberg is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Heidelberg Expensive? and Is Sorrento Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Heidelberg has a larger population, and is about 9 times larger than the population of Sorrento. When comparing the sizes of Heidelberg and Sorrento, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Heidelberg or Sorrento?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Sorrento in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Heidelberg as well as Sorrento. Most visitors come to Heidelberg for the family-friendly experiences during these months. Additionally, the summer months attract visitors to Sorrento because of the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

In the summer, Heidelberg is cooler than Sorrento. Typically, the summer temperatures in Heidelberg in July average around 21°C (69°F), and Sorrento averages at about 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Sorrento. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Heidelberg this time of the year. In the summer, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 313 hours of full sun.

Heidelberg usually gets more rain in July than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Sorrento in the Autumn?

Both Sorrento and Heidelberg are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The autumn months attract visitors to Heidelberg because of the shopping scene and the natural beauty of the area. Also, the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area are the main draw to Sorrento this time of year.

In October, Heidelberg is generally cooler than Sorrento. Daily temperatures in Heidelberg average around 12°C (54°F), and Sorrento fluctuates around 17°C (63°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during autumn. Heidelberg gets 102 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sorrento. In October, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Sorrento in the Winter?

Both Sorrento and Heidelberg during the winter are popular places to visit. The shopping scene and the cuisine are the main draw to Heidelberg this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Sorrento for the shopping scene and the cuisine.

It's quite cold in Heidelberg in the winter. Heidelberg is much colder than Sorrento in the winter. The daily temperature in Heidelberg averages around 3°C (37°F) in January, and Sorrento fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Heidelberg often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 38 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 115 hours of full sun.

Sorrento gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Heidelberg usually gets less rain in January than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 52 mm (2 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Heidelberg or Sorrento in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Heidelberg and Sorrento. Many travelers come to Heidelberg for the natural beauty. Also, many visitors come to Sorrento in the spring for the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty.

In the spring, Heidelberg is cooler than Sorrento. Typically, the spring temperatures in Heidelberg in April average around 11°C (52°F), and Sorrento averages at about 13°C (55°F).

Heidelberg usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during spring. Heidelberg gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Heidelberg usually receives less rain than Sorrento. Heidelberg gets 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sorrento and Heidelberg