A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Interlaken vs. Sorrento for Food, Hiking, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Interlaken or Sorrento?

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

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Interlaken and Sorrento can help you decide which place is right for you.

Interlaken

Interlaken is a stunning, adventurous, and adrenaline-filled town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. It's also known for skiing, food, and hiking.

Sorrento

Sorrento is a relaxing, accessible, and laid back small city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. Other reasons to visit include hiking, shopping, and nightlife.

Interlaken and Sorrento: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Interlaken or Sorrento?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Sorrento. Although Interlaken and Sorrento are both popular with visitors, Sorrento has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Sorrento is more popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and big city activities, while Interlaken is known for its skiing, hiking, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. Interlaken is more touristy than Sorrento and is popular for its adventure sports, alpine setting, and beautiful lakes. Sorrento is popular for its lemon groves and limoncello, charming cafes, and access to the Amalfi coast. It is also home to Marina Grande and Marina Piccola.

How is Interlaken different from Sorrento?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Skiing?

Interlaken is a town with good options for winter skiing. However, Sorrento is not a skiing destination.

Interlaken is a great destination for skiing with plenty areas to explore. While the city itself has no skiing, there is access to several ski areas in Jungfrau. There are several different resorts in the area near Grindelwald, Wengen, and Mürren. You'll need to take a train or ski bus to get most places.

Sorrento is not a skiing destination.

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

Sorrento is a world-class destination for its restaurants. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Sorrento has long been recognized as a culinary destination with great restaurants. 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.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Interlaken. Restaurants in the area serve local classics like fondue, local meats, cheeses, and chocolate. You can finish your meal off with strudel or head to a local bakery and try their samplings. Meals are expensive but the quality is good. You should also out into the countryside and enjoy a meal looking out over the mountains.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Nightlife?

Sorrento is very good for nightlife. However, Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Sorrento. 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.

Interlaken is not a destination with noteworthy nightlife.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Resorts?

Sorrento is an excellent place to visit for its luxury resorts. However, Interlaken is not a resort destination.

Vacationers can choose from a number of terrific resorts in Sorrento. 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.

Interlaken is not a resort destination.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Sorrento is a decent place to visit for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Interlaken is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

It's possible to 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.

Interlaken is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Beaches?

Sorrento is very good for its beaches. However, Interlaken is not a beach destination.

Many people head to Sorrento to enjoy the beach. 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.

Interlaken is not a beach destination.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Hiking?

Interlaken is renowned for its hiking experiences. Also, Sorrento is still popular, but not quite as popular for hiking.

Around Interlaken visitors will find world-class hiking trails. Hikes in the area range from easy to challenging with every option in between. You can experience beautiful waterfalls, breathtaking views, and dramatic ridge hikes. Several of the best hikes in the area include Schynige Platte Ridge Trail, Mt Niesen Panorama Trail, and Giessbach Waterfalls.

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.

Is the Shopping Better in Interlaken or Sorrento?

Sorrento is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting 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.

Interlaken is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Families?

Interlaken is renowned for its family-friendly activities. Also, Sorrento is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Interlaken is an extremely popular town to visit for families. While the city is beautiful, it's really the surrounding areas that you and your family will enjoy. There are amazing hikes, stunning views, playgrounds, lakes, and more. There's also an impressive ropes course that adventurous kids will love, funiculars, gondolas, and so many water sports!

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Sorrento is very family-friendly. 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.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Couples?

Both Interlaken and Sorrento are amazing destinations to visit as a couple.

For those traveling as a couple, Interlaken has plenty to offer. The mountaintop views, breathtaking hikes, and beautiful lakes make this a top destination for couples. Make sure you head out of town and fully immerse yourself in everything that the area has to offer. Kayaking, canoeing, paragliding, and more will make this a trip of a lifetime.

Sorrento has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Is Interlaken or Sorrento Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Sorrento is a world-class destination for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Sorrento. 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.

It's common for backpackers to visit Interlaken. It's a world class destination with so many activities that backpackers will love, but it's also one of the most expensive areas in one of the most expensive countries. There are hostels in town as well as a few in the nearby towns and countryside, but prices are steep. Cook when you can and enjoy all of the free activities that the area has to offer.

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

Visitors will find superb public transit in both Interlaken and Sorrento.

Public transit in Interlaken is fairly effecient and thorough. Buses travel around town, but to get into the mountains there are trains, cog railways, funiculars, and gondolas.

Sorrento has some very good public transit options. 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 Interlaken or Sorrento a more walkable city?

Sorrento is an excellent place to visit for its walkability. Also, Interlaken is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its high level of walkability.

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.

Interlaken is a somewhat walkable place. The old town is relatively walkable.

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

Should I spend more time in Sorrento or Interlaken?

How long in Interlaken or Sorrento?

Both Interlaken 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 Interlaken. Usually, 2-5 days is a good amount of time for Interlaken, and 3-7 days is enough time in Sorrento.

Couples should spend more time in Sorrento than Interlaken. 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 Interlaken 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 Interlaken or Sorrento?

The beautiful town of Interlaken offers food and skiing. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

With shopping and nightlife around the historic 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 Interlaken or Sorrento?

Interlaken 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 spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Interlaken, 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 Interlaken or Sorrento?

Interlaken is a popular choice for travelers. Five days here is typical. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Interlaken, five days is sufficent for most. 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 Interlaken or Sorrento?

Interlaken is a great place to explore. It's no surprise that hiking is why people visit. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva, The Best 10-Day Tours from Zurich, The Best Adventure Tours to Italy, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Italy.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Interlaken and Sorrento, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. And not only is Sorrento much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Sorrento would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Sorrento and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Interlaken would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Interlaken than you might in Sorrento.

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

Which is Bigger, Interlaken or Sorrento?

Sorrento has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Interlaken. When comparing the sizes of Interlaken 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 Interlaken 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 Interlaken or Sorrento in the Summer?

Both Sorrento and Interlaken during the summer are popular places to visit. Many travelers come to Interlaken for the hiking and the family-friendly experiences. Also, many visitors come to Sorrento in the summer for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, the city activities, and the family-friendly experiences.

Interlaken is around the same temperature as Sorrento in the summer. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 21°C (70°F) in July, and Sorrento fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Sorrento, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Interlaken. In the summer, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 241 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 313 hours of full sun.

Interlaken usually gets more rain in July than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Sorrento in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Interlaken and Sorrento. Many visitors come to Interlaken in the autumn for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area. Also, most visitors come to Sorrento for the hiking trails, the city's sights and attractions, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months.

In the autumn, Interlaken is cooler than Sorrento. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Interlaken in October average around 13°C (56°F), and Sorrento averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Interlaken usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during autumn. Interlaken gets 120 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Sorrento receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Interlaken usually receives less rain than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Interlaken or Sorrento in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Interlaken as well as Sorrento. Most visitors come to Interlaken for the skiing and the cuisine during these months. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Sorrento because of the shopping scene and the cuisine.

Interlaken can be very cold during winter. In January, Interlaken is generally much colder than Sorrento. Daily temperatures in Interlaken average around 3°C (37°F), and Sorrento fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Interlaken often gets less sunshine than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 55 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sorrento receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sorrento. Interlaken usually gets less rain in January than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 77 mm (3 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Interlaken or Sorrento in the Spring?

Both Sorrento and Interlaken are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The spring months attract visitors to Interlaken because of the natural beauty. Also, the beaches, the activities around the city, and the natural beauty are the main draw to Sorrento this time of year.

Interlaken is cooler than Sorrento in the spring. The daily temperature in Interlaken averages around 12°C (53°F) in April, and Sorrento fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Interlaken usually receives less sunshine than Sorrento during spring. Interlaken gets 150 hours of sunny skies, while Sorrento receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Interlaken usually receives more rain than Sorrento. Interlaken gets 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Sorrento receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Sorrento and Interlaken