Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sorrento?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Sorrento?

Most visitors spend three to seven days in Sorrento when visiting. The laid back small city offers so many things to see and explore, so you'll want to take full advantage of the limited time you have. Highlights include the food, the hiking, the beautiful scenery, and shopping.

Sorrento is a small city that serves as a gateway to the Amalfi Coast. Many visitors use it as a base for exploring the area, as there are many hotels and transportation options in town. At the heart of the town is Piazza Tasso, which is a main plaza that is surrounded by shopping, restaurants, and cafes. Visitors also enjoy taking pizza and pasta making classes or relaxing by the beach. The beaches near town can get crowded during the warmer months and some beaches are private and come at a price.

Do you have one or two days to visit Sorrento? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.


Is one day enough time in Sorrento?

One day is generally not enough time to taste delicious cuisine, discover the nearby hiking trails, admire the wonderful scenery, and find the best deals at the shops in Sorrento. A shorter schedule may leave you with a sense of urgency to enjoy popular activities such as the food, the hiking, the beautiful scenery, and shopping. To genuinely appreciate the highlights of the laid back small city, a more lengthy visit is typically recommended. Many tourists opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days here. After all, The popular small city of Sorrento has many activities and attractions for visitors. However, if you're working with limited time, we have some great ideas for making the most of your stay below.

How to spend a day in Sorrento

Known for it's hiking, Sorrento sees plenty of visitors looking to get outdoors. Spend a day exploring the natural beauty and scenery on a nearby hike. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Syrenuse a Guided Trekking with the Myth of Ulysses ($71)
  • 3 Hours Hiking at Path of the Gods with Transfer from Sorrento ($87)
  • Private trekking on the Sirenuse Path ($104)

The culinary scene in Sorrento is world famous, and draws visitors from around the globe. Make sure you spend time enjoying breakfast, lunch, and dinner at some of this small city's best restaurants. And consider a food tour, too. Many are either a half day or just a few hours, so you can fit one into your schedule easily. 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.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Cooking Class with Authentic Chef Experience ($175)
  • Pizza School with Wine and Limoncello Tasting in a Local Farm ($77)
  • Tasting of 5 Wines with Typical Products in Sorrento ($104)

Sorrento is a walkable city and easy to explore on foot. With only a day in the small city, you'll have no trouble seeing the local sights. The old town is fun to walk around and window shop, but bring good walking shoes as the area has a lot of hills.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Sorrento?

As a popular small city, Sorrento offers a large number of activities and attractions for visitors. Given only a weekend, you will likely find yourself hurrying to taste delicious cuisine, discover the nearby hiking trails, admire the wonderful scenery, and find the best deals at the shops. To truly savor all that the small city boasts, a more generous amount of time is advisable. Many travelers opt for at least 3 or as many as 7 days to thoroughly relish the wonders of the small city. However, if your schedule is tight, we have a handful of recommendations for making the most of your visit.

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How to spend 2 days in Sorrento

If you have more than a weekend (two to three days) in Sorrento, you'll appreciate the added time for everything the small city has to offer.

Shopping in Sorrento is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. 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.

Sorrento is known to be such a beautiful destination, so just exploring and taking it all in should be one of the top things to do on your list. The city offers spectacular views of Mount Vesuvius as well as a scenic waterfront. You can stop by one of the many cafes around town and soak up the quintessential Italian atmosphere.


A few tour suggestions include:

  • Capri Boat Daily Tours ($150)
  • Private One Day Walking Tour of Capri with Guide ($121)
  • Day trip to Amalfi coast and Ieranto bay with hybrid boat - Eco-friendly tour ($218)

The public transit in Sorrento is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the small city quite easily and affordably. 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.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Sorrento, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.

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