Perched on a plateau overlooking the sea with a spectacular view of the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. It is one of the best cities to stay in to visit Amalfi Coast, it is also a beautiful city to visit during the summer. But what are the best areas to sleep in Sorrento?
The city of Sorrento develops in height, with the lower part consisting of its two most famous beaches: Marina Grande and Marina Piccola. A second higher area is the one where the historic center is located, with its typical alleys.
Then there is the highest part, where the hills that surround the area of ​​the historic center rise, which reaches up to the villages adjacent to the city. For this reason it is very important to check the location on the map before booking, as some hotels do not have easy access.
Given its location between Naples and the start of the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento is a great place to stay for sightseeing NAPLES, Pompei, Vesuvius, the Amalfi Coast.
Its strong point is the excellent connections with the other tourist destinations in the area as well as the splendid panorama, an exceptional microclimate and a lively atmosphere.
Sorrento offers a huge choice of hotels, apartments and B & Bs, for all budgets. It is a town inhabited throughout the year and is therefore the best choice in the low season (from October to April), when instead between Positano and Capri almost everything is closed.
Why stay in Sorrento
Located on the spectacular cliffs of the Gulf of Naples, Sorrento has become an exceptional tourist destination for its wonderful location, close to the idyllic island of Capri and the ruins of Pompeii, and for the charm of its historic center.
The city offers excellent connections with public transport, hotels, b & bs and restaurants for all budgets and a very lively atmosphere.
The center is all flat, and is therefore also suitable for a holiday with children and for people with mobility difficulties.
The only flaw is that it is a modern, tourist town and during the high season it can be very crowded. You will need to plan in advance where to sleep in Sorrento to be able to find cheap accommodation.
Where to sleep in Sorrento
Sorrento is a relatively small city, where most of the attractions are within easy walking distance when staying on the strip of land between the port and the main road, Via Capo. Halfway between the two there is Piazza Tasso, and most hotels are located in this compact area. Other hotels and B & Bs are located in the rural hilly area above the city.
- hotels located near the shore they often have access to the beach and the best views across the bay of Sorrento to Mount Vesuvius. Also the accommodations several blocks from the shore in the city center they can have a good view, thanks to the slope of the shoreline, and are in a perfect position for sightseeing, shopping and simply strolling through the narrow streets.
Most of the hotel on the outskirts of the city offers a free shuttle service to the main attractions, making Sorrento easy to enjoy without a car, no matter where you choose to stay.
Visitors should be aware that the coast is very steep and generally access to Marina Grande is via long stairs - you can find a public lift near the Villa Comunale Park.
Historic center: best area to sleep in Sorrento
The historic center of Sorrento is one of the best areas to stay if you are looking for apartments, small hotels and B & Bs. Perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, the historic center is home to a labyrinth of alleys and several centuries-old historic buildings. Many of its streets are pedestrianized, with shops selling typical items from the area and an infinite number of pizzerias and restaurants.
Here it is most of the main attractions of the city. Do not miss Piazza Tasso, a very lively meeting place, the Sorrento Cathedral, the Church of San Francesco, the Correale Museum, the Bottega della Tarsia Lignea Museum, the Casa di Cornelia Tasso, the Palazzo Veniero, the various churches and the Villa Comunale di Sorrento, from where you can enjoy a splendid view of the Gulf of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.
It is the best area to experience the city. If you travel by train or bus, it is a good area to sleep in Sorrento. If you are traveling in rental car, it will not be easy to find a parking space near the hotel, but you can leave your car just outside and walk around.
Hotels in the historic city center are generally a bit expensive because it is a very popular area, which is why we do not recommend this area if your budget is limited. If, on the other hand, you have a good budget available, without a doubt, the historic center is the best option where to sleep in Sorrento. You can choose to stay in a 3-star hotel or a hotel with all the best luxuries and comforts.
Find accommodation in the historic center of SorrentoStaying close to Marina Grande
Marina Grande is one of the best beaches that we can find not only in Sorrento but throughout Italy. Stay close to this spectacular beach it can be a bit tricky if you are traveling in the high season, as the whole place is full of tourists from all over the world.
Area it can be reached by bus from the center, it costs only € 1 each way per person and takes about 10 minutes if there is no traffic. If you want reach on foot, it can be done by following a narrow and characteristic pedestrian path. Getting off is easy, what can be difficult is going up towards the center, especially in summer.
In this area of ​​Sorrento most of the accommodations are houses and apartments family-run, while hotels are few.
If you plan to stay near Marina Grande, we recommend that you book several months in advance, this way you will not only be able to find good accommodation, but it is very likely that you will save some money, as accommodation prices increase considerably in the high season.
Find accommodation near Marina GrandeMarina Piccola
Marina Piccola is the port of Sorrento, from which ferries leave for Naples, Capri, Ischia, Amalfi, Positano, Maiori, Minori. AND a strategic point if you want to travel by sea and offers several accommodation options.
It is located at the bottom, a few meters from the historic center of Sorrento, this makes it a very attractive area because in a short time you can go from a seaside setting to a highly artistic and historical one.
To go up to the historic center of Sorrento you can use the stairs or the public lift (€ 1 per person). Alternatively you can take a public bus. If you are traveling by car, there are some private car parks in this area but they are usually expensive.
This area is one of the most popular places to stay in Sorrento. The stay in this area is recommended for those who want to enjoy the best of abeach atmosphere. Also, if you decide to stay near Marina Piccola, you can enjoy a wide variety of foods and dishes typical of the area, as the place is full of restaurants and fast food outlets.
Find accommodation near Marina PiccolaPriora: where to sleep in Sorrento on a limited budget
Nestled in the hills southwest of the city is the Priora district. This is the best area to stay in Sorrento on a budget for a number of reasons.
Being slightly out of town means lower prices, while it is still possible to access the center of Sorrento by bus (2 euros) or with a 20-minute walk.
Prioress has the advantage of being less crowded of the lower part of the city. In addition, the area is full of olive groves scattered throughout the area.
The Amalfi Coast road, probably the most picturesque scenic drive in the world, it is easily accessible from Priora and Positano, Praiano, Amalfi are all close at hand.
Recommended hotels
Villa Antonella
Hotel Il Nido Sorrento
Where to sleep around Sorrento
If you want to visit the Sorrento peninsula in general, but you want to avoid the crowds of Sorrento several accommodation options can be found scattered between the north and south coasts and the hills in between.
Staying in the countryside or in a village offers a totally different holiday experience, much more "authentic", among lemon and olive groves. Public buses connect most of the small towns on the coast with Sorrento. Sleeping around Sorrento is ideal for unusual explorers, people looking for peace and tranquility or for travelers who travel with their own car or arental car.
You can choose to stay in Piano di Sorrento or Sant'Agnello which are less touristy and cheaper. Other small towns of the Sorrento peninsula to be taken into consideration are:
- Vico Equense,
- Meta,
- Massa Lubrense.
Sant'Agnello
Sant'Agnello is a city close to Sorrento. It is located just ten minutes from Corso Italia, the main street of Sorrento.
This area is much quieter, with its own train station and buses that connect it to Sorrento, Pompei e NAPLES. The views from the cliffs are equally breathtaking like those seen in Sorrento and there is a beach that can be reached on foot or with an escalator.
The main area of ​​Sant'Agnello is Piazza Sant'Agnello, which is surrounded by restaurants, numerous bars, shops and traditional hotels. Do not miss the church and the monastery of the Capuchins, located on the top of the cliff with the background of the blue sea below, or the panoramic terrace of Marinella, from which you can fully enjoy the beauty of the coast.
- accommodations are often luxurious and therefore expensive: staying in Sant'Agnello is therefore not for everyone.
Find accommodation in Sant'AgnelloPiano di Sorrento
Piano di Sorrento is one lively and magnificent area. There are many shops along the main street, Corso Italia, an ideal place for those who want to go shopping (much cheaper from the center of Sorrento). There is a small fishing village, Marina of Cassano, with a beautiful beach, restaurants and where you can also rent a boat for a day at sea.
Il train to reach Pompeii or Naples also serves this town and from here during the summer there is the ferry to get to Capri. On summer evenings you will find some nightlife in the main square "Piazza Cota" and in the restaurants of Marina di Cassano.
The area is easy to reach by various public transport like buses and trains that run all day and most of the night.
This is the best area to sleep in Sorrento for families. It is quieter than Sorrento, smaller, so everything is a little more compact, easy to visit for those traveling with children.
Find accommodation in Piano di SorrentoHow to reach the city of Sorrento
Sorrento can be reached by land, sea and air:
- Campania has an excellent network of roads and highways and Sorrento can be reached from any area of ​​Italy without problems. There are 3 motorways leading here and several regular bus lines connect the city to Rome, Milan or any other city.
- from Naples you can also take a train which takes about half an hour to reach Sorrento.
- and by air, 8 km from Naples is located Capodichino airport. The journey must then be completed with a train, a rental car or a bus.
- Sorrento has a port with ferries that take you to all the cities already mentioned, and regular ferries connect the city to Naples.
