Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast – tailor-made travel plan

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast Weekend

The Sorrentine Peninsula

The Sorrentine Peninsula, a picturesque corner of southern Italy, has breathtaking views—high cliffs, bays, and green hills lined with olive groves. It’s a place of contrasts, where lively towns meet quiet, hidden beaches, making it an ideal base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. Over three days, you can discover charming towns, unwind on beaches, and savour local cuisine.

Starting in Sorrento, famous for its lemons and limoncello, you’ll find a historic centre full of cafes and local shops. Key spots like Piazza Tasso, Marina Grande, and Villa Comunale gardens offer beautiful views of Vesuvius. Visiting in spring or fall, when crowds are smaller and the weather is mild, enhances the experience.

The UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast stuns with dramatic landscapes and winding roads along cliffs. Positano enchants with colourful houses cascading to the sea, Amalfi captivates with its majestic cathedral, and Ravello tempts with Villa Rufolo’s gardens overlooking the blue sea. Each town has its unique charm. Getting around by local buses, ferries, or scooters is the best way to fully enjoy the ambience of this area.

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast Weekend

Here’s my tailor-made 3-day travel plan for Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. I hope you find inspiration for your adventure!

Day 1 – Arrival, Evening Stroll, Dinner & Sunset in Sorrento

If you’re planning a weekend visit, I recommend arriving in Sorrento on Friday afternoon. Check into a hotel near the historic centre, and start your weekend with an evening walk around town.

Where to Stay:
  • Centro Storico – Close to main attractions and restaurants, perfect for exploring the historic centre.
  • Marina Grande – Charming area by the marina, quieter with beautiful sea views.
  • Piazza Tasso – Central location with shops, cafes, and access to public transport.
Evening Activities:
  • Walk down Corso Italia, the main street lined with shops, cafes, and restaurants—perfect for a relaxed evening stroll.
  • Dinner in a local trattoria. Try pasta alla sorrentina, fresh seafood, or the simple, delicious Italian pizza.
  • Visit Piazza Tasso – this lively square has live music and plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the ambience.
  • Villa Comunale Gardens – a peaceful spot for an evening walk with sea and Vesuvius views.
Best Sunset Spots:
  • Via Sopra le Mura, near Marina Grande, with panoramic views of the bay and Amalfi cliffs.
  • Piazza della Vittoria at Hotel Bellevue Syrene offers a luxurious view of the sunset.
  • Villa Comunale – Known as the “Room with a View” in Sorrento.
  • Marina Piccola – Ideal for a romantic sunset by the sea.

This first day sets the tone for a relaxed, picturesque weekend on Italy’s coast.

Day 2 – One Day in Sorrento

Morning:
  • Start with an Italian espresso and fresh croissant on Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main street. Try local treats like sfogliatella.
  • Stroll around Piazza Tasso, the lively heart of Sorrento. Take a moment to appreciate its vibrant architecture and daily bustle. Explore nearby streets for historical landmarks.
  • Visit Duomo di Sorrento (Cathedral of St. Philip and St. James), a beautiful 13th-century church with striking mosaics, close to Piazza Tasso.
  • Head to Villa Fiorentino. This elegant 20th-century mansion hosts art exhibitions and cultural events. Relax in its gardens filled with citrus trees and flowers. Entry is free of charge.
Midday:
  • Wander to Marina Grande, a charming fishing village and part of Sorrento. Walk along the waterfront, enjoying the colourful boats, small taverns, and stunning views of the bay.
  • Lunch suggestion: Enjoy fresh seafood at a seaside restaurant.
Afternoon:
  • After lunch, relax at Villa Comunale, where public gardens provide spectacular views of the Bay of Naples, Capri, and Vesuvius.
  • Visit the nearby Monastery of St. Francis, a peaceful spot with a lovely courtyard. Concerts and exhibitions are often held here.
  • For art and history enthusiasts, visit Museo Correale which has European art collections, local crafts, and archaeological exhibits in a historic villa.
Evening:
  • Dinner in Centro Storico (Old Town). Two highly recommended spots are Ristorante Cafe Latino in a lemon grove (Corso Italia, 24) and the cosy, family-run AZZ! Italian Tavern (Corso Italia, 14).
  • End the day at Piazza della Vittoria, a viewpoint near Hotel Bellevue Syrene, to watch the sunset over Vesuvius and Capri.
  • Stroll along Corso Italia to wind down, enjoying gelato or an aperitif in a lively café—a perfect end to a memorable day.

Sorrento - sunset by the sea

Day 3 – Exploring Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello

Morning: Positano

Positano Amalfi Coast

  • Take an early SITA bus from Sorrento to Positano (approx. 50 minutes) to avoid crowds.
  • Stroll down the picturesque, winding streets toward Spiaggia Grande Beach to admire the iconic colourful cliffside homes. Pause for coffee with a sea view.
  • Visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta with its beautiful majolica-tiled dome and renowned Black Madonna icon.
  • If time allows, walk to the quieter Spiaggia Fornillo Beach for a break, enjoying the serene setting.
  • Notice the vibrant ceramic decorations across Positano—from the church dome to pottery displays and table settings, adding charm to the town’s coastal vibe.
  • Catch a SITA bus (approx. 40 minutes) or a seasonal ferry from Positano to Amalfi for coastal views.

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast Weekend

Midday: Amalfi
  • Begin at Piazza Duomo and explore the stunning Cathedral of St. Andrew (Duomo di Sant’Andrea), with its impressive stairs, Arab-Norman facade, and the crypt of St. Andrew.
  • Lunch at Ristorante Marina Grande, a scenic spot serving fresh seafood with sea views.
  • After lunch, explore Amalfi’s narrow streets. If you’re interested in local history, stop by Museo della Carta to learn about Amalfi’s papermaking heritage and pick up some handmade paper as a souvenir.
  • Head down to Marina Grande Beach and the harbour area for a peaceful stroll, enjoying the coastal views and cityscape framed by surrounding mountains.
  • Walk along Corso delle Repubbliche Marinara, lined with cafés and restaurants, capturing the full charm of Amalfi.
  • From the Amalfi port, you can continue to Ravello, catch a SITA bus for more Amalfi Coast sights, or embark on a boat trip to Capri or Ischia for further adventures!
Afternoon: Ravello

If you’re short on time and worried about catching the return bus from Amalfi to Sorrento, consider skipping Ravello. However, if you’re staying another night in Sorrento, there’s no rush, and Ravello is certainly worth visiting.

  • After exploring Amalfi, take a SITA bus up to Ravello, a journey of around 30 minutes that offers breathtaking coastal views.

Ravello Amalfi Coast

  • Begin with a visit to Villa Rufolo, a stunning estate with beautifully landscaped gardens and panoramic coastal views—perfect for a relaxing break and photo opportunities. Villa Rufolo also hosts the renowned Ravello Festival.
  • Stroll over to Piazza Centrale, Ravello’s main square, where you can enjoy an outdoor café, people-watching, or savouring a cappuccino amidst charming architecture. Here, you’ll find the impressive Duomo, a small art gallery, and several restaurants.
  • Continue to a scenic terrace overlooking the Amalfi Coast, close to the SITA bus stop, which makes for a lovely end to a short but memorable visit.
Evening: Return to Amalfi and Sorrento
  • Head back to Amalfi, where direct buses to Sorrento run throughout the day and into the evening. The last bus runs at 21:00 and 21:30. The trip to Sorrento takes about 1.5 hours.
  • Enjoy dinner in Amalfi before your return or wait until reaching Sorrento.

This plan allows you to experience three of the Amalfi Coast’s most beautiful towns in one action-packed, unforgettable day.

If you’re heading back to Naples on the same day, the last train from Sorrento to Naples departs around 22:00.

Travel Tips
  • Easily explore the Amalfi Coast* with transport options from 12Go Italy. Italian websites are often available only in Italian, and translations may be incomplete. With 12Go, you can compare various options for trains, buses, ferries, flights, and private transfers on one page. This will make booking tickets easier and eliminate the need to use the services of different suppliers.
  • Local tours are another great option for exploring the Amalfi Coast, offering comfortable, organized day trips. Check “The Best of Amalfi Coast*” for tours that might interest you.

Getting Around the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast, though compact, offers a range of transport options for exploring its picturesque towns comfortably:

SITA Buses (SITA SUD)

Buses are the most popular means of getting between towns like Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Tickets are sold in kiosks or at gas stations, therefore it’s a good idea to buy them in advance, as drivers do not sell them onboard. While the scenic route is beautiful, it can get crowded in peak season. Travelling during off-peak hours is recommended for a more comfortable experience.

Amalfi Coast SITASUD Bus

Ferries

Ferries are an ideal option, especially during the summer when buses tend to be packed. They run between Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno, providing breathtaking views of the coast that you can’t capture from land. Ferries are also faster for longer distances, like Sorrento to Amalfi.

Car Rental

Though renting a car may seem appealing for flexibility, Amalfi Coast roads are narrow and winding. Also parking in Positano or Amalfi is challenging, both in terms of availability and cost. If you drive, consider parking in Sorrento and using other transportation options to tour the coast.

Scooter Rental

For confident drivers looking for more freedom, scooters are a fantastic choice. They allow you to navigate narrow roads easily and park where cars won’t fit.

Walking

Many Amalfi Coast towns, such as Positano and Ravello, are best explored on foot. Their scenic alleys, staircases, and narrow paths are often inaccessible to vehicles, and walking offers the best way to soak in the local charm.

Each of these options lets you fully enjoy the beauty of the coast based on your travel style and preferences. I travelled using SITA buses. They’re generally on time outside of peak season, though I found locating return stops a bit stressful since they aren’t always near where you first get off.

Travel Tips

SITA Bus Tickets

Ticket prices depend on the distance between towns. More details are available on the website ravello.com. Here are some 2024 ticket options:

  • 45-minute ticket: €2.50
  • 90-minute ticket: €3.80
  • 24-hour ticket: €10.00

Daily tickets, known as Unicocosteira, allow unlimited transfers on SITA SUD routes within the following towns:  Amalfi, Ravello, Sorrento, Salerno, Positano and many more.

Daily tickets are for individual use only and cannot be shared. To validate, sign the ticket with your name and date of birth.

You can find schedules for departures from each town on the website sitasudtrasporti.it.

The Amalfi Coast – Why You Should Visit

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most breathtaking destinations, drawing visitors from around the globe. Stretching along the southern coast of the Apennine Peninsula with views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Bay of Salerno, it’s a true Mediterranean paradise. The region takes its name from the town of Amalfi, which has long been its historical and cultural heart. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1997, the Amalfi Coast captivates travellers with its stunning landscapes, picturesque villages clinging to cliffs, and lush greenery contrasting with the deep blue sea.

Steeped in history and natural beauty, this area has inspired artists for centuries and remains a dream for travel lovers. Wandering the winding streets of Positano, taking in the majestic views from Ravello, or relaxing on the beach in Amalfi, you’ll feel the unique spirit of this region. The Amalfi Coast isn’t just about beautiful scenery. It’s an immersion in history, flavours, and traditions that have attracted visitors seeking authentic, unforgettable experiences.

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