Essential Experiences in Sorrento: Staff Recommendations for Every Traveller

Our Managing Director John wanted to know more about Sorrento, always happy to oblige, Andrea and Angela although staying in the same part of Sorrento, delve into their very different experiences on their trips last year and walk us through their personally tailored experience, to inspire our wanderlust fans of all backgrounds.

Andrea’s experience

Embarking on Adventure: Our Journey to Sorrento

We flew from Newcastle straight into Naples Airport and then our transfer took us to Sant’ Agnello which is only 10 minutes’ walk from the centre of Sorrento. We drove along the winding cliffside roads trying not to take any notice of the hair-raising traffic instead concentrating on the beautiful scenery of the Sorrento Peninsula.

A Home Away From Home: Our Stay at a Charming Family-Run Hotel

We stayed at a typical Italian friendly family run hotel a little old fashioned but that just added to its charm. The gardens were stunning with huge grapefruit, lemon and orange trees everywhere. Sorrento lemons are famously used for Limincello but you’ll see lemons on everything from tea towels to clothing and ceramics. The hotel offered authentic Italian food meaning I tried Italian dishes like Gnocchi, Cannoli and tiramisu, all were delicious. Our room had a Juliette balcony overlooking Mount Versuvius which gave a stunning view from sunrise to sunset.

Stepping Back in Time: A Day Trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum

Our first full day was spent on a trip to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Having seen photos and watched TV programmes about Pompeii it was amazing to be walking through the ruined streets and buildings of Pompeii, a city frozen in time.  The site is so huge we probably would have missed some of it doing it without a guide from whom we gathered a lot of historic information.

Nearby Herculaneum is a smaller site, lesser known than Pompeii but famously more intact. Here the town and its belongings were preserved due to being covered on pyroclastic material which carbonised many objects. 300 skeletons can be seen in the Boat sheds forever waiting for their rescue.

Exploring Sorrento: A Blend of Beauty and Tradition

The centre of Sorrento is a tale of two halves, the crazy traffic and busy Italians going about their daily lives. Lively Café culture, people talking, laughing and drinking espresso. You can also explore some of the narrow winding streets with boutique shops and pizzerias , you are also spoilt for choice for Gelato, or you can simply just watch the world go by with an Aperol spritz in hand.

Capri’s Enchanting Charm: A Day to Remember

The ferry takes you across to this beautiful island. There’s a funicular, a few minibuses and taxis which take you up the winding road to Anacapri but they are often crowded and very busy. Here you’ll find a few cafés, artisan shops and the chair lift to the top of the Island for a stunning panoramic view.

Back down in Capri Town, the playground of the rich and famous. There are luxurious, exclusive hotels, restaurants and a shopper’s paradise of designer boutiques.

Before our journey back to our hotel we enjoyed a boat trip around the island, the guide pointed out the homes of famous people past and present. The Blue caves are a dazzling sight to see with their crystal-clear blue waters.

I recently read Origin Magazine, which is a travel magazine packed with inspiration and tips. One of the articles was about Adventures in Italy which had recommendations, hidden gems but also places to skip. I’ll keep this for a future reference to help us decide what and what not to do next time, as we barely touched the surface of this beautiful place.

Angela’s experience

Perfect Retreat: Staying at an All-Inclusive Family-Friendly Hotel

We stayed in an All-Inclusive hotel, in Sant’ Agnello which attracts a classy clientele, a perfect base for shopping, visiting famous ruins and dramatic coastal scenery. Luxurious and hassle free with bars, restaurants and swimming pools, a place to relax and recharge your batteries. This is also where we tried the best pizza of our stay and we tried a lot!  

Navigating the Locale: A Guide to Using Public Transport

Sorrento and the surrounding area are covered by Train, buses and Ferry’s, we used the nearby Train station to catch a train to Naples, they are straight forward and cheap to use. A unique experience to see the train Buskers singing “just one cornetto”. 

Culinary Journey in Naples: Visiting the Historic Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba

The narrow graffiti lined streets of Naples were an experience, albeit a little scary, not sure if I would go again. The Neapolitans are obsessed with Diego Maradona from Graffiti and Murals to little figurines sold on stalls. This is the home of pizza which was our main reason in visiting.

The oldest Pizzeria in the world as featured on Gordon, Gino and Fred’s road trip TV programme. Back in 1738 it was a street food stand, cooking flatbread pizza in ovens lined with Volcanic rocks from Mount Versuvius before transitioning into an official Pizzeria. It became a meeting place for artists, students and those with little money, the pizzas were generally simple then, today they have a huge selection and always busy with tourists.

Sweet Treats in Sorrento Centre: A Visit to Primavera Gelateria

Making Gelato since 1975, the bright colours and smells of sweet flavours entice you in, the ceiling and walls are covered in photos of famous people who have visited including the Pope, David Beckham, Sophia Loren and Madonna. You may even get to hear the owner and staff singing and playing the guitar.  

The most important church in Sorrento is Sorrento Cathedral built in the 11th Century. More popular though is Church and Cloisters of San Francesco which is used for weddings. The Bascilica di Sant’Antonino also built in the 11th century is one of the most fascinating sights and just a short walk from the main square, baroque interiors with beautiful fresco ceilings.

Head to the Villa comunale di Sorrento, you can walk down to the beaches, grab the lift or just take in the magnificent view from above, it’s so picturesque during the day and at night.

The phrase “Dolce Vita” the sweet life, the good life, definitely sums up Sorrento.