The Amalfi Coast was never really on my bucket list, but featured as a top priority on my Mum’s! So I went with her and absolutely loved it. It’s beautiful and there is so much to explore. Here’s what I recommend to fill four days in Sorrento.
Day 1: Explore the town
Sorrento is a small and charming seaside town with plenty there to explore. A walk down to the dock is a great place to start. Walk through the tiny winding alleyways down to the sea (watching out for the scooters!) and stop for a coffee and a bite to eat in one of the cafe’s.
From here, you can walk back up close to the coastline to take advantage of the many view points looking out over the ocean to Mount Vesuvius.
Sorrento has no shortage of amazing Italian restaurants and if you have four days in Sorrento, it’s worth checking them out for both lunch and dinner.
The shops here are mainly touristy, which is great if you’re in the market for a few souvenirs.
Day 2: Take a boat to Capri
I recommend spending one of your four days in Sorrento on the island of Capri. It’s a beautiful place which is fun to explore. You can take the ferry from Sorrento which takes 20-30 minutes and costs between EUR 15-20, depending which ferry you catch.
When you get off the ferry, purchase a ticket from the Marina Grande Ticket Office and (at the end of the arrival pier) and make your way over to the funicular, which will take you up to the top for EUR 2. Here, stop for a (fairly expensive) coffee before you wander the high-up coastal path with amazing ocean views.
When you’re ready to head back down to sea level, you could take the funicular back down. But I recommend walking. The walk down follows a narrow winding path between houses, with colourful doorways and bright flowers lining the way.
Day 3: Visit Herculaneum and/or Pompeii
There are two archaeological sites close to Sorrento and it’s well worth a trip out of town to visit one or both. Both towns were preserved in their entirety when Mount Vesuvius, the local volcano, erupted in AD79.
The volcano covered the settlements in volcanic ash, which preserved buildings, pottery, and even people.
Today, you can explore the sites for yourself to get an idea of what these ancient civilisations were like. Both are on the Circumvesuviana train line which you can board at Sorrento.
I visited Herculaneum (get off the train at Ercolano-Scavi) – the smaller of the two sites which is further from Sorrento. Although smaller than Pompeii (get off the train at Pompeii), I was exhausted enough, and had learnt enough, to skip Pompeii. And I don’t really regret that decision, especially with just four days in Sorrento to play with.
Climb Mount Vesuvius
An advantage of Herculaneum, if one historical site is enough for you, is its proximity to Mount Vesuvius. From Ercolano you can catch the Vesuvio’s Express minibus from just outside the train station up to the top of Mount Vesuvius for EUR 20. From the bus drop off at 1000m, you can hike the extra 20 mins or so to peer into the crater.
I’m going to warn you now that the volcano is dormant, and so the crater is a big dusty hole that isn’t massively exciting. But then… I’m not sure I really want a volcano I’m standing on to be too exciting!
Day 4: Explore the Amalfi Coast
If you’re visiting this part of the world, it’s likely that seeing the stunning Amalfi Coast is on your bucket list. And it is truly stunning!
Whilst you can hire a car or scooter to self-drive the coast, I recommend seeing it by coach or by public transport. Why? It is a seriously bendy, high, cliff drive and other vehicles may not always be on the correct side of the road. Whilst experienced drivers from the area manage this skilfully and safely, I just wouldn’t trust myself!
Make sure you stop off at some of the coast’s seaside towns along the way. I took the Amalfi Coast Day Trip from Sorrento with Viator which I absolutely recommend.
Positano
Many of the Amalfi Coast coach tours don’t stop at Positano, because the town is quite a long way down (about 15-20 mins walk) from the main road. But make sure you don’t miss it, as it was one of my favourite places and where I took my favourite photo from the trip (above).
Positano is home to many small artisan shops where you can find unique paintings and jewellery. There are also some nice cafes to sit and enjoy the sunshine.
You can take the bus from just outside of the train station to Positano (heading in the direction of Amalfi), and from here walk the 20-30 mins or so down to the town. You won’t get lost – it’s just…down!
Amalfi
There isn’t a massive amount to do in Amalfi itself, but it makes a good lunch stop on a coach trip. One thing you should do from here, however, is take a boat tour to see some of the coastline from the ocean.
There are many fancy cliff-side houses close to Amalfi which are, or once were, home to famous names. Your tour guide will gladly point them out to you, and you’re sure to get some mansion ideas for when you are rich and famous – I know I did!
Ravello
Ravello is the furthest stop along the coast that I visited and it’s a lovely end to a day trip. Many of the coach trips don’t head out as far as Ravello, so it’s a welcome break from busy Amalfi.
Ravello is a tiny, quiet village. It’s great for a short stroll with beautiful ocean views and has a town square perfect for a quiet beer at the end of a busy four days in Sorrento.