Sorrento Travel Forum

I'm staying at the hotel Bristol for 1 week in July. I would like some feedback on best places not to miss in and around Sorrento.

Positano is world famous, Ravello is if anything even more beautiful and should not be missed. These can be visited by car or by Sita bus ( for Ravello, easy change in Amalfi). You can go up to Pompeii etc on the train from Sorrento. And certainly take a day trip over to Capri.

You can easily get to both Pompeii and Herculaneum via the Circumvesuviana train service. The same train line also goes to Naples. I know opinions about Naples can be mixed, but I would definitely recommend making it a day trip. If you go, don't miss the cloisters of S. Chiara (see tip on my Naples page).

Also don't miss going to the Isle of Capri with places like the Blue Grotto, Villa Jovis, Augustus Gardens and many other places of interest. Also climb up Mt. Solaro and take in some breathtaking views. Happy travels

Have a look at my Sorrento, Amalfi, Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum pages. Also have a look at Leics' pages.

Pompeii: 30 mnutes on the Circumvesuviana train from sorrento. And Herculaneum another 190 minutes or so up the line at Ercolan' station. And Villa Poppea at Torre Annunnciata on the same line.

Circuvesuviana (cheap and frequent trains) timetables here:

http://www.vesuviana.it/Reteeorari/Ferrovia/Orario

Info on the archaeological sites:

http://www2.pompeiisites.org/database/pompei/pompei2.nsf/pagine/i%20siti%20archeologici?OpenDocument

Ferry or hydrofoil from Sorrento to Capri (pricey, stuffed with tourists in season), or elsewhere:

http://www.capri.net/en/ship-timetable

http://www.metrodelmare.com/

Go up Vesuvius. Take the 'Too-to' train (sily name) ...details and tickets from the old railway carriage outside the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento.

http://www.too-to-train.it/

Or take the bus:

http://www.vesuvianamobilita.it/orari/vesuvio/vesuvio.htm

Take the bus along the coast road to Amalfi (goes from the square outside the Circumvesuviana station). Wonderful journey, well worth making. Timetables here:

http://www.sitabus.it/wps/portal/OrariCampania

Click 'Quadro 15'.

I didn't get up to Ravello (bus from Amalfi).

Too much to see for only a week's stay. I will be going back. Soon.

I stayed at the Bristol in April and was very pleased. The hotel leans nonchalantly against the rock face with all the rooms seeming to have the same wonderful view. You can see it from my Sorrento pages.

The good thing about the Bristol is it's a level walk into the centre of town so in 10-15 mins you can be almost anywhere in Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana station is a little further but even that is walkable in 15-20 mins.

We avoided taxis having been told of rip offs. The public transport system is excellent. If you walk to the station & get the Sita coach from there to Amalfi you can get off right outside the Bristol. (Walking to the Station ensures a seat).

All the decent places to see have been mentioned but I did a longish walk to Massa Lubrense and found it charming. Got the bus back!!

Enjoy.

Just a small technicality.... Herculaneum is about 19 minutes from Pompeii, not 190 - a typo or else fat fingers, eh Leics!! Also in Sorrento is the Museum of Marquetry, which is excellent - the curator is more than happy to show you round and give you all sorts of wonderful and fascinating information about Sorrento in general and the items in particular. It's interesting to compare the wonderful workmanship of the various items with the mostly horrid stuff on sale in the local shops.

Typo, defnitely........my fingers are svelte! :-))

I enjoyed taking the open air sight seeing bus around the areas surrouding Sorrento for a good overview - it's a hop-on, hop-off double decker and if you have a half or whole day it's a good way to see other small towns. There is a hidden gem of a museum, Museo Bottega della Tarsia Lignea, on Via San Nicola devoted to the history of Sorrento's famous wooden inlay - it's was fairly deserted (the masses are in the numerous stores shopping for music boxes) and a cool respite for me on a hot day. After seeing the works of the masters, tour the Duomo where you will see wonderful examples of wooden inlay. I also enjoyed visiting the cloisters, where a wedding was about to take place. If you are active you might want to consider a day for hiking the hills - this off-the-beaten path experience offers a memorable way to see gorgeus natural views of Italy away from the July crowds in town.