Sorrento on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
It is possible, but Sorrento is not a cheap destination: the minimum is about €115 per person a day (about €50 for a shared budget room, €30 food, €20 sights, €15 transport). Staying outside the centre and using trains and buses makes it workable.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €50 | €100 | €230 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €100 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €40 | €70 |
| Local transport | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Per person, per day | €115 | €230 | €470 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Sorrento day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Piazza Tasso and the view down into the Vallone dei Mulini gorge
- The 14th-century cloister of San Francesco
- Sunset over the bay from the Villa Comunale gardens
- The fishing harbour of Marina Grande
- Swimming at the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural rock pool among Roman villa ruins
- The lanes of Via San Cesareo, with free limoncello tastings in many shops
Cheap eats
- Pizza from a pizzeria in Sant'Agnello or Piano di Sorrento: about €7–12
- Panino or pizza slice from a bakery or deli
- Delizia al limone from a pasticceria: about €3.50–6
- Mozzarella or treccia from a cheese shop: about €4–8, for a picnic
- Gelato, sold everywhere in town
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Sant'Agnello or near the station, where rooms cost roughly €90–140, 10–15 minutes' walk or one train stop from the centre. There are few hostels; booking early for summer is essential.
Getting around cheaply
Walk in Sorrento, use the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples, and SITA buses for the Amalfi Coast. From Naples airport, the direct bus (about €10–13, 75–90 minutes) is far cheaper than a transfer. Use ferries mainly for Capri.
A sample budget day
- Morning: cornetto and coffee at the bar (about €3), then the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi (a few euros each way)
- Lunch: deli picnic of mozzarella, bread and tomatoes (about €8)
- Afternoon: Pompeii (about €18–22), back by train
- Evening: sunset at the Villa Comunale (free) and a pizza in Sant'Agnello (about €10–12)
- Total: about €100–115 per person including a shared room of about €50
More ways to save
- Book Pompeii and the Vesuvius crater path online on the official sites to avoid tour mark-ups.
- Skip the Blue Grotto unless the sea is calm and the queue short; entry and boat fees add up for a few minutes inside.
- Walk down the steps to Marina Piccola instead of paying about €1–2 for the lift.
- Travel in May or late September for summer weather without July–August prices.
- Swim at the Bagni della Regina Giovanna rather than paying for a beach club.
- Buy limoncello in shops after tasting, and read the label: real limoncello lists only lemon, alcohol, sugar and water.
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Common questions
Can you visit Sorrento on a budget?
Yes, at about €100–115 per person a day if you stay in Sant'Agnello, eat pizza and picnics, and use trains and buses.
What is free in Sorrento?
Piazza Tasso, the Vallone dei Mulini view, the San Francesco cloister, the Villa Comunale sunset, Marina Grande and the Bagni della Regina Giovanna.
What is the cheapest way from Naples airport to Sorrento?
The direct bus, about €10–13 and 75–90 minutes. Private transfers cost about €100–130 per car.