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How many days in Sorrento? 4 days with Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Sorrento is built on a cliff above the Bay of Naples, with Vesuvius across the water, and it is the most practical base in the region: ferries to Capri and the Amalfi Coast leave from its harbour, and the Circumvesuviana train runs to Pompeii and Herculaneum. Give it four days: one in town, one on Capri, one in the ruins, and one on the Amalfi Coast. Then come back each evening to a town that is calmer and cheaper than Positano.
Short answer
Three days covers Sorrento, Capri and Pompeii. The fourth day adds Positano, Amalfi and Ravello on the coast road, which most visitors regret missing.
The 4-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Sorrento town and its two harbours
Morning. Start at Piazza Tasso, the main square, and look down into the Vallone dei Mulini, a deep gorge right next to it with a ruined mill overgrown with ferns. Walk the old-town lanes along Via San Cesareo, with lemon and limoncello shops, to the 14th-century cloister of San Francesco (free, a few minutes' walk).
Afternoon. From the Villa Comunale gardens next to San Francesco, take the lift (about €1-2) or the steps down to Marina Piccola, the ferry port, then walk 10 minutes along the shore to Marina Grande, the fishing harbour with its boats and seafood restaurants. Or walk about 30 minutes west to the Bagni della Regina Giovanna, a natural rock pool among Roman villa ruins, for a swim.
Evening. Watch the sunset over the bay from the Villa Comunale, then eat gnocchi alla sorrentina (baked with tomato and mozzarella) at Marina Grande, €14-18 a plate, with a limoncello on the house in many places.
The Museo Correale di Terranova has Sorrento's inlaid woodwork (intarsia), paintings and porcelain, and is a good choice on a rainy afternoon.
Day 2: A day on Capri
Morning. Take an early ferry from Marina Piccola (about 20-30 minutes, about €25-30 each way) to Marina Grande on Capri. If the sea is calm, go straight to the Blue Grotto by boat (about €18 entry plus the boat fee; it closes in rough sea), before the queues build.
Afternoon. Take the bus up to Anacapri and the chairlift to Monte Solaro (about €14-15 return), the highest point at 589 metres. Then go down to Capri town and its Piazzetta, and walk 20 minutes to the Gardens of Augustus (a few euros) for the view of the Faraglioni rocks and the hairpins of Via Krupp.
Evening. Take a late-afternoon ferry back and have dinner in Sorrento; prices on Capri are about double.
Capri is at its most crowded from 11:00 to 16:00. Take the first ferry and go up to Anacapri before the day-trippers do the same.
Day 3: Pompeii and Vesuvius (or Herculaneum)
Morning. Take the Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Pompei Scavi (about 30-35 minutes, a few euros). Enter Pompeii at opening time (about €18-22; book online on the official site). Walk the Forum, the Via dell'Abbondanza, the Lupanar, the theatres and the Villa of the Mysteries, at the far end. Allow 3-4 hours; there is little shade.
Afternoon. Take a shuttle bus from Pompeii up Vesuvius (about 40 minutes), then walk about 30 minutes up a gravel path to the rim of the crater at about 1,170 metres. Entry to the crater path must be booked online with a time slot (about €12-15). Or take the train to Ercolano for Herculaneum, smaller than Pompeii but better preserved, with wooden beams and upper floors.
Evening. Back in Sorrento, a pizza in the old town costs €8-12. The Neapolitan style, soft and charred at the edges, is the local standard.
The Circumvesuviana is crowded and can be late; watch your bags and allow time. In summer, the faster Campania Express tourist train (about €8-15) makes fewer stops and guarantees a seat; check if it is running.
Day 4: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
Morning. Take the SITA bus along the coast road to Positano (about 45-60 minutes, a few euros; sit on the right for the sea), or a ferry in summer. Walk down through the pastel houses to Spiaggia Grande and the church of Santa Maria Assunta with its majolica dome.
Afternoon. Take a ferry from Positano to Amalfi (about 25-30 minutes) and visit the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea with its striped façade and the Cloister of Paradise (a few euros). Then take the local bus 25 minutes up to Ravello, where Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone have gardens hanging over the coast (about €8-10 each).
Evening. Return to Sorrento by bus or the evening ferry from Amalfi (check the last departure). A last dinner of fish or scialatielli ai frutti di mare.
The coast road is narrow and slow in summer, and bus queues in Positano can be long. Taking the ferry one way and the bus the other saves time and nerves.
Only have 3 days?
With 3 days, keep Capri and Pompeii and give the first afternoon to Sorrento. You lose the Amalfi Coast, or you can swap Pompeii for it if ruins matter less to you.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to the Path of the Gods walk above Positano (about 3 hours from Bomerano to Nocelle), the island of Procida, or Naples itself, about an hour away by train or ferry, for its historic centre and the National Archaeological Museum.
Where to stay in Sorrento
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Sant'Agnello / near the station | Cheaper rooms, 10-15 minutes' walk or one train stop from the centre. | €90-140 |
| Mid-range | Old town around Piazza Tasso | Walk to the station, the ferries and the restaurants. | €150-250 |
| Mid-range | Marina Grande | Quieter fishing-harbour rooms, with steps up to town. | €140-230 |
| Comfort | Cliff-top hotels on the bay | Terraces and pools looking at Vesuvius. | €300-700 |
Getting around
Sorrento's centre is walkable: Piazza Tasso to the Circumvesuviana station is 5 minutes, and to the ferry port at Marina Piccola about 10 minutes by steps or the lift. From Naples airport, buses run direct to Sorrento in about 75-90 minutes (about €10-13), and taxis and private transfers cost about €100-130. From Naples, the Circumvesuviana takes about 70 minutes. Ferries go to Capri all year and to Positano and Amalfi from about April to October. SITA buses cover the Amalfi Coast. Driving is not advised in summer: roads are narrow and parking is expensive.
What to eat in Sorrento
Sorrento's food is Campanian. Try gnocchi alla sorrentina, scialatielli with seafood, fish all'acqua pazza (poached in a light tomato broth), fresh mozzarella and provolone del Monaco. Lemons grow everywhere: have delizia al limone, a lemon-cream sponge, and finish with limoncello. A pasta course costs €12-18, a pizza €8-12, a full dinner with wine €30-45 per person. Restaurants with English menus and photos on Corso Italia are the most expensive; walk a street back.
Best time to visit
May, June and September are best: highs of 24-28°C, warm sea and all ferries running. July and August are hot and the coast road and Capri are at their most crowded. April and October are quieter and cheaper, with some sea risk on ferries. In winter, many hotels close and Amalfi ferries stop.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €50 | €100 | €230 |
| Food & drink | €30 | €55 | €100 |
| Sights & tickets | €20 | €40 | €70 |
| Local transport | €15 | €35 | €70 |
| Total per person, per day | about €115 | about €230 | about €470 |
Approximate 2026 prices; local transport averages the Capri ferry, trains and coast buses across the four days. Sorrento charges a tourist tax of a few euros per person per night, depending on hotel category.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Sorrento a good base for the Amalfi Coast?
Yes, for most people. It has the train to Pompeii and Naples, ferries to Capri all year, and buses and summer ferries to Positano and Amalfi. Hotels are cheaper and the town is flatter than Positano. The trade-off is that you are not on the Amalfi Coast itself, so evenings there mean a late ferry or bus back.
Do I need to book Pompeii in advance?
It is strongly advised. Pompeii now uses named tickets and daily visitor limits at busy times, so book online on the official site, especially for summer weekends. For Vesuvius, timed tickets for the crater path are sold online only. Herculaneum rarely sells out but booking still saves queuing.
Is the Blue Grotto worth it?
It depends on the sea and the queue. You stay inside only a few minutes, lying back in a small rowing boat, and the entry plus boat fees add up. On a calm morning it is memorable; on a busy afternoon you may wait an hour or more, or find it closed by waves. Go early or skip it.
How do I get from Naples to Sorrento?
From the airport, direct buses take about 75-90 minutes. From Naples city, take the Circumvesuviana train from Garibaldi station (about 70 minutes), or a fast ferry from the Molo Beverello port, about 35-45 minutes. Private transfers cost about €100-130 per car.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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