Have a night out in the old town
At night, Sorrento’s not one for sleeping. Evenings start with an aperitif at one of the terraced bars in the Piazza Tasso in the old town. You’ll get a lively crowd here, who spill off into the narrow streets to find their favourite disco lounges and live music bars playing a mix of pop, folk and jazz. Later, the nightclubs keep the sounds spinning until the early hours.Pizzas in the south of Italy must be tried. Stop off at one of the hrabourside al fresco restaurants, and you can tuck in to the real stone-baked, wood-fired deal. The linguine is another local speciality, or try the gnocchi a la Sorrentina – simply done with tomato, basil and mozzarella. And you can toast your meal with limoncello, a digestif made with local lemons.
Read MoreWhen the sun goes down, the bars and clubs in the centre of Sorrento come alive and don’t stop until the early hours. Piazza Tasso is right at the heart of the action. It’s a great spot for sipping an aperitif in one of the terraced bars, before heading off into the narrow streets. Here, you can listen to jazz, pop and folk in the live music bars and disco lounges.
Read MoreThis place is a local institution – it’s been in the same family since 1868. On the menu, the must-have is the cannelloni, which they claim to have invented here nearly 150 years ago. Other standout dishes are the shrimp baked in lemon leaves and the homemade pasta dishes. Dessert wise, try to leave room for the lemon profiteroles. And it’s all served up on the restaurant’s pretty, flower-decked terraces.
Read MoreFoodies will love the shops on Via San Cesareo. Here, you’ll find places piled high with walnuts, olive oil, ricotta, smoked Italian scamorza cheese, limoncello and the famous Sorrento lemons – all produced in the surrounding countryside. If you’re looking for presents, there are less edible gifts, too, like embroidered handkerchiefs and hand-carved wooden boxes.
Read MoreCarefully crafted food with a side order of opera is what’s on the menu at this upmarket eatery just off the main square. Look out for dishes like beef stuffed with Parmesan cheese and walnuts, ravioli with broccoli sauce and delicious chocolate fondant. The walls are covered with posters and photos of Caruso collected by owner Paolo, and the soundtrack is the great tenor himself, obviously.
Read MoreSorrento's full of places to buy souvenirs that come with the local seal of approval. For delicate embroidered lace and inlaid wood, head along the Viale Enrico Caruso, west of Piazza Tasso. Meanwhile, on Corso Italia you can hunt for silver and coral jewellery between the designer shops. As for picking up foodie bits, Via San Cesareo dishes up olive oil and smoked scamorza cheese.
Read MoreSorrento does have a couple of small patches of beach here. One's at Marina Piccola, near the harbour – you can get to it by steps or a lift. The other's a 15-minute walk away at restaurant-lined Marina Grande. And if you’re striking out further, you can join the locals at the pretty cove of Punto del Capo. It’s a short bus ride – or a half-an-hour walk – away.
Read MoreThe hills and coastline around Sorrento are lined with well-marked walking trails. If you’re not a hardcore hiker, take the bus to the village of Termini and pick up the trail from here to Punta della Campanella. On this rocky peninsula you’ll find a bell tower and the remains of a Roman villa – and a lovely empty beach in next-door Jelanto Bay.
Read MoreThroughout the summer the monastery of Saint Francisco fills with the sound of music. There are weekly classical concerts featuring emerging new stars as well as international artists. And if you want something more modern, there’s plenty for jazz fans as well.
Read MoreThis classy little hangout in the corner of the main square is prime people-watching turf. In the mornings, it’s a top spot to watch the action over an espresso and chocolate croissant. Later, people come here for the spremya – vodka and freshly squeezed orange juice – and the hazelnut-flavoured nocino. There are tables outside but go easy on the nightcaps – you can only reach the toilets by a spiral staircase.
Read MoreIf you’re craving sand, Sorrento can sort you out with a couple of tiny, grey patches. You can get to Marina Piccola, near the harbour, by steps or a lift, or take a 15-minute walk to the Marina Grande. Venture out further, though – it’s about half-an-hour on foot if you don’t fancy the bus – and you’re at the pretty cove of Punto del Capo. This one’s the local’s favourite.
Read MorePizza originates from round these parts so you can expect stone-baked, wood-fired perfection. You can tuck in down by the main harbour, where you’ll find al fresco restaurants with red-and-white checked tablecloths. The seafood here’s pretty special, too – the linguini is a classic Sorrento dish. For afters, try the local speciality babá – a rum-drenched sponge cake – and a glass of limoncello, a digestif made from the town’s famously juicy lemons.
Read MoreLuigi, Livia and the dogs know how to make guests feel at home in the Banana Split bar. It’s the place where locals and visitors from all over the world stop off for a morning cappuccino, or an iced Peroni or classic cocktail in the evening. There’s football on the TV for the fans, free internet and music that’s just the right volume as a soundtrack to your conversation.
Read MoreHalf an hour away from Sorrento by boat, at Punta del Capo, is Queen Giovanna’s Bath. This beautiful natural pool's surrounded by a curtain of rocks, and the aquarium-clear water's ideal for swimming. It’s thought that Queen Joan II – as she's known in England – used to enjoy a dip here back in the 15th century. Head to top of the surrounding cliffs, and you'll find another piece of history – the remains of an ancient Roman villa.
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