Sorrento, Italy Port Reviews
Sorrento, Italy On Your Own Shore Excursion
By Tom Ogg

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Beautiful Sorrento, Italy From the Sea

Overview:

Sorrento is perched on top of white cliffs and has been visited for over 2,000 years by people searching for the perfect village offering wonderful shopping, restaurants, boutiques and sights. Its location near many excellent attractions makes Sorrento a prime the surrounding areas. Sorrento enjoys excellent Mediterranean weather, but because of the cliffs, sunshine isn't available on the beaches and pontoons until later in the day. The official currency of Italy is the euro.

Cruise Port Location and Information:

Anchored Off of Sorrento

Cruise Ships anchor off of Sorrento and tender folks into the marina.

Ships at Anchor and a Tender

The marina in Sorrento is especially beautiful and a wonderful place to arrive at. You can see the tender at the dock just above the building's rooftop. The ticket offices for the various ferries to Naples, Capri, Positano and Amalfi are located in the buildings right in front of the tender wharf. The ferries dock along the inner side of the breakwater.

Exploring on Your Own:

Sorrento's Beach Clubs and Marina

The second that you arrive at Sorrento's tender wharf, you realize that you are somewhere special. The cliffs, the marina and the city above are all begging to be explored. Since much of Sorrento is pedestrian streets, Sorrento is best explored on your own.

Shopping Tips:

Shopping in the Old Section

Sorrento is like one huge shopping bazaar. There is street after street chock full of shops, boutiques and specialty stores to explore.

More Shopping in the Old Section

While the Old Section has wonderful shops, the very heartbeat of shopping opportunities  is on Via San Cesareo off of the main square in Sorrento.

One of the Main Shopping Streets

Vis San Cesareo has many clothing stores, department stores and specialty shops selling everything imaginable.

A Quality Ceramic Vase from Sorrento

Sorrento is all about the surrounding citrus, olive and other fruit tree groves that occupy the area. Sorrento is famous for its large lemons and the drink known as "Limoncello" a lemon based alcoholic beverage that is very sweet and equally potent. Other items to look for are high quality ceramics, embroidered table clothes, curtains and handkerchiefs, Limoncello everything (be sure to grad an apron with the recipe for Limoncello on it) designer clothing, beach wear and so on.

Port Highlights:

Beautiful Sorrento

Since the main part of Sorrento is located on top of the cliffs, the first challenge is how to get up to it.

Looking Towards the Marina From the Upper City

You will see a bus ticket office in the main port area and a shuttle that will take you up into the upper city, or you can simply walk up the trail to the stairs that will allow you access. The best way, in my opinion is to walk across the parking lot and follow the trail along the base of the cliffs by the beach clubs. There you will see what looks like a cave. If you enter the cave you will find a lift that will take you up for free. If the lift doesn't happen to be working, there is a switchback trail that will take you on a much less difficult climb to the upper city and will deposit you into a beautiful park where the views are stunning and well worth the hike.

A Sorrento Park

From this park the city unfolds before you. This is the oldest section of Sorrento, which has been operating as a population center for  at least 2,000 consecutive years.

Sorrento's Narrow Pedestrian Streets Reveal Surprises at Every Turn

Leaving the park and exploring the narrow pedestrian streets is tons of fun. Every corner reveals a surprise and begs to be further inspected.

Sorrento's Cobblestone Streets

One soon becomes mesmerized with Sorrento. It is so clean and so unique that one feels completely at home. After penetrating the area for a while, you will stumble upon Sorrento's main shopping streets.

The Sorrento Tourist Sightseeing Train

You will also catch a glimpse of the Sorrento Sightseeing Train as it wanders through Sorrento's network of pedestrian streets and shopping streets. This is a good way to see Sorrento to gain an overview of what you might like to revisit once completed.

Sorrento's Main Square

At the very center of Sorrento you will find the main square. This is where the Tourist Train originates from, as well as the HoHo bus that tours Sorrento. While I did not take the HoHo bus (seen in the center of the picture) I suspect that it misses virtually all of the medieval sections of Sorrento simply because there is no way to get into it by motor coach.

Sorrento Square and Horse Drawn Carriages

Another great way to get oriented with Sorrento is to take one of the horse drawn carriages around the city. Sorrento is more about enjoying its wonderful environment, shopping and dining than sightseeing, so enjoy your day.

Off the Beaten Path:

Pompeii

There are so many different places to visit from Sorrento it is unbelievable. I think a good way to spend a day in Sorrento would be to select one destination that you would love to see and then return for a late lunch and some shopping before reboarding a tender back to the ship. Here are some choices.

Pompeii and Herculanium: Pompeii is a short 30-minute train ride from downtown Sorrento. Simply walk to the train station and purchase a train ticket to Pompeii. Debark the train when you get to the Pompeii Scava Station. The Pompeii train station is about 100-feet from the main entrance so it is very easy to find. You can easily spend the entire day in Pompeii, so it is best to preplan your stay there. It is also possible to visit Herculanium is said to be even better preserved than Pompeii. To get to Herculanium continue on the same train towards Naples and disembark the train at the Ercolano Station. Herculanium is about a 15-minute walk from the train station. Alsp, when you enter both sites you will be approached by "tour guides" offering to take you through the parks. Just ignore them. They may try to scare you by saying it isn't safe to go without one...it is just a sales pitch.

Capri and Anacapri: Right by the tender wharf you will see the ticket booth for the hydrofoil to Capri. Be aware that there are three different companies, so only purchase one-way tickets. It is a short ferry ride over to Capri and Capri is easily done on your own. Note that many of the ferries continue on to Naples, so if you have never been to Naples, this may also be an opportunity.

Positano and Amalfi: Sorrento is at the very beginning of the Amalfi Coast and ferries and hydrofoils operate between Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento Be cautious of your timing however, as unless it is prime summer season, they may e operating on an abbreviated schedule making the timing of getting down and back difficult. An alternative is to take the public bus between the cites. Busses depart the main bus station in Sorrento (by the exit of Circumvesuviana train station) Purchase the your bus ticket from the magazine shop located there. Also, you can negotiate for a taxi to take you to Positano if there are 4 of you. This works out to be just a little more expensive than the bus. Note, however, do not wait until the last bus back from Positano to make it to your ship. The busses tend to get crowded as the day progresses. Your best bet is to leave early and come back to Sorrento for a late lunch and some shopping.

There are several other destinations one can easily reach from Sorrento, but these are the most likely ones that you will want to do.

Dining and Drinking Suggestions:

A Sidewalk Cafe in Sorrento

Dinging in Sorrento is superb. There are numerous restaurants and sidewalk cafes serving virtually all types of cuisine. Enjoying an afternoon lunch with wine is a tradition in Sorrento and is something that you should not miss.

A Sidewalk Cafe in the Old Section

The way to find just the right restaurant is to start checking out menus while you spend time shopping and note those cafes that seem to offer you the cuisine, ambiance and wine list that suits your needs. Then, when it is time to settle in for lunch revisit the ones you are considering and find just the right one. The restaurant owners just assume that you will be there for the afternoon, so do not feel rushed, but make sure you leave enough time to make the last tender.

Must Do List:

Yes, a late lunch with wine in one of Sorrento's fantastic restaurants is a "must do" in this port.

On Your Own Reviews
(How to Venture On Your Own with Detailed Information)

Amalfi and Positano On Your Own Shore Excursion By Jeannine Cantine: Thinking of heading to Amalfi and positano on your own? Here is exactly how to do it.

Capri and Anacapri On Your Own Shore Excursion By Jeannine Cantine: Capri and Anacapri are awesome! Here is how to do it one your own.

Pompeii On Your Own By Tom Ogg: Pompeii is an awesome way to spend your day in Sorrento. Here is exactly how to do it on your own.