10 Best Things to Do
Sorrento sits above the Bay of Naples, with lanes running from Piazza Tasso towards clifftop gardens and the fishing harbour of Marina Grande. Spend a morning among the town’s churches and museums, then head into the lemon-growing hills of Massa Lubrense or down to Marina del Cantone for lunch by the water. Ferries make Capri a tempting day trip, while the peninsula’s coastal paths offer quieter views. Summer brings busy roads; allow time between seaside stops.
Explore Sorrento’s old town
Sorrento, Italy
Start at Piazza Tasso and turn into the older lanes around Via San Cesareo, where shops and small squares sit among historic buildings. Look for Sedil Dominova’s tiled dome and step into the cathedral to see its wood-inlaid choir. The pleasure is in the short distances and architectural details rather than a fixed route. Go early for a quieter walk, leave time for a café stop, and remember that churches may close during services.
Historic lanes and local architecture
Walk down to Marina Grande
Sorrento, Italy
Follow the lanes downhill to Marina Grande, Sorrento’s old fishing village beneath the town walls. Colourful houses, small boats and waterfront restaurants give this cove a different rhythm from the busy centre above. Walk along the shore, pause near the church of Sant’Anna and stay for a seafood lunch or dinner. The return walk climbs back through the old gateway, so consider a taxi or local bus if the slope is a concern.
Harbour atmosphere and a waterfront meal
Visit San Francesco’s cloister and Villa Comunale
Sorrento, Italy
San Francesco’s cloister offers a small, shaded pause close to Sorrento’s busiest streets. Walk beneath its varied arches and look at the reused columns before continuing to the nearby Villa Comunale gardens for views across the Bay of Naples. The two stops fit naturally into a walk through the centre. Weddings, concerts and other events can limit cloister access, so keep the visit flexible and check local notices if you want to attend a performance.
Quiet architecture and a clifftop panorama
Discover Museo Correale di Terranova
Sorrento, Italy
Museo Correale occupies the family’s eighteenth-century summer residence, with collections spread through rooms of paintings, porcelain, furniture and local inlay. The setting helps explain the cultivated life of Sorrento’s historic families, while the garden provides a welcome change of pace after the galleries. Allow time for both house and grounds rather than treating this as a quick indoor stop. Check current opening dates before visiting, particularly in winter when the museum advertises a seasonal closure.
Painting, porcelain and a historic villa garden
See Sorrento’s wood-inlay tradition at MUTA
Sorrento, Italy
The Museobottega della Tarsialignea explores the skilled wood-inlay work long associated with Sorrento. Historic pieces and contemporary designs show how the same craft can produce very different effects, making this a useful visit before browsing the town’s workshops and shops. The museum is on Via San Nicola in the historic centre and offers guided visits. Book a tour if you want to understand the techniques in detail, and check current last-admission arrangements before arriving.
Craftsmanship beyond the souvenir shops
Explore Bagni della Regina Giovanna
Capo di Sorrento, Italy
At Capo di Sorrento, the remains of a Roman seaside villa sit beside the natural inlet known as Bagni della Regina Giovanna. The combination of ancient masonry, rock and open water makes this a rewarding coastal outing even without swimming. Approach on foot and wear shoes suitable for uneven ground. Check local access and sea conditions before setting out, bring drinking water, and avoid treating the rocky shoreline as a managed beach with guaranteed facilities.
Roman remains and a dramatic coastal setting
Hike to the Bay of Ieranto
Nerano, Massa Lubrense, Italy
The path from Nerano to Ieranto passes through a protected coastal landscape with views towards Capri. FAI’s site also preserves traces of the bay’s industrial past, and guided visits explain its natural and human history. The trail has uneven sections and a significant climb on the return, so bring proper footwear, water and sun protection. Check FAI’s current notices before visiting: parts of the marine area are subject to swimming restrictions, and private motorboat access is prohibited.
A protected coastal landscape reached on foot
Walk to Punta Campanella
Termini, Massa Lubrense, Italy
From Termini, follow the route towards Punta Campanella, where a watchtower and lighthouse mark the end of the peninsula. Sections of the old route retain historic paving, and the view opens towards Capri as the vegetation thins. This is an outing for walking shoes and settled weather, with an uphill return to consider. Carry water and check local trail conditions. Choose the direct route unless you are prepared for the longer, more demanding circuit via Monte San Costanzo.
The peninsula’s western tip and views towards Capri
Climb to the San Costanzo viewpoint
Termini, Massa Lubrense, Italy
The little white church on Monte San Costanzo marks one of Massa Lubrense’s broadest viewpoints. From its surroundings, the panorama takes in the gulfs of Naples and Salerno, the peninsula’s hills and the islands offshore. A path climbs from Termini, while road access reaches the pinewood below the final stone steps. Come for the landscape rather than an interior visit, as the church is usually closed. Wear suitable shoes and choose a clear, calm day.
Views across both sides of the peninsula
Spend a day at Marina del Cantone
Marina del Cantone, Massa Lubrense, Italy
Marina del Cantone offers a straightforward way to enjoy the peninsula’s southern shoreline: a pebble beach, bathing establishments and restaurants looking over the Gulf of Salerno. Alternate time by the water with a lunch of local seafood or spaghetti alla Nerano, the area’s courgette-based speciality. The road reaches the bay, but summer parking can be busy. Reserve beach facilities or restaurant tables in advance and check the return bus timetable if travelling from Sorrento.
A pebble beach and a long seaside lunch