Destination Known | Amalfi Coast: Sorrento
I was in southern Italy for work and with a week to spare, my mom, stepdad, and I ventured along the picturesque Amalfi Coast. We decided on Sorrento as home-base to hit all the famed towns (amalfi, ravallo, positano, capri) while dodging the dark cloud that is re-packing. Reach this centrally-located town by train or car transfer from Naples in under an hour. It has all the energy (read: shopping + gelato choices) of a Florence with the added benefit of being on the water.
Stay
Wherever you stay, know that Corso Italia is the main street in Sorrento. On this street, east of the main square, is where most of the action is.
(Save) AirBnB - Corso Italia Suites: These are owned by a travel agency which is super convenient for booking transfers and day trips. They have a few buildings around town so request to be placed above the travel agency.
(Splurge) Grand Excelsior Alfredo Vittoria
Eat
da Gigino: Local-favorite that the tourists seem to have found by our last night given the hour wait. Everything is delish.
Inn Buffalito: The best caprese salad + focaccia (in reality, naked pizza bread) ever ever ever.
Terraza Bosquet @ Grand Excelsior: Michelan Star restaurant set on a terrace overlooking the water. If you’re lucky, someone will be getting married and their fireworks show will time perfectly with your dinner as it did for us.
Drink
Grand Excelsior Alfredo Vittoria: Visit the champagne garden bar for views of the town or the terrace for views of the sunset over the Bay of Naples.
Do
Day trip to Positano and Amalfi/Ravallo: Catch the super convenient and comfortable hop-on-hop-off red bus from the bus station in Sorrento
Day trip to Capri: Reach this jaw-dropping destination by ferry in half an hour
Half-Day trip to Pompeii: Go with a guided tour from Sorrento for a fascinating and just-long-enough 2-hour visit to this ancient city
Shop: I've seen my fair share of Italian shopping and I can say in all honesty that Sorrento has the best shoes, linen, and leather goods. take an empty suitcase
Spa/Pool @ Grand Excelsior Alfredo Vittoria: For 33 euro, spend the day lounging by the garden-set pool or visit La Serra Boutique Spa with sugar sweet staff