Top 4 Amazing Day Trips From Charming Sorrento
Last updated on November 21st, 2022 at 03:33 pm
Sorrento is a beautiful little village you can visit in Italy. It is located along the stunning Italian coastline that overlooks the Bay of Naples. As you look out across the bay, you can spot Naples, Mt. Vesuvius, as well as the island of Capri. Its incredible location makes it an ideal place to base yourself during your stay in the Italian region of Campania. Its centrality also means there are plenty of day trip offerings from Sorrento. From lemon farm excursions, a boat ride to Capri and/or Positano, a visit to Pompeii, winery tours and more, you will certainly not be bored! In this post, I’ve detailed some of the best day trip options from Sorrento. So, hang on to your hats and let’s dive in!
***Disclaimer: Be sure to look up all entry rules and restrictions for Italy and and activity you wish to participate in before booking any part of your journey!
1. Lemon Farm Day Trip from Sorrento
Some Information About Lemon Farming in Sorrento
This was one of my favorite day trip experiences during our stay in Sorrento. The famous Limone di Sorrento is one of the principal crops produced in this region. The relatively mild climate and soil quality make it it an ideal place to grow these bright fruits. Much of the year, these happy citrus trees enjoy warm days and plenty of sunshine. But, for a few months in winter the trees need to be covered to protect them from the potential of freezing temperatures and hail.
Did you know: it takes nearly a full year for a Sorrento lemon to become fully ripe?
These fragrant fruits are more than just something to be grown and sold at the market. They were first introduced to the area in Roman times and have since become ingrained in the culture here. But, they didn’t become commercial crop until about the 17th century. During this time, Jesuit Fathers began cultivating lemons in the Sorrento area and established some of the first commercial groves.
Nowadays, even families that are not lemon farmers have their own personal lemon trees. Homegrown lemons are used regularly in cooking, baking, and drink preparation. And, each year, pounds of pounds Sorrento lemon peels are used each year to create Sorrento’s most famous alcoholic beverage: Limoncello.
Did you know: Sorrento lemons are harvested multiple times a year by hand?
A Protected Species
Since the early 2000s, these fragrant fruits and certain products produced with them have been protected by an EU Geographical Indicators. This is due to their unique qualities, including the lemon peel’s pungent aroma and their health properties (including higher levels of vitamin C compared to most other lemons). There is even a special symbols that you can look for on products to help you know if they are certified authentic or not. Below are some examples of EU Geographical Indicators. You can learn more about this important distinction here.
The Lemon Farm Tour
Our tour of the La Masseria Farm was not only incredibly informative, but also very interesting. This is a 4th generation farm that has been cultivated by the same family since the late 1800s. Throughout the tour, we learned all about the history of the farm, how lemon crops are grown, as well as the challenges that lemon growers face. We also learned a lot of interesting facts about olive oil production since that is another one of the farm’s crops.
Did you know: Most lemon seeds are sterile and will not grow into a lemon tree? Bitter oranges have a better chance of sprouting and are therefore commonly used by lemon growers. The lemon branches are grafted into the bitter orange trunks.
We also learned about different projects the family has developed to help the farm be more sustainable. For example, they raise pigs, chickens, and ducks. They also have their own chestnut “forest” where they grow trees to build the scaffolding to support the nets that protect the lemons in winter. To create additional revenue, they offer tours and they have developed an outdoor area that people can rent for family/friend gatherings. In the future, they hope to host visitors through AirBnb!
The end of the tour was one of the best parts of our experience: a delicious home-cooked meal that was prepared for us on site. Everything was amazing and there was so much, we could barely eat it all. One of my favorite things we got to try was the homemade lemon infused olive oil. The final dish was another highlight: limoncello tiramisu. It was a beautiful combination of cream and limoncello. I had never had anything quite like it before.
Booking Your Lemon Farm Visit
We booked our experience at La Masseria Farm through Viator.com.
Tips for this Trip from Sorrento:
You will be picked up from a central location in Sorrento and driven to the farm. You will also be dropped off in the same place.
The best time to schedule your day trip to the lemon farm is between March to late October since this is when the lemons are harvested. If you would also like to see the lemon blossoms and smell their sweet scent, May would be the most ideal time.
2. Day Trip to Pompeii and Winery from Sorrento
This day trip from Sorrento blew me away. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect when we booked this tour through AirBnb. But, I can certainly tell you I wasn’t expecting the city of Pompeii to come alive in the way that it did.
Our guide, Riccardo, did not just tell us facts about what we were seeing. He told the story of Pompeii and how the people lived. He showed us little details to look for: such as how to tell the difference between a doorway to a shop vs a house: a shop had grooves in the rocks because of the sliding doors and the houses had cutouts in the rocks for the gates. And, he even explained how the eruption of Mt Vesuvius actually happened (Hint: it was very different from what is presented in modern-day Hollywood films).
As we walked around, I could really start to visualize how the city was structured and “see” people going about their daily lives. I imagined walking along the raised sidewalks as water flowed through the filthy streets. In my mind, I could see chariots riding past, people talking, dogs barking, and birds flying about. I could imagine myself in that scene, crossing over the street using the stepping stones to get to the bakery shop, to visit a friend, or stop in at the bath house.
The gymnasium was one of my favorite places we went. The mosaic tiles on the floor of the entry to the gymnasium were so well preserved. And, the beautifully painted murals of the gym’s walls amazed me. I also really enjoyed seeing the theater area and learning about the events that took places there.
Visit to a Winery
We chose the option of combining the Pompeii tour with a wine tour. Thus, after our archeological excursion, a van took us to a local winery located on at the foot of Mt. Vesuvius. As you might know, volcanic soil is some of the most fertile soil in the world. And we were really looking forward to trying some of the wine that is produced in this region.
Upon arrival, we were greeted with a glass of sparkling rosè. We sipped on this as a lady showed us around and told us more about the production process. Afterwards, we were served a delicious Italian meal including appetizer, main course, and dessert. Each course was paired with different wines. For what we got, I definitely think it was worth it to pay the extra for the wine experience.
Booking Your Pompeii and/or Wine Tour
We made our bookings through Airbnb Experiences and were 100% satisfied with our experience. This is the link to the tour that includes both the archeological tour and the wine tour. This is the link to the just the archeological tour.
Tips for this Day Trip From Sorrento:
1. This tour does NOT include your ticket to Pompeii. You will need to buy that separately.
2. For public transportation, you will need to take the Circumvesuviana to the Pompei Savi-Villa Dei Misteri since this station is located just outside of the entrance to the Pompeii archeological area. It will take you about 30 minutes to get there from Sorrento, but I would plan to give yourself an hour before the tour start time. This is because there can be delays with the public transportation in this region of Italy (we learned from experience).
Additional Information for the Area Around Pompeii
Pompeii is not the only site for ancient ruins in this area. The Archaeological Park of Herculaneum is another wonderful place to visit. While we did not have time to visit on this trip, it was recommended to me by others and even our tour guide. It is somewhat of a hidden gem because it is often overlooked by visitors going to Pompeii.
One advantage to a visit here is the fact that the Herculaneum is actually much better preserved than Pompeii. Incredibly, many of the buildings still have their upper floors intact. On location, you can visit multiple houses, see beautiful wall frescoes, admire the marble mosaics, explore the bath houses, and more.
A Few Facts About the Herculaneum and Pompeii:
1. The Herculaneum was buried in volcanic ash and pumice at the same time as Pompeii.
2. This site was actually discovered about 40 years before Pompeii was discovered.
3. The Herculaneum was a wealthier city compared to Pompeii.
4. Both Pompeii and the Herculaneum are protected UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
3. Boat Ride to Capri Day Trip from Sorrento
Capri is a sweet little island on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, off the coast of Italy. Here, you can discover the little villages of Capri and Anacapri. Each has hotels, restaurants, shopping, hiking options, and more.
What to Expect
First of all, I want to preface my thoughts on a day trip from Sorrento to Capri by stating that our visit was during the off-season. And, I’m going to be honest: I do NOT think that a trip to Capri is worthwhile during the off-season. That said, based on our experience, I can say with some confidence that I would recommend this trip if you are in the area during the high-season.
We chose to book our tour as a combination tour. This way, we got boat tickets to and from the island of Capri as well as a ticket for the boat tour around Capri. I personally think this would be the best option for your journey as well.
My favorite part of our journey was definitely the boat tour around Capri. It was wonderful and gave us a great overview of the island coastline. During the trip, there was a guide giving narration. However, I really had a hard time hearing and understanding it. The volume was certainly turned up to a loud volume, but it was a bit windy and people on the boat were talking. Altogether, it sometimes made it nearly impossible to hear.
Hiking Options on Capri
Knowing that it was the off-season, my travel friend and I decided that we would focus on hiking on the island. However, we found that we were severely limited on time. The boat to Capri left a bit later than its scheduled departure at 11:20am and our return tickets were for 4:10am. Unfortunately, our attempts to return at a later time failed seeing as 4:10pm was the last boat back to Sorrento. The trip around the island was at 12:30pm and lasted about an hour. After that, we tried to get a quick lunch, but that also backfired since the service was terrible and the food took forever. (Although it was recommended by a local, I do not recommend the Medici Bistrot for food on Capri.)
In the end, the only place we managed to walk to in our limited remaining time was the Giardini di Augusto. But, it rewarded us with some beautiful views overlooking the rock formations. From here, you can easily link up with the famous via Krupp path. Other scenic spots include the Arco Naturale and the Monte Solaro (the highest point on Capri) which can be hiked from Piazzetta di Capri.
Travel Tip: there is also a chairlift option to Monte Solaro.
For more information, this little website includes information about these hikes and more.
Booking Your Capri Island Day Trip
We booked our experience through Getyourguide.com. Overall, the company that we booked with was wonderful. They were on point when it came to communication and they even sent us detailed information for our journey (including photos).
Only one thing ended up being confusing for us, and that was the fact that we had to pick up our tickets for the boat ride around the island at a separate location once we arrived on Capri.
Again, most of my disappointment stemmed from us not getting to do the things I had hoped to do. But, I really think that if you visit during the high-season, you will have a lot more time for exploration and enjoyment.
4. Day Trip from Sorrento to Positano
Taking the bus ride from Sorrento to Positano is incredibly easy, making it an ideal day trip. Alternatively, if you have some extra time, choosing to spend a night or two nights here is a fantastic option.
Legends of Positano
According to Greek legend, the village of Positano was a gift from the god Poseidon to a nymph called Pasitea. One look at this beautiful place and you might not question that this little strip of paradise was a “gift from the gods”.
In actuality, there is evidence that this area was inhabited even back to Prehistoric times, long before the Romans. During the Roman era, Positano was a location for beautiful villas, but it was buried when Mt. Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD.
Later, Positano became an important trading port. But, the threats of pirates and constant pillaging made things very difficult. The town eventually fell into ruins and many people immigrated to other places around the world.
The town revived in the 1950’s after John Steinbeck published an essay about Positano, “Positano Bites Deep”, in Harper’s Bazaar. Since then, Positano has grown more and more popular as a tourist destination. It has also been featured in a number of movies including “Under the Tuscan Sun”, “Only You”, and “Kath and Kimdrella”.
Things to do in Positano
1.Positano has a lovely black sand beach area that you can walk to. There are multiple eateries here as well as places for boat rentals.
2. Admire the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and its beautiful dome. This church was founded in the 10th century by Byzantine monks and has connections to the Benedictine monastery of St. Mary. Inside, you can see the black madonna which has an interesting legend about it.
3. There are lots of shops throughout the village. It’s a lot of fun to go inside each of them in search of the perfect souvenir to commemorate your experience.
4. Stop in at the Bucca di Baco for some delicious pastries. Our personal favorite was the one with chocolate and hazelnuts. It had beautiful layers of perfectly balanced flavors and just a hint of crunch from the crust.
Walk of the Gods
5. Positano offers great access to The Walk of the Gods trail along the Almafi coastline. Not getting to go on this walk was one of the biggest disappointments of my trip. But, I think that just gives me an excellent reason to go back some day!! 😀
In order to access this walk, you will want to take the bus to Nocelle. For information about bus schedules, please click here. From Nocelle the path goes up to the trailhead in Bomerano. From my research, I’ve read it can take 1.5-2 hrs one way and 3-4 hrs round trip.
Travel Tips: Hiking from Nocelle to Bomerano is an uphill hike and the reverse is downhill. If you only plan to hike one way, there is the option to take the Sita bus to Bomerano and hike down towards Nocelle. Be sure to wear appropriate clothing and bring plenty of water/snacks for your journey!
Please note that tickets for the Sita bus CANNOT be purchased on board. You must buy them in advance from a tabacco shop (tabaccheria).
How to get to Positano From Sorrento
The bus from Sorrento to Positano takes just under and hour via the Sita bus. But, you should be warned that it’s a very winding and narrow road. My travel friend and I felt pretty sick to our stomachs by the time we arrived (and we were not the only ones who felt that way).
Please Note: There is NO option to buy bus tickets on board the Sita Bus. They must be purchased ahead of time from a tabacco shop (tabaccheria).
In Conclusion
I hope that this post has inspired you to explore the areas surrounding Sorrento more deeply. It is such a beautiful region of Italy with so much to offer. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. 🙂
Happy Travels,
<3 Christine
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