We travelled to Sorrento in mid-May, flying direct from Belfast International to Naples. The hotel was the Europa Palace which is approx. 400 metres from the main square (Piazzo Tasso) with its selection of restaurants, bars & shops. It’s situated on a cliff top with spectacular views over the Gulf of Naples and Mt Vesuvius.
A lift or steps brings you down to sea level where a large outdoor pool and private bathing platform exists for relaxing. The rooms at Europa Palace were very clean and the hotel offered a good selection at breakfast which could be taken in the dining room or on the terrace, I would definitely recommend paying extra for the sea-view rooms which over-look the bay. The sea-view room would also be much quieter as it’s situated away from the busy road. The hotel is traditional ‘old worldly’ (but this is normal in Sorrento and many parts of Italy itself) but it’s location is close to the Sorrento, with its spectacular views, making it a great place to stay.
Sorrento (Circumvesuviana) Station – only 350 metres away (5 min walk) – has great train and bus links all around the coast. The trains offer a city metro experience and were usually quite crowded but a cheap way to get around.
Corso Italia – Sorrento’s main shopping street, with it’s fashion boutiques, local fruits and limoncello shops is only 0.3km (less than 20 min walk) away.
The hop on Hop off bus is definitely worth taking; it goes around the coast to Positano and Amalfi and you take in views of the Gulf of Naples and the island of Capri. The local Sita buses are cheaper but its worth paying a little bit extra for the air con and audio with English speaking guide on the Hop On Hop Off Bus.
While in Sorrento we would highly recommend the food tour; you get to eat delicious tastings over a 3.5 hour walking tour with Italian wine and typical local drinks. It’s better to start this tour on an empty stomach.
Day trip to Pompeii – If your staying in Sorrento, a visit to Pompeii is a must do
As we travelled in late May, the temperatures were manageable. We would certainly recommend a small group tour to ensure a more personalised experience. Our guide had work in Pompeii as an archaeologist and was able to give us full commentary and many amusing stories as we walked through the baths, streets, bakeries and forums. It’s worth noting that excavations began in the 18th century and are still going on today.
Via Marina Grande
Secluded former fishing village with a timeless maritime air. Bobbing fishing boats and pastel coloured houses give the area, that has some family run seafood restaurants, loads of character. Approx. 20 min walk from our hotel. Sophia Loren filmed on location there; there’s a wall of photographs dedicated to her here.
Positano
We would recommend you do not miss the opportunity to visit Positano. The road from Sorrento takes about 40 mins and is packed full of wonderful scenery. You can also go by boat from Sorrento (we booked twice but both were cancelled due to the weather). Leave yourself plenty of time to explore all the little alleys of the town and if you wanted to make a full day of it, it’s possible to catch the bus or boat further around the coast to Amalfi which, like Positano, has a dramatic natural setting below steep cliffs.
Ourselves and also Margaret have experienced this area of Sorrento – contact us directly on Tel. 028 66322 116 or email:
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