Why Sorrento Is the Perfect Base for Your Amalfi Coast Trip!
Can you say you went to the Amalfi Coast if you didn’t actually stay on the Amalfi Coast?? Asking for a friend…
When planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast, you’ll see plenty of photos and videos of the dreamy coastlines, picturesque towns, and lemon-themed everything.
But what no one ever talks about is how much of a pain it is actually getting to and around the Amalfi Coast.
If you don’t rent a car (which I wouldn’t), your navigation options are private transfers (expensive), packed bus (not ideal), and ferries (scenic but slow).
Not to mention how busy the actual towns are once you arrive!
Instead of dealing with all of that, my husband and I decided to base ourselves in the town of Sorrento for our 5 days in the Campania region of southern Italy.
Sorrento isn’t technically on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s not far from it! Plus, it’s connected to Naples and Pompeii via train, which makes navigating the region much much easier.
Keep reading to learn more about why I personally think Sorrento is the perfect home base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and beyond!
Short on time? Here’s the quick version ⬇️
Stay on the Amalfi Coast if you want:
- A honeymoon or romantic splurge
- Luxury clifftop resorts
- Beach clubs and swimming
Stay in Sorrento if you want:
- Budget-friendly options
- Easy transportation & accessibility
- A laid-back, local vibe
Understanding the Region: Amalfi Coast vs Sorrento
Before our trip, I would’ve sworn Sorrento is on the Amalfi Coast….
Well, turns out, it’s not! But they are very close to each other.
Both Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are part of the Sorrentine Peninsula, which separates the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno in southwestern Italy.
As you can see on the map below, Sorrento sits on the opposite side of the peninsula from the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento faces north towards Naples, while the Amalfi Coast faces south.
Everything on this map falls within the Campania region of Italy.
Most people (myself included) just lump the whole area together and call it “the Amalfi Coast”, including places like Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and the island of Capri (which is right off the coast of the peninsula).
While this is not technically accurate, it’s easier (and more well-known) than saying the Campania region or the Sorrentine Peninsula. But to each their own!
Getting to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
Airports Near Sorrento and Amalfi Coast
There are two airports within the Campania region of Italy: one in Naples and one in Salerno.
Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main airport serving this whole region and is one of the busiest airports in Italy, with flights to over 50 destinations worldwide!
We actually chose to visit this part of Italy thanks to Naples having direct flights from Paris (where the first leg of our trip was!).
There is also a smaller airport in Salerno (Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport) that technically sits closer to the actual Amalfi Coast towns like Amalfi and Positano.
However, it’s a tiny, regional airport, so the flight options are quite slim!
As a result, most travelers will fly into Naples Airport if they plan to visit Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast since it is well-connected to the rest of the world.
Transportation to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast
If you are flying into Naples Airport, it is significantly cheaper and faster to get to Sorrento than to one of the towns on the Amalfi Coast.
This is mostly because Sorrento is closer and just better connected to Naples.
From Naples, you can take a train, a bus, a ferry, or a private transfer to Sorrento.
➡️ Read more about these different options in my full guide on Getting from Naples to Sorrento!
We personally took the train from the Naples train station to Sorrento, which took just over an hour and cost around $20.
However, if you are staying on the actual Amalfi Coast, things get a little more complicated.
There are no trains to the Amalfi Coast from Naples, but you can take the train to either Sorrento or Salerno, and then make your way to the Amalfi Coast from there (either via ferry, bus, or cab).
You can also take a ferry directly from Naples to Positano or Amalfi, but they take a while (1.5-2.5 hours).
However, if budget is not an issue, the easiest option is a private transfer, which takes around 90 minutes and will cost around $150-$200.
Overall, it is much easier to navigate getting from Naples to Sorrento, but to be honest, neither is “easy” unless you book a private car!
P.S. If you have a lot of luggage, booking a private transfer is definitely the way to go. Check out my guide on What to Pack for the Amalfi Coast to see what you should bring and what you can leave behind!
Getting Around & Choosing Your Activities
When you’re choosing between Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast for your home base, a big factor should also be what you plan to do once you’re there.
For example, if you just want to relax at the beach your whole trip, staying on the actual Amalfi Coast might be a better fit (especially since there isn’t really a beach in Sorrento).
However, if you plan to explore other areas and towns during your trip, the logistics of getting around should help sway your decision.
With our 5 days in Italy, we wanted to explore as many spots as possible via day trips, which is why we landed on Sorrento as our home base.
Lemon sorbet in Amalfi during our boat day View from the top of Mount Solaro on Capri 
View of Mt Vesuvius from the Pompeii Ruins Sunset in Positano during our evening trip
As soon as we got to Sorrento, we checked into our hotel and immediately went to a cooking class!
On our first full day, we explored the popular towns of the Amalfi Coast (Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello) on an incredible small-group boat tour (highly recommend doing this versus by car/bus!).
Another day, we did a day trip to Capri via ferry, which might have been my favorite day of the trip! Capri sits right in the middle of the two coastlines, so it’s easy to visit from both Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.
We also decided to do a half-day at Pompeii, which is just 30 minutes by train from Sorrento, but a little more complicated to get to from the Amalfi Coast.
That same day, we also went back to Positano for a nice dinner, so we could explore more of the famous town after all the crowds left.
For us, this was the perfect amount of time on the Amalfi Coast and other areas. However, your preferences might be different!
If you want to spend a full day exploring each of the towns on the Amalfi Coast, or maybe you don’t really care about visiting Pompeii, staying on the actual Amalfi Coast might be a better fit for you!
Crowds and Cost
We can’t talk about the Amalfi Coast without mentioning the cost and the crowds.
As you probably know, the Amalfi Coast is very popular. Like… VERY popular.
This popularity leads to high hotel prices, especially in the peak-season summer months of July and August.
In towns like Positano and Amalfi, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a hotel room under $300 per night. And those that are cheaper are normally high up and require lots of stairs to get to!
However, the views are superb, and I’m sure it’s worth it!
Sorrento, however, is much bigger than its neighbors on the Amalfi Coast, which means a larger hotel inventory across every price range. If your budget is smaller, you will find better options in Sorrento.
Main town square of Amalfi
Aside from cost, the popularity of the Amalfi Coast means large crowds, again peaking in the summer months.
Towns like Amalfi and Positano are small, with 1 main road that every tourist flocks to. This is especially present during the day when day trippers (guilty) are arriving by the ferry load to explore these picturesque towns!
If you stay overnight in these towns, you will get to experience them with slightly smaller crowds, but they are still extremely busy, especially around sunset!
Sorrento, on the other hand, is much more spread out!! There are several different areas to choose from for dinner, and not everyone is crowded on one small street to take photos.
We definitely preferred the overall vibes of Sorrento vs Positano or Amalfi for this reason.
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Where to Stay in Sorrento
If I’ve convinced you that Sorrento is the better option for you, I wanted to share 2 specific hotel recommendations for your trip!!
Sorrento Sea Rooms – Where We Stayed!
⭐ 8.7/10 on Booking.com | 💰 ~$200 per night | 📍 Good Location
We personally stayed at Sorrento Sea Rooms, which is located just to the east of the Sorrento train station. It was also within walking distance of the main town square (Piazza Tasso), as well as the ferry port and smaller marinas!
Like most places in Italy, this accomodation is more apartment-style than a traditional hotel, but there was a small front desk in the lobby area with refreshments!
Our room also had a private balcony overlooking the sea, which was absolutely dreamy!
Full transparency: we booked this place very last minute on the cusp of peak season, so we didn’t have many options in Sorrento! The price was extremely reasonable, which is what sold us.
It was perfect for what we needed, although the beds definitely could’ve been more comfortable!
Palazzo Guardati
⭐ 8.7/10 on Booking.com | 💰 ~$400 per night | 📍 Great Location
If you’re looking for something a little more upscale, Palazzo Guardati is a perfect choice! This 4-star boutique hotel is set in a restored 17th-century building right in the main square of Sorrento.
By staying here, you are just steps away from a ton of restaurants and bars, the train station, and the ferry port.
Aside from the prime location, my favorite part is the rooftop pool and bar, which looks straight out over the Bay of Naples toward Mount Vesuvius!
The interior of the hotel will make you feel like royalty with marble bathrooms and speciality Murano-glass chandeliers.
Palazzo Guardati is an easy pick if you want to be in the heart of Sorrento but still come back to a quiet, elegant room at the end of the day!
Other Options in Sorrento
If those two options don’t match your vibe, budget, or dates, don’t worry! There are plenty of other places to stay in Sorrento – as long as you book early!
I highly recommend booking your hotel in Sorrento as far in advance as you can, ideally as soon as you nail down dates.
We booked around one month out on the tail end of peak season (early September), and it was slim pickings!
Overall, if you stay within the area shown on the map above, you will be walking distance to all the major spots!
I highly recommend using the map feature on Booking.com to browse for hotels that are available during your dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast?
Not technically! Sorrento sits on the opposite side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Naples, while the Amalfi Coast faces the Gulf of Salerno. Most people use “Amalfi Coast” loosely to describe the whole region, Sorrento included.
Is Sorrento a good base for the Amalfi Coast?
Yes! We stayed in Sorrento in order to explore the Amalfi Coast and are so glad we did. Sorrento is cheaper and much more accessible than the actual Amalfi Coast, thanks to the train line that runs from Naples. It’s also just 30 minutes by train from Pompeii and 30 minutes by ferry from the island of Capri.
Should I stay in Sorrento or on the Amalfi Coast?
If you want easier logistics, more hotel options, and a more laid-back home base, stay in Sorrento and day-trip into Positano or Amalfi like we did. If you don’t mind paying more and dealing with fewer transport options in exchange for waking up in one of those towns, staying directly on the coast works too! It really comes down to your budget and priorities.
Is Positano or Amalfi worth staying in instead?
They’re absolutely worth visiting, and I’d argue Positano especially is worth a fancy evening if you can swing it (we did!). But staying overnight means paying more for a lot less hotel selection, plus dealing with buses or pricey private transfers more often than if you stay in Sorrento.
How far is Sorrento from Positano, Amalfi, and Capri?
By boat, it’s around an hour each way from Sorrento to the main Amalfi Coast towns like Positano and Amalfi. It takes 30 minutes to reach Capri from Sorrento by ferry.
Final Thoughts
While Sorrento isn’t technically on the Amalfi Coast, I think it makes the perfect base for exploring the Amalfi Coast!
This is especially true if you are flying into Naples and/or want to visit other spots in the area like Pompeii as we did.
Returning to the calmer, more local vibes of Sorrento after long days exploring the busy Amalfi Coast towns was exactly what we needed.
However, if you’re looking for the best views and beaches, staying on the Amalfi Coast might be the better option. It’s totally up to you!
And if you’ve decided to stay in Sorrento, make sure to check out my guide on Getting from Naples to Sorrento to continue planning your Italian vacation! This will help you plan out the logistics further and decide which transportation method is right for you.
Don’t forget to pin this post for future planning!
