Sorrento and Massa Lubrense

Main gateway; a scheduled coach also links the airport with Sorrento

Smaller airport with mostly seasonal European routes, useful when combining Sorrento with the Amalfi Coast

For long haul arrivals; the high speed train to Naples is the faster onward option

Lively and walkable, with shops, restaurants and the ferry port at the foot of the cliff. Ideal for those who like to stroll out for dinner.

Residential neighbours just east of the centre, with grand clifftop villas, lemon gardens and a calmer pace within walking distance of town.

A hilltop village on the ridge between the Bay of Naples and the Gulf of Salerno, cooler in summer and famous for fine dining.

Olive terraces descending to a little harbour, with a relaxed local life and boats to the islands in season.

A pebble bay on the southern side of the peninsula, home to celebrated seafood restaurants and close to the Bay of Ieranto.

Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.

A deep ravine in the centre of Sorrento where a ruined mill stands wrapped in ferns and greenery. It shows how the town is built on a plateau carved by ancient gorges.

A peaceful cloister of interlaced arches and bougainvillea beside the church of San Francesco. It often hosts exhibitions, concerts and weddings.

An aristocratic villa museum with Neapolitan paintings, porcelain and furniture, set in gardens that lead to a terrace over the sea. It gives a fine sense of Sorrento's patrician past.

The old fishing quarter below the town, with boats pulled up on the beach and seafood restaurants on wooden piers. It feels far from the busy centre just above.

A natural pool of clear water enclosed by rocks, beside the ruins of a Roman seaside villa at Capo di Sorrento. It is reached on foot along a country lane.

A protected bay facing the Faraglioni of Capri, cared for by FAI within the Punta Campanella marine reserve. A footpath from Nerano leads through olive groves to the shore.

The tip of the peninsula, crowned by a watchtower and looking straight across to Capri. Myth places the sirens of Ulysses in these waters.

A private boat from Sorrento or Marina della Lobra rounds Punta Campanella, with swims in the Bay of Ieranto and lunch at Marina del Cantone.

Family farms open their groves to explain how the Sorrento lemon is grown and how olive oil and limoncello are made, followed by a tasting.

Sorrento's tradition of intarsia, or wood marquetry, can be admired in museum collections and in workshops where artisans still cut and fit veneers by hand.

A marked path from the village of Termini descends to the headland, rewarding walkers with wide views over Capri and both gulfs.

A local cook can prepare gnocchi alla sorrentina and lemon desserts in your villa kitchen, using produce from nearby farms.

Small beach clubs on wooden platforms beside the fishing harbour, perfect for a swim before lunch.

A natural rock pool with Roman ruins, best enjoyed early in the morning outside peak summer weekends.

A broad pebble bay with beach clubs and restaurants, a favourite for long summer lunches.

An unspoilt protected bay reached on foot or by kayak, with crystal water facing Capri.

A tiny fishing hamlet west of Sorrento with a sandy cove and a relaxed, local atmosphere.

What to eat

What to drink

The closest mainland port makes Capri an easy day, by ferry or by private boat with swimming stops.

The great Roman city buried in AD 79, also reachable on the Circumvesuviana train.

Follow the coast road over the ridge, or go by boat in summer to avoid the traffic.

Smaller and better preserved than Pompeii, with wooden beams and upper floors still standing.

Museums, churches and pizza in one of Italy's most vibrant cities.

Gardens bloom, the lemon groves are fragrant and walking is a pleasure. Easter week brings the famous processions and the first warm days by the sea.

Sea and town are at their liveliest, with boat days, beach clubs and long evenings outdoors. Book villas, boats and restaurants well in advance for July and August.

September and October bring warm water, golden light and the grape and olive harvests. Many beach clubs close in October, though the town remains lively.

Sorrento stays open all year, with a local atmosphere, Christmas lights and mild days. Ferries to Naples and Capri continue on a reduced timetable.