A slow travel walking tour of Sorrento, Italy

There’s no better way to experience the soul of Sorrento, a charming coastal town in Italy, than on foot. A walking tour of Sorrento lets you slow down and soak in its lemon-scented lanes, cliffside views and centuries of history tucked into every piazza and narrow alleyway.

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If you want to visit Italy for the food, the views or the history, then Sorrento is where it’s at. This self-guided walking tour of Sorrento will help you uncover the best spots at your own pace.

Sorrento - a charming history

Sorrento is a cliffside city overlooking the Bay of Naples. It’s on the northern shore of the Sorrentine Peninsula, while the Amalfi Coast is on the southern shore. Sorrento is a great jumping-off point for people who want to explore the Amalfi Coast and the rest of the peninsula.

You can pretty much get a ferry to anywhere in the area from Sorrento, including Naples, Positano and Capri. You can also take the slow-moving Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii or Naples from Sorrento.

Sorrento is known for Limoncello, where the lemons that are used to make this sweet digestif drink are from.

Walking tour of Sorrento

Start: Piazza Tasso

Start your walking tour of Sorrento in Piazza Tasso. This will be your first overwhelming impression of Sorrento. From the cars, to the confusing street signs, to the sounds, to the immense number of cafes, here begins the walking tour of Sorrento.

Before you cross over the “bridge” into old town Sorrento, you’ll notice the statue of Sant’Antonino Abate, the patron saint of the city, welcoming you into Sorrento.

Around you, you’ll see that you’ll be crossing over a gully. It’s actually the fortified walks of Sorrento. For many years, this city was defended on three sides with thick stone walls, and the fourth side was the sheer cliff into the sea.

If you’re feeling peckish, grab an espresso at a nearby cafe - remember, Italians usually stand at the coffee bar, so do what the locals do and enjoy your coffee standing.

Before the construction of Piazza Tasso, which bridged Sorrento with the world outside, the city was surrounded by these valleys. The mills here were built as far back as the 13th century, and were used primarily for milling flour.

Stop 1: Vallone Del Mulini (Valley of the Mills)

Head south on Viale Caruso, just 120 metres, to take a peek into the Vallone Del Mulini (Valley of the Mills). It’s literally a hidden spot in Sorrento, as you could easily pass it without looking down and miss it. Sorrento was once connected to the outside world by a bridge that crossed the valley, but in the 1800s, the city decided to fill part of the gorge and create a square.

That square was called Pizza Tasso, and the valley became isolated and the buildings abandoned.

When you look into the valley, you’ll notice how overgrown and green it is. The plants are flourishing in the humid atmosphere. There are some pretty rare plants down there, including some carnivorous plants!

The Vallone Del Mulini is not to be missed, as it is a quick detour on this self-guided walking tour of Sorrento.

Stop 2: Corso Italia

After the Vallone Del Mulini, head back to Piazza Tasso and walk west down Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main street.

It’s a pedestrian-only thoroughfare with shops, gelaterias and restaurants. The street takes you all the way from the eastern wall to the western wall, but you’ll want to wander down the adjacent streets too, like via Accademia and Via S. Cesareo.

Take a peek into the Limoncello shops and local leather boutiques for some souvenirs to take home.

Make sure to take a gander down Via Pieta (one street over to the south) as well. I found it almost deserted compared to the bustle of Corso Italia and well worth the detour.

Pro tip: Keep on the lookout for Foto Comet, who can take you photo with a handmade large format film camera! One of the coolest things I’ve seen.

Stop 3: Sedil Dominova (Dominova Seat)

Turn onto Largo Padre Reginalso Giuliani for a quick detour to see Dominova Seat. This open-air fresco is tucked into the corner of Largo Padre Reginalso Giuliani and Via S. Cesareo.

It was once the place where nobles of the city would come together and discuss the administration of Sorrento. As you could imagine, many debates were held within the walls, which are still brightly decorated today.

Stop 4: Cattedrale dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo

Head back south to Corso Italia, you’ll come across the main church in Sorrento that you may want to take a peek at. I do admire the architecture and art of Italian churches, especially when the light filters in through the windows, so I always like to pop my head in.

You’ll want to take a peek at the large bell tower before you head in. The bell tower dates back to the 11th century and is decorated with columns, arches and ceramic tiles.

The Cathedral is the first in Sorrento, dating back to the 10th century, built on the remains of a Greek temple. The current cathedral is in the Baroque style with lots of frescos, marble and gold.

Stop 5: Bastion of Parsano

After visiting the Cathedral, head south on Via Antonino Sersale to the Bastion of Parsano. Remember how I mentioned that Sorrento was surrounded on three sides by thick stone walls? Well, here they are.

There’s evidence that the walls date back to the 4th century BC! Over the centuries, Sorrento was fortified to protect the inhabitants from invading forces. But as the city grew and the need for the walls diminished, the Bastion of Parsano is one of the few surviving sections of the ancient walls.

Here, you can climb up and walk along the patrol walkway between the Bastion of Parsano and Bastion of San Valerio in Parco di Villa Fiorentino. Algon the way, you’ll see nice views of the city.

Stop 6: Parco di Villa Fiorentino

The walk along the walls brings you to the Parco di Villa Fiorentino, a charming villa with a park surrounding it. You’ll be at the very back of the property and walk beside an old farmhouse and through an orange and lemon grove as you wander through the park. You’ll be able to spot statues and pottery that were found on the site during excavation work.

The Villa itself only dates back to the 1930s. It was once home to the Fiorentino-Cuomo Family, which made the finest handkerchiefs in the area. But the surrounding citrus grove and farm date back to the 4th century! It’s honestly mind-blowing to think about how old these places are in Italy!

The villa is now a cultural centre, hosting art exhibits and classical music concerts. There was an opera concert playing while we passed through.

Stop 7: Via Sopra le Mura

Once you're finished exploring the Parco di Villa Fiorentino, head north through the Pianna Andrea Veniero, then west on Via Fuoro to the Via Sopra le Mura.

While this part of the self-guided walking tour of Sorrento is probably the least interesting, you’ll be following the most western edge of the ancient city walls to a viewpoint over Marina Grande.

Keep following Via Sopra le Mura until you come to a fork in the road. Take the left down passing under the Porta De Marina Grande and finally into the Marina Grande.

Stop 8: Marina Grande

Welcome to Marina Grande! This was once the only port in Sorrento until the Marina Piccola was completed in the early 1900s.

Today, you’ll find a ton of amazing seafood restaurants, so pick one and enjoy! After you're done enjoying the catch of the day, take a wander through the Marina and try to spot the filming locations of Italy’s famous actress Sofia Loren in Scandal in Sorrento.

Stop 9: Piazza della Vittoria

Head back to the fork in the road and this time take the right fork, leading you along the Via Marina Grande until you arrive at the next stop on this walking tour of Sorrento - Piazza della Vittoria.

The park is sandwiched between two very famous hotels, the Hotel Bellevue Syrene and the Imperial Hotel Tramontano, whose guest list included the Prince of Wales (before he became King Edward VII), Prince Federico and the Princess of Prussia in 1982, Queen of Denmark in 1868 and the Tsarina of Russia in 1868. The Imperial Hotel Tramontano is the oldest in the city.

The best part of the Piazza della Vittoria for us mere peasants is, of course, the view from the belvedere overlooking the sea.

The park itself is dedicated to the victims of the First World War with a statue of Winged Victory in the centre.

Stop 10: Chiesa di San Francesco e Chiostro

Keep heading east on Via S. Francesco until you reach the Chiesa di San Francesco. This church was built on an already existing oratory. In the 1300s, they built a cloister that is a little oasis within Sorrento. It’s a lovely little spot and well worth checking out on the walking tour of Sorrento.

Stop 11: Villa Comunale de Sorrento

After you’ve had your fill of the cloister, explore the Villa Comunale, a newly built belvedere overlooking the beaches below. Take a moment to walk through the gardens and check out the sculptures before heading down to Marina Piccola.

The garden is also home to the Sorrento Lift. A fancy elevator that takes you from sea level to the city. It costs 1 Euro 50, as of 2025. Or you can also take the staircase, which is free.

I recommend taking the staircase down to the beaches, since you’ll get to walk into the cliffs and come out almost at sea level.

Stop 12: Marina Piccola

For the last stop, head down the stairs to the beaches and take your time walking along the boardwalks. If it’s summer, you can stop and rent a beach chair on a pier and jump in the Mediterranean to cool off.

If that’s not your thing, then keep walking, trust me, keep walking, all the way until the boardwalk ends. At the very end, when you can’t walk any further, you’ll see Bagni Salvatore, a beach club with the coolest spot.

It surrounds old Roman ruins of the villa of Agrippa Postumus (adoptive son of Octavian Augustus), which used to be where Sorrento is today. Here, you’ll be able to see the remains of the nymphaeum, a grotto dedicated to nymphs, and fish ponds, which were used to keep freshly caught fish alive until ready to be eaten. The nymphaeums were all likely decorative in nature that could be reached through an underground staircase (which is still in use by the Hotel Bellevue Syrene today) or by sea.

After you finish exploring the beaches, head up the lift (which costs 1 euro 50 at the time of writing this) and head back to the starting point. Along the way, you can stop for dinner in one of the many restaurants that dot the streets or grab a gelato. One of the best is called Raki.

Practical Tips for your Walking Tour of Sorrento

• Wear comfortable shoes: Sorrento’s streets are charming, but in some places, cobbled, and some areas are sloped or stepped. Sturdy, comfy footwear is key for happy feet for this lengthy walking tour

• Start early or late: If you want to avoid crowds and enjoy cooler temperatures, aim to begin your walk early in the morning or around golden hour for dreamy light and fewer tourists.

• Bring water and sun protection: There are fountains where you can refill your bottle, but the Mediterranean sun can be strong, so don’t forget sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water.

• Download an offline map: While Sorrento is small and walkable, it’s always handy to have a map downloaded in case you lose cell signal while wandering.

• Take your time: Part of the joy of a self-guided walking tour is the freedom to linger. Stop for gelato, peek into that lemon grove or chat with a local artisan. You’re on your own schedule.

• Check opening hours: If you're planning to pop into any museums or churches along the way, be sure to check the hours in advance, as many close midday for a few hours. I made the mistake visiting during an Italian bank holiday, while most of the places were still open, it made for a very busy crowd in the city.

Map for Sorrento Walking Tour

Use this handy Google Map to map out your walking tour of Sorrento:

Need a place to stay in Sorrento, check out these places here:

Sorrento: a slow travel walking guide

Sorrento was made for wandering. With every turn, there’s a new view to fall in love with, a tucked-away trattoria to try, or the pull of a limoncello store. A walking tour of Sorrento lets you experience the town on your own terms, slow, curious and open to anything. Whether you follow the route to the letter or let your feet guide you elsewhere, this kind of travel invites you to pause, to notice and to truly connect with the place. Let Sorrento unfold around you.