Capri, Amalfi Coast & Pompeii Ruins in Three Days | Complete Guide 2024

Itineraries

by Giuseppe Morvillo

Exploring Sorrento for three days? Dive into our fantastic itinerary crafted to unveil the city’s highlights, including Sorrento itself, the captivating Island of Capri with its mesmerizing grottos, the iconic Amalfi Coast, the historic Pompeii Ruins, and indulge in the finest local restaurants and authentic culinary delights along the way.

by Giuseppe Morvillo
Visiting Sorrento for three days? Find here our amazing three day Sorrento itinerary to discover the best of the city of Sorrento, the island of Capri and its Grottos, the iconic Amalfi Coast, the Ruins of Pompeii + best local restaurants and authentic food experiences.

Three Days in Sorrento Itinerary – Complete Guide 2024

Visit Capri, the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii Ruins

For guests travelling to Italy for two weeks, the average time they tend to stay in Sorrento is three nights. We would recommend you planning out your days perfectly so you can really make the most of your time to not only visit Sorrento, but also the Island of Capri, the Pompeii Ruins and the Amalfi Coast.

Highlights:

 

 

 

Day 1:  We dedicate the first day to discovering the Island of Capri and the Blue Grotto, with one of the Best Tours of Capri, selected by me after years and years of searching and experience. Once returning, you will visit Sorrento Old Town where you will taste one of the best ice creams in Italy. Before dinner, you will enjoy an Aperitif at Sunset on a dream terrace and dinner in the Old Town, at one of the best restaurants in Sorrento. 

Day 2: On the second day you spend the day enjoying a personalised tour discovery the Amalfi Coast towns of Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Ravello. Once back in Sorrento, I recommend that you visit one of the most beautiful rooftop cocktails bars in Sorrento and have dinner by the sea, in the charming fishermans village of Marina Grande.

Day 3: On the third day, you’ll be discovering the ancient ruins of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius, as well as experiencing a traditional wine tasting in a local vineyard: the best of the italian culture in one day. So make sure you’re wearing comfortable clothing and footwear, bring some water and suncream, especially if you’re visiting during the hot summer months.

8,30 a.m | Breakfast Neapolitan Style

First things first, here in Italy there’s only one way to start your morning, a cup of espresso to kick start your day is mandatory alongside one of the many delicious freshly made pastries. To experience Capri island from Sorrento at the best you need to wake up early and first enjoy a typical Neapolitan style breakfast. Discover my local suggestions here for the 6 Best Places for Coffee in Sorrento.

The main square of Sorrento is Piazza Tasso, here you can find four of the main bars of the Peninsula which are all perfect for breakfast, take your pick. However if you want to enjoy a coffee at the counter, Bar Fauno has always been one of the most popular bars in Sorrento in addition to a wide choice of croissants, brioches, pastries, local desserts and cakes, you must enjoy it with an excellent Neapolitan coffee. 

Bar Fauno

Piazza Torquato Tasso, 80067, Sorrento, Italy
+ 39 081 878 2031
https://www.faunobar.it
Italian, Coffee, Breakfast, Bar

9,15 a.m | Discover the Island of Capri & its Grottos with our Day Tour

Each Summer, the Island of Capri is one of the most requested and desired places to visit when travelling to Sorrento and Amalfi Coast. Thousands of visitors visit the island from Sorrento by shared or private boat tours and during summer if you don’t book in advance, you can find yourself joining a low quality boat tour with no experienced skippers and at times for a more expensive price. Here in my hometown of Sorrento, many companies offer daily tours to Capri and after years of testing, experience and listening to hundreds of reviews from visitors who joined and shared their experiences, I strongly recommend my two reliable skippers who ensure unforgettable days and a top quality experience.

The tour, shared with a maximum of 10 people, is organized on boats equipped with bathroom, shower, kitchen, sundeck which ensures comfort on board. In my opinion, in addition to being the best tour to visit Capri in one day and see the most of the island, it allows you to experience an exclusive day at a reasonable price, without the crowds of large boats because the limited number of people, and above, all you can relax avoiding queues at the boardings. I invite you to contact me here directly to discover more about this experience, discus your travel plans and get the best tips and advice from a local.

EXPLORE Capri Island

OUR SELECTED TOURS

Lowest Fare | Private & Shared

5,00 p.m | Return to Sorrento, visit the Old Town and try best gelato in Italy

When arriving back in the Port of Sorrento, we take the lift up to the Villa Comunale. When visiting Sorrento, you can’t miss a visit to Villa Comunale, with its gardens and the marvellous terrace overlooking the Gulf of ​​Sorrento, it is hard to find the words to describe the amazing view of the Gulf of Naples and his majesty the Vesuvius. After visiting the gardens, a quick visit to the Church of San Francesco and its Cloister, is recommended, a silent oasis in the heart of the city, and one of the oldest and most visited monuments in Sorrento for its romantic and zen atmosphere.

Shorlty after via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, you will find one of the entrances in the old town of Sorrento that still preserves some medieval buildings, Antichi Palazzi, with facades typical of the 13th century, original decorations and ancient churches. After this long walk you can not miss a delicious ice cream. Conveniently, the best gelato in Sorrento is only 30 seconds walk from the Sedile Dominova.

Raki offers authentic and organic gelato, with selected high quality ingredients. Owners say, their ultimate ambition is getting visitors to fall in love with their gelato. Trust me, I am in love and in my opinion, Raki ice-cream is by far, one of the best ice cream in Italy. So stop here for and grab one of their hand-made cones, load it up with several scoops (vanilla, ginger and walnut are my favourite) and enjoy!

Sorrento, Italy Peter's Beach
7,30 pm | Aperitif at sunset in the most exclusive terrace with view

The Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, is located in Piazza Tasso, it is award-winning luxury and it is really worth taking an unforgettable moment for you and your partner in a special location. The rooftop terrace bar is located in the most exclusive hotel in Sorrento, it is indeed the most famous terrace on the Sorrento Peninsula. It is ofcourse open to the public, and is an exclusive spot where you can enjoy a fabulous evening, either sipping on a glass of wine or enjoying an Aperol Spritz with a magnificent view of the Gulf of Naples, this Terrace is priceless and breathtaking.

A perfect choice for those visiting Sorrento for an important celebration, birthday, engagement or anniversary or to enjoy a magical evening to remember to start or finsish your holiday here.

Terrazza Vittoria

Piazza Tasso, 34 80067, Sorrento, Italy
+ 39 081 877 7111
https://www.exvitt.it
Italian, Hotel, Cocktail Bar

9.00 p.m | Delightful gastronomic experience in Sorrento Old Town, l’Antica Trattoria

In the heart of Sorrento Old Town, you will find one of the best restaurnants in Sorrento, L’Antica Trattoria, always amongst those we recommend to our visitor to live an original experience here in my hometown. In this restaurant you can truly enjoy and experience the delicious flavours and recipes of the Sorrentina gastronomic culture. Excellent for the quality of the products, for the location and type of food served, it is value for money. A perfect mix of traditional recipes and innovation, the Chef continually amazes me with his spectacular dishes made from ingredients grown in our territory. You will also always find fantastic and friendly staff.

Antica Trattoria

Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, 33, 80067 Sorrento NA
081 8071082
https://www.lanticatrattoria.com
Italian, Fine Restaurant

9AM | The Amalfi Coast Tour from Sorrento

Enjoy one of the most fascinating experiences ever, our guided tour of the Amalfi Coast. In Sorrento, dozens of companies offer organised tours of the Amalfi Coast and after many years of experience, walks and after listening to hundreds of reviews, there are two drivers that we highly recommend to contact to ensure you have an unforgettable day. This type of tour, in addition to being the best to visit the Divine Coast, allows you to live an exclusive day at a much more reasonable price, with qualified drivers who know every corner of our land, with the ability to customise and above all allow you to live an authentic experience, real and enriching. You’re welcome to contact me here to find out more about this experience, discus your travel plans and get the best tips and advice from a local.

  • The first stop on the Amalfi Coast will be Positano, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy: here you can walk through the streets and shops selling linen clothes, admire the Spiaggia Grande and take some photos and if you have some time left, visit the church of Santa Maria Assunta.
  • Our next stop is Amalfi, passing through the pretty villages of Praiano, Furore and Conca dei Marini. In Amalfi, a historic maritime republic and commercial destination, in addition to a stop at the historic Bar Pansa, we recommend a visit to the Amalfi Cathedral and its Cloister, the historic centre and the promenade are simply a few of the places you cannot miss.
  • The last stop in the picture perfect town of Ravello, this romantic village perched on the Amalfi mountains, is where you can admire the most spectacular views of the coast, with a view of Minori and Maiori. During your free time, we advise you to stroll between the Vescovado square and its alleys, or visit the splendid Villa Rufolo, a 13th century villa with the famous gardens overlooking the sea.

EXPLORE Amalfi Coast

OUR SELECTED TOURS

By Sea & Land | Private & Shared

5PM | Return to Sorrento

On your return back to Sorrento, I recommend that you plan to stop at your hotel or apartment so that you can cool off, take some time to relax and rest after your long day in the heat and exploring and prepare yourself for your second Sorrento evening.

7PM | Aperitif on the Panoramic Terrace at Sunset

Dressed in your fresh linen shirt for the men and a pastel-coloured evening gown for the women, from Piazza Tasso we take a short walk along Corso Italia, the main artery of Sorrento. After 7pm the entire street becomes pedestrianised and it is here that hundreds of tourists and local people of Sorrento stop at the cafes to enjoy an Aperol spritz or do some late night shopping.

At the top of Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, we walk in the direction of the Villa Comunale and this time, turning left, immediately on the corner we find one of the hotels with the most exclusive panoramic terraces in Sorrento. Considering during the summer, there are two terraces of the hotels we suggest to start off your second unforgettable evening in Sorrento.

The Bellavista Terrace of the La Favorita Hotel

Located on the top floor of the luxurious Hotel la Favorita, the Bellavista terrace displays a breathtaking view and embodies a fairytale atmosphere. At reasonable prices, in an informal but luxurious environment, you can sip tasty cocktails and continue your dinner at the restaurant on the terrace, nothing short of fantastic!

Grand Hotel la Favorita

Via Torquato Tasso 61, 80067, Sorrento, Italy
+ 39 081 878 2031
https://www.hotellafavorita.com/
Cocktail, Fine Dining, Sea View

9PM | Dinner by the Sea in Marina Grande

After enjoying a spritz on the Terrace Bellavista, immediately after the panoramic Piazza Vittoria, there is the Hotel Syrene, awarded with the worlds sexiest bedroom in 2015. Next to the Hotel Syrene, there is an old path taking you down along the Coast, between Villas and panoramic spots, at the end, turn right and go down the steps, make your way through the 2500 year old Greek Gate and the Marina greets you in all of its beauty, we guarantee you will capture this moment in a great photo or video. Considered by many as their favourite place in Sorrento, Marina Grande is definitely worth a visit.

This old colourful and picturesque fishing village on the edge of the bay is a great place to have a drink on the side of the dock and grab something to eat. You can find a lot of local trattorias with good meals at reasonable prices and waterfront restaurants with a buzzing atmosphere. During the summer, and especially on weekends, evenings are very busy for dinner. I do recommend to have lunch at Trattoria da Emilia, one of the most historic authentic restaurants owned by a local family from the Marina.  

During the Summer months this area can become very crowded and difficult to make reservations at the restaurants, espcially in the evenings. Since I am a regular at most of these resturants, and being a local myself, I have gained some great connections and friendships with the restaurant and beach club owners in Marina Grande. Feel free to contact me directly here if you need help making a reservation or simply want to know more about Marina Grande, what to do, where to eat or visit.

Trattoria da Emilia

Via Marina Grande 62, 80067, Sorrento, Italy
+ 39 081 807 2720
http://www.daemilia.it
Italian Cuisine, Seafood

8:30AM | Breakfast at a Local Patisserie

Your alarm will have to be set early again to maximise your three days here in Sorrento, but you can make your early morning better by enjoying a delicious breakfast, Italian style, in Meta di Sorrento, a little maritime town of the Sorrento Coast, at the ‘Bar Romano’ very famous for its delicious pastries. We can guarantee you’ll enjoy the best ‘Sfogliatella’ here in Sorrento or the ‘Zeppola di San Giuseppe’ while sipping on a delicious creamy and strong espresso. 

After having a nice breakfast your journey can finally begin and you’ll enjoy a nice and conformable ride to Pompeii with the sea on your left side and the mountains and Vesuvius right in front of you. The best kind of you to start your day, so get your camera ready, there will be many more picture perfect opportunities like this one. From Sorrento to the Pompeii Ruins you can either use Private Transportation or the Circumvesuviana train, depending on how you prefer to spend the day and how large your group is.

Bar Romano

Corso Italia 35/37, 80062, Meta, Italy
+39 081 878 6227
https://www.pasticceriabarromano.it
Italian, Patisserie, Bar

9:15AM | Arrival to Pompeii Ruins and Tour

Pompeii is Italy’s most famous archeological site, in fact no other ancient town has been brought to life so completely vivid as this one. This unique Roman city invites visitors from all over the world, this is why its best you start your day quite early to enjoy this experience in the best way. We recommend a private tour, especially if you’re in a group of four people or more. After many years of experience and our hundreds of review, we are in touch with two of the most professional, reliable and English speaking drivers that will provide you with the most unforgettable and magical experience.

Once you have arrived at Pompeii you will most likely start to see a queue to purchase tickets or to simply enter the site, because of this we strongly recommend buying your ticket in advance so that you’ll be able to start your tour as soon as you arrive. You can also book a private tour guide with us that will help you to skip the queue and full immerse yourself into the history and culture of Pompeii, they will be able to give you in-depth knowledge and stories that you otherwise might not hear if you decided to do the tour independently.

You can visit stunning roman Villas with magnificent mosaics, temples and thermal baths. Usually the tour lasts two to three hours, if you also visit the theatre and amphitheatre. For more information regarding our local and professional drivers or tours and experiences you can contact me directly here.

EXPLORE POMPEII

OUR SELECTED TOURS

Visit to Ruins | Private & Shared 

12PM | Wine Tasting and Lunch in a Local Vineyard

The Mount Vesuvius dominates the Bay of Naples and is the only European active volcano surrounded by almost three-million-people, this is because the land around the volcano is extremely fertile, so farmers can hugely benefit from this area to cultivate grapes and grow the tasty Piennolo’s tomatoes.

I recommend you to experience this private tour because after your historical immersion in Pompeii, you will have the possibility to experience the traditional technique of how wine is made, conserved and produced. As well as having the traditional Italian wine tasting experience, you’ll sip and taste five different types of wines, including also the famous Lachrima Christi which is considered one of Italy’s best wines, combined with a delicious lunch with the stunning vineyard view.

7:30PM | Aperitif with Sea View and Dinner at L’Abate Restaurant

After a refreshing shower and a well deserved nap after an intensive day like this, all I’d like to do is relax and have a nice Aperol Spritz with a nice view, I’m sure you will agree. This three day itinerary in Sorrento keeps on going until the late night, so wear your most beautiful dress or favourite linen shirt and take yourself towards the city centre, walking along Corso Italia, Piazza Tasso and getting lost in the most characteristic alleys of Sorrento Old Town.

I know you are tired and all you want is to take a break from the intensive day trip spent in Pompeii, but if you walk a little it is worth taking an apéritif at the Marina Piccola, at Peters’ Beach, where there is a fairytale atmosphere by the sea. Peter’s beach is a beach club by day, and at sunset it turns first into a cocktail bar and then into a restaurant. The jazz music in the background combined with the sounds of the waves of the sea, just adds that extra special touch to an already magical evening, while the sunset caresses the coast of Sorrento and displays the beautiful colours in the blue of the bay.

After enjoying your drink or glass of wine you can return back to Sorrento centre and in a few minutes, you will find yourself back in the heart of the city and it is here that I advise you to stop for dinner at the restaurant called, L’Abate in Piazza Sant’Antonino. Situated in this elegant square, you will have several choices to chose from on the menu, from pasta, fresh fish and meat. Don’t forget to ask from a limoncello at the end of your dinner and experience the taste of Sorrento. After dinner you can stop for a drink at the stylish cocktail bar called d’Anton set in front of the restaurant, finely furnished and decorated or if you want to hear live music and dance, head to the Filou Club or Fauno Tasso. Enjoy your last night in Sorrento in style!

L'Abate Restaurant

Piazza S. Antonino 24, 80067, Sorrento, Italy
+39 081 807 23 04
https://www.labatesorrento.it
Italian, Restaurant, Bar

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