Why Sorrento? Why The Amalfi Coast?

You'll experience an undeniable pull as you travel through the regions of southern Italy. It moves to a different beat and it will have you feeling tantalisingly close to experiencing La Dolce Vita! This is the real Italy! Mind you, you'll never be more aware of your own mortality than when you visit the city of Naples - but as the birthplace of pizza and Sophia Loren, surely it's worth a spot on your itinerary.

Although it will test your fear of heights, Capri and the Amalfi Coast offer some of the most stunning scenery in the country - try the amazing vantage points in the towns Ana-Capri on Capri and Positano on the Amalfi Coast for an magnificent views.

Sorrento, our recommended base to explore the region has easy access to the surrounding hot spots by car, train, bus and ferry - most notably Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi. Sorrento itself is full of winding streets to explore and shop not to mention the private beaches that let you relax and take in the mesmerising views of this Mediterranean bay.

Accommodation

At just 150m from the train station and approx. 3 minutes walk to the centre of town, this hotel was on our good books before we even stepped in the door!

But it didn't stop there. We were greeted by a modern and comfortable reception and English-speaking staff. Although the rooms are on the small side - this is not uncommon across Europe and came as no shock - especially considering the rooms are fully renovated and most have a balcony or courtyard area to entertain or relax and watch the world go by.

Next door you'll find a fantastic supermarket with everything you'll need to pick up some supplies including food and liquor, clothing and swimwear and even beach-toys for some fun in the sun.

Piazza Tasso, the main square, is a flat, 2-3 minute walk away. Pedestrianised in the evening from here you can find dinner from the many restaurants surrounding the piazza; hop on a bus down to the port and private beaches or shop 'til your heart's content!

For location, price, service and condition, the Jetsettr team use and recommend Hotel Sorrento City when staying in Sorrento.

PLEASE NOTE: Jetsettr does not receive any form of remuneration from Hotel Sorrento City for our recommendation. We make this recommendation based on our own experience of the hotel.

Airports

Local Airports

Naples

Capo di Chino Airport

Serviced by Alitalia and Lufthansa and several low-cost airlines including Easy Jet.

www.gesac.it or www.naples-airport.com  

Major/International Airports 

Rome

Climate & When To Go 

The best time to visit is from April to June or early Autumn (September and October) when the weather is warm, without being unbearably hot!

High season is at its peak in August so if you're travelling there during this popular time, expect high temperatures, crowds and increased prices on accommodation and other services. But don't let that put you off, it's the same everywhere! And there is a certain buzz about travelling during the busy periods.

Winter can be a much more peaceful and cost-effective time to visit the Amalfi Coast as well as other Italian cities if you can handle the cold. But don't expect to have the area to yourself - this stunning region is busy year-round.

Currency 

Essentials 

Internet Access 

Sorrento - Internet Point Sorrento

Via Fuoro, 60/A

Sorrento Service

Via S. Paolo, 5/7

Naples - Onda Blu (internet access & washing!)

Cost:

30 mins/1hr - €3/5

(Sorrento Service)

Laundry

Sorrento - Lavanderia Gilda

Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, 11

Naples - Onda Blu (washing & internet access)

Via Zanotti, 11

Cost:

Pharmacy

Sorrento - Farmacia Farfalla Dr. Giuseppina

Via Luigi De Maio, 19

Post Office

Sorrento - Poste Italiane Spa

Corso Italia, 210

Naples - Poste

Piazza Matteotti (off Via Armando Diaz)

Getting There & Around

Getting There

Plane (see Airports)

Bus

Common Routes:

To Siena - €6.50 - 1.25hrs

To San Gimignano - €5.90 - 1.25hrs - 14 daily

Car & Motorbike

The A1 connects Florence to Bologna and Milan in the north and Rome and Naples to the south.

Train

Naples, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast are well connected by train to other Italian cities and towns and to the rest of Europe.

Naples

Stazione Centrale (Stazione Garibaldi) is the hub for national and international trains with all trains arriving and departing from here.

Getting To Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast

Ferrovia Circumvesuviana train station operates trains to Pompeii and Herculaneum and Sorrento (and a number of towns in between). It is located approx. 400m southwest of Stazione Centrale (Corso G. Garibaldi) - take the underpass from Stazione Centrale (it's a little tricky to find but it's there! Facing the platforms, the ticket office is to your right approx. 50m with the platforms basically directly underneath).

For Pompeii, get off at the Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri stop. The Porto Marina entrance is nearby. The Tourist Office (Piazza Porta Marina Inferiore, 12) is located just outside the excavations at Piazza Porto Marina.

Common Routes:

Naples

To/from Rome €10-20 /   2-3hrs

From Ferrovia Circumvesuviana

To Pomeii/Herculaneum  €2.30 / 35mins / hourly

           To Sorrento            €3.20 / 1hr / hourly

Getting To & From The Airport

Naples

Shuttle Bus

Alibus shuttle buses run to Napoli Centrale railway station and then to Piazza Municipio in the centre of Naples.

www.alibus.it

Bus

ANM buses (ligne 3S) run to Napoli Centrale railway station.

www.anm.it

Taxi

Taxis are available from outside Arrivals, with fixed rates to various destinations within Naples' city limits. Extra charges may apply for luggage and night calls.

 Cost:

Alibus Shuttle Buses

approx. €3

Taxi

approx. €21.60

Getting Around Town

Boat

Types of boat transportation:

Hydrofoil (aliscafi) - approx. double the speed of ferries.

Ferry (traghetti) - Visit the website for all ferry infomation in & out of Italy

www.traghettionline.net

Ferries leave from Marina Piccola in Sorrento.

SNAV

Services Capri and many other destinations around this part of Italy.

www.snav.it

Caremar

Services Capri, Naples, Sorrento and many other destinations around this part of Italy.

www.caremar.it

Cost:

SNAV

Capri Return

Hydrofoil €12 / 30mins / 5 daily

Caremar

Hydrofoil €12 / 30mins

Ferry €6 / 1.5hrs

Bus

Naples

www.unicocampania.it 

Sorrento

SITA run at least 12 buses daily to the Amalfi Coast. The first stop if Positano then it's on to Amalfi.

With dramatic, heart-stopping views, we can't deny that travelling by bus to Positano and Amalfi is the only way to get a look at these views without putting your life in considerable danger.

But be warned(!) Although I'm sure the bus drivers are quite experienced, you'll gain new definition to the terms "hair-raising turns" and "vertiginous cliffs" as you make impossible squeezes past tour buses, scooters and cars.

By the time you arrive back in Sorrento, you'll need a bottle or two of Limoncello to return to your normal state of being - but what an experience!

The craziest way to get to Positano? This is our pick.

Leave from Piazza Garibaldi (in front of train station) for Salerno, Amalfi Coast & Caserta.

Take Linea B for the a quick, cheap and easy way to get up and down the hill between Piazza Tasso and Marina Piccola where you can catch the ferry or visit one of the private or public beaches.

Capri

Marina Grande Port connects you to Capri, Ana Capri and other points around the island. The funicular takes you straight up and down the hill between Marina Grande and Capri Town (closed in February).

Cost:

Naples

€1 / 1.5hr ticket

€3 / day pass

Capri 

          €1.30/6.70            per trip/daily ticket

Positano/Amalfi 

€1.30/2.40 1hr/1.5hrs

Car & Motorbike

Generally not advisable unless you're a confident driver - traffic can be chaotic and theft is common - especially in and around Naples.

If you're going to brave it, take the A3 (Naples-Pompeii-Salerno road) which connects to the coastal road leading to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

Internet Resources 

These links cover information on Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast and Italy.

Sorrento Tourism

Sorrento Info

Capri.com

Amalfi Coast

Italian National Tourism Agency

Lonely Planet - Amalfi Coast

Passes

Campania Artecard

The Campania Artecard gives you free or discounted access to many museums around Naples & the wider Campania region plus free public transport*.

To purchase a Campania Artecard before you go, visit their website below. Otherwise you can purchase the card at Naples train station, port, airport and in many hotels, museums and newsagents.

www.campaniaartecard.it

Cost:

3 Day Naples / 3 Days Campania / 7 Days Campania

€15 / 27 / 30

Passports & Visas

All visitors to Italy require a valid passport.

A visa is not currently required by Australian passport holders for stays of up to 90 days.

Citizens of other countries may require a visa. Different regulations apply for stays of more than 90 days.

For further information please consult with the Italian Consulate or your travel agent.

Public Holidays

Shopping

Naples

The main shopping area extends from Piazza Garibaldi to Piazza Bovio.

Sorrento

From Piazza Tasso in the centre of town, right along Corso Italia and in the narrow streets behind it you can shop 'til you drop! Weave your way through the bursting alleyways to discover designer boutiques amongst shops with local wares.

Don't leave without grabbing yourself some Limoncello (a famous liquor made from local citrus fruits - notably lemons) and leather shoes made on the spot.  

Capri

Both the area around the port, Marina Grande and Capri Town at Ana Capri offer a myriad of shopping opportunities. From stalls and shops with local souvenirs to classy, modern boutiques with the very lastest in fashion and home-wares. Don't leave town without a pair of Capri pants - made famous by Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe.

Positano

All you need to do is wind your way down the hill and through the beautiful streets beyond to find everything from antiques, Italian fashion and home-wares, deli's and cafes. When you finally get to the restaurant-filled bay it'll be just about time for an expresso or perhaps a fresh seafood lunch!

But don't forget your credit card here - you'll need a little extra dosh to come home with some of the finer wares on display - but hey, how are often are you in exclusive Positano anyway?

Speaking The Language

Tipping

Tipping in the tourism and hospitality industries in Italy is common practice.

It is customary to tip taxi drivers, porters, local guides and staff at restaurants and hotels.

Be aware that cheeky restaurateurs as well as other service providers will often automatically add a service charge and tip to the bill. Good luck in disputing it if you intend to – it’s not easy!

Tours 

From the mystical Blue Grotto and to the fascinating ruins of Pompeii, there are sites in this region of Italy to suit everyone's interests.

Below, we've put together some of the most popular tours and travel experiences for Sorrento, Naples and the Amalfi Coast. Any of which you can securely book online with us before you go.

Pompeii & Herculaneum

Adults / concession

€10 / 5

Blue Grotto

€17 return / 1hr approx.

What & Where To Eat

Pizza is of so often associated with the Campania region of Italy and more specifically, Naples, which is said to be its birthplace. The essence of pizza to the Italians is about the quality of ingredients and less about its particular toppings or number of them. That's why real pizza is simple and delicious - often with only two to 4 ingredients like the classic Margherita (olive oil, tomato sauce, basil and mozzarella cheese).

Pizza fanatic or not, you cannot visit Naples without having a pizza at one of the many magnificent pizzerias around town. We like Di Matteo (Via dei Tribunali, 94). Don't be put off by the paper places and plastic cups - the pizza is simply awesome!

In Sorrento you'll soon get a taste for their local liqueur - limoncello. Made from local citrus, its not uncommon for restaurants to serve a shot after a meal. And there are plenty of opportunities to take some home with a number of local producers selling their style of limoncello in shops in the streets surrounding Piazza Tasso.

For a quick take-away or snack, you can't go past misto di frittura (deep-fried vegetables) and breaded mozzarella sticks - yum!

Jetsettr Travel Resources

Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast Trip Designer

We've put together a great selection of travel accessories for a perfect trip to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!

What would you pack for your trip?

Accor Hotels

Accor is the the world's leading hotel manager and market leader in Europe. Accorhotels.com is Accor's international and multibrands website offering almost 4,000 hotels in 90 countries and 13 brands from budget to luxury: Etap Hotel, Formule1, HotelF1, All Seasons, ibis, SuiteNovotel, Mercure, Novotel, Adagio, Pullman, Mgallery, Sofitel and Hôtels Barrière.

As a Jetsettr Travel Partner, Accorhotels.com enables you to confidently book all your accommodation needs directly from their website, benefiting from any current promotions they have on offer. Whatever it is, you'll hear it here first!

So whether you've got last minute plans or bookings to make in advance, you can do so here.

Expedia

Hotel Sorrento City, Sorrento

For location, price, service and condition, the Jetsettr team use and recommend Hotel Sorrento City when staying in Sorrento.

Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet is the worlds’ leading travel media company.

Their award-winning travel content, innovative culture and adventurous, can-do spirit provide travellers the information, tools and inspiration to embark on their own journeys, near and far.

Rail Europe Australia

For more than 15 years, RailEurope has been helping travellers to discover the benefits of travelling around Europe by train.

Offering a miriad of rail-pass and single journey options, travelling by train offers one of the easiest, most environmentally-friendly and flexible transport options for getting around Italy, Europe and beyond!

Travel SIM

TravelSIM is a mobile phone service for international travellers.

TravelSIM allows you to use your own mobile phone when you travel to another country without having to use expensive international roaming services enabling you to greatly reduce the cost of using your mobile phone in another country - how much could you save?

TravelSIM works in over 150 countries.

TravelSIM is a prepaid service. There are no contracts, no set-up fees and no minimum spends.

TravelSIM is based in Australia so they are easy to contact if you have any support.

Trip Advisor

TripAdvisor is the world’s most popular, largest, and most trusted travel community.

The Trip Advisor website provides a free and comprehensive travel planning experience which enables you to confidently make your travel plans with the knowledge of the largest database of traveller reviews and recommendations.

From direct access to major online suppliers such as Expedia, Orbitz, and Hotels.com and 30+ million real traveler reviews, TripAdvisor also has a suite of products to offer its visitors such as a robust flights search engine, hotel compare and check rates search and holiday rental search, as well as restaurant and attraction ratings and reviews, worldwide.

The Jetsettr team highly recommends the use of TripAdvisor in assisting you with your travel plans.

Venere.com

Venere.com, leader in the online hotel reservations market, offers approx. 53,000 accommodations with online booking.

Hotels from 1 to 5 star luxury hotels, b&b’s, guest houses, holiday rentals, country houses and more.

Venere.com features real-time rates, availability, special offers and the best deals on the web. All this with the help of over 655,000 hotel reviews!

Viator

Whether you want to cruise along the Seine, have a guided tour of Rome's ancient sites or check out Madam Tussaud's in London, we've teamed up with Viator to enable you to securely book a huge range of tours and travel experiences anytime!