If you have ever dreamt of going to Italy, Sorrento should definitely be on your list of must sees. From the breathtaking views, friendly people and scrumptious food, it will not disappoint. I was there in October for 2 weeks and had an amazing time.
The flight was direct from NY to Naples, which was very disappointing as the trash was overwhelming in Naples. I see potential but really was sad at the state of the city itself. So, it’s simply a pause to catch a ride to Sorrento. As you approach Sorrento, the coastal views become more and more spectacular. You also will begin to see lemon trees and olives trees dotting the sides of the road signifying you are close.
I stayed at the Hilton Sorrento Palace which was perched up on the hillside with an incredible view of Mt Vesuvius and easily walkable to the town center. The town of Sorrento is dotted with shops and cafes. Make sure you pick up some olives, creamy lemoncello and lemon linguine while you are there. There’s a small shop called Fattoria Terranova that has lots of great food gifts at reasonable prices. It is affiliated with an incredible restaurant that you can take a wonderful cooking class from. Highly recommend!
Make reservations for a Michelin Star restaurant that will delight your tastebuds called Il Buco. It is cut into the mountainside and has a wonderful wine selection & presentation. The chef is a genius and if you feel adventurous, put the meal in his hands and you won’t be disappointed.
A day trip to Mt Vesuvius and a visit to Pompeii for a bit of history is also suggested and you can wrap up the day with a wine tasting at Sorrentino Winery. They will ship wine and olive oil to the US and the prices aren’t too steep. I suggest arranging a driver ahead of time to pick you up, rather than taking the train which is not airconditioned and makes lots of stops.
You can also rent a boat for the day (Sorrento Luxury) and take a jaunt up the coast stopping at Amalfi and Positano. Positano is very touristy, so a few hours will be sufficient. I found the shop workers there very unfriendly, perhaps due to the fact it was approaching the end of the tourist high season.
The boat company, Sorrento Luxury, was wonderful. The captain was very informative and friendly and took us to all the best spots. He made a great stop for lunch at a charming restaurant, accessible only by boat, where they cooked the freshest fish and were very friendly. The full day trip for 6 people was $800euro. Well worth it!
You must also take the ferry over to the isle of Capri for a day of shopping and eating/drinking. You will get a dose of high end shops mixed with some locally owned shoe shops which custom make Capri sandals made just for your foot. You pick the color and style and in about 3 hours, they will be ready.
Take the lift all the way up to AnaCapri to see the views from the top of the island and then stop at souvenir shops and pop into little hidden spots for unique views from lookout nooks. A day will be plenty, as there is more to see in that part of Italy that is less touristy.
Sorrento is a spot not to be passed over when visiting Italy. I also suggest taking the water ferry over to Ischia which is about a 45 minute ride. Stay tuned for that write up coming soon. 
A Girl on A Beach 