Five days in Sorrento

We spent 5 days in Sorrento in Oct and LOVED it. Some of our best meals in our 3 weeks in Italy were in Sorrento. We took a day trip/train to Herculaneum (same volcano that wiped out Pompeii, but small, not as crowded) . . . it was one of the highlights of our trip. Rip out the Herculaneum section of the RS Italy book and take it with you . . . he does a GREAT job at walking you thru and pointing our all the highlights, mosaics, etc. It's truly unbelievable. Don't miss the skeletons of the bodies - it's often missed as it's in the old boat area . . . it is chilling. We had some incredible pizza (Pizzeria Luna Caprese Sas Di Luna Michelina - it's on the Left on the main street leaving Herculaneum heading back to the train) after on the way back to the train . . . they didn't speak English, but it was easy to order. Also, a day trip to the Amalfi coast . . . we did a van tour, the driving is curvy and narrow and scary and you don't want to miss the views . . . gorgeous . . . we stopped in 3 towns! Save a couple days for Sorrento itself.

Sorrento Restaurants--
Il Leone Rosso
Inn Bufalito Taverna Mediterranea

Have fresh squeezed OJ on the main square.

Herculaneum and the above restaurants are on TripAdvisor for photos and other reviews.

Definitely Pompeii, Herculaneum, day trip to Capri/Anacapri, and I would also add Naples if you have any extra time (at least the Archeological Museum, which is a great addition to Pompeii). It has been many years since I went, so I cannot recall restaurants (sorry!)

Herculaneum, Pompeii, and Naples are all easy accessible on the Circumvesuviana train. You could see both Herculaneum and Naples (the Archaeology Museum is a wow) in one day. Or maybe a full day exploring Naples and a long day seeing Pompeii and Herculaneum, though Pompeii can take the better part of a day if you want to see it all (the Casa dei Misteri is worth the long walk there and back). For a full day in Naples, the ferry from Sorrento may be as good as the train.

I like the idea of a van tour to the Amalfi Coast, because the ferries won't be running yet, so your only other option is public buses which limits you to their schedules and having to walk back up to the bus after to walk down to the shore.

Paestum is a possibility, though it's a long trip there and back on public transportation (transfer in Salerno).

We'll be spending 5 nights in Sorrento in a few weeks, our first time there. Last time in the area two years ago we stayed in Salerno, visiting Pompeii and Amalfi-town.

We're staying within walking distance of the train station (and I believe the bus loads there as well), on purpose. Definitely we will take the Circumvesuviana on a day trip to Naples for a visit to the Archeological Museum. Slight possibility of a stop at Ercolano on the way back, but we're thinking we'll just enjoy Naples a little more instead, and not run ourselves ragged.

Through our B&B, we have signed up for a cooking class on a farm overlooking Capri. May visit Capri/Anacapri on a different day. I've also wanted to see the San Francesco Cloisters in Sorrento, an 8th century courtyard. And we may take the SITA bus from Sorrento back to the Amalfi Coast for a visit to Positano, but I don't think there will be much open that time of year. But the SITA bus--which we took last time from Salerno to Amalfi--is cheap entertainment for spectacular views.

Enjoy your planning!

I second the recommendation for "Ieone Rosso" (Red Lion) restaurant in Sorrento. Delicious food, and reasonably priced. It is on the street in front of the train station. There is also an excellent gelato stand a couple of doors down.

We did the Rick Steves recommended shared Mondoguide.it tour of the Amalfi Coast. If you go to the website, you will see "Rick Steves" on the top left. There are no more than 8 people in the van, and it was reasonably priced for the all day tour of the coast, with stops in Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, as well as a pottery store.