Requesting itinerary review for Sorrento area

Looks great
We did the Mondo Guides shared tours for Pompeii and Capri--both were fantastic

Do leave some time to just enjoy Sorrento!

Day 6 - cooking class? I don’t have a specific recommendation, but would that be of interest to some, or all of you?

ChristineH

Thank you for the response. After your Pompeii tour, were you able to stay on site and do more exploring on your own?

Yes- we did stay for a bit. Unfortunately it was pouring down rain and we just couldn't deal with that too long.
Our guide was terrific, knew which areas were open/closed, avoided the bottlenecks then showed us where to go explore when the 2 hour tour was done.
Regardless of the miserable rain it was still one of our favorite days. Just a fascinating place.

The Capri tour was wonderful- the sea was rough so Blue Grotto was closed (we did not plan to do that anyway).
The boat ride all the way around the island was the best part.
Super fun crew, knowledgeable, helpful, cheerful!

Pay attention when they tell you where to get your funicular tickets - it is a bit confusing.
There was some confusion about whether the tour would go at all due to weather so we did not get the "lunch/sandwich" that is supposedly included- no big deal- they plied us with beer, wine, limoncello on the ride back.

Welcome to the Forum! This is the place for planning amazing experiences in Italy!!! You have lots on your list and everyone of them is worthwhile. Lots of walking, so bring really good shoes. Do your homework and prioritize your 'must see/do' list. Some places take more time: to see, to get to. That could challenge your schedule. I wonder if you have left time for Sorrento itself? It's one of my favorite places in Italy (have been there about a dozen times) and never tire of it so I'm prejudiced . . . just a whole lot. :) Your RS guide book will give you plenty of good ideas about eating and drinking. Sorrento is a great city to meander, especially the side streets (alleys). The views, day and night, are invigorating and peaceful at the same time. Make sure you get down to Marina Grande and have an amazing seafood dinner. Sunsets, IMHO, are the most beautiful any where. I've been there when people actually applauded! Make sure you watch as the diamond necklace begins to surround the Bay of Naples. Shopping is good - ceramics, inlaid wood, anything lemon, and especially linen clothes (I buy 2 or 3 linen shirts each year - just can't resist). One daytrip suggestion: take the boat from Sorrento to Positano and then onto Amalfi. From Amalfi, take the bus back to Sorrento. The views from the water are worth it. On the bus ride back, sit on the driver's side for the best 'scary' views. My favorite hotel (the only one I've stayed at) is il Nido (ilnido.it). It sits above the city with a spectacular view and what I seriously believe is the best restaurant in Sorrento. They have an hourly shuttle to the city center - you don't want to drive in Sorrento. Enjoy your trip. Make lots of memories and bring back a lot of stories! Remember: you deserve this!

Cyn,

Thanks, cooking class is a great idea!

Robert,
Thanks for all that, very inspiring!

Any interest in hiking? There are several stunning hikes in the area. A tourist office can advise, or you can preview with a book or website. There are two books that highlight the hikes on the peninsula. One then ends with a swim would be my choice.

While you will have a car, I definitely visit the Greek and Roman ruins at Paestum.

There is plenty to see in Sorrento; do think about spending more time in the town itself. Robert makes some good points.

We spent about 5 days in Sorrento a few years ago, and other than most of a day at Pompeii, and about half a day in Naples to see the archeological museum, we stayed in Sorrento. We were never bored, and never ran out of things to do.

Oh, what a beautiful and historic area! You will love it! One suggestion for day 6: I would do a boat ride down the coast and spend more time in Amalfi, Positano or Ravello. I'm not sure how much your guide will cover on day 2, but it's a lot of area. We missed Ravello entirely because we only had one day. And the view from the water is really outstanding! If you have extra time that day wander in Sorrento's markets to see a little of that city. Also, I hope you're doing a boat ride in Capri. We didn't do the Blue grotto but there are several gorgeous spots/inlets/caves around the island!
The only other thing I would offer is to pay attention to your bills/receipts. More than once a restaurant accidentally brought us the wrong change...kinda suspicious! We got pickpocketed in another spot in Italy as well so just be aware of yourself! I hear Naples is especially gritty. Not unsafe but people may just be trying to capitalize off tourists.

I would return to Sorrento just to have dinner at Bagni Delfino located in Marina Grande. Fabulous array of seafood!
Can you tweak your itinerary to spend a few nights on Capri instead of doing a day trip there? We spent three nights there and were very happy that we did.
Enjoy your time in Puglia! We spent a week in Polignano a Mare and enjoyed the area so much. More seafood too!

Thanks for all these replies. Such great suggestions!

I read about hop-on hop-off bus services that take one around the outskirts of Sorrento with views of the bay and other sites. Has anybody done one of these? What did you think of it?