Sorrento or Positano?

Hi Greg. I debated the same questions when planning our recent trip to the Amalfi Coat area. We ended up staying in Sorrento because it was more central to visiting the Amalfi Coast towns plus Herculaneum and Pompeii. And, we were arriving from northern Italy into the train station in Naples and by staying in Sorrento, we could take the Circumvesuviana train directly to Sorrento whereas it doesn't go to Positano. I was really torn between staying in Sorrento because it seemed more practical versus staying in Positano which seemed more picturesque and quaint. In the end, we stayed in Sorrento and I'm SO glad we did. I ended up really loving Sorrento. It's a great town and we stayed at a wonderful B&B right in the town center and were close to everything. We loved spending time in Marina Grande, etc. We visited Positano on a day trip along the coast and liked it but agreed that we liked Sorrento better. It's just a personal preference and I know a lot of people enjoy staying in Positano as well but from a logistics standpoint, Sorrento just worked better for us.

We also visited Capri on a day trip (had a great tour company, Tours of Capri) and we enjoyed Capri but again, I'm glad we stayed in Sorrento. A full day was enough for us in Capri. By using a tour guide, we saw as much in one day as we probably would have seen in two days if we had visited on our own. I liked not having to pack up and schlep the luggage via boat to Capri for only 1 night. We stayed 5 nights in Sorrento and this allowed us to visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, Capri, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi.

Have a great trip. If you need a hotel recommendation for Sorrento, let me know.

Sheron,
thanks for the help. I am thinking we will stay in Sorrento for practicality reasons. Any hotel info would also be much appreciated! Anywhere in northern Italy as well!

I agree with Sheron. We love Sorrento. It's so much more practical than Positano for getting around to other places. There's more to do in Sorrento, and it's flat.. whereas Positano is a steep climb up or down. We've been to Sorrento 3 times for a week each time and always hate to leave.

We don't like Capri, so staying there wouldn't appeal to me. And as Sheron said, you'd have to schlep your stuff over and back. A day trip is plenty.

I prefer Positano because is quainter and there are nicer beaches in that area.. But Sorrento is logistically more convenient because of the Circumvesuviana. I had a car so it didn't matter for me, but without a car Sorrento is better for connections to the other places. Also Positano is a steep climb so not good for those who have mobility or fitness issues (don't know if it applies to you but keep it in mind). There are boat tours to Capri from both Sorrento and Positano, so that doesn't matter. One day trip to Capri is all you need to have your wallet plundered.

Visited Amalfi Coast last month. If you have a car I suggest Agriturismo Sant Alfonso in Furore. It is in the mountains overlooking the Mediterranean. Been to Europe numerous times. My favorite place anywhere. We first stayed there 12 years ago. Fresh baked breakfast every morning. 4 couse dinner every night. 8 rooms that have a/c. It is like staying with an Italian family

greg,

The answer will probably depend on what you want to see in that area. Sorrento provides more convenient access to transportation whether to Naples (Archeological Museum), Pompeii, Herculaneum or other sights, or to Positano.

As Roberto mentioned, Positano has kind of a "quaint" atmosphere but it's necessary to use Bus or Car to get anywhere else. Positano has lots of hills, so you'll either be walking downhill to the harbour or uphill back to your hotel. As most of the town is in somewhat of a bay, I found that the sunshine decreases in mid-afternoon and it's in the shade after that.

Whether to spend a night or two on Capri will depend on how much exploring you want to do. A day trip will allow a quick visit to Capri and Annacapri, but not much time to wander around and explore. As I recall the boat trip from Positano to Capri is about an hour each way.

Happy travels!