Sorrento is a rare thing among towns and cities in Europe; it’s a coastal town without a great beach. For some people, that may be off-putting of course. Sometimes, there’s nothing better than a day on the sand interspersed with dips in the blue water. However, the wonderful thing about Sorrento is that it doesn’t matter. It makes the best out of everything else about being by the sea and, because it doesn’t rest on those “beach life” laurels, it’s every bit as wonderful in the night as it is in daytime.
This cliff-top paradise resort is a magnificent place to come for a break. There’s something to suit all types of travellers and holiday groups. And yes, it may be a little touristy, but only in the very best ways. So much so that you’ll find yourself delighted at every turn at how much fun you’re having.
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1. Take a passeggiata in the city centre
Sorrento in the daytime is fabulous, of course, but the temperatures can get up into the high 80s and 90s Fahrenheit (26.6 to 32 C), making a long walk often feel like a physical trial rather than a pleasure. Fortunately, the shops stay open late at night, including up until 9 pm on Sundays. This makes the evening the perfect time to go for a passeggiata (a nice, leisurely walk), explore the shops, and enjoy some street food. Sorrento in the evening is beautiful, and a little quieter than in the daytime, so this is something to look forward to.
Sorrento City Centre
Website: Sorrento
2. Take the Amalfi Drive for an incredible experience
If you hire a car for your trip, then ideally you will have two drivers because, while this is an unforgettable experience, it’s less rewarding for the driver. The Amalfi Coast road, leading from Sorrento to Amalfi via Positano, is beautiful in the daytime. At night, it’s even more stunning as the coastal resorts are lit up and prettier than ever. Indeed, it might be worth leaving the car behind and taking a bus to get the full experience; it’s one you’ll want to record for posterity.
Amalfi Drive
Address: Amalfi Coast, Naples, Italy
3. Relax with an aperitivo at a cafe with a terrace
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Sorrento is in Italy, so of course food is taken seriously here. Seriously to the point of requiring a small drink (alcoholic or not) before dinner, and ideally at one of the many cafes with a terrace you will find in Sorrento. Here, you can sit and watch the world go by, which is fun anywhere, but with the Sorrento town square as a backdrop, it gets even better. Quick tip: In Italy, aperitivo time stretches from around 7 to 9 pm, at which point dinner is eaten.
Aperitivo at Bar Rita
Address: Corso Italia, 219, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy
Website: Bar Rita
4. Set sail from Marina Grande
As a coastal location, Sorrento has a couple of marinas. Known as Marina Grande and Marina Piccolo (those are large and small, respectively), they offer the chance to take a trip to nearby points of interest such as Naples and Capri. An early evening cruise to one of those beautiful spots can allow you to see the coast as darkness descends, taking on an almost magical quality that’s a feast for the eyes. Alternatively, if you haven’t got your sea legs, you can sit in one of the many cafes and bars port-side and enjoy the view.
Marina Grande
Address: Marina Grande, Sorrento, Italy
Website: Marina Grande
5. Sing and dance the night away at Tiffany
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
In Sorrento nightlife lore, no club has as longstanding and glittering a reputation as Tiffany. The nightclub is famous for its live music, which can vary between local, Italian language acts from Sorrento and nearby, or a more eclectic and international mix. After an evening in one of the many fine restaurants here, the finest way to end the night is with a couple of hours in this Sorrento institution.
Tiffany Sorrento
Address: Via Sant'Antonino 6, Piazza Tasso, 80067, Sorrento, Italy
6. Take a walk by the harbour and enjoy the sights
Although Sorrento may not be a beach paradise, it doesn’t mean you can’t go for a walk by the sea here. In fact, the walks you can take here, along the side of Sorrento harbour, can be even more pleasant because they’re more relaxing and scenic. The best time of all for such a walk may be just as the sun begins to go down. As you watch Sorrento light up ready for another flamboyant evening, a walk in the fresh sea air is just the way to work up an appetite.
Sorrento harbour
Address: Sorrento, Italy
7. Take in a Tarantella show at Teatro Tasso
Teatro Tasso, on Sorrento’s main square, hosts evenings of Tarantella shows that have become synonymous with the culture of the city. Tarantella, for the uninitiated, started as a form of dance not dissimilar to the tango, for which composers as illustrious as Rossini came to write music for specially. It has been argued that the shows lost their way over the course of time, until the proprietors of the Tasso looked deep into the history and culture of the dances to try and bring back the magic. This has proved a tremendous success, with countless tourists to the area remarking on the Tarantella as a highlight of their trip.
Teatro Tasso
Address: Piazza Sant'Antonino, 25, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy
Website: Teatro Tasso
8. Eat! Dine in one of the many excellent restaurants
Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing
Any evening in Sorrento, or anywhere in Italy, would be a missed opportunity if the visitor doesn’t take the chance to sample the local cuisine. So near to the sea, it feels like it would be a shame not to sample some of the local seafood, with risotto and sea bass at Ristorante Bagni Delfino being particularly popular choice among visitors. Alternatively, Raki specialises in Italian traditional meals and offers a range of gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly options, as well as some of the best gelato in town.
Ristorante Bagni Delfino
Address: Via Marina Grande, 216, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy
See Sorrento and smile: a seaside experience you'll want to repeat
Nearby Naples is famous, among other things, for the quote (attributed to Goethe, but not definitively): “See Naples and die.” The meaning was that, once you’d been there, nothing could ever top it. No one is going to suggest that you should see your holiday in Sorrento in quite the same melodramatic light, but it is a trip that will make you smile from ear to ear. Beautiful scenery, wonderful food, and perhaps most importantly, nights that will make the whole experience feel like a holiday in Heaven. Sorrento comes alive at night, and you’ll want to be there to see it happen.
History
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