If you want sunshine, food that is out of this world, and plenty of ancient history to explore, it doesn’t get much better than the Sorrento & Amalfi coast. It was the playground of Rome’s emperors for centuries, so if it’s good enough for Caesar, it’s good enough for us! And with such a great collection of luxury villas, you won't be disappointed.
In fact, this is the Italian destination to head to if you’re a hopeless romantic and want to sweep your other half off their feet, a history lover who just can’t get enough of those ruins, or a family looking for a beach to laze on.
The landscape is typically southern Italian, with green hills and steep, rocky cliffs that tumble down towards the sea. Dotted throughout the landscape you’ll find tiny towns and villages that have remained unchanged for centuries.
If you do want to get around, the public transport system in this part of the country is superb, but bear in mind that the roads are busy, chaotic, and feature the occasional random donkey, so using buses and trains is a much better option.
Escape the mad crowds of Naples and head a little further down south to the pretty towns of Amalfi and Sorrento, two of Italy's most popular summer destinations. A relaxed café culture, easy access to major historical sites like Pompeii, and some of the best Italian food you’ll ever taste are just some of the reasons to make this chilled-out destination your next stop for a great holiday.
Food and drink
You’ve really hit the jackpot in this region when it comes to food and drink in Italy. Kick off the day with coffee and the local sfogliatella, a delicious sweet pastry you’ll fall in love with at the first bite.
If you want to eat like a local, make lunch your main meal of the day, and seeing as you’re just a short distance from Naples, the birthplace of pizza, we’ve got a good idea what you should go for!
In this part of Italy the locals still believe in eating seasonally, so all year round you’ll see variations on the local menus, from fresh asparagus in the spring through to black truffles and chestnuts in the autumn.
Wash everything down with the local favourite tipple, limoncello, probably the best palette cleanser in the world! One of the best things to do in Sorrento is take a tour of Sorrento Farm, where you can see how the liqueur is made and, naturally, taste a glass or three for yourself.
If you want more information, you can also check the Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Travel Guide or get some inspiration from locals in our blog.
What Oliver loves
A combination of the warm welcome you’ll get everywhere, wonderful food and drink, and those gorgeous beaches all come together to make you feel like a local. It’s one of our favourite spots in the Med, with year-round attractions, festivals and events to keep everyone happy.