we will be stopping for one day in sorrento on our windstar cruise in may. We are trying to decide if we should just walk around sorrento for the day, or if we should hire a car and go to Positano and do some other towns along the way. Would love opinions/ thoughts on this . thanks Diane

We will be stopping on our windstar cruise for one day in sorrento. Trying to decide if we should stay in sorrento and just walk/tour on our own, vs hiring a car to take us down the coast to positano and a few other villages. Id appreciate any insight/opinions/adivse. Thanks Diane

I would try to see other towns, but it depends on how much time you realistically have. FWIW, on our first visit to the area, we stayed in Sorrento in a hotel overlooking the bay. When we left for a day of sightseeing in other towns, we saw passengers coming off a cruise ship that had docked during the night. When we returned in the late afternoon, we saw a very long line of passengers waiting to get back on the same ship. When we left the hotel a little later to go to dinner, the ship was gone. Technically, the passengers had less time to explore that day than we did, but we used public transportation and not a private driver. There were no consequences to us if we returned late.

I stayed in Sorrento for two nights on a tour. The last day was our time to do what we wanted. We were able to get a feel for Sorrento the night before so decided to book a driver to Positano. We left the hotel about 8am and had to return by 2pm. We got back about 1:30 ish. Traffic was terrible on the way back. We only had time for lunch in Positano and some time maybe a hour or 2 in Amalfi. We also stopped at a overlook for about 20 mins. The problem was just the traffic and Amalfi was very crowded so going early helped. I went at the end of August.

How about a ferry boat ride to Positano rather than a drive/traffic?

This will probably be moved.......well it sort of depends on time, budget and interests. If you just want to shop, stroll, sample lemoncello and have a long lunch, Sorrento is a pleasant place to hang out. A drive along the coast would be super picturesque - I would suggest a private tour, maybe a ship tour, just in case of traffic delays. You can search a little more on google and see if you can get ferry info. Enjoy!

Nothing exceptional in Sorrento -- a nice watering hole and base - Pompeii is just a short train ride or drive or yes drive along the Amalfi but Sorrento itself nothing of exceptional interest to merit a whole day there.

I kept the card our driver handed out as I hope to one day return and I hate driving. Here is their website if you would like to look www.excursionsandtransfers.com. It wasn't that expensive I think €200 and there were 3 of us.

On my one visit to the area I stayed in Sorrento and found it ideal for that, coming & going, a bit of shopping & dinners before retiring. But I doubt I'd have liked it as much for a destination day trip. If you haven't been to either Pompeii or Herculaneum (Ercolano) they're both a short train ride on the Circumvesuviano commuter train from Sorrento (end of the line). I haven't been to the Amalfi Coast so cannot compare.

I haven't been to Sorrento for a few years, but I don't believe cruise ships can dock there. The ship will be out a bit and you have to tender in which can take longer getting to and from. You would need to allow time for that in your plans.

An option that might be easier is take the train from Sorrento to Pompeii for a few hours (about 30 minute travel time each way and 2-3€) if that interests you.

"An option that might be easier is take the train from Sorrento to Pompeii for a few hours (about 30 minute travel time each way and 2-3€) if that interests you."

Yes, or Herculaneum, also nearby, same train from Sorrento and smaller than Pompeii, depending on how much time you have.

BTW, this has been posted twice, other responses: https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...a-day-1665110/

kybourbon describes what we saw on our first visit to Sorrento. We were staying at a hotel with a view of the dock. A cruise ship arrived during the night and anchored offshore. As we were leaving for a day of sightseeing to other towns, we saw passengers being ferried to the dock in smaller boats. When we returned in the late afternoon, passengers were waiting in long lines to be ferried back to the ship. When we left the hotel for dinner, the ship had already departed.

If you decide to venture beyond Sorrento, even with a private driver, be sure to understand exactly when you need to be back and what happens if you are late.

We loved Sorrento and had 6 nights there years ago, enjoyed lots of day trips. You can easily get the bus along the coast to Positano or Amalfi, or Ravello, but just a word of caution as you will have a deadline to be back on the ship. Things may have changed but on our trip the buses got so crowded, sometimes they wouldn't stop for passengers, they just sailed past. Roads are narrow and traffic can be heavy. Leave plenty of time to get where you are going. Just getting from the ship to the bus station will take time, particularly if you like sticky nosing at shops and buildings as you go, like I do.

I wouldn't hire a car and drive yourself, it would take too much time to get the car, return it etc plus driving would not be easy. If it was me, I'd check how much time you have exactly, especially if tenders from the ship are involved. Then either just enjoy Sorrento and the wonderful views, or visit Positano or Amalfi as well.

Kay

There were two threads with the same question. They have been merged into one thread.