Guide to Sorrento with kids

When people think about southern Italy, they usually picture Positano or the Amalfi Coast but after spending a week here with our kids, we think Sorrento is actually the best place to base your family vacation. It has everything we love when we travel with kids: a walkable town filled with gelato shops and restaurants, beautiful family-friendly hotels with pools, and easy access to some of Italy's most incredible destinations.

We used Sorrento as our home base for a week and filled our days with boat trips, kayaking, swimming in the Mediterranean, exploring the ancient ruins of Pompeii, and taking a day trip to Capri. The best part? We only had to unpack once. If you're planning a trip to southern Italy with kids, this guide includes exactly where we stayed, what we'd recommend doing, and our favorite family-friendly experiences to help you plan an unforgettable trip.

** Also, we recommend adding these few days in southern Italy to one of our other itineraries like Rome or Florence if you want to do multiple parts of Italy. Rome is only a 2.5 hour high speed train ride to Sorrento!
➡️ Rome with Kids: The Best 3-Day Itinerary for Families
➡️ Our Family-Friendly Florence Itinerary

Where to stay

We ended up splitting up the trip by staying in 2 different hotels. We LOVED both but wanted to see what area of Sorrento we liked staying in more.

The Grand President was up on the hill overlooking the town with some of the best views we could get! Our room had an incredible balcony that was actually bigger than the room that the kids spent sooooo much time running around on. It was so big, they could even kick a ball around. You could walk into town from here - it was about a 20 minute walk but downhill and a lot of stairs. The hotel does also offer shuttles back and forth into town!

The Hilton was only an easy 10 minute walk into the main part of town. We really like this because it was a lot easier to just decide we wanted to go to dinner and walk somewhere within minutes. The Hilton had a HUGE pool area and lots of restaurant options, with beautiful green gardens and spaces for kids to play. It’s hard to pick which one we liked better because they were so different. So, you can do your own research, but if you want to be a little closer to the town, the Hilton is for you. If you want more of an authentic Italian feel, then Grand President is for you!

➡ Option 1: Hilton Sorrento Palace

We think this is one of the best hotels for families in Sorrento! After long days exploring the Amalfi Coast, our kids loved having a huge outdoor pool with a shallow area just for them (and the indoor pool is absolutely beautiful too!). It's close enough that we could easily walk about 10 minutes into the heart of Sorrento for dinner or gelato, but it still felt peaceful and relaxing when we came back. If you're traveling with little ones, they also offer family-friendly perks like connecting rooms, cribs, childcare, a kids' pool, and a seasonal kids' club. We think it's the perfect home base for day trips to Capri, Pompeii, and the rest of the Amalfi Coast.

➡ Option 2: Grand Hotel President Sorrento

We loved the Grand Hotel President because it gives you the best of both worlds—you get the incredible views of the Bay of Naples while still being just a short shuttle ride from the heart of Sorrento. After a busy day exploring, our kids loved cooling off in the large pool while we soaked in the views. This hotel is like staying in more of an authentic Italian hotel. The staff were so friendly and we even got to know some of the workers who served us breakfast and dinner. We loved the vibe and smaller feel of this place. The rooms are spacious, the breakfast is excellent, and the peaceful setting made it feel like a true escape from the crowds. If you're looking for a family-friendly hotel that's comfortable, relaxing, and makes a great home base also. We'd absolutely recommend staying here.

Best things to do with kids

One of the reasons we loved staying in Sorrento is that every day could be completely different. One day we were exploring ancient ruins, the next we were swimming in the Mediterranean, and another we were eating gelato while wondering the streets. If you're visiting with kids, here's what we recommend adding to your trip.

➡️ Pizza making class w/ wine and limoncello - They will pick you up from central Sorrento and they take you to a local family run farm. Great for all ages from young kids to adults! The guide was very energetic and fun and it was a very fun experience with kids, not to mention amazing pizza!!!


➡️ Pompeii: Guided Tour with a Local Expert Guide- A guided tour is one of the best ways to experience Pompeii as a family. Without a guide, it's easy for kids to see "a bunch of old rocks" and lose interest. A good guide brings the city to life by telling stories about the people who lived there, pointing out details you'd otherwise walk right past, and explaining what daily life was like before the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Guided tours also help you make the most of your time by taking you to the site's highlights instead of wandering through the enormous archaeological park.


➡️ Kayak tour to Bagni Regina Giovanna small group- We loved being able to get out on the water and we'd recommend this tour for families with older kids who are comfortable around the water and can paddle. We were able to put one kid in each of our kayaks and my older kids paddled but my youngest didn’t. Wear your swimsuits (you will get wet) bring a towel, and don't forget sunscreen—you'll definitely want to jump in when you reach Bagni della Regina Giovanna - which is a secret swimming cove.


➡️ Boat day to Amalfi and Positano- If there's one experience we'd tell every family to book while staying in Sorrento, it's a boat tour along the Amalfi Coast. Seeing Positano and Amalfi from the water is absolutely breathtaking, and it was one of our favorite days of the entire trip. Instead of sitting in traffic on the winding coastal roads, we spent the day cruising past colorful cliffside villages, dramatic sea caves, and some of the most beautiful scenery we've ever seen. Our kids loved stopping to swim and snorkel in the crystal-clear Mediterranean, and we loved having free time to wander the charming streets of both Positano and Amalfi. It was the perfect mix of sightseeing, adventure, and relaxation—all in one day. If you're traveling with kids, we think this is one of the best ways to experience the Amalfi Coast.

Here is how we would spend our days:

Take a Day Trip to Capri

If you only have time for one day trip, make it Capri. It's one of the most beautiful islands we've ever visited, and our kids still talk about it. It is so easy to get to from Sorrento! We took the ferry and it's only about 20-30 minutes, rode the funicular up into Capri Town, wandered through the shops, took the chairlift up Monte Solaro, and spent the afternoon swimming.

We went to Marina Piccola Beach. We ended up hiking down to the beach because I only had my older 2 children (8&10) with me. There are 2 free public beaches, with small public stretches of beach on either side of the Siren’s Rock. You could bring towels and just lay them down here for free! OR for a more comfortable & less crowded experience, you can rent sun loungers and umbrellas from Da Gioia and Torre Saracena. We paid about 80 euros for 2 chairs and an umbrella for us to share.

You can book the ferry to ge here from Sorrento through any of the sites online like Omio, or Ferry hopper, but there are different types of boats you can take. Like for example, on the way there we booked a smaller speedy ferry boat but the way back we got the biggest ferry that even cars came on. The prices and amount of time will vary depending on the boat you pick. The bigger ferry ended up being WAY better because of the weather conditions that day. If it would have been a calmer sea day, the first ferry would have been better with the seating arrangements.

Spend a Day Exploring Positano & Amalfi by Boat

One of our favorite days of the entire trip was taking a boat tour along the Amalfi Coast. Seeing Positano from the water is every bit as beautiful as the photos, and stopping to swim in the crystal-clear water made it even better! The kids absolutely loved jumping off the boat and swimming in the Mediterranean, and it was such a relaxing way to see multiple towns without worrying about the winding roads or crowded buses. The day we went out on the boat was a little bit of rough seas but the guides were very professional and explained it was normal and they wouldn’t be out on the water unless it was safe. We did have to take a smaller boat to get to the dock when we went to dock in Positano, but they were professional in helping us get on and off the boat and get to the dock safely.
➡ Book tour: Amalfi Coast & Positano: Boat Tour with Snorkeling & Drinks

Visit Pompeii

Even if your kids aren't usually into history, Pompeii is one of those places that brings history to life. Walking through streets that existed nearly 2,000 years ago was fascinating for all of us. We definitely recommend hiring a guide. They point out so many interesting details and stories that we'd never have noticed on our own, and it kept our kids much more engaged. She was amazing at telling stories and making it very interactive, even my 4 year old liked it!
➡ Book tour: Pompeii: Guided Tour with a Local Expert Guide

Go Kayaking & Swimming

One of our favorite slower days was renting kayaks and spending the morning exploring the coastline from the water. The water around Sorrento is incredibly clear, and our kids loved paddling into little coves before stopping to swim. We ended up doing one child with one adult in each kayak. It wasn’t bad with my 8 and 10 year olds but my 4 years old didn’t even end up having a paddle and I paddled us. The water was a little wavy that day so a little bit of a harder day to paddle but nothing crazy. My mom who had never really kayaked before, did it and did just fine. There were 2 guides along with us and were very helpful!

After kayaking, we spent the afternoon relaxing at one of the solariums right in the port. If you've never been to an Italian lido, think of it as a beach club with lounge chairs, umbrellas, restaurants, and easy access to the sea. It was the perfect way to cool off after a busy morning. To be clear, the beach club is great for laying around and ordering food and feeling the cool sea breeze but is it not really made for smaller children or babies. The water is deep and there is not a zero entry at this specific place. My older 2 kids who could swim LOVED it and jumped and swam in the sea for over an hour! You can book it ahead of time below, or just walk up and see if they have sun beds available.
➡ Book Tour: Kayak tour to Bagni Regina Giovanna small group
➡ Book Lido: Bagni Sant'Anna

Wander Through Sorrento

Don't underestimate how much fun you'll have simply exploring town. Some of our favorite memories were just wondering around. Stopping for fresh lemon granita, watching street performers, browsing the little shops, and letting the kids pick out Italian treats to try.

One of the more gloomy, not as hot days we decided to explore the town and do a little bit of shopping. This trip, instead of letting each of the kids pick out their own souvenirs, we had each of the siblings pick something out for the other ones. So my 2 sons, picked out something they knew my daughter would like and so on. It was a very fun memory and they got to spend some one on one time with me because I sent my sister with the kids who were picking out the gifts and I took the other child to do something just us.

Build in a Pool Day

One thing we've learned after traveling with kids is that you don't need to fill every single day with sightseeing. Most of the time my kids favorite thing to do is just simply swimming for hours at the hotel pool. Both hotels we stayed at had fantastic pools, so we intentionally planned a slower day where we slept in, swam, relaxed, and enjoyed dinner together in Sorrento that evening. This is a great way to break up some of the tours or activities you want to do. I am also a huge advocate of reminding the kids that the vacation is for everyone, not just the kids. We do some things they want to do and some things adults want to do. This way when we are doing something a little more “boring” to them, they are more well behaved.

And we like to try to spend an hour in the morning or the afternoon letting them swim and play between activities. This way it breaks up the day and we are not overscheduling our days with tours.

Pro Tips for Visiting Sorrento with Kids

👉🏻 Use Sorrento as your home base instead of moving hotels every couple of days. We loved being able to unpack once, and take easy day trips to Capri, Pompeii, Positano, and Amalfi without constantly dragging our luggage from place to place. It made the entire trip feel so much more relaxing and that's exactly what we want when we're traveling with kids.

👉🏻We wouldn't rent a car - parking is difficult and ferries are easier for many day trips.

👉🏻 We'd choose a boat tour over driving the Amalfi Coast

👉🏻 We'd intentionally leave one day completely unscheduled for swimming and relaxing.

FAQ about Sorrento

Q: Is Sorrento or Positano better for families?
A: While Positano is beautiful, we'd choose Sorrento when traveling with kids. Sorrento is much easier to walk around, has more hotel options with pools, is more affordable, and offers much easier access to ferries, trains, and tours. You can still visit Positano for the day (which is what we did) without having to deal with hauling luggage up and down its steep streets.

Q: Do you need a car in Sorrento?
A: No! We actually recommend skipping the rental car. Between the ferries, trains, taxis, and hotel shuttles, it's easy to get around without driving. Parking can be expensive, and the narrow, winding roads along the Amalfi Coast can be stressful if you're not used to driving in Italy.

Q: What's the best time of year to visit Sorrento with kids?
A: We think late April through June and September through early October are the best times to visit. The weather is warm enough to swim, but you'll avoid the extreme heat and biggest crowds that arrive during July and August.

Q: Can you swim in Sorrento?
A: Yes! While Sorrento doesn't have long sandy beaches, there are several lidos (Italian beach clubs) where you can rent lounge chairs, swim in the Mediterranean, and spend the day relaxing. Our kids loved alternating between pool days and swimming in the sea.

Q: Is Sorrento stroller-friendly?
A: It depends on your child's age. The main streets are fairly easy to navigate, but there are plenty of hills, stairs, and uneven sidewalks throughout town and during day trips to places like Capri and Positano. If your child is old enough, we'd recommend bringing a lightweight travel stroller or carrier instead of a full-size stroller. We had a small umbrella stroller for my 4 year old but we tried not to bring it everyday with us because of the hills and cobblestone. If you have to have one, you can get away with it, but it might be a little bit of an inconvenience.