The ancient city of Sorrento sits high on a cliffside about an hour outside Naples. Not only does the town make the perfect base to explore the Amalfi Coast and nearby islands, there are so many things to do in Sorrento itself. With premiere views, beaches, history, shops and of course, local limoncello, Sorrento offers all the elements of a summer vacation in Italy. In this post, I’m sharing the top things to do in Sorrento, where to stay and all the details on how to get there. *This article was first posted in 2019 and updated in 2023. This post also contains affiliate links, which means ..read more

Sorrento is a wonderful city between Naples and the legendary Amalfi Coast, which makes it an excellent base to see other towns and Capri. Sorrento itself is very charming and has also been a vacation destination since Roman times. Today, it continues to be a popular choice for travelers wanting to enjoy the amazing food, limoncello, swimming spots and natural beauty this part of Italy is known for. There are endless options for where to stay in Sorrento. These are my suggestions on the best hotels in Sorrento based on living in Naples and numerous trips around the region. I’ve included luxur ..read more

I’ve heard Taormina referred to as the Positano of Sicily, and after spending a few days there I can see the similarities. Both are premier destinations offering stunning views, luxury hotels, unique beaches and boutique shops. Taormina is certainly a gem in Eastern Sicily and has been welcoming celebrities for decades. San Domenico Palace has hosted visitors from Elizabeth Taylor to Madonna, and recently was the filming location for HBO’s White Lotus. Taormina was one of the towns I was most excited about visiting when planning a week long trip to Sicily. Whether you just have enough time fo ..read more

To steal a line from Rick Steves, “If you like Italy as far south as Rome, go further south. It just gets better…” The island of Ortigia in Sicily is almost as south as you can go in Italy, and it is simply wonderful. In just a day in Syracuse you could visit beaches, see ancient Greek temples, eat unforgettable food and stroll around a Roman amphitheatre. However, Sicily is known for being disorganized and it is not dissimilar from the beautiful mess that is Naples. While I lived in Naples, I always wanted to visit Sicily and the nearby Aeolian Islands. For this trip though at 7 months pregn ..read more

I don’t have to pretend that Naples is quaint or darling for it to be beautiful. It is in its own way. There’s a saying that Rome is the heart of Italy, but Naples is its soul. Naples is gritty and chaotic, yet beautiful and authentic at the same time. After two years of living a long metro line away from downtown Napoli, I’ve yet to write a guide to Naples. Maybe it’s because it’s a beautiful mess that’s hard to grasp in the usual, “Here’s where to sleep, what to do and where to get the best pizza” (but I will get to that later). Naples is one of the most densely populated cities in all of ..read more