The best hotels in Sorrento: 8 great options to suit every budget

We have visited Sorrento several times in recent years and always choose to use it as our base for exploring the Amalfi Coast.

While not officially a part of the Amalfi Coast itself, to us, it provides the perfect choice as a base, with easy access to Naples Airport, as well as day trips to Pompeii, Capri, Positano and beyond.

The other reason to stay here, is that while still very expensive versus other European locations, it is not quite as expensive as Positano and has a wider pool of hotels to choose from. With that, it is more possible to find a hotel in Sorrento to suit every budget.

The one that we would say is that if you have always dreamed of visiting Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast but budget is a big factor, please do consider visiting during off peak months.

The price of hotels in Sorrento fluctuate throughout the year but as one of Europe’s most sought after locations, you can be guaranteed that they are at a premium during the summer months.

So the key consideration in terms of where to stay in Sorrento isn’t so much location, as most are quite central, but instead, the type of hotel & budget that you have in mind.

Sorrento has a wide range of luxury hotels, perfect for honeymoons and romantic stays, quaint boutique hotels and some budget friendly options as well.

Where to stay in Sorrento – at a glance

Sorrento is a relatively small area and it is largely walkable so regardless of where you stay in Sorrento itself, you should be relatively central.

While expensive compared to other European locations, hotels in Sorrento are generally comparatively cheaper than the ultra exclusive Positano, making it a great base to use for exploring the Amalfi Coast.

Best Hotels in Sorrento Centre – Most people will stay in the city centre of Sorrento as it is a relatively small city. Our top pick for a hotel in Sorrento Centre is the Bellevue Syrene.

How many days do you need in Sorrento?

If you only plan to visit Sorrento itself, then 3 days is enough time to enjoy the area and include a day trip to Positano, Capri to Pompeii.

Ordinarily, we would suggest you spend at least 3 days in any city to allow sufficient time to explore and enjoy the city, without feeing like you are in a huge rush to move from one place to the next. 

Alternatively, you may also choose to stay in a different part of the Amalfi Coast (see our detailed guide on the best options) and visit Sorrento for a day as part of that trip.

While we would suggest the same for Sorrento, you can actually squeeze a lot into a 1 day itinerary in the city so it is a great option for a shorter stay as well.

Best Hotels in Sorrento for every budget

Best luxury hotels in Sorrento

There aren’t a huge number of luxury hotels in Sorrento but the few that are there are spectacular. The luxury hotels in Sorrento are typically found near the port, rather than along Corso Italia, the Main Street running through the centre of Sorrento.

Given that there are very few luxury hotels in Sorrento, that is widely reflected in the price and we did find the 5* hotels in Sorrento to be at a premium price generally speaking.

The top pick from our experience is the Bellevue Syrene, an 18th Century villa, perched high up on the edge of the cliffs that offers amazing panoramic views of the bay of Naples.

Given the cost, the rooms are considered to be a little bit on the smaller side but that is broadly compensated for by the overall luxury offered by the hotel.

The hotel has two on site restaurants, one of which overlooks the sea and offers one of the most romantic dining locations in the region, perfect for a special occasion. The breakfast options are also really extensive so you will not be disappointed with the food at Bellevue Syrene.

Alternatively, you could also stay at Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Again, like Bellevue Syrene, this hotel is perfectly positioned high above the Bay of Naples with stunning views overlooking the coastline.

The Grand is classically styled and has a huge range of facilities available for its guests including a luxury spa, outdoor pool and beautiful Mediterranean gardens for guest use. Again, like Bellevue, the hotel has a wide range of restaurants and an incredible breakfast offering as well.

Our final recommendation for a luxury hotel in Sorrento would be Ara Maris Hotel & Spa. This boutique hotel is set in a stunning listed building, it has a beautiful garden on site and they have also just revamped their brunch menu, which is now one of the best in the city.

Best Mid Range Hotels in Sorrento

When it comes to choosing a hotel in Sorrento, the mid range bucket is usually the one that we tend to fall in to and with that, it is the one where we have the most experience.

On our last visit to Sorrento, we wanted something that was within walking distance to the Corso Italia, the Main Street running through Sorrento and that had an outdoor swimming pool.

After a lot of debate, we chose to stay at the Hotel Conca Park. The hotel is just a few minutes walk from both the train station and the main bars & restaurants, making it perfect for a stay with easy access to the main attractions in the town.

The outdoor pool and spa facilities at this hotel are a big selling point, while they also have a zero waste approach, which is great for anyone looking for an eco friendly stay.

One thing we will say against this hotel is that the price does seem to have increased considerably since we stayed there so it is bordering on being in the luxury bracket at this stage.

Our next suggestion would be the Hotel La Tonnarella, which also has some great views overlooking the bay without carrying the luxury price tag.

Two things that also really makes this hotel stand out is that guests have access to a small private beach and the terrace that has great views of the bay of Naples.

The main disadvantage to a stay here is that it is a bit further away from the centre of Sorrento, taking around 20-25 minutes to reach the centre.

Our final mid range suggestion in Sorrento is the Hotel Continental. This hotel has the perfect balance in terms of location, facilities and views to ensure you have everything you need for your stay.

Like some of our other recommendations, this hotel offers beautiful panoramic views overlooking the Bay of Naples and Mount Vesuvius.

However, unlike some of the other options, this hotel is walking distance from the main square, as well as the rain station, making it easily accessible.

The hotel also provides guests with a private lift/elevator that can take you directly to the beach and on site, there is an outdoor pool, spa and wellness facilities, as well as an on site restaurant, so you can easily spend a day relaxing at the hotel as well.

Budget Friendly Hotels in Sorrento

As we suggested earlier, one of the key advantages to staying in Sorrento is that it is still possible to get a budget friendly hotel there, in contrast to the likes of Positano.

That being said, as more people choose to use Sorrento as a base for the Amalfi Coast, the options are getting smaller each year, particularly during peak season.

With that, if you do want to visit Sorrento on a budget, we would recommend going in off peak months like March/April in the Spring or October/November in Autumn/Winter.

We do use the term ‘budget friendly’ quite loosely here as naturally, the Amalfi Coast is difficult to visit for a low cost but these options are what we consider to be the best value for money in Sorrento.

Our first recommendation for a budget friendly hotel in Sorrento is Maison San Paolo. This hotel is really well located, just a few minutes walk to Marameo Beach, with easy access to Corso Italia as well.

The rooms here are well maintained with a clean design and the host is renowned for being really helpful to guests, a great option for a budget friendly stay.

Our next suggestion would be Hotel Nice. This hotel is particularly good for anyone planning to take a lot of day trips as it is less than 100 metres from the bus and train stations.

The hotel is also just a few hundred metres from the main square in Sorrento centre, Plaza Tasso so it is ideally located for bars & restaurants.

Our final budget friendly recommendation would be Maison D’Art. This hotel is perfectly located in the heart of Sorrento along the Corso Italia.

This hotel is a 10 minute walk from the Marina and only 5 to the train station so it is a perfect base for taking day trips along the Amalfi Coast.

While the rooms are fairly basic in design, the key to this hotel is that central location, which will provide you with easy access to everything you will need in Sorrento.