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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

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Original poster

Sorrento or Sicily

32 replies

lulla12345 · 26/01/2023 09:43

Planning a trip in June for my birthday with my partner, can't decide between a short break to Sorrento or Sicily? I like restaurants, pretty views and some exploring. Has anyone been to both and which did you prefer?

OP posts:

Pocketfullofdogtreats · 26/01/2023 20:08

I prefer Sicily. It feels more gritty, less touristy (apart from Taormina). Some great food markets in Palermo and lots of sights. But yes, Pompeii is amazing. Sorrento is a typical, pretty Italian town. Paestum, nearby, is worth seeing too.
If I may throw in another suggestion, remember the old town at the start of the last Bond film, No Time to Die? That's Matera, in southern Italy. It's a stunning place, although not on the coast.

Wheresthecheese · 26/01/2023 20:11

Sorrento isn’t that great. It’s a good base for seeing Herculaneum and Pompeii but not much else in my opinion. Taormina is far too touristy but the rest of Sicily is well worth a visit.

SeasonFinale · 26/01/2023 20:15

Knoblauch · 26/01/2023 14:17

I went to Sorrento in October a few years ago. It was lovely and warm and missed the summer crowds. It was a great base for exploring the rest of the Amalfi coast. If you do go, there is a little restaurant called Meating that does the best fillet steak you'll ever find.

We love Meating ❤️

Geamhradh · 26/01/2023 20:16

Sorrento is not the nicest place along that coast. Amalfi and Positano are much nicer. Sorrento is very very touristy nowadays. (think live English football matches advertised outside bars and plastic menus with all day breakfasts etc)

Silkierabbit · 28/01/2023 02:35

I preferred Sorrento area to Sicily and visiting Vesuvius, Capri, Pompeii etc. Sicily loved Taormina, went in September and not too busy, didn't like Palermo but may have stayed in wrong bit. Restaurants we found better in Sicily, mainly for stuffed swordfish kebabs.

rookiemere · 28/01/2023 07:45

I was a bit unimpressed with Sorrento itself- quite tacky - but it's a wonderful base for day trips via ferry to Capri and on the train to Vesuvius, Pompeii and Herculaneum. I think if you had a hotel beside the water you'd avoid the worst of it.

It's many years since I've been to Sicily but thoroughly enjoyed it and some friends went last October and had a lovely time.

I think either would be good, depending on how much time you want to sightsee versus relax.

sixtiesbaby88 · 28/01/2023 08:05

We stayed in the admiral hotel in marina grande, only a 3 star and not the best, but with a fantastic bar jutting out into the sea and a fab view of Vesuvius and rooms with balconies right on the sea. There are a couple of lovely fish restaurants nearby and it's off the beaten track a bit. We went to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Capri, Amalfi drive, and there are a couple of Roman villas along the coast which had only us visiting.

We also stayed in Taormina and the absolute highlight was a trip to valley of the temples, villa Romana del Casales with amazing mosaic floors, and the Ear of Dionysius.

All standard tourist stuff but we really enjoyed both places

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