Are you wondering what to wear in Sorrento? Sorrento is one of the most popular coastal towns in the whole of Italy, but is also one of the most stylish towns to boot. In this guide will tell you exactly what to wear in Sorrento on the beach, in the town and out for dinner to help you not look like a tourist!
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But before we get onto the specifics of what to wear in Sorrento along with some outfit inspiration we thought it would be worthwhile to talk about exactly what and where Sorrento is, and how the seasons will affect your Sorrento Packing List.
Where is Sorrento?
Sorrento is a coastal town in South Italy in the Campania region. The town is perched on the top of a peninsula that separates the Bay of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno.
It’s closest large city is Naples, which can be reached by car in about an hour – though if you are visiting in peak season it can take much longer as the traffic snakes around the coastal roads. And is also accessible by train and ferries.
Is Sorrento part of the Amalfi Coast?
It is a common misconception that Sorrento is part of the Amalfi Coast. In fact Sorrento lies on the Sorrentine Peninsula that separates the Bay of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno and is situated between the city of Naples and the beautiful and colorful towns of the Amalfi Coast.
However although not part of the Amalfi Coast you will find some similarities between the beautiful towns. And although the dress codes are similar it is worth checking out our other regional guides which will give you more specific information if you plan on touring the region:
- What to wear on the Amalfi Coast
- What to wear in Positano
- What to wear in Naples
- What to wear in Capri
- What to wear in Pompeii
So now you know where Sorrento is, what are the dress codes you should be aware of?
Sorrento Dress Code
As with many places in Italy, Sorrento doesn’t really have a dress code per se. As it is famed for its seaside location it should come as no surprise that lightweight resort wear can be seen in the town.
However it is important to realise although coastal, you will find people in Sorrento very fashionably dressed.
The only real place in Sorrento that has a strict code is of course in the churches. All Italian churches have strict dress codes so be sure to read up on what to wear here if you plan to visit a church while in Sorrento.
Also you will notice that when out for dinner in Italy generally but specifically in Sorrento people will stick to smart casual dress codes. I would therefore have nice blouses and maxi dresses at the ready for going out to dinner in the region.
It is also worth noting that Sorrento is a big tourist destination. As such peak season will run from April to October and if you visit Sorrento in Winter you will find there to be far fewer tourists. But this comes with the downside of the weather not being beach friendly.
However we will cover all the seasons in this guide to help you know what to wear no matter what time of year you visit.
What to Wear in Sorrento in Summer (June, July and August)
Chances are if you are looking to visit Sorrento wondering what to wear is that you will be visiting during the Summer Months. Summer is characterised as June, July and August in Sorrento, although peak tourist season runs longer than this.
During the Summer in Sorrento you can expect lots of sunny days and very little rain. In terms of temperatures, in the summer you can expect to see highs of 90F/32C and lows of 75F/24C.
Note: June is the coolest of the summer months in Sorrento, with July and August battling for the title of hottest month.
As such we would recommend putting the below on your summer Sorrento packing list:
Maxi Dresses
As I mentioned above there is lots of beach wear and resort wear seen in and around Sorrento.
Maxi dresses are one of my favorite things to wear when touring Italy in Summer however they are a particularly great pick for the region.
Loose and flowing dresses are better for Sorrento in Summer than tight fitting ones made of man made fabrics as they will keep you cooler. They are also great for wearing down on the beach and out for dinner.
Maxi Skirts
Maxi Skirts are also great for pairing with T shirts and Tank tops in Sorrento. Just be sure you have one item that covers your kness (i.e. nothing with a slit) for wearing if you decide to visit a church.
Tank Tops and T Shirts
These are perfect for out exploring Sorrento and can be paired with skirts or shorts. Just don’t expect to go into churches in a tank top without covering your shoulders first.
Trousers and Blouse
Trousers and blouses are a great alternative to maxi dresses for exploring towns and having dinner as they are a great day to night transition outfit.
Linen trousers are popular with the locals and are good in the hot weather.
Pashmina
I never travel anywhere in Italy without a pashmina. It is great in the evenings in case you get chilly dining al fresco and can also be used to make an outfit more modest for visiting churches in Italy.
Although churches won’t be the primary activity you do in Sorrento, I am sure you will head into one so having at least one church outfit is a good idea.
Shorts
Although we don’t tend to recommend wearing shorts in the cities in Italy, they are perfectly acceptable on the beach in Sorrento.
They are also particularly great for archaeological sites that are close to Sorrento such as Pompeii and Herculaneum and other places where you will be doing lots of walking over uneven terrains.
Swimwear
If you are visiting Sorrento in Summer chances are you will be spending time on the beach or on a boat. Therefore you will want to have some stylish swimwear with you.
Note: if you plan on going on other boat excursions other than the ferries you may get wet therefore having swimwear under your clothes is a good idea.
As there are no dress codes on the beach in Sorrento you can choose whatever swimwear you feel most comfortable in whether that be one pieces or bikinis.
Depending on how long you plan to spend on the beach here and along the Amalfi Coast depends on how many pieces of swimwear you will need.
I would recommend packing at least two swimwear pieces so one can be drying while you are wearing the other.
Beach Cover
Most people in Sorrento when not swimming or sunbathing will put on a beach cover to head to bars or local amenities so we recommend adding one or two beach covers to your packing list.
Sun Hats
Sun hats are a staple on any Italian summer packing list. Be sure to pick a wide brimmed straw hat instead of a baseball cap to fir more in with the locals.
Underwear
Goes without saying
PJs
We recommend packing lightweight PJs as not everywhere in Sorrento will have Air conditioning. You may want to check out whether or not your accommodation has air conditioning before booking.
Note: If you want to know what to were in Sorrento for men I recommend packing a mixture of chinos and linen trousers and some smarter shorts alongside plain t shirts and polos and short sleeve shirts for summer.
And if you are visiting other areas of Italy in Summer be sure to check out our other Italian Summer packing Lists:
- what to wear to Venice in Summer
- What to wear in Venice in June
- What to wear in Venice in July
- What to wear in Venice in August
- What to wear to Cinque Terre in Summer
- What to wear to Rome in August
- What to wear to Rome in July
- What to wear to Italy in August
- What to wear to Italy in July
- What to wear in Milan in June
- What to wear in Milan in July
- What to wear in Milan in August
- What to wear in Florence in June
- What to wear in Florence in July
- What to wear in Florence in August
- What to wear in Tuscany in Summer
What to Wear to the Sorrento in Spring (March, April, May)
Depending on what time you are visiting Sorrento in Spring will depend on how hot the temperatures are.
April really kicks off the peak tourist season in Sorrento and you may find March too cold to be spending too much time on the beach.
May is obviously the warmest month in Spring with high temperatures around 79F/26C.
For this reason we recommend packing the same as the summer, though you may need less in terms of swimwear as the weather may be too cold.
And we also recommend adding the following additions to your packing list
Cardigan
Sorrento evenings in Spring can be cold so be sure to add a cardigan or two to pair to your dress and trousers outfits.
Sweater
This is great for exploring in March and Early April in Sorrento. However if you feel the cold it is a good idea to keep this on your list for any Spring month.
Jacket
This may be needed if you are visiting the Sorrento in March.
What to Wear to the Sorrento in Fall (September, October and November)
What to wear to Sorrento in Fall is very similar to what to wear in Sorrento in Summer.
In particular, if you are visiting Sorrento in September you can pretty much select the same outfits as you would in August as the temperatures are very similar.
However the later in Fall you visit the cooler it becomes and peak season tends to end in mid–October.
If you are visiting in late October and November you probably wont be needing lots of swimwear as it will be too cold to get in the water everyday.
Also you will want cardigans and sweaters on your packing list, and in November you may even need a jacket.
What to Wear to Sorrento in Winter (December, January and February)
Sorrento can be cold in Winter. So cold in fact that it is unlikely you will be able to swim and use the beach in Winter.
And as Sorrento gets all the season you can expect to experience some rain if you are visiting in Winter.
Therefore we recommend abandoning the summer packing list and wearing the below to Sorrento in Winter instead.
Jacket/Coat, waterproof
You will definitely want a warm jacket for the Sorrento in Winter. If possible we recommend a waterproof one as you can get rainy.
And you will definitely feel the chill if you are out on a boat or ferry at this time.
Cardigans, Sweaters and Top Layers
We recommend packing a few different types of top layers with you for instance a combination of cardigans, sweaters and hoodies of different weights so you have enough variety in case of a very cold snap.
Long Sleeve Tops
It is unlikely you will be wearing short sleeve t shirts in Sorrento in Winter. Long sleeve t shirts and blouses are therefore a much better choice.
We recommend packing a variety of long sleeve tops and blouses with you including some smarter ones for dinners if you are visiting in the Winter months of December, January and February.
Jeans
Although linen trousers are perfect for Sorrento in Summer and the shoulder seasons, they are too lightweight for Winter visitors to the region.
Instead we recommend going with heavier weight trousers in Winter. We tend to recommend packing jeans and some heavier smart woollen trousers instead.
Pashmina
I never go to Italy without one. But it is a handy extra layer for Winter visitors.
Underwear
Goes without saying
Pjs
A slightly heavier weight pair are better in Winter.
Best Shoes for Sorrento
Sneakers
Sneakers are perfect for Sorrento no matter the season you visit. Sorrento is perched on a hillside and there is lots of uphill walking. You may even have to take stairs instead of a lift to some beaches.
For this reason sneakers are the best pick no matter the time of year.
Note: if you are visiting in Summer be sure to pack sneaker socks too to reduce odour and sweat in your shoe.
Sandals
Perfect for the beach and dinner in summer and shoulder seasons. However if you are there in Winter boots are more appropriate.
Boots
Not for summer and the shoulder seasons, however if you are visiting in Winter boots are a must.
Water Shoes (optional)
Ill be honest I was surprised, and maybe a tad disappointed when I first saw the beach in Sorrento. You don’t get miles of long sandy beaches to walk along.
Instead the beaches in Sorrento are smaller and often crowded in peak season. However you are within easy reach of some amazing beautiful coves and beaches just outside of the town.
While some beaches in the area are sandy, others are counted as pebble or rock beaches.
Marina del Cantone which is near Nerano and the beaches near Marciano both are pebble / rock beaches.
Therefore we recommend brining some water shoes with you if you plan on spending lots of time on the beach.
Flip Flops
If you decide against water shoes and are planning on spending time on the beach in the area I recommend taking a pair or flip flops however I would not wear these around town as they aren’t very supportive and there are lots of hills in the towns of Campania.
What Else to add to your Amalfi Coast Packing List
- Sunscreen
- Aftersun cream
- Phone / Camera
- Charger
- Sunglasses
- Reusable Water bottle
- Toiletries
- Beach bag
FAQs About What to Wear in Sorrento
What to wear to dinner in Sorrento?
Dinner in Sorrento doesn’t have a special dress code unless you go to a restaurant that stipulates one. We recommend Maxi Dresses and pashminas and blouses and linen trousers for summer and in winter a pair of smart trousers, blouse and a blazer.
Have you been to the Sorrento? What did you wear? We would love to hear in the comments below!