Car RentalrSorrento

With numerous attractions both locally and further afield, Sorrento, the wider area of Naples and beyond is well suited to being explored by car.

The region is fairly well-connected, with a good road infrastructure consisting of Italy’s highways – also known as autostrade – passing through the major locations around Southern Italy. The E45 autostrade connects Naples International Airport with Sorrento – so you can get exploring in the comfort of your car straight away.

When driving in Italy, having secured your car rental in Sorrento, there are a few rules to remember. As with much of continental Europe, driving takes place on the right, with overtaking on the left. Road speed limits are usually signposted in km/h and should be strictly adhered to.

Should any roads lack signposting, remember that the limit is generally 50km/h on urban roads, 90km/h on minor out-of-town roads, 110km/h on major out-of-town-roads, and 130km/h on Italy’s autostrade.

Driving around the centre of Sorrento can be somewhat challenging, given its relatively small size and the volume of vehicles. However, taking your car into the countryside is more relaxed and offers some spectacular views along the way. Bear in mind that in peak-season, the roads become busier and the coastal roads that wind adjacent to the gorgeous borders of Sorrento are relatively narrow.

When driving into the town, it’s important to remember that the historic centre is closed to traffic every evening after 7:30pm and all day on Sundays.

There are a limited number of free public parking spaces available, with Via Parsano being the only option – a stone’s throw away from Corso Italia. These are marked in white. Paid street parking is also available – marked in blue – and usually costs €1 for 30 minutes, and €2 for one hour and every subsequent hour thereafter.

Several paid parking lots and garages are also dotted around town. Parcheggio Achille Lauro is located in the central Piazza Lauro and has several hundred spaces available.

The rolling Sorrento skyline makes for an awe-inspiring location when appreciated from afar. But delving deeper into the heart of the town, where you can unearth many cultural gems, is the real joy of visiting this beautiful place. Here are just some of the treasures to find during your stay.

A feast of history and culture

Piazza Tasso is the central square where residents come to eat, shop, work and relax. As such, this bustling hub has everything you could possibly want from a coastal resort.

Named after the 16^th century Italian Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso, the square boasts several attractions and is overseen by its crowning centrepiece - a statue of St Antoninus of Sorrento.

There are numerous historical places of significance here, starting with the Santuario del Carmine church. Its striking, bright exterior – tinged yellow in the sun - hides aremarkable interior that integrates baroque architecture with paintings from the Italian artist Onofrio Avellino.

Alongside this gorgeous building, there is also the Museum Correale, which houses an impressive collection of Neapolitan ceramics, glassware, crystals and watches from the 17^th to 19^th century. Perfect for art aficionados.

Seascapes and natural beauty

Sorrento is a town with relaxation at its core. And the beautiful waterfront of Marina Grande makes for a spectacular location in which to unwind.

This harbour, which overlooks the Bay of Naples, is detached from the thriving central square and has a distinctly local-feel – with family-owned seafood restaurants peppered across the cosy quarter, waiting to be discovered.

Aside from exploring down by the water-side, there are plenty of outdoor activities to partake in – especially when it comes to areas of impressive natural beauty. Bagni della Regina Giovanna, or the Baths of Queen Giovanna, is a hidden pool of seawater surrounded by Sorrento’s trademark limestone cliffs.

Here you can swim in the shallow waters, go snorkelling, and relax on the sun-heated rocks.

Coastal culinary delights

Italy is famous for its rich culinary heritage, boasting some of the most highly-regarded cuisine in the world. Sorrento represents Southern Italy proudly in this respect, with a number of sensational eateries around town.

Each restaurant offers something different, from varieties of local cuisine, to fine dining and picturesque locations.

For authentic Neapolitan cuisine, Ristorante Bagni Delfino serves up locally-sourced, mouth-watering seafood dishes – as well as plenty of vegetarian options - that you can enjoy while relaxing on the terrace with a glass of wine in hand. The restaurant is special in that it offers unrivalled views of the waterfront – particularly beautiful during the daytime.

If you’re looking for a fine-dining experience, meanwhile, try the Michelin-starred il buco Sorrento. With courses that are high on precision and big on flavour, there are fewer better culinary experiences in the entire country, let alone the region.

Explore nearby gems

Sorrento is almost equidistant between two major destinations – the lively and animated city of Naples, and iconic historical landmark Pompeii.

Both are around a 60-minute drive from Sorrento, depending on traffic.

Naples, along the coast to the north, is thriving – and offers an authentic experience of Southern Italy, with a vast number of nightspots, restaurants and cultural attractions to experience.

Pompeii, also to the north, forms a remarkable place of Ancient History in the region. Famous for its preservation of a Roman city transformed after the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D, here you’ll walk the same streets as its inhabitants long ago, take in a Roman amphitheatre, and discover artefacts and grim reminders of its doomed fate

All of these fabulous destinations are within reach when you choose Hertz car rental in Sorrento and start your Italian adventure.