Fresh food, iconic sights and Insta-worthy scenery… Italian holidays are the best kind of cliché. Breaking news, Sorrento has been high up on Italy’s hotlist for years, and it’ll always be a fave on our site. But recently, it’s been sharing the spotlight with Sicily, an island off the coast of Calabria – or the toe of Italy’s boot. This trending holiday destination serves up beaut beaches and traditional towns like the mainland, but with its own rugged, more under-the-radar vibe. So, if you’ve been to Sorrento and want something similar, Sicily is same same but different in the best way…
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Island-hopping
Capri is an easy 30-min ferry from Sorrento. This tiny island is an A-lister fave, with big names like Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Leo DiCaprio coming here for their own holidays, so you know it’s worth the hype. Take a boat trip into the Blue Grotto caves and admire the views of the whole island from Monte Solaro or stroll along the gorgeous Marina Piccola. Don’t forget your sunnies for some shameless celeb-spotting, too…
Sicily has its own version – in fact, there are a few of them. The Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily are just an hour’s ferry away and have just as much going for them as Capri, minus the crowds. Lipari is the biggest of the islands, with bright-blue waters, cute shops and lots of local places to eat. Then, there’s Vulcano, which is much smaller – you can easily walk around it – and has a black-sand beach and a volcanic mineral mud bath where you can put nature’s best spa treatment to the test.
Coastal villages
Having the Amalfi Coast right there is one of Sorrento’s big wins, and Positano’s one of its most well-known villages – if you’ve been sent a postcard from Italy, there’s a good chance it’s a pic of this place on the front. It’s all colourful hilltop buildings, leafy lemon groves and stunning sea views from everywhere.
Sicily sees Positano and raises it Taormina, on the west coast. This charming cliffside town is full of pretty piazzas, low-key restaurants and pastel-coloured houses. Must-see sights include the Garden of Villa Comunale, which is full of exotic plants and ancient architecture, plus the crumbling open-air Teatro Greco amphitheatre. Classic Italian operas performed here come with an impressive backdrop of Mount Etna in the distance.
Volcanic views
Near Sorrento, you’ve got the magnificent Mount Vesuvius, infamous for wiping out the city of Pompeii in 79 AD. You can hike up to the summit to get amazing views, then step back in time to explore the perfectly preserved Roman ruins in Pompeii.
Over on Sicily, it’s all about Mount Etna. From Taormina, you’ll get a good look at the smoking craters, but if you want a front-row view, take a trip to the top. Book a guided tour or combine one with a wine tasting.
Foodie finds
Food is taken pretty seriously in Sorrento. They’re super strict about what makes a Neapolitan pizza and there are actual rules you have to follow – the crispy dough must be made with wheat flour, the base with either San Marzano or pomodorino vesuviano tomatoes, and the cheese can only be buffalo mozzarella or fior di latte.
They do things differently in Sicily. Traditional Sicilian pizza should be rectangular, the dough thick like a focaccia and it should be cut into squares, not slices. Sicily’s also famous for its arancini – rice balls stuffed with ragu sauce, cheese and peas and fried in breadcrumbs. Plus, you can’t visit the island without getting your hands on some cannoli – a pastry tube filled with fresh cream cheese and topped with pistachio nuts – or granita, which is a fruit or nut-based sorbet served with a brioche bun.
So, will it be Sorrento or Sicily? Check out our Italy holidays and make your pick.
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Author: Daisy Colley (she/her)
Last updated: 02/10/25
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