Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are neighbours, but choosing between them makes a big difference to your holiday. Sorrento is practical and well connected; the Amalfi Coast is dramatic and romantic; and Paestum, to the south, adds Greek temples and long sandy beaches.
Here is our comparison, with seven of our best-rated hotels.
You’ll find on this page
- Quick verdicts and a comparison table of every hotel
- Sorrento vs Amalfi vs Paestum at a glance
- Sorrento
- The Amalfi Coast
- Paestum
- Answers to the questions we’re asked most
- Live prices with flights and transfers in the search box at the end of the page
At a glance: compare the hotels
| Hotel | Where | Stars | Board | TripAdvisor | Adults only |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Antiche Mura | Sorrento (Centre), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.8/5 | No |
| Grand Hotel Riviera | Sorrento (Centre), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 5★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.7/5 | No |
| Hotel Caravel | Sant’Agnello, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 4★ | Half Board | 4.6/5 | No |
| Hotel Alpha | Sant’Agnello, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 4★ | Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| Hotel Residence San Pietro | Maiori (Amalfi Coast), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 3★ | Bed and Breakfast | 4.4/5 | No |
| Paestum Inn Beach Resort | Paestum (Cilento), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 3★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.5/5 | No |
| Mec Paestum Hotel | Paestum (Cilento), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast | 4★ | Bed and Breakfast, Half Board | 4.4/5 | No |
Star ratings are official; TripAdvisor scores were correct when we last checked and can change. Board options vary by room and date.
Quick verdicts
Sorrento and Sant’Agnello
Clifftop views, ferries and trains, and lots of restaurants.
Hotel Antiche Mura
- Sorrento (Centre), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 4-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.8/5
Hotel Antiche Mura is in central Sorrento, in an elegant 19th-century building with ancient wall features and an outdoor pool set in beautiful gardens.
Best for: Central Sorrento
Grand Hotel Riviera
- Sorrento (Centre), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 5-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.7/5
Five-star Grand Hotel Riviera has a clifftop location with spectacular views over the Bay of Naples, a private bathing platform and a relaxed pool scene.
Best for: Bay views
Hotel Caravel
- Sant’Agnello, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.6/5
Hotel Caravel in Sant’Agnello has quiet surroundings and a rooftop sun terrace close to the beach, great for couples.
Best for: Couples
Hotel Alpha
- Sant’Agnello, Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Family-run Hotel Alpha in Sant’Agnello is set in beautiful gardens, with a peaceful atmosphere and lots of local charm.
Best for: Local charm
The Amalfi Coast
Cliffside villages and drama.
Hotel Residence San Pietro
- Maiori (Amalfi Coast), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 3-star
- Bed and Breakfast
- TripAdvisor 4.4/5
Family-run Hotel Residence San Pietro in Maiori has a great pool area and peaceful surroundings close to the resort centre, and Maiori has one of the coast’s longest beaches.
Best for: Families
Paestum
Greek temples, buffalo mozzarella and long sandy beaches.
Paestum Inn Beach Resort
- Paestum (Cilento), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 3-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.5/5
Paestum Inn Beach Resort has direct access to its private beach, a large pool area, a relaxed atmosphere and car hire included.
Best for: Beach holiday
Mec Paestum Hotel
- Paestum (Cilento), Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast
- 4-star
- Half Board
- TripAdvisor 4.4/5
Mec Paestum Hotel has two pools and unique design elements close to the beach, with car hire included.
Best for: Explorers
Sorrento vs Amalfi vs Paestum at a glance
Sorrento: the easiest base, with ferries to Capri and the Amalfi Coast, trains to Pompeii and Naples, and lots of restaurants; it is on cliffs, so beaches are mostly bathing platforms. The Amalfi Coast: breathtaking villages like Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, but steep, busy and harder to get around; Maiori has a long sandy beach. Paestum: magnificent Greek temples, wide sandy beaches and better value, about 90 minutes south. Many guests combine two of the three.
How we chose these hotels
We looked at every hotel we sell in Sorrento, on the Amalfi Coast and in Paestum and chose those our guests rate most highly. We excluded hotels already featured in our other guides, so you get fresh choices. Every hotel here is well rated by our guests on TripAdvisor, and every one can be booked with us as an ATOL-protected package with flights and transfers. Prices change daily, so use the search box at the end of this page for live availability, or ask a Travel Designer for a tailored shortlist.
When to go and getting there
April to October, with May, June and September ideal. Flights to Naples take around two and a half hours; Sorrento is about an hour to an hour and a half from the airport, and Paestum around an hour and a half.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast better?
Sorrento for convenience and value; the Amalfi Coast for romance and scenery.
Does Sorrento have beaches?
Mostly bathing platforms and small beaches below the cliffs; Maiori and Paestum have long sandy beaches.
Is Paestum worth visiting?
Yes, for some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world and long sandy beaches.
How do I get around?
Ferries, trains and buses from Sorrento; a hire car is useful in Paestum.
Find your Sorrento and Amalfi holiday
Search live prices with flights and transfers, all ATOL protected, or ask a Travel Designer to compare these hotels.
Keep planning
- All Sorrento & Amalfi Coast hotels
- Italy holidays
- Best hotels in Sorrento and on the Amalfi Coast
- Best hotels in Rome
- Sicily vs Sardinia
Updated October 2026. Hotels can be booked as ATOL-protected packages with flights and transfers through Travelisto.
