When I look back on my six-week study abroad program in Florence, Italy, one weekend trip stands out above the rest: Sorrento. From the very beginning, my friends and I knew we wanted to spend our final weekend on the Amalfi Coast as one last hoorah in Italy. Just a train ride away, the coast felt like another world. With sun-drenched beaches, sparkling blue waters, and beautiful lemon trees around every corner, it was hard to believe I was still in the same country that I had been studying in for weeks. After weeks of planning and anticipation, the weekend finally arrived. Bags packed and tickets booked, we set off for what would become my favorite trip of the entire program.

On Thursday after class, my friends and I took the train from Florence to Naples. The three-hour train ride flew by as we passed beautiful Tuscan landscapes and researched spots to visit on the coast. Once in Naples, we switched to the Circumvesuviana commuter train, which passes the Bay of Naples before arriving in Sorrento. We stayed in an Airbnb just a five minute walk from town and about a 15 minute walk from the beach. After checking in and unpacking, we headed to dinner at Capri Blu, where we had some of the best pizza of our entire time in Italy. Afterward, we explored and strolled through the lively streets of Sorrento before calling it an early night after a long day of travel.

Friday morning began with iced coffee and matcha at Orbit Café, a small spot that quickly became our go-to (we ended up going back four times during the trip). From there, we spent the day at Leonelli’s Beach Club. After walking down a cliffside path, we rented chairs and umbrellas and enjoyed a perfect day of swimming, tanning, and relaxing by the water. For lunch, we ate at the club’s café and finished with lemon gelato served inside an actual lemon.

That evening, after a little shopping in Sorrento’s charming downtown, we went back to our Airbnb to get ready for dinner at O’Parrucchiano La Favorita. This turned out to be my favorite restaurant in all of Italy. Dining under lemon trees strung with twinkling lights felt like a dream, and the fresh seafood and pasta were incredible. After dinner, we explored a few local bars and ended the night at The Horse Shoe Pub, where we signed a dollar bill to commemorate our trip.

Saturday was hands down the best day of the trip, and honestly my favorite day abroad. We had booked a private six-person boat through Click and Boat to take us from Sorrento to Positano. Our captain picked us up at Il Porto di Marina Piccola, about 20 minutes from our Airbnb. Before heading to Positano, we stopped at a cave where we swam alongside hundreds of glowing blue fish. Once in Positano, we docked and had two hours to explore and shop.

Later, we had dinner at La Gavitella, a stunning seaside restaurant perched on a cliff overlooking the coast. The day ended with us swimming in the warm Mediterranean Sea as the sun set over Positano, a memory I will never forget. On the ride back to Sorrento, we all agreed it was one of the best days of our lives.
Sunday morning came too quickly. We took the Circumvesuviana back to Naples, caught our train, and were back in Florence by the afternoon. This trip had always been a bucket-list destination for me, and it somehow exceeded every expectation, yet it was so easy to do from Florence. If you’re studying abroad in Italy—or anywhere in Europe—you absolutely need to add the Amalfi Coast to your travel list. Sorrento, Positano, and everything in between are pure magic. For me, it was the highlight of my summer abroad and a trip I will truly never forget.