Salerno
Chief city of the broad province that also encloses every town of Amalfi Coast, Salerno is a mandatory stop if you're trying to reach one of them by public transport (although you can easily reach the westernmost ones like Positano and Praiano from Sorrento, instead): in fact, it hosts a well connected train station (the closest one to Amalfi Coast, besides a small one in Vietri sul Mare) with direct trains to Naples and a tourist port with ferries to Amalfi/Minori/Maiori/Cetara/Vietri sul Mare.
With its almost 60 km² surface and little more than 130000 inhabitants, the city lays on a flat coast in the middle of a gulf by the same name, with mountains on its back. Its long history is witnessed by the impregnable Arechi Castle overlooking the area from Bonadies Hill, built in the 7th century, although the first settlements in the territory date all the way back to the 6th century B.C.. The city shined in the middle ages, when it hosted the most important medical school; a dedicated Museum tells about its history. The patron Saint Matthew's Cathedral is another relevant monument to see and, adding the Provincial and Diocesan Museums too, you can easily fill a day tour of the city. If you'd rather chill out or have less time available, instead, you can go shopping on the main street Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the narrow Via dei Mercanti; make sure to try the "Scazzetta del Cardinale", a typical red velvet cake. The long promenade and Via Roma can be enjoyed in the evening as well, with the many pubs and restaurants, and very lively nightlife. In the winter months, mostly around Christmas, the light show "Luci d'Artista" decorates the main roads and squares, attracting thousands of visitors; the best part is at the Municipal Villa, with its enchanted garden.
Bikes are great for commuting here, thanks to the flat surfaces and some bike lanes, and you could ride for more than 40 km of flat road by the sea towards Paestum, Agropoli and Cilento National Park but, unfortunately, it is not such an interesting ride as it may sound, as most of it is in an industrial area, and we generally recommend skipping it and catching a train if you are heading to those other areas.
We can bring our rental bikes (up to 4 at a time) here at a 40 € fee one way, 70 € for both delivery and pick up, so you can start and/or end your ride right from the train station.
More destinations around Sorrento Peninsula: