With tasting · 2 hours

Lemon grove tour in Massa Lubrense with limoncello tasting

Two hours on a farm in Massa Lubrense, at the tip of the Sorrento peninsula, to see where the Sorrento lemon comes from before it ends up in a bottle. You see the seedbed, the field of mother plants and a graft made right in front of you, walk under the traditional pergola and climb to a viewpoint looking out to Ischia, Procida and the Bay of Naples. Along the way you taste what the farm produces: lemonade, limoncello, cream of limoncello, orange and cinnamon liqueur, jams and olive oil. The meeting point is the bus stop in the main square of Massa Lubrense, with departures at 10am and 5pm.

5(51 reviews on Viator) Massa Lubrense

Lemon grove tour in Massa Lubrense with limoncello tasting — Photo: Norbert Nagel, CC BY-SA 3.0 · credits

Duration

2 hours

Group

up to 30

Languages

Italian, English

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

Days

every day

Start

Massa Lubrense

What you’ll do

The guide meets you at the EAV and SITA bus stop in the village square and walks you to the farm. You start sitting down, with a glass of lemonade and lemon slices with sugar, which is how they're eaten round here, peel and all. Then into the seedbed: this is where bitter orange seeds are planted, because the Sorrento lemon doesn't grow on its own roots but on those of a sturdier plant.

From the seedbed you move on to the field of mother plants, the mature trees from which the cutting for the graft is taken. The next stop is the viewpoint: from there you can see Ischia, Procida, the whole Bay of Naples and the centre of Massa Lubrense. You stop for photos and the first round of tastings, limoncello, cream of limoncello and orange and cinnamon liqueur, while the guide tells how the lemon reached this coast.

After the break comes the part almost nobody has ever seen: grafting. The guide shows how the rootstock is cut, how the cutting is inserted and how it's tied, then shows you young plants already grafted, at various stages of growth. It's the moment you understand why a lemon grove takes years before it bears fruit.

The way back runs under the Sorrento pergola, the structure of chestnut poles and netting that shields the lemons from wind and cold and turns these plots into green corridors. You finish back at the start with lemon and ginger jam and orange and cinnamon jam, a drizzle of olive oil and a few minutes to sit down before heading back to the square.

Who it’s for

For anyone on holiday in Sorrento or on the peninsula who wants a slow half-day away from the crowded main street, and for families: there's little walking, on easy ground, pushchairs can get through and children from two up have their own rate. It also works if you know nothing about farming, because the guide starts from the basics. Less suited to anyone after a proper walk or trail scenery: you stay on the farm, and the point is understanding how a lemon grove works, not clocking up miles.

Local tip

Pick the 5pm slot between May and September: it's cooler under the pergola and from the viewpoint the bay catches the late-afternoon light. If you're coming from Naples, allow more than an hour and a half between the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and the SITA bus to Massa Lubrense, so catch an early train. If you're driving, stick to one small glass: the tastings are generous. Bring an empty bag, because you can buy the jams and liqueurs at the farm.

What’s included

Guide + lemonade + limoncello and liqueurs + jams and olive oil.

Price, availability and details come straight from Viator and are kept up to date. If you book through us, we get a small commission; it costs you nothing extra.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it last and where do we meet?

About two hours. You meet at the EAV and SITA bus stop in the main square of Massa Lubrense, and that's where you finish. There are two departures a day, at 10am and 5pm, every day of the week. Pick-up from some hotels in the area can be requested when you book.

What does the price include?

The guided farm visit and all the tastings: lemonade and lemon slices with sugar on arrival, limoncello, cream of limoncello and orange and cinnamon liqueur at the viewpoint, citrus jams and olive oil at the end. Transport to Massa Lubrense isn't included, except pick-up where available. Prices start at €45 per person.

Is it suitable for children?

Yes. The route is easy, you can do it with a pushchair and there's a children's rate for ages two to fourteen. Bookings must be made by an adult. The liqueurs are for grown-ups, of course, but the lemonade, sugared lemons and jams are for everyone.

What language is the tour in, and can I cancel?

The guide speaks Italian and English. You can cancel free of charge up to 24 hours before departure with a full refund, and if the weather rules out the visit it's cancelled, with the option to change date or get a refund. You can book up to ten people at a time.

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from€45Free cancellation up to 24 hours before

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