Nowadays Marina Piccola is an important shunting station: more than the third part of all international tourists travelling in the gulf of Naples pass on this harbour. Besides the natural and artistic beauties of the city and its surroundings, Sorrento has been able to propose itself as the center of a larger touristic area, giving hospitality also to those want to visit the near localities of Capri, Pompeii and Positano with daily excursions. In order to satisfy the upcoming needs, it has been built an other terminal for hydrofoils outside the harbour.

Near the harbour of Marina Piccola there are the bathing establishments of Sorrento. Initially they were private beaches for clients of the hotels (built right on the edge of the overhanging cliff, replacing the noble villas provided with private stairways to the beach below), but after they opened to other vacationers too. Since the sand beach is very small and was not able to receive many bathers, the establishments extend towards the sea supported with piles, in such a characteristic way. Because of their exposure to the north (and since they are over the water), here the summer sultriness is less heavy and easier to bear.

From this side of the Marina Piccola, a ramp carved into the tufa cliff leads to the upper terrace of Villa Comunale (Public Gardens), one of the few points of Sorrento coast which is free to visit (the other ones are in private properties, villas and hotels), with an amazing view over the Gulf of Naples. These gardens were once the vineyards of the near Convent of San Francesco (St. Francis).