It serves a transshipment point from the Visayas and Mindanao provinces and is dubbed as the "Gateway to Southern Philippines".

Evidence of human habitation come from 3,000-year-old remains in a cave in Bacon and ancient burial sites dug upstream of Sorsogon rivers.

The city is bounded by Castilla in the west, Manito in the northwest, Albay Gulf in the north, Prieto Diaz in the east, Gubat in the southeast, Casiguran in the southwest, and Sorsogon Bay in the south.

Sorsogon is characterized by an irregular topography; mountain ranges on the north-west, sloping uplands on the central part of the city, plain areas southwestern and central north and southeast portion, and marshlands on the southeast deltas.

It is also surrounded by water, with Sorsogon Bay to the west Albay Gulf to the northeast, and Philippine Sea in the east.

Sorsogon City features a tropical rainforest climate with copious amount of rainfall throughout the course of the year.

Although Sorsogon City does not have significant manufacturing industries, its dynamic service and agricultural sectors drive the economy forward.

Investors in banking, real estate, retail, manufacturing and other business and industrial enterprises are similarly drawn to the city because of its rapid advancements of government infrastructure and business-friendly environment.

Sorsogon is the third city in Bicol Region, after Legazpi and Naga with a highest total deposits amounting to Php 17,699,836 from 224,682 accounts.

There are 3 major shopping malls in the City of Sorsogon namely, SM Supermalls, Gaisano Capital and Citymall.

The mall is located along Maharlika Highway, Balogo, East District in Sorsogon City.

Among its amenities are three cinemas, a food court, wellness and services hubs, and amusement, leisure, and hobbies shops.

The City Government of Sorsogon aims to provide housing and a home to informal settlers in the city thru Mayor Ester Hamor's 10+1 Agenda, Taas-Noo Ciudadano Ako Program - Mass Housing Program, a priority program of Mayor Hamor thru the construction of the Sirangan Tenements and Sampaloc Tenements - a twelve (12) building 2-storey socialized housing building for informal settler families around the barangays covering the inner Sorsogon Bay Area in Sorsogon City.

[26] To decongest the Pan-Philippine Highway and to spur new developments outside the downtown area, two bypass roads were constructed in Sorsogon City, (1) the 7.654 kilometer Salvador Escudero III Diversion Road traversing Barangay Pangpang, Macabog, San Juan, Bibincahan and exits Brgy.

Other than decongesting the heavy traffic in the main thoroughfare of Sorsogon City, this road was built to provide protection to the surrounding areas from storm surges especially the Bicol Region is among the most frequent path of typhoons entering the Philippine area of responsibility.

These include:[citation needed] As a gateway to the Visayas and Mindanao, tourism plays a major part as a catalyst in contributing to Sorsogon City's economy.

The Vice Mayor serves as the presiding officer of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (city council), with 12 Councilors elected by popular vote as its members.

It was designed to be the country’s second main arts facility next to the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP),The 2,638-square meter edifice features an outdoor lobby, lounge lobby, vestibule, spectators’ area, orchestra pit, performance stage, and a seating capacity of 338 on the ground floor and 177 on the mid-floor level.

Due to the increasing number of motor vehicles plying the city roads and address the worsening traffic congestions in the central business district area in Rizal and Magsaysay Streets.

The fiesta’s big attraction is the street dance in which elaborately costumed dancers depict the many uses of the tree.

Governor Edwin "Boboy" Hamor has been very vocal in pushing for the airport rehabilitation project which aims to make travel to and around the province's convenient and seamless.

Accordingly, construction of the airport is due to commence in March 2024 and it will take three (3) years to complete and is expected to cater more passengers which aims to boost economic activities in the province.