Sorrento Transportation

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The Circumveuviana train is more like a Metro/subway train than an overground long-distance train, although it does travel overground for most of its route.

It's an excellent way of accessing Sorrento from Naples, and also of accessing the various ancient sites in between the two settlements: Pompeii, Herculaneum (at Ercolano), Oplontis (at Torre Annunziata), Stabiae (at Castellammare di Stabia).

It's perfectly safe (although do use your common sense about pickpockets if the train is very crowded) and comfortable enough. You'll find some trains get very full at certain times of day: the Circumvesuviana is well-used by local people. Early trains are full of commuters and older school students, mid-afternoon trains are full of the same students returning home, early eve bing trains are full of commuters doing the same thing. So, for much of the day, if you board anywhere other than Sorrento or Naples there is a good chance you will have to stand, at least for a while.

You can buy single-journey tickets (at different rates, according to which zones you will be travelling in) or can buy a day or 3-day ticket. The latter two tickets also cover buses, Naples metro, the Cumana trains and the funiculars/funivia so are really good value if you intend to explore a lot. The Unico Campania site has helpful and detailed information inn English about tickets, zones and fares.

The ticket office at Sorrento Circumvesuviana station is fairly helpful, and the staff do understand English.

Taking the fast ferry or hydrofoil was very expensive. The whole point of the vacation is to travel to the islands, right? Nobody goes to Sorrento to stay only there. For 2 persons it was 30 euros to get to Capri and 30 euros to go back. Moreover, it was 44 euros to go to Naples and back. It cost 26 euros to visit the island of Procida from Naples. And 20 euros to go back to Naples. We took the GESCAB ferries for Capri and Naples which offered convenient times. We used the Caremar services to go to Procida from Naples. All in all, be prepared to spend a lot if you want to visit the islands. Since there is no other way to go there, hundreds of euros have to be estimated in your budget for that. If you are traveling with chidlren, check out the prices first.

There are so many ways to get to Sorrento starting from ferries from Naples, the train which is the Circumvesuviana Transportation System that involves all the towns that circle the Vesuvius area and Sorrentine Peninsula, the taxi of course, or the bus. It is up to you whether you'll pick the easiest option, the most comfortable option or the cheapest option. Now, I would suggest taking the Curreri Viaggi bus which is located outside Naples aiport and be in Sorrento in 1 hour and 30 minutes. I don't know if the train is cheaper but for me, convenience is also worth spending a few more euros in order to leave directly from the airport and skip Naples completely. Someone might say that the trip is not that long but you have to consider some delays such as the bus leaving 10 minutes later, or the traffic, or the stops of the bus along the way. The ticket costs 10 euros each but believe me, it is much cheaper than the taxi and more convenient to get to your destination directly without going through Naples. If you want to visit Naples, go on another day without carrying your luggage.

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The best and cheapest way to visit the likes of Pompeii herculaneum and naples is to get the Circumvesuviana train. The station is just a short walk from the centre or Sorrento (at the top of the road opposite piazza A. Lauro) tickets can be purchased from the station (either the shop before you enter or the ticket office) and you can travel for 100 minutes for 1.80 euro. So to get to Pompeii or herculaneum it costs 1.80 euro one way to get to naples you must purchase a 3.20 euro ticket.

The time starts from the moment you put your ticket into the machine in the station (whith validates it and prints the time on it) so most locals will wait untill the last minute but even if you have just missed one train as you go through you will still have plenty of time to get on the next one and complete your journy before your time runs out. Most locals will carry spare tickets so should their time run out they can put another into the machine on the train (if you can find it )

We found the train to be easy to use, Fast and efficient a copy of the time table is usefull and cam be obtained from http://www.sorrentotourism.com or here at the official site http://www.massalubrense.it/circum.htm

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It is quite easy to get to Sorrento from Naples.

From the Naples main train station (Napoli Centrale), you go down the stairs and that’s where the Circumvesuviana train is (it is just like the metro and is clearly sign-posted). This train will take you to Sorrento in about an hour and it is about Euro 3.20 for a ticket. It is better to buy the ticket from the ticket booth; I tried to buy the ticket from the machines but fortunately, it didn't want my credit card and I had to queue for the ticket. I found out that it cost less to buy the train ticket from the booth than the machines.

Trenitalia - Italian Railways

Trains from Naples to Sorrento:
-Circumvesuviana (Downstairs the Italian Railways Station in Piazza Garibaldi)
-Regional trains for Sorrento (about 1 hour journey), Ercolano and Pompei.
-Main stations : Piazza Garibaldi, Piazza Pepe

Here is the Naples-Sorrento train schedule:
http://www.sorrentoinfo.com/timetable/local_train_sorrento.htm

See this weblink for more information on the train network.
http://www.vesuviana.it/rete_ferstazinvpdf.htm

You can get to Sorrento by car, rail, sea or bus and I opted for rail because I came from Florence. Chances are, if you go with rail, you will start from the central rail station in Naples. Then, you can buy a ticket from the ticket counter or tobacco shop (around $5) and walk towards the metro or Circumvesuviana station.

There will be several rails moving in the same direction but be sure to jump on the train where the end station is "Sorrento". The journey roughly takes an hour and you will pass some interesting stops, including Pompeii Villa Misteri, which is halfway between Naples & Sorrento and where you may consider a day trip

The bus is a cheap way to go to Amalfi. It cost me around $4 for a bus ticket (120 min after validation) from Sorrento to Amalfi, via the winding roads that goes along the coast. You have to buy the ticket from a tobacco/book shop before boarding because the tickets are not sold on the bus

The bus is called the SITA bus and it is blue in color. You catch it from the train station in Sorrento. Be warned that even during winter, the queue can be long and many will stand on the bus for as long as an hour. So try to use the early or later buses (this if your final destination is either Positano or Amalfi) if you want to have a better chance for a good seat

To get a better view of the coast, sit on the right side of the bus from Sorrento to Amalfi and the other side during the return trip

You can reach Sorrento by Circumvesuviana, a local commuter train connecting Naples to Sorrento, and stopping at all the important achaeological sites in-between. Tickets are priced depending on the length of your journey, and are valid for a certain number of minutes, including return trips (if they are within the time limit). Buy your ticket directly at the station, and if there is time remaining at the end of your trip you can use it to connect with local city busses. You can see ticket prices at the site below.

Main Stops: Napoli Centrali Train Station (lower level), Pompeii Scavi (archaeological site), Ercolano (archaeological site), Sorrento (via degli Aranci, five minutes by foot to city center).

Many people report having purses or wallets stolen on this train. I personally did not have any problems, nor did my family when they visited. It's always best to keep your hands on your purse at all times, and to keep your valuables where wandering eyes (and hands) can't see them!