However much I might advocate for staying at least a couple nights in Naples before you head for points more coastal or island-y, I know that Naples probably isn’t for everyone. I also know that even if you’re taking my advice and staying in the city for a few days you’re probably going to need a sunny break.
Either way, the good news is that getting from Naples to Sorrento is quick and easy. So quick and easy, in fact, that it’s possible to do something as seemingly frivolous as zip to Sorrento for lunch. I know, because that’s what I did one day. It seriously felt like I should be saying, “Oh, I’m having lunch in Sorrento” with an aristocratic accent while sipping a fancy cocktail and sitting on my private yacht…
Luckily, you don’t have to be rich or elegant or famous to pop over to Sorrento from Naples for lunch.
While it’s not technically part of the renowned Amalfi Coast, Sorrento has many of the same perks and it’s a much quicker journey from Naples to Sorrento than it would be from Naples to Amalfi or Positano. The two easiest transportation options are rail and boat, but in my opinion one of those wins clearly over the other. Read on to find out which method of transport I’d recommend.
>> Spending the night in Sorrento? Here are some cheap hotels in Sorrento, and some Sorrento hostels for the more budget-minded.
Taking the Train from Naples to Sorrento
Sorrento might feel like a sun-soaked island paradise when you’re there, but it’s very much on the Italian mainland – and so therefore easily reached by the Circumvesuviana train which runs from Naples along the coast. Between Naples and Sorrento (depending on the train you choose), stops include Herculaneum and Pompeii, as well as several other coastal towns.
Trains from Naples to Sorrento leave from the main station (Stazione Napoli Centrale on Piazza Garibaldi) about every half-hour between 06:00 and 23:00 every day, and the journey can take between 45 minutes and 1.25 hours (again, depending on the train). If you want the quicker trip, trains marked “direttissimo” are quicker than the “diretto” trains because they make fewer stops along the way. Also note that the part of Napoli Centrale that’s dedicated to the Circumvesuviana is downstairs from the regular trains.
You can buy tickets for the Circumvesuviana from a ticket booth or an automated machine, and a simple one-way ticket will cost you less than €4. If you’re making a day-trip of it and will be returning to Naples later on the same day, ask at the ticket booth about buying a ticket that’s basically a day-long pass which will allow you to return to Naples anytime before midnight. It’s more than the one-way ticket, but less than buying two separate one-way tickets would be (around €7 as of this writing). And if you’ve bought the ArteCard Campania for your stay, it includes transportation on the train.
While taking the train to Sorrento from Naples is probably the cheapest option, it’s not the one I’d recommend. The Circumvesuviana train features in so many stories of tourists getting their pockets picked that even if only half of them are true, it’s still an alarmingly high number of pickpockets who frequent those trains. If you do opt for the train, just make sure you’re wearing your money belt in a secure way (because you’re a smart traveler and have one, right?) and that you’re paying special attention to your bags and belongings.
The Circumvesuviana website isn’t the most helpful on earth, but if you’re dying to see it it’s here.
Taking a Boat from Naples to Sorrento
It’s not just because the Circumvesuviana train is notorious for pickpockets that I recommend taking a boat from Naples to Sorrento instead. It’s also because it’s faster and a great way to get a view of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius from the water. Taking the trip via the water is more expensive than going by train, but it’s probably not prohibitively expensive for most travelers – and you have a couple options when it comes to water transport.
-
Alilauro Hydrofoil – The hydrofoil is probably your fastest option from Naples to Sorrento. Hydrofoils are operated by Alilauro and depart from the pier called Moro Beverello in Naples near the Piazza Municipio. The trip will take roughly 40 minutes one-way and a one-way ticket will cost €11. Buying a round-trip ticket won’t save you any money, as they’re €22.Hydrofoils run regularly back and forth from Naples to Sorrento, but make sure you know the schedule (it changes depending on the season) so that you don’t miss the last one. The only bummer about the hydrofoil is that because it’s moving so quickly they won’t let you go outside during the trip. You can see the city and the mountain from the windows, but it’s not ideal for picture-taking. It can also be a choppy ride, so if you’re prone to seasickness you might want to choose the smoother-moving option listed below.
-
Metro del Mare – There are metro systems on land, why not one on the water? Sadly, this sea-going “subway” isn’t made up of submarines, or it would officially be the coolest metro system on earth. Instead, it’s a series of ferries which stop at most of the ports along the coast as if they’re stops on a subway route.The Metro del Mare route starts further up the coast from Naples and stretches all the way down the Amalfi Coast to Sapri, so your first task is to make sure the boat you’re getting on in Naples goes to Sorrento and doesn’t bypass it for the Amalfi or go straight to Capri. The lines which connect Sorrento with Naples are the MM1, MM2, MM3, and MM7. The MM1 stops at every city along the route, the MM2 and MM7 stop at a few of the cities, and the MM3 stops at only one before Sorrento – so if you want the fastest trip, the MM3 is the one to choose.
The frequency of the Metro del Mare boats changes with the season (they’re more frequent during the high season), so check the schedule when you’re there. The different lines also stop at both the Molo Beverello and Mergellina piers at different times, so that’s another thing to pay attention to. Depending on the line you choose, the trip could take between 35 minutes and 2 hours, and a ticket for one journey will cost €6.50.
With any of these, you’ll have to either hike up the hill to Sorrento’s city center, pay for a taxi (they’re plentiful around the pier but can be overly expensive), or take the bus. Buses don’t run as frequently as you think they should, and the short ride one-way will cost you €2. If you’re both lazy and a penny-pincher, I recommend taking the bus on the way up and walking back down!
Taking the Bus from Naples to Sorrento
If you’re flying into the Naples Airport, bypassing Naples entirely, and want to get directly to Sorrento, there’s a coach service that goes from the airport to Sorrento. It’s provided by Curreri, and it’s €10 one-way. It’s about a 1.25-hour trip, and runs every day (though the frequency and departure times vary with the season). The Curreri website is here.
If you’re not flying into Naples, however, getting from Naples to Sorrento by bus is kind of impossible. I mean, you could do something like take a bus from Naples to Amalfi or Positano and then catch a bus from there to Sorrento, but that’s no way to spend a day. So unless you’re close to the airport and can get one of the Curreri coaches straight to Sorrento, scroll back up the page and catch the train or a boat instead.
Driving from Naples to Sorrento
You might think that driving along a coastline like the Bay of Naples would be fun and picturesque, and in some places that’s true. But the roughly 50km (30mi) trip is primarily on highways that are further inland (so you’re not really winding along coastal roads) and notoriously busy (so you’re likely to be stuck in traffic). It doesn’t look like a long trip on paper, but it’s a little unpredictable how long it’ll take – especially on weekends in the summer when it’s not just the tourists who are headed for the beaches but the locals as well.
To drive to Sorrento from Naples you’ll take the A3 motorway (a toll road) in the direction of “Salerno-Reggio Calabria” until you get to the exit for “Castellammare di Stabia.” This is when the drive will start to get pretty and potentially very frustrating, because you’ll be winding your way along the “Statale 145″ peninsula road (also known as “La Sorrentina”) following signs to Sorrento.
There are several parking areas in Sorrento, all of which will cost you varying amounts, so you might not want to pull into the first one you see. If you’re staying the night in Sorrento, ask the folks at your hotel whether they have a recommendation of a parking area to use (and if they’ve got a dedicated parking area, even better). And don’t forget to read up on how to drive in Italy before you hit the road.
Now that you’re in Sorrento…
You might find this information helpful for your Sorrento visit.
- Here’s my Sorrento travel guide.
- If you don’t already have a place to stay, you can browse these Sorrento hotels.
- On more of a budget? Try checking out the apartment rentals or hostels in Sorrento – an apartment is especially great if you’ve got a group or family traveling together.
photos: top photo, Alilauro boat photo, & Sorrento bus photo by Jessica Spiegel & may not be used without permission; Circumvesuviana photo by foxypar4
PRINT 
{ 116 comments… read them below or add one }
Italy is beautiful!
I see..it’s a good post that can help us if we are going to travel in Italy,very well written,good to have you to share some experience with us..
I’ll be waiting for your next and I’ll keep on subscribing to your post..
Thanks so much for this post. You saved me alot of time as I plan an August visit!
Ciao.
You’re welcome Toni, I’m glad it was helpful!
Good info.
What would be the best (time wise) to get from a cruise ship,port of Naples to the Amalfi coast visting Positano, Sorrento, and Ravello?
We have only one day to do this. We really don’t want a private limo, we prefer train and bus.
Thanks!
Hi, Jeannie:
With only one day from Naples, I wouldn’t suggest that you try to squeeze all three of those places in – especially if you’re relying on public transportation. Just pick one of them. Many of the boats & trains listed in this article also go to Positano and Ravello. You’ll still want to leave Naples relatively early in the day (before 10am for sure) to have enough time in whatever town you choose to enjoy a leisurely day and still have time to get back to Naples by day’s end.
Ciao,
Jessica
i am going to sorrento in two weeks and trying to find out cheapest way to get from naples airport to resort by bus,have seen can do it by the curreri bus for 10 euros in the info above however the price is much more expensive on there website approx 80 euros, can anyone tell me what the correct costing is please?
I’m not sure where you’re looking on the Curreri website, Jenny, but what I’m looking at says the fare is €10. Click on “Bus Routes,” then choose the departure point “Napoli Aeroporto” and the arrival point “Sorrento.” The fares are listed in the second-to-last column on the right as €10.
I will be travelling alone to Sorrento from Rome in October and the information above is very interesting and helpful. Can you answer a couple of things though. 1. How do you get to the ferry from Naples train station. 2. if you have any other suggestions of how to get to my hotel ie more bus details, any good places to stay and eat/party that would be appreciated.
We are leaving for Italy next week.We will be traveling from Rome to Naples by train then onto Sorrento. Would like to take ferry from Naples to Sorrento. How do you get from the train station to port for Ferry? Can we walk or will we need a taxi?
Hi, Penelope – I’m so sorry I missed your question earlier; sometimes comments get buried when I’m traveling, so I apologize that I’m only getting to this now. I hope you can still use the information.
And it looks like Debbi’s got the same question, so I’ll answer both of you with this reply!
Are you just going straight from the Naples train station to the port to head to Sorrento, or are you staying in Naples for any amount of time? If it’s the former, I’d say just hop in a taxi and tell them to take you to the dock. It’s not really a distance you’d want to walk, especially carrying luggage, and the neighborhood around the train station is less than nice. There are a couple docks in Naples, so double check which one your boat leaves from so you can give more specific instructions to the driver, but the boat I took left from Beverello. I’m not sure how much the taxi ride should run right now, but if you’re concerned you can ask at the tourist information office at the train station before you hail a cab to find out what you can expect.
If you’re staying in Naples for a day or two before heading for Sorrento (something I highly recommend!), and you’re staying in or near the historic center (something else I highly recommend!), then you can walk to the dock from the historic center. That’s what I did, although I did take a taxi back up into the area around my hotel on the way back… I was tired and feeling lazy, and it was uphill to get back into the historic center from the docks!
I hope that helps,
Jessica
Thanks for posting this info!
My family and I are going to Italy in December for the holidays. I’m trying to plan the trip now and wanted your opinion on whether you think the amount of days we are spending in each city is enough. We are looking at 3 days in Sorrento (so we can visit Amalfi also), 4 nights in Rome, 2 nights in Florence, and 2 nights in Venice.
Thanks,
Sorry…what I meant by ‘enough’ was whether we would be able to see a decent amount of Italy’s beauty, history, and art in the amount of time we will be spending in each city.
I appreciate any advice. Thanks!
Hi, Kim:
Thanks for your note; in case you haven’t seen it, here’s my version of the perfect 2-week trip to Italy (it’s not exactly like what you’ve got planned, but you should see some similarities!).
My honest answer is that there’s probably no such thing as “enough” time to see Italy, because there’s always more to see. But the reality is that you’ll be able to fill whatever time you have with a combination of the highlights (y’know, the “greatest hits”) and, hopefully, a few of the happy accidents travelers often find. In other words, I think you’ll pack your time in each place you’re going with art, history, beautiful scenery, and great food – you’ll have a great time, and you’ll still want to come back to pick up where you left off.
Ciao,
Jessica
Thanks Jessica! Very informative information! I will check out your version of the perfect 2-week trip to Italy.
Also, thanks for replying so quickly:)
You’re most welcome, Kim – let me know if you have more questions after you read through that itinerary.
Jessica,
My wife and I are traveling to Italy in mid April 2010 and we’ve decided to by pass Naples and stay 3 nights in Sorrento. However, we will be traveling by train from Rome to Naples and your notes about the
Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento is making me nervous. Are we better of taking a bus or a hydrofoil or should we just tough it out? Our plan is to travel to and from Sorrento during the middle of the day. What are your thoughts? And if you strongly urge us to travel by hydrofoil then what is the easiest and safest way to get to the docks. Thank you for your thoughts.
Jeff
Lots of people take the Circumvesuviana every day, Jeff, and don’t have problems – and I also think the people who are less apt to have problems are the ones who know that problems exist! In other words, if you’re aware of your surroundings and being an alert traveler you should be fine. Part of the reason I prefer the water-transport option is just for a change of pace from trains… And the Alilauro hydrofoil is a little quicker than the trains on average. But there’s nothing wrong with the trains, so long as you’re paying attention.
Jessica,
First of all thank you for your timely repsonse…….since the last posting was over 6 months ago, I wondered whether your site was still active. Thanks for your thoughts about the train. My dad was a police officer so I learned to be cautious as a young age and am careful about my surroundings. I am intrigued by the hyydrofoil or other water transport. How far is the dock from the train station and how long does it take to get to the dock from the trin station. Are there days in April when the water transport is running?
Jeff
Last posting over 6 months ago? I write something every week!
http://www.italylogue.com/
Or did you mean comments on this post? That, I can’t control.
RE: water transport – I’d check the individual sites I linked to above for their exact schedules. The dock isn’t really walking distance from the train station, unless you’re overly ambitious or really into walking, and it’s a pain if you’ve got luggage. Plus, the train station isn’t in the best part of the city, so you don’t really want to be walking any more than you need to around there. You can take a taxi to the dock easily, however, as there’s a line of taxis out in front of the station as soon as you exit. Knowing precisely where you want to go is a good idea (which dock your boat leaves from, for instance), as is learning a few polite words in Italian. And if the taxi you’re looking at doesn’t have a working meter, don’t get in. I didn’t have a single problem with taxis in Naples, but you do hear stories about them… Mostly, it’s about claiming the meter’s broken & then over-charging. If the meter’s working, you should be fine.
we are arriving in Naples at 4:00 pm on may 16 and need to get to Sorrento as we have booked a hotel how do you recommend we get to Sorrento??? do you have any suggestions re Sorrento hotels so we can visit the Amalfi Coast?? thanks Marilyn
Hi, Marilyn:
The article you’re commenting on has all my suggestions for getting from Naples to Sorrento, so scroll back up and see which one works best for you and your schedule. As for hotels in Sorrento, I’ve never stayed in Sorrento so I can’t recommend any specifically. You’ll find listings for lots of Sorrento hotels here, though:
http://hotels.italylogue.com/Europe-Italy-Sorrento.html
Ciao,
Jessica
Hi,I will be coming into the port so how about if I get a Taxi to the airport to catch the bus.Do you know if there are Taxis for hire at the port,what would it cost & how long would it take
Thanks
Hi, Tom:
Yes, there are loads of taxis lined up at the docks (just as there are at the train station), so you won’t have any problems getting a taxi. I’m afraid I don’t know the answers to your other two questions, however, of how long it will take or how much it will cost. You can ask the drivers before you set off, and make sure they’re using the meter either way.
Ciao,
Jessica
Thank you so much! This site has be very helpful! I will be staying in Sorrento May 16th & 17th & was worried about getting to the airport in Naples in time for my flight to Venice. I’m set now for only 10 euro!
Marilyn, I booked a room through hotels.com at Porto Salvo for only $60 a night! It is a renovated 16th century abbey for Capuchin Monks so should be a unique visit! http://www.portosalvosorrento.com/
Also, anyone who is in the area should check out hiking The Footpath of the Gods: http://www.fiamma.fr/TravelBlog/Amalfi.html
I know I’M going to! Happy travels and thanks again, Jessica!
Hi, Renee’ – I’m so glad I was able to help out, and I’m glad you found a transport solution that worked for you.
Have a great trip!
Jessica
Hi, your website is awesome. We’d love to visit Sorreto and the Amalfi coast towns. With only four days we might by pass Naples, coming in from the airport. Is the bus to Sorreto any scenic or is it more fun to get from te airport to the port and take a boat? My second question is: Is Sorreto a good place to be based out of to see other towns and interesting enough, to stay the full four nights, or is it more fun to stay a couple nights in a town further down the amalfi coast (which?). Thanks SO much!
Hi, Sandra:
I’ve only taken the boat between Naples and Sorrento, so I can’t comment on how scenic the bus ride is. As for your 2nd question, Sorrento is very small – it’s a good base if you’re hoping to visit the islands (Capri, Ischia, Procida) as well as towns along the Amalfi Coast, but it sort of depends on whether you want your home-base to be more about relaxing or about “stuff to do.” I think Sorrento is more on the relaxing end of the scale.
Ciao,
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
Thanks for your quick and helpful reply!!
I was wondering if there are ferries from Sorrento to the different Amalfi coast towns. I wasnt sure by the picture on this web page and others.
Thanks for your help
Yes, if you look at the picture of the Metro del Mare route above, you’ll see it goes all along the Amalfi Coast. There’s a link to the Metro del Mare website there above as well, where you can get more details about any route you’re interested in.
more expensive, but one of the less expensive taxi driver. http://www.taxisorrento.altervista.org
2 people just 70 Euro
Hi, Very useful web site – many thanks
We arrive into Naples (on flight from Venice) at 21:25 and need to go to Sorrento but the last airport bus to Sorrento seems to leave at 19:30 as per http://www.curreriviaggi.it. Is private taxi our only other option?
Is there any cheap but clean and respectable hotels at or near Naples airport where we coudl stay the night and travel to Sorrento the following morning? If we had to stay in Naple, how would we get to Sorrento? Any suggestions welcome!
Thanks. Ken
Hi, Ken:
I don’t personally know about hotels near the Naples airport (I’ve never stayed there, only in central Naples), but you can search for hotels in Naples – including near the airport – on this page:
http://hotels.italylogue.com/Europe-Italy-Naples.html
And if you’re staying the night in Naples and need to get to Sorrento the next day, that’s the topic of the post you commented on! Just scroll back up to the top of this page, and you’ll find all your options for getting from Naples to Sorrento.
Ciao,
Jessica
We are traveling to Rome to go on a cruise and arrive @ the airport about 8:00AM on 8/1/10. We would like to do a trip to Veuvious and Pompeii. What is the best way to get to Sorrento from Rome on the 1st and then to Vesuvious and Pompeii the next day? I see tours leaving from Naples but have heard not to stay in Naples. We need to be back in Rome on the 3rd. This is a side trip before a cruis so we do not want ot spend a fortune. Any ideas about hotels and how to get from here to there…..
Thanks very much
Hi, Amy:
I don’t know where you heard not to stay in Naples, but it wasn’t from me.
I think staying in Naples is a fine option, and especially so if you’re trying to stick to a really tight schedule like you’re outlining. I’d suggest you go to Naples from Rome, wander through the “storico antico” (historic center) that afternoon, then take your day trip to Pompeii/Vesuvius on the 2nd. Staying in Naples gives you two benefits – it’s cheaper than staying in Sorrento, and it’s closer to both Rome (where you’re coming from & where you need to end up) and the day trip you want to take.
Additionally, since August is the month when most Italians take off for the beach, you might find Sorrento to be more crowded and expensive than normal at that point. Naples will likely be quite hot in August (pretty much all of Italy is likely to be hot then), but you can reward yourself for handling the heat well by devouring the city’s famous pizza each night for dinner!
Here are a few articles about Naples that will hopefully help quell your fears about staying there and exploring such a fascinating city:
http://www.italylogue.com/naples
http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/things-you-should-know-about-naples.html
http://www.italylogue.com/featured-articles/top-10-things-to-do-in-naples.html
Ciao,
Jessica
Can somebody please tell me how far is the train station from Naples Airport?, I need to get to Sorrento but it is not clear where the circumvesuviana is located. How will I find it when I come out of the Airport
Thanks
Belinda
Hi, Belinda:
If you want to take the train from Naples to Sorrento, from the Naples Airport your best bet is to either get on a bus or take a taxi to Napoli Centrale, the train station where you’ll pick up the Circumvesuviana train. The ANM buses – either the 3S line or the Alibus line – both connect the airport with the train station. (You can see more information about them on the Naples Airport website here: http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/page/portal/internet/inAEROPORTO/Autobus)
But if you’re not going to stop in Naples, there’s a coach service that runs straight from the Naples Airport out to Sorrento, skipping central Naples entirely. It’s listed in the article above under “Taking the Bus from Naples to Sorrento” – the company that runs the airport-Sorrento coach is called Curreri.
Ciao,
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
We are planning our trip to Italy. As it stands, we’ll be in Rome for a week and in Tuscany (Florence or nearby ) for the other week. Your site here is AWESOME and I will definitely have questions for you. For now, we are following your advice and doing a day trip form Rome to Naples and would also like to
to see Sorento in the same day. Does this sound too rushed or could it be reasonably well enjoyed ? My issue is with a good time to leave Rome by train, how much time will be adequate to walk around Naples and then take the quick ferry to Sorrento to take what seems to be a very slow train back to Rome in the early evening. Any tips would be much appreciated.
Grazie
Dave
Hi, Dave:
I do think that packing Naples and Sorrento into one day trip from Rome is a bit much, although it can be done. If you didn’t want to explore the fantastic archaeological museum in Naples and only wanted to wander the historic center and have a pizza, then zip over to Sorrento for a few hours before heading back to Rome, it’s possible – but it’s a very full day.
There are trains leaving Rome for Naples regularly, starting very early in the morning, and I would think you’d want to target arriving in Naples no later than 10am, although earlier would be even better. Remember to factor in transportation time to your day, too, so you know how much time you’ll actually have walking around in each place.
Ciao,
Jessica
Grazie Jessica. It may be worth looking into a place to stay overnight in Sorrento. We’ve locked down a nice rental apt. in Rome and the next challenge is finding a place in or near Florence for 5-6 nights. Do you know of a nice town or suburb that allows convenient access to Florence without actually staying in front of the Duomo? We aren’t planning on getting a car and will be training it…
Thanks again!
Dave
Hi, Dave:
You might have a look through the list of places that make good day trips from Florence, as many of them are easy to reach via train:
http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/day-trips-from-florence.html
Fiesole in particular is practically a Florence suburb, if you want REALLY close.
Ciao,
Jessica
Hi Jessica,
We’ve found a B&B with great reviews in Florence. It looks like we’ll be going to Siena and feel that bus may be the best overall way to do that day trip. Would you agree? Also, is there a wine tour that stands out that we should try? A co-worker who lived in Italy said Montepulciano was good to walk around and sample lots of tasty food and wine. Have you heard/done this as well?
Thanks
Dave
Hi, Dave:
Yes, the trip between Florence & Siena is best done by bus. Here’s more information about the trip:
http://www.italylogue.com/featured-articles/getting-from-florence-to-siena.html
On my vineyards page, there’s some information about do-it-yourself wine tours, including a link to the wine tourism board in Italy – I’d check on their site to see what places near Florence/Siena might be good options for day trips:
http://www.italylogue.com/vineyards
Wineries in Italy don’t operate like wineries in most of the U.S. – they don’t usually have tasting rooms with regular open hours, etc., so finding the ones that are prepared to deal with unexpected visitors is key.
Ciao,
Jessica
hi, I am going to arrive Sorrento next month, I will be on a cruise but their tours are extremly expensaive(400-600 dollars) for a half day or full day tour. The boat is going to stay overnight in Sorrento, I would love to see Capri or Pompeii, or both. Any suggestions how can I get from the port of Sorrento to those place? and obviously back to the boat? or maybe there is aother recommendation? I will appeciate any suggestions,
thanks
Hi, Oren:
It’s easy to get from Sorrento to the islands – Capri, Ischia, Procida – by boat, you certainly wouldn’t need to book a tour for that (just make sure to find out precisely when boats leave to come back to Sorrento so you don’t miss your trip back).
Doing a tour of Pompeii is usually easiest from Naples, and it’s easy to get from Sorrento to Naples (just reverse the instructions on this post above), and you can book them through companies like Context Travel or other tour companies that run day trips to both Pompeii and Herculaneum from a starting point of Naples. Obviously you’d need to make sure here, also, that you knew exactly when you’d be getting back to Naples and then Sorrento, so you don’t miss the boat, but the tour companies should be able to tell you when they’d have you back. And it would cost much less than $400-600! That’s outrageous!
Ciao,
Jessica
Going to Sorrento next Friday, I just read your imfo and found it VERY helpful ( how to get to Sorento).
Thanks Paul
Hi, We’ll be flying into Naples the last two weeks in Nov. My son is in the Navy and is stationed there. We want to visit and spend Thanksgiving with them, but also do some looking around since we might never get back. We will be traveling with 6 adults (me and my husband (our 50s), my mother-in-law (70s), my sister-in-law (40s), our son and his wife (30s) and two kids (my wonderful grandkids-aged 8 and 6
) The children will be in school and can take a few days but not the whole two weeks off. It’s been hard to make any decisions about how to spend our time because of the kids being in Italy, us in Indiana, and my sister-in-law in Hawaii. Can you make some suggestions of how we might manage this so that we use our time well. Our son has mostly stayed around the Naval base so far — working a lot and not time to explore — except to go Rome for a day and eat great Naples pizza. Your articles will be helpful, but any other advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Terrie
Hi, Terrie:
I’m not a travel agent, so probably the best I can do for you is refer you to the tips I outlined in my article about how to plan the perfect Italy itinerary. They’re the same tips I use when I’m planning my own trips (to Italy or anywhere else), and they should help you plan your trip as well – especially because you know the travelers best, and know what their temperaments will be.
http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/how-to-create-the-perfect-italy-itinerary.html
You can also refer to my “perfect 2-week itinerary” for Italy, which has suggestions for modifications along the way if you want to alter the trip to better suit your needs:
http://www.italylogue.com/planning-a-trip/italy-itinerary-the-perfect-two-weeks.html
I hope that helps,
Jessica
Hello,
We are visiting the Amalfi Coast for a week in September. We are so excited to have the time to really explore the entire area, as it has been 13 years since our last visit. We miss it so much! Because we have not done this same trip in the past, I wanted to seek your advice. What I am most concerned about is leaving the area to get to the Naples Airport (NAP) for an 11am flight. What do you think is our best plan of attack to get to the airport from Minori?
Thanks,
Randi
Hi, Randi:
In the article above there’s information about a bus that connects the Naples airport with Sorrento, and I found a similar bus service that connects the Naples airport with Salerno. So you’ll need to figure out the timing of a trip from Minori to Salerno in time to get a SITA bus from Salerno to the Naples airport, but at least that’s a direct trip. Here’s a PDF of the SITA schedule from Salerno to the Naples airport:
http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campania/orarioCAMPANIA/Salerno-Capodichino.pdf
It appears that the 2nd stop in Salerno is at the city’s train station, so if you can get a train from Minori to Salerno early enough that will work. Otherwise, if you’re concerned, you might want to spend the night in Salerno to get the bus directly from there.
Ciao,
Jessica
WE will be on a Cruise Ship arriving in Naples October 19. I see a good schedule to hydrofoil from Naples to Capri, but then wanted to go from Capri to orrento and then back to Naples by 5:30. I could not find/or if I did could not read the Italian, schedule for that time of year. I think I can figure out the Naples/Capri then Capri/Sorrento but is there a hydrofoil running Sorrento/Naples at this time of year??? Should I/CanI do tickets on line as the hydrofoil might fill up with all the cruisers.
Thanks for any help. Need to be back on ship by 5:30.
Brenda
Hi, Brenda:
I think your best bet is to ask at the ferry terminal when you get there on October 19th to find out what the schedule is and whether you can do Naples to Capri to Sorrento to Naples in time to be back on the ship by 5:30. There are different kinds of ships that run on different schedules, so between all of them you might be able to make it work. But since you can’t extend your visit and will obviously have to live with whatever the schedule offers, you’ll need to be prepared to choose between Sorrento and Capri for your visit. I suspect you’ll be able to make it work, although it’ll be a more rushed day overall.
In glancing at the two boat options listed above, it looks like the Metro del Mare goes Naples-Capri and the Alilauro goes Sorrento-Naples. I know there are Capri-Sorrento boats, but I’m not seeing them on the maps above. Which is yet another reason to investigate all your options when you arrive at the ferry docks in Naples – the options and schedules sometimes change.
Oh, and I’d be inclined to just wait and buy tickets when you get there. If there’s someone on the staff of your cruise ship who can help before you arrive – both in terms of sorting out schedules and selling you tickets – that might be a good option.
Ciao,
Jessica
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. You really are a dear person to help us travelers.
Brenda
Hello,
My fiance and I are thinking about getting married in Sorrento next September. We have been in contact with an owner of a Villa who is willing to hold the wedding at her Villa. Does anyone know of any good wedding planners, caterers, rentals company’s, photographers etc.. or could lead me to a good website. Thank you very much.
Hi, Kyla:
If you do a web search for “Italy wedding planners” you’ll find several resources – it can be quite difficult to navigate your way through all the paperwork, etc., if you’re not Italian, so most of the people who get married in Italy do it with the help of an on-site wedding planner. Here’s some basic information about getting married in Italy:
http://www.italylogue.com/weddings
You should also ask the villa owner if she knows of any wedding planners in Sorrento.
Ciao,
Jessica