FROM ROME
To get from Rome to Sorrento, you'll first need to take a train from Rome to Naples.
To get from Roma Termini, Rome's main train station, to Napoli Centrale, Naples' main train station, there are several train options. Trains run directly between the two stations so most trains don't require a change at another stop. Trains run from early morning until late at night. Below are options, starting from the least expensive:
- Rapido (R) and Regionale - the slowest and least expensive trains take nearly three hours. Rapido trains usually have only second class with no seat reservations.
- IC and ICplus - Intercity and Intercity Plus trains take just over two hours. They have first and second class compartments and seat reservations can be made (mandatory on ICplus). Cost is almost double the cheapest rapido fare but since trains can be crowded, having a seat reservation is a good idea.
- ESA or ESfast - Eurostar trains take less than two hours, have first and second class compartments, and seat reservations are mandatory. These are about triple the lowest rapido fares but much faster. Note: there are some Eurostar trains that go to other stations in Naples (not Centrale).
You can check schedules and ticket prices on the Trenitalia website: www.trenitalia.it.
FROM NAPLES
The nearest airport to Sorrento, only 50 km (approx.31 miles) far, is Naples Airport – Capodicchino (NAP). There are various transportation options to get from Naples to Sorrento and back.
By train (Circumvesuviana)
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 (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.
Watch out for pickpockets who frequent these trains.
For more details regarding the train service, please visit the Circumvesuviana website: http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en
By boat
Travelling to Sorrento by boat is a faster and great way to get a view of Naples and Mt. Vesuvius from the water.
Alilauro Hydrofoil - 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 approximately €11. Hydrofoils run regularly back and forth from Naples to Sorrento (schedule changes depending on the season).
For more details, please visit their website: http://www.alilauro.it//index.php?lingua=english
As the ride can be choppy, if you’re prone to seasickness you might want to choose the following smoother-moving option:
Metro del Mare
this metro system on the water is basically a series of ferries which stop at most of the ports along the coast as if they are 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 please 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 this is the fastest line.
The frequency of the Metro del Mare boats changes with the season (more frequent during the high season), so make sure to check the schedule beforehand. Depending on the line you choose, the trip could take between 35 minutes and 2 hours, and a ticket for one journey will cost approximately €6.50.
For more details, please visit their website: http://www.metrodelmare.com/english
By bus
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 the cost is approximately €10 one-way. The trip is about 1.25 hours and runs every day (frequency and departure times vary with the season).
For more details, please visit the Curreri website: http://www.curreriviaggi.it/
By car
To drive to Sorrento from Naples take the A3 motorway (a toll road) in the direction of “Salerno-Reggio Calabria” until you get to the exit for “Castellammare di Stabia.”, winding your way along the “Statale 145” peninsula road (also known as “La Sorrentina”) following signs to Sorrento. The drive is approximately 50km.