As you may know, I hit up Italy at the end of August and the first stop of the trip was Rome. We stayed in Rome for a grand total of two days before moving onto a part of Italy that we hadn’t visited before: Sorrento, Capri and the rest of the Amalfi coast. Sorrento was a breath of fresh air (literally), and a complete 180 from the fanny pack and selfie-stick-toting tourist-filled streets of Rome.
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How to get to Sorrento from Rome (via Naples)
1. Rome to Naples
Getting to Sorrento from Rome should have been easier and more pleasant than it actually was. Here’s the short version of the story: from Rome Termini, there are regular Frecciarossa trains to Naples. We took business class because we fancy. 55 Euros, air conditioned, wifi, comfortable seats with a view of the Italian countryside and you get to Naples in an hour and ten minutes – what’s not to love? This part of the trip was wonderful.
2. Naples to Sorrento
And then comes the Naples to Sorrento leg of the journey.
Option 1: Many people choose to take the Circumvesuviana train because the station is just below the main Napoli Centrale station. We should have known something was up when we paid eight Euros for two tickets. This was a massive blow after our previous train journey, which was simply put, delightful. The train itself was old, stuffy, packed, dirty, stinky, and I’m not even kidding (I have a witness), I nearly didn’t make it.
Photo taken after approximately 20 people got off this carriage. Still stinking hot.
To make things worse, we missed the direct train so stopped every two minutes on this ride from hell. I can’t and don’t want to even imagine what this would have been like in the dead of summer.
Since taking the Circumvesuviana 2 years ago, it has only gotten worse. In June 2017 we took the train from Pompeii back to Naples, and witnessed a massive argument that nearly escalated into a fight, and then were accosted by a gang of hooligans who stole from us. After hopping off the train and confronting them, they gave our property back and promptly decided to try to spit on us. Honestly one of the most infuriating travel experiences to date – avoid the Circumvesuviana train!
Option 2: By express train from Naples, the Campania Express: There are only a handful of trains each day but they are newer trains that are catered towards tourists. It costs approximately 6 Euros each way and stops at Naples Garibaldi station, Herculaneum (Ercolano), Pompeii and Sorrento.
Option 3: By ferry from Naples: Because of our horrific experience on the Circumvesuviana train, I would recommend that you look into forking out the 15-20 Euros to take a ferry from Naples to Sorrento instead. It’s much, much nicer, only takes half an hour, and what we ended up doing on the way back to Naples at the end of our first trip in 2015. There are frequent ferries every 2 hours or so.
Option 4: By shuttle bus (Update June 2017) from Naples. Fantastic news, there are also shuttle buses between Naples Airport and Sorrento operated by Curreri Viaggi. The timetable is available here and the journey takes just over an hour! The shuttle costs 10 Euros each way and is a great way to get to Sorrento if you are not keen on the ferry.
Option 5: Taxis from Naples to Sorrento cost approximately 100 Euros each way and are worthwhile if you are traveling in a group and have lots of bags.
Option 6: Private transfers from Naples to Sorrento are by far the easiest way to get from A to B. I can recommend ADM’s chauffeur service highly for transfer between Naples and Sorrento. We paid approximately 85 Euros for transfer in a Mercedes Benz sedan. You will need to book your transfer in advance here.
TLDR: Avoid the Circumvesuviana train. From Naples: take the ferry, shuttle, taxi or private transfer. Taxis/private cars from Naples to Sorrento cost approximately 100 Euros and worthwhile if there are several people & lots of bags.
How to get directly from Rome to Sorrento
Don’t feel like stopping in Naples at all? It is actually also possible to get directly to Sorrento by car from Rome, skipping Naples entirely. The drive will take you just over 3 hours.
How to get around Sorrento
The best way to get around Sorrento is by scooter. Parking is far and few inbetween, and traffic can be a nightmare. We rented a scooter from Freeway Scooter and their service & rates are outstanding. Make sure you email ahead during the peak season to book a scooter in advance.
It’s also possible to get around the main part of town on foot, especially if you are staying within the historic center.
Where to stay in Sorrento, Italy
For our first trip to Sorrento in 2015, we stayed at Vhome, a lovely B&B located in a residential building down a side street in a relatively low-key area of Sorrento. It is a quick ten minute walk from the heart of the city, and the people who run it are amazing and packed us cake for our day trip to Capri, in case the two salami-stuffed croissants I had for breakfast wasn’t enough. Click here to book your stay at Vhome!
Another fantastic option is B&B Veru, right on Corso Italia (the main street running through Sorrento – the location can’t be beat). Cristiana is a wonderful host and the boutique rooms are spacious, clean and modern. Although it is on the main street, street noise is non-existent. Click here to book your stay at B&B Veru!
For more Sorrento accommodation options, click here for current prices and availability. Accommodation close to “Corso Italia” is your best bet, as that is the main street that runs through the city.
Things to do in Sorrento, Italy
Sorrento was much less hectic than Rome and what I imagined every day Italian life to be like. It was relaxing to stroll through the small side streets and explore, people were nicer and far less pushy than in Rome, and food was infinitely better. It’s a fantastic place to base yourself if you want to explore the surround regions, and there are a variety of great day trips from Sorrento that you can choose from. Wandering what to do and things to see in Sorrento? Read on!
1. Check out the historic center
The first thing you should do in Sorrento is wander around the historic center and check out the incredible handmade Italian leather sandals and limoncello, a local specialty.
2. Do a day trip to Capri
It is extremely easy to travel from Sorrento to Capri, so Sorrento is a great base if you want to go on a day trip to Capri. It is a quick 30 minute ferry ride away, or if you’re feeling adventurous you can rent a small rigid inflatable from Sorrento Boat – we paid approximately 200 Euros for a full day and organized our own food and wine – such a great way to explore Capri!
You don’t need a nautical license for the smaller boats and it takes approximately 30-40 minutes to get to Capri. The benefit of doing it this way is that you can visit the blue, white and green grottoes and Faraglioni rock formation with more flexibility, it’s also more cost effective as return ferry tickets can cost upwards of 60 Euros per person.
3. Or go on a day trip to Pompeii & Mount Vesuvius
There are a number of ways to get from Sorrento to Pompeii including the Circumvesuviana (but you know how I feel about that) and Campania Express trains. To get to Mount Vesuvius from Pompeii, hop on the EAV Bus that departs from outside the Pompei Scavi Circumvesuviana station; the journey takes approximately 50 minutes and costs 2.70 Euros each way, tickets can be bought directly from the bus driver.
4. Explore the Amalfi Coast
There are lots of ferries to Positano and other towns along the Amalfi coast, just make sure you check the ferry times as the return ferries tend to be in the early afternoon so you wouldn’t be able to stay for dinner. If you don’t feel like splurging on accommodation in the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento is a great place to base yourself to explore the surrounding regions! If boats aren’t your thing, there are hop on/off buses but they can get extremely packed during the peak season.
5. Go for a dip at Bagni Della Regina Giovanna
This hidden cove is just 10 minutes away from the city by scooter, and is the perfect place to go for a swim (or jump off a rock, if you dare!).
6. Sail over to Ischia and Procida
During the summer months, there are direct ferries from Sorrento to the colourful islands of Ischia and Procida. These two islands make for a perfect day trip and the tourist crowds are minimal. The ferries don’t run every single day, so make sure you check the ferry times ahead of your trip.
Hotel recommendations: Vhome, a cozy and comfortable B&B located ten minutes away from the historic center of the city. Click here to check current rates stay at Vhome!
B&B Veru is right on Corso Italia (the main street running through Sorrento) with spacious, clean and modern rooms. Click here to check current rates stay at B&B Veru!
For more Sorrento accommodation options, click here to check current prices and availability.
Where to eat and drink in Sorrento
I’ve gone over my iCloud allotment and keep getting notifications from iOS telling me I’ve run out of storage space, probably because of the number of sunset pictures I took in Sorrento. If you read my website you’ll know that I like a good cocktail to go with my sunsets, so we stopped by the Hotel Bellevue Syrene for a mojito (at half the price that we paid in Rome, I might add).
Photo credit: Bellevue Syrene’s Facebook Page
We had two nights in Sorrento and were desperate for some good Italian food after the dining disaster in Rome. Luckily, there are amazing restaurants in Sorrento and our prayers were answered in the form of L’Antica Trattoria. The restaurant is one of many along a street in Sorrento near the bay, and if you didn’t know any better you would just pick one restaurant over the other haphazardly.
This place was so good, we have since returned another 3 times. Amazing, amazing zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta, ravioli, lamb shanks and calamari. If you make it over, get the tiramisu for dessert. I have never tasted tiramisu as delectable as this, and I will never feel the same way about any other tiramisu for the rest of my life. It has my heart. Oh, and prices are extremely reasonable.
For a slightly more budget-friendly, no-frills option, head to Il Leone Rosso – their menu is massive and food is decent. Try their diavola pizza and gnocci!
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Yes, Rome is so packed of tourists, Venice was also the worst, but although both beautiful cities. Sorrento looks more delightful and calm. Especially the sea doesn’t look bad 🙂
The ocean around Sorrento is stunning! I will always love Rome, despite the crowds!
Oh Italy never seizes to amaze, such a beautiful country and Sorrento just adds to the beauty of the country. Italy has always been on the bucket list and how much I would like to take it off the list with a vist. Now I know I need to put the stunning coastal area of Sorrento on the list and have a drink amongst some great views.
Anthony, you must, must must visit Italy! It is one of my absolutely favourite places in the world. Make sure Rome and Florence are on your list too!
Your pictures make me want to visit Italy and the Amalfi coast again! I’ve been few times around Napoli and Rome, and once for a longer trip along the coast. I’d love a cocktail with the sunset too!
Isn’t the coast just breathtaking? I absolutely love this region!
Thanks for that warning about the Circumvesuviana train. 😉 It’s good to know how to get to Sorrento from Napoli, and I like that there are options (the ferry sounds lovely, by the way). When you get there, is it better to rent a scooter or a car to go around Amalfi? They say that the roads can be dangerous there. Still on my bucket list, hence the curiosity. 😉
Once you get there, a scooter is your best bet (especially during peak and shoulder season). The traffic is HORRENDOUS and it can be very difficult with a car, plus parking is extremely limited!
Italy has to offer so much more than Rome! But Amalfi coast and Positano are also pretty touristy and can be very crowded. However I have never been to Sorrento.
It depends where you go! Furore, Praiano, Maiori, Minori, Conca dei Marini are not too crowded. Sorrento is magical – I’d highly recommend it!
I was in Sorrento last year while visiting Pompeii and I LOVED IT! The views were absolutely incredible, and I had some of the best food of all my trips to Italy! I’d like to go back one day for a longer stay, will definitely check out this hotel when I return!
Oh my goodness, the food is so good in Sorrento! It’s one of those places you can go back to time and time again
Italy is one of a kind of place! Scooter is the best mode of transport to explore the place, undoubtedly. The pictures are so beautiful. I want to visit Italy soon.
It’s an amazing place, I hope you get to visit soon!
Love this tour of the region! I will definitely be taking a trip like this as so many of mu “must-do’s” are talked about in this post (especially Pompeii) 🙂
Pompeii is incredible, make sure you trek to the top of Vesuvius as well!
I have always wanted to visit Italy after reading “Under the Tuscan Sun” many, many years ago. One defining moment of that book is the part where they make the Zucchini Flowers! You’re description of them made my mouth water and yearn once again for that experience!
I don’t know how they do it – the restaurant I recommended (Antica Trattoria) drizzle a little bit of honey over the zucchini flowers. Magical!
Sorry about the terrible train ride but at least the rest of the journey was completely worth it! The pictures are AMAZING!
Thank you so much Eve! This part of the world is extremely photogenic!
Thank your for detailing the process to arrive there. A lot of blog posts deal with what to do once you’re there and not HOW to get there. And ugh, I can imagine how annoying the second train journey was!
It is definitely a little confusing because there aren’t any easy, direct ways to get there – but SO worth it once you arrive!
Having just returned from Italy a few months ago I enjoyed reading this. We caught a fast train from Florence to Naples which was heavenly and then got a private transfer to Positano, where we stayed for 5 days. We never got to Sorrento, but saw few other villages on the Amalfi Coast and did a day trip out to Capri and to Pompei. We had a wonderful five days here.
Isn’t it just a wonderful part of the world? My mum is hoping to visit next year and I’m going to tell her to book a private transfer direct from Naples to the Amalfi Coast as well.
Seems like you had a lovely time in Sorrento ( well minut the trip to get there ). I’ve never been there but it seems fantastic. I can image it’s much more calm that busy Rome and the food is better! I’ve been in Italy such a long time ago so I hope I’ll get to get back there one day ! Love your photos!
Let me know if you make it back to Italy, Ada! I can’t seem to sty away.
Ahh top of our bucket list! Everything looks so beautiful and picturesque, I need to see one of these sunsets with my own eyes and visit Capri! Will keep your tips in mind for when we get chance to visit.
Thanks for taking the time to read this, Rosie.
that seems like a perfect vacation! I love italy and have been there more than 20 times.. but so far only in the north, I dream of visiting the Amalfi Coast though. But isn’t it insanely full there?
It’s not so bad, if you’ve been to places like Venice and Verona in the north it’s about the same during the peak season. Sorrento is not as crowded (IMHO), and you can always get away to the smaller towns in the Amalfi Coast (Maiori, Minori, Furore) or Ischia/Procida.
Loved this overview .. .even pinned it for when i finally plan my trip to this area. That day-trip to Pompeii is something I’ve always wanted to do. And I’ll be sure to avoid that Circumvesuviana train
Really appreciate you taking the time to read this, Bruce.
Great little guide. Always wanted to visit Pompeii and Mount Vesuvio, so it’s great that it is a possible day trip from Sorrento. And yes, I’ll avoid the Circumvesuviana train 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
It was a great day trip – HOT – but fantastic being able to walk around in this piece of history.
Those are some beautiful pictures. Nice! I like the way you described how to get there with actual fare cost. Also, with a message to avoid the Circumvesuviana train. I personally travel without burning a hole in my pocket. This information is helpful to people planning a trip to Sorrento. Day trip to Capri sounds interesting and doable even if someone is there for a short stay.
Thanks for taking the time to read this.
Almafi Coast would be my first stop…been dreaming of that place for far too long! Then a little shopping doesn’t hurt…hence I would end up straight to buy the leather sandals.The look durable! Beautiful photos.
I was going back and forth on the sandals (do I really need another pair?) but they won me over. I wear them ALL the time now!
Italy is so beautiful and mesmerizing.. Amalfi coast is something that fascinates me so much and will make sure to add all of these places are part of Italy visit.
It’s a beautiful part of the world, Krupa. If you end up visiting the Amalfi Coast here is my dedicated guide to that part of Italy: https://www.yogawinetravel.com/beyond-rome-livin-it-up-around-the-amalfi-coast/