Sorrento Transportation Tips by malkin Top 5 Page for this destination

Train between Rome and Sorrento

Coming back we took the Circumvesuvia train from Sorrento to Napoli Piazza Garibaldi where we changed for a Trenitalia to Rome Terminii station. Most trains to Rome leave from Napoli Centrale which is the main line station. Piazza Garibaldi Trenitalia station is more of a regional station and not as well geared up to handling tourists. It is in the subway part of the same building as the Centrale station and on the same level as the Circumvesuviana and Metro trains. Occasionally there is a Rome train that leaves from Piazza Garibaldi. Try to avoid them if possible as they are more likely to arrive late.
Circumvesuviana site: www.vesuviana.it/infoeng.htm
Trenitalia site: www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html

train clipart: http://csxsafety.tripod.com/clpart.htm

Mode: TO

Type: Train

Town and country buses

The terminus for the buses is situated across the small square directly outside the Sorrento train station. This is where you can be sure of getting a bus for the Amalfi coast. Change at Amalfi for Ravello. You can flag down the bus at any "fermata" bus stop along it's route but you have to know where they are, and in high season there is more risk of it being full and not being able to get on.
Time tables can be got from the tourist office and also on the Sorrentotour site.
Buy your tickets anywhere other than at the station tabacchi/buffet/bar (see my "a guy to avoid" tip)

Bus clipart : www.clipartxp.com

Mode: AROUND

Type: Bus

Bus from Rome to Sorrento

From Rome we took the MAROZZI bus and had a very pleasant journey. It's a direct run of about 4 hours including a 10 to 15 minute break about half way. It's nice because there's no change of train etc. and thus no hauling luggage around.
There is one departure a day leaving from Rome Tiburtina station and it drops you off in the main square of Sorrento - Piazza Tasso.
Tickets can be bought at one of the central ticket offices at the long distance bus station situated across the square outside Tiburtina railway station, which is itself 3 or 4 stops on the Metro from the main central Rome station Termini. (15.50 Euros incl. 1.5 Euros reservation fee one way in March 2005)
Tel Rome area office : 06 66623130
Sorrento area office : 0825 445089
The timetable can be found on the train & bus page of the Sorrento tourist office site : www.sorrentotourism.com

Bus clipart : www.clipartxp.com

Mode: TO

Type: Bus

Website: http://www.marozzivt.it

Vesuvius

A company called "Vesuviana Mobilita" based in Naples seems to organise all the bus connections to the top of Vesuvius. You can pick up a leaflet with their timetable from the tourist office in via Luigi de Maio, 35.
The best is to get the train to Pompeii Scavi, walk down to the square and catch the bus which stops immediately outside the Pompeii tourist office situated on the "island" in the middle of the square. Despite what is written on the Vesuviana Mobilita leaflet an E3 bus ticket for 1.80Euros (see tourist office leaflet on ticketing) is good for one way. For the return you can buy them anywhere before you go up but I suggest you get them from Andrea de Gregorio's souvenir shop (see my things to do "active volcano" tip)
Vesuviana Mobilita Info-point: 081 963 44 20

Mode: AROUND

Type: Bus

Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins

For Pompeii take the train and get out at Pompei Scavi. Turn right out of the station and the first entrance is 50 or so metres on the left. There's another entrance further down the road on the big square for people who have mobility or heart problems ( it avoids a climb up some steps)

For Herculaneum take the train to Ercolano, leave the station behind you and head downhill. The scavi are well signposted.

Mode: AROUND

Type: Train

Avoid Driving

The best advice that I have concerning transportation is to avoid driving yourself. If you travel by car to get to Sorrento leave it at the hotel and use public transport for your excursions because:
1 - the roads can get very busy and you can easily get blocked in traffic. There's no need to go on holiday to do that you can do it at home for less money!
2 - it's all very narrow and winding, you need all your concentration just to stay on the roads, and you'll miss the magnificent scenery.
3 - you're more likely to get in amongst the locals and feel that you really are in Italy.
Go to the tourist office in via Luigi De Maio, 35 and ask for their leaflet "Full directions to local public transport". It gives good details on ticketing. They also have leaflets giving train, bus and ferry timetables useful for planning trips to Pompei, the Amalfi coast and Capri.
The transportation pages of the website Sorrentotour has lots of good information:
www.sorrentotour.it/transportation/trainsandbusinfo.html#

Mode: AROUND

Type: Car/Motor Home