Sorrento is easy to reach once you know the one quirk: the nearest airport is Naples, and the little train that serves the town does not stop there, so you connect through the city. Once you have arrived, you will barely need transport, because Sorrento is flat and walkable and everything beyond it goes by train or boat. This is my guide to getting to Sorrento and getting around. For the wider trip, start with my complete guide to Sorrento.
From Naples Airport to Sorrento
Naples Capodichino is the closest airport, about fifty kilometres away. The catch is that the Circumvesuviana train does not stop at the airport, so you first reach Napoli Garibaldi station, the central station, by the Alibus shuttle, roughly fifteen minutes and a few euros, or by taxi on a fixed fare. From Garibaldi you take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, the end of the line. In summer there is also the direct Curreri bus from the airport to Sorrento, which saves changing with luggage, and private transfers run door to door year-round if you would rather not carry bags on a busy train.
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The Circumvesuviana Train
The Circumvesuviana is the region’s local railway and your workhorse. From Napoli Garibaldi to Sorrento takes about seventy-five minutes to the end of the line, with departures roughly every half hour through the day for only a few euros, and the same train serves Herculaneum and Pompeii along the way. It is cheap and frequent but basic: the trains can be crowded and hot in summer, there is little luggage space, and you should keep an eye on your bags. Sit towards the front, hold your things close, and you will be fine. There is also a faster, more comfortable Campania Express tourist service on the same route in season, for a higher fare.
Arriving by Sea
In the warmer months you can also reach Sorrento by boat, which is a beautiful way to arrive. Fast ferries link Sorrento’s Marina Piccola with Naples and Capri all year, and with Positano, Amalfi, Salerno, Ischia and beyond from about April to October. Coming in across the bay with Vesuvius behind you beats any train, and if you are island-hopping it saves backtracking through the city. From Marina Piccola it is a short lift or walk up into the centre.
Getting Around Sorrento
Within the town you will not need transport at all. Sorrento sits flat on top of its cliff and you can walk it end to end in about twenty minutes, from the station and Piazza Tasso to the Villa Comunale and down to the marinas. For the coast and the islands, Marina Piccola is your ferry port; for Pompeii, Naples and the towns along the line, the Circumvesuviana station in the centre. Local buses and the EAV line run to nearby villages and along the peninsula, and taxis wait at the station and the main squares for when your legs or your bags have had enough.
A last handful of practicalities smooths the edges. The station area has luggage-storage offices, useful if you arrive before check-in or want a bag-free last day, and taxis in Sorrento generally run on fixed fares for the common routes, so agree the price before you set off. Note that the walk down to Marina Grande is charming but the climb back up at the end of the night is real, so keep it in mind after a long dinner. Sorrento is flatter and easier than the Amalfi Coast for anyone with limited mobility, but the cliff between the town and the water always means lifts or steps, so check your hotel’s access if that matters. With a little planning, though, this is one of the simplest corners of Italy to move around.
Tickets and Practicalities
A few practical notes save trouble. Circumvesuviana tickets are cheap, bought from station machines and windows or increasingly by contactless tap; validate a paper ticket before boarding and keep it for the ride. If you want more comfort and a guaranteed seat, the seasonal Campania Express runs the same Naples-to-Sorrento route with fewer stops and air conditioning for a higher fare, aimed at visitors. For the airport, weigh the cheap Alibus-plus-train combination against the direct Curreri bus or a fixed-price private transfer, which is worth it with heavy luggage or a late arrival. Ferry tickets from Marina Piccola are best booked online in July and August, when popular crossings sell out, and hand luggage travels free while a large bag costs a small supplement.
If You Are Driving
You can drive to Sorrento, but think twice. The town has restricted-traffic zones in the centre and very limited, expensive parking, and the coast roads beyond are slow, narrow and busy in season. If you arrive by car, choose a hotel with its own parking and leave the car there, using the train and the ferries for everything else; a car is a liability on the Amalfi Coast and useless on Capri. For most visitors the honest advice is to skip it entirely and let the Circumvesuviana and the boats do the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get from Naples to Sorrento?
Take the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi station to Sorrento, about seventy-five minutes and a few euros, running roughly every half hour. From Naples airport, reach Garibaldi first by the Alibus shuttle, or take the seasonal direct Curreri bus or a private transfer.
Does the Circumvesuviana stop at Naples airport?
No. The Circumvesuviana does not serve Capodichino airport. You first take the Alibus shuttle or a taxi from the airport to Napoli Garibaldi central station, then catch the train to Sorrento from there.
Do you need a car in Sorrento?
No, and a car is more hindrance than help. Sorrento is flat and walkable, and everything beyond it, the islands, the coast, Pompeii and Naples, is better reached by ferry or the local train. Parking is scarce and expensive, and the coast roads are slow and winding.
Is the Circumvesuviana safe?
It is fine with normal care. The trains are basic and can be crowded and hot in summer, with little luggage space, so keep your bags close and your valuables secure, sit towards the front, and you will have no trouble. The faster Campania Express offers a more comfortable ride in season.
Read also: Day trips from Sorrento | The best time to visit Sorrento | The Complete Guide to Sorrento
