Navigating Sorrento
Sorrento overall is a very walkable city and Europe takes immense pride in its well-developed and accessible public transportation network, which seamlessly connects its diverse neighbors and iconic landmarks. But when walking isn't possible, below are some public transit options.
Circumvesuviana
Circumvesuviana is the regional train connecting Sorrento to Naples. This is NOT to be mistaken with Campania Express, which is a train service that, while faster, comes less frequently and is also generally pricier. Whether you want to check out the archaeological ruins of Pompeii or go to Naples for a day-trip, Circumvesuviana is the most common mode of transportation for students at Sorrento. The Sorrento train station is a 15-minute walk from Sant'Anna Institute. Once you get to the station, you can walk up the stairs and you have two options of paying:
Tell the worker at the counter which stop you want to get off at and they will give you the corresponding train ticket. It's recommended you buy two tickets, one ticket to get to your destination and the other to return to Sorrento. This will not only save you time in line, but it will also save you the inconvenience of having to worry about how to buy your ticket back. As always, if you have a physical ticket, remember to validate it to avoid a hefty fine!
If you have an electronic card on your phone such as Apple Pay, Circumvesuviana has a tap in/tap out option! At every station on the line, there are two readers. One will say "TAP IN" and the other will say "TAP OUT". Tap your card IN before going onto the platform and the train. When you leave the station and arrive at your destination stop, tap out! If you forget to tap out, your card will be charged the maximum fee, which is the furthest zone possible depending on where you tapped in. For example, if you tapped in at Sorrento but want to go to Pompeii but forget to tap out at Pompeii, you'll be charged the maximum fee which is the price it would have been to go to Naples! Thankfully, this isn't too expensive and is only around 4-5 euros.
For more general information regarding Circumvesuviana, here is a link.
Bus
Italian metro bus tickets can be bought at pretty much any tabaccheria, or for around 2€ once you board the bus from the driver. If you plan to take the bus often during your stay, it can be convenient to purchase several tickets at a time and then validate them as needed. Bus and tram stops in popular cities also sometimes have red ticket vending machines on the platform.
A bus ticket is valid from the moment it is validated and lasts for the amount of time listed on the ticket. In Sorrento, typically this is 90 minutes, but outside of the city, this decreases to 70 minutes. Tickets differ between regions, so be sure to read the information on your ticket. You MUST validate your bus tickets on the bus AS SOON as you get on to avoid a huge fine!
The official ATAF website has timetables and bus routes available for you to plan your trip: Google Maps can also be helpful, but is less accurate. Find the timetable at http://www.ataf.net/en/.
TIP: Please be mindful of the BUS schedule before getting on the TRAIN! Especially if you are planning to get back to Sorrento late! The trains unfortunately do not run too long into the night and you do not want to risk being stranded at the Naples train station with no way of getting back! There are late-night support buses by the EAV (Ente Autonomo Volturno) that run after the last train but they run much less frequently. To check specific bus schedules for the area in and around Sorrento, use this link.
Biking
A green way to get around town would be through biking. One such provider would be cyclingexplorers.com. They can be contacted via WhatsApp at +39 329 547 6783 and their offices are located on Via Bernardino Rota 47 in Sorrento.
Alternative Modes of Transportation
If you'd like a private bus company transfer directly from the Naples Airport to Sorrento or vice-versa, book your transfer with Curreri Viaggi!
Navigating Italy and Europe
Want to explore cities outside of Sorrento and Naples? One of the most important things to consider when planning your travel is to book your transportation in advance. This will ensure that you have a guaranteed spot on the train, bus, or plane and will also save you money.
Depending on your destination, you may have multiple options such as trains, buses, and planes. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages, so choose the one that best suits your needs. For example, trains are a great option for short distances as they are often faster than driving and more convenient than flying, while buses are often the cheapest option.
Additionally, consider using apps like Google Maps and other transportation apps, to check multiple options and compare prices, it can save you a lot of time and money.
Finally, before you leave, make sure you have all the necessary documents and tickets, including your passport or ID card, and double-check your itinerary to make sure you don't miss your connection. With these tips and tricks, you'll be able to book your transportation and travel around Europe with ease.
Trains
Travel by rail in Italy is fast, cheap, reliable, and an excellent choice for travel within Italy. Italy has two types of trains: slower regional trains, which service most places, and the newer fast trains, which connect several large hubs across Italy.
Regional Trains
You can buy regional train tickets online, but it is often more convenient to buy them at the station. Just be sure to show up about an hour early to secure a ticket and comfortably validate it and find your train. Physical tickets must be validated at the machines in the terminal before you depart, and are good for four hours of travel after validation. Always validate your ticket BEFORE getting onto the train to avoid hefty fines!
If you choose to purchase online, be sure to have a screenshot handy of your ticket in case your wifi/data is not reliable when they come around to check tickets: it is typical to check tickets after the train has started moving, and service can be spotty.
If you need to reschedule your ticket, this can usually be done online for virtually purchased tickets, or at a nearby ticket booth.
High Speed Trains
For high-speed trains (i.e. Trenitalia's Frecciarossa trains and Italo Treno's high speed trains) you must book a ticket in advance for a specific seat and train car. These tickets do not need to be validated, unlike regional train tickets. Note: It is important to ensure you buy tickets from the official train websites (Trenitalia: https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html Italo Treno: https://www.italotreno.it/en) and not third party groups.
Read more about the difference between the two types of trains here, or check out our handy video guide.