Naples Beverello

Month and Year?

Are you confident they'll have that huge vehicle in stock, maybe with an automatic transmission? Have you driven in Italy before? If not, use the Search box to read about IDP, ZTL, and mimimum insurance requirements imposed on rental companies (not just the renters.)

I do not recommend driving anywhere in Naples except maybe the airport. The train station is downtown. This is like third-world driving and parking conditions, very challenging and dangerous, perhaps worse than Rome. I suggest possibly taking the train to Orvieto and renting the car there, or even Florence. Getting past Rome and FCO will be no pleasure in your own car. What do you mean by countryside area? Do you have time for any detours on this long drive in heavy traffic?

Many people like the idea of this ferry. Won't you have been on some ferries during your stay in Sorrento? Many times of year, some ferry lines don't have outdoor riding, but sealed air-conditioned cabins. That was true of our two big (>300 pedestrians) ferries Sorrento-Capri.

This will be June 6th of this year. I booked a vehicle that seats 7 and has automatic transmission. I've read a fair amount the challenges of driving in or near cities and yet there were no vehicle options that seated 7 outside of the larger metropolitan areas(I spent weeks looking). Nonetheless, we will only be driving out of Naples which I understand will potentially be challenging but, again, we don't plan on driving around the city or in any other city for that matter. We're driving to an airbnb we have booked just outside of Sienna and are staying there for 3 days before dropping the car off near the airport in Florence. Before and after that we are traveling by train most places. All that said, back to my original question, any suggestions on getting from the port to the train station? I am reading online that there are buses and maybe a subway but am not sure how easy these are to hop on and off and whether or not they have a direct connection between the port and the train station.

Could you split up and just hop in two cabs? That would be so simple and not break the bank. I don't think I'd feel great about having four kids dragging their bags through public transport for such a short ride.

Search in google maps Naples Beverello port to Napoli Centrale and you’ll get a few options. Google maps was very accurate for me with public transportation in Naples a few weeks ago.

With that said, I would get my fill of scenic ferry rides in the Amalfi Coast and just take the train from Sorrento to Naples.

Maybe I'm thinking about this wrong...but doesn't it take close to 2hrs by train...whereas the ferry route I'm looking at online is 35min?

I am seeing an hour and ten for the train and about 45 for the ferry, of course you have to add in time getting to either.
Circumvesuviana link: https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule
Campania Express link: https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/campania-express-train-schedule
ferry link: https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/ferry-schedule

I'd just take the train. It's 1 hr 15 minutes and will make it much easier when you get to Naples to get the car.

The train allows some down time, relaxing instead of worrying, and extra sight seeing, too! My granddaughter and I are taking the Aug 31 tour of South Italy, which ends in Naples. We will take the train to Florence, then to Cinque Terra, and then Venice! Looking forward to it!

We were thinking the ferry as it was shorter and, after reading blogs on the Circumvesuviana train, it also seemed safer. That said, it does sound like there may be more downsides to the ferry than I originally considered. We'll probably end up taking our chances on the train.

Have you noticed there are two trains? I posted links to both--Circumvesuviana is the one that is akin to a subway and Campania Express is more geared toward tourists.

Yes, but we tend to be early morning people and Campania doesn't have any options in the Sorrento to Naples direction until midmorning.

Taxi from Beverello, or walk a km or so to the University Metro (Line 1) station. Then it's about 2 stops to the end of the line at Garibaldi, next to the train station.

Or taxi(s) to the airport from Beverello might be a whole lot easier. c. 25 Euro ( EDIT - to the airport; not Garibaldi/train station).

When we dropped a rental car off in Naples, it was up at the top of the city, not far from autostrada. Very easy in and out. Perhaps you can find a rental to pick up there. Take taxis from Beverello up there.

You know, while pickpocketing is more common in Europe than in the US, violent street crime is far lower in Europe, and gun incidents unheard-of. And a large ferry cabin is not less vulnerable to pickpocket incidents than a train. So calling the Circumvesuviana train less "safe" is not useful.

In fact, many Rick Steves readers, myself included, use hidden belt pouches that are 100% effective against pickpockets.

I will say that the Circumvesuviana is the hottest and most crowded public transportation I have ever been on in my life. In June, it's unlikely that a group of 7 will be able to enter the same door of the same car, especially with full-sized luggage (for which there are no racks.) Will you need two taxis from your Sorrento hotel to the ferry? That could be over 30 Euros.

The ferry counts as expensive in comparison to the dirt-cheap Circumvesuviana. So for a group of 7, it's worth asking your hotel's land travel partner for the price of a van transfer from Sorrento. I know it is hopeless to dissuade you from renting a car in Naples, but you should compare the Frecciarossa train time to Orvieto with the tedious driving time. You are not going to have time for imagined multiple scenic stops on the way to your unspecified Tuscany destination.