Traveling with 7 ladies (all first cousins in our 50's) to see Family and birth places of our grand parents. How difficult will it be to travel to Taormina from Sorrento? Shall we take a Train? Plane? or Rent Car? A few of the Cousins have never been to Italy/Sicily (Travel Virgins) Grazie per la vostra guida
Posted by
Napa, CA
3580 posts
It would be a really long day on the train. Check for flights from Naples to Catania. From there I think there is bus service to Taormina.
Posted by
OP
Sedalia, Co, Usa
4 posts
Thank you!
Posted by
Cesena, Italy
791 posts
Ditto on driving. Do-able but long.
Posted by
Minneapolis, MN, USA
8700 posts
For travel during the day from Sorrento you first would need to take a SITA bus or a ferry to Salerno. There are direct trains from Salerno to Taormina that make the trip in six hours. Or you could take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Sorrento to Naples in time to catch the direct Naples-Taormina night train that departs at 23:35 and arrives at 07:39. For Salerno-Taormina or Naples-Taormina see the timetables at trenitalia.com. If you decide to take the night train, book ASAP on that site. Popular night trains can sell out weeks in advance.
Posted by
Centennial, CO, US
2191 posts
Wow, that sounds like a wonderful trip. You might want to think carefully about the overnight train. They are not as restful as you might imagine. And taking the overnight train (or a plane) means backtracking to Naples. I'd recommend the ferry or bus to Salerno, followed by the train to Taormina. The trip to Salerno will give you another look at the incredible Amalfi Coast. And six hours on the train will pass quickly.
Posted by
Cary, NC
687 posts
There are also two day trains from Naples to Taormina. I've ridden one of them all the way to Siracusa. It takes most of the day, and the scenery isn't really that great on the mainland, although crossing the strait on a train on a boat is sort of fun. I was glad to fly back, though.