Best public transportation Naples to Sorrento

We took Circumvesuviana in March roundtrip from Naples to Sortrento. It was an experience. Crowded. You may not get a seat for the entire trip. Panhandlers played music which was interesting. Guard your purse and wallet. There is a faster train (I forgot name) but it doesn't make many daily trips. It costs a little more. Very little space for luggage. I'd ride it again for the experience.

The faster train is several times more expensive and not very frequent. Take the Circum..... It is commuter train. Take it mid-day will be less crowded but it works very well.

Ditto to what Frank said: take the Circumvesuviana as it's cheap, it operates MUCH more frequently than the Campania Express train, and it's how the locals get around. Yes, it can be crowded and hot. Yes, you have to keep a sharp eye on your valuables but you need to do that on public transit anywhere at all in Italy where large numbers of tourists go.

You can take a ferry. We took a taxi down to the molo (dock) and also needed a taxi in Sorrento so that adds some expense, but it was nice to relax and not worry about security. 😬

Been a while, but best is a bit loaded. The express rail is probably faster and more direct, but may not be there when you need it. The commuter Circumvesuvia is frequent, easy, and cheap, so aside from the crowds and panhandlers, qualifies for the best.

Ferry takes a bit more work and planning, but a pleasant option, Bus is also an option, but again, maybe a bit more effort.

We have taken the ferry from Naples to Sorrento and it is much more relaxing than the Circumvesuviana train. Depending on when in Oct. you are going to Sorrento, be aware that the Campania Express only runs till mid-October.
https://www.eavsrl.it/web/content/campania-express-2018-it We were in Sorrento last October for 4 nights, driving from Paestum & getting rid of our car immediately upon arrival in Sorrento. When we were ready to leave Sorrento for Naples the C.Express was done running for the season. Neither my husband nor I were up for the Circumvesuviana so we had our hotel arrange a private transfer, price prearranged, to our hotel in the Galleria Umberto/Naples. Was 75 Euro plus tip, 2 people. A very kind older gentlemen was our driver through Autoservizi de Martino. We would have paid a taxi from Naples to take us to our hotel so figured we would just do the transfer from Sorrento.
www.autoservizidemartino.com

We’ve taken the Circumvesuviana many, many times and we actually like it.

We took the ferry once from Naples and it was not enjoyable. Taxi driver to dock drove like a crazy person... too fast, wrong side of road, in the median, and on the sidewalk. No seatbelts in taxi. Waited 1.5 hrs at dock for ferry after buying tickets (ticket seller could see we had suitcases). As we were getting on ferry I’m told we need tickets for our two suitcases. Very stressful as now there are 100s of people getting on. Had to leave my 11 yo son with suitcases to go back to ticket place, wait in line, buy more tickets, all the time worried the ferry would leave before I could get back. Turns out it was a hydrofoil, all the curtains were closed so couldn’t see out, there was no way to go outside on the boat to see anything, and there was an overwhelming smell of fuel the whole ride. Then the cost of a taxi from dock in Sorrento up to town to our hotel.
Our experience may not be the norm, but it happened and it was not enjoyable at all.

Becky, the best “splurge” of my most recent trip to Italy was a taxi (or car service) from Naples to Sorrento. After I spent a full morning and had lunch in Naples, the driver picked me up at the door of my B & B at 2 pm, the driver loaded my baggage, and in just over an hour, I was dropped at the front door of my hotel a ways outside Sorrento. Yes, it cost more than the Circumvesuviana, but I probably would have needed a taxi at each end anyway. I saved lots of time and hassle, and I was able to get back to being a tourist (or explorer) much quicker. If your “we” is 2, 3 or more people, the more economic sense it makes too. And, I had plenty of chance to later experience the Circumvesuviana from my base in a Sorrento.

I vote for the Circum V train. Yes, crowded, yes, guys performing poorly for euro. There was a sense of community on the train, people catching up with friends, and in a little way, besides being tourists, we felt we were part of it.

Thank you all for your suggestions. How long does the Circumvesuviana take? And where do we catch it again? It’s been 10 years since I last took.

Hi Becky (apologies for not getting to your PM)!

You catch the Circumvesuviana at Napoli Garibaldi station. It's connected (inside) to Napoli Centrale so just follow the signs.

And here is the schedule and some other helpful bits of info about the train:

http://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

As the schedule shows, it's an hour and some odd minutes from Naples to Sorrento.

Thank you, Kathy!

You're welcome, Becky! :O)