How to get from Sorrento to Pompei by public transport

Based on other threads on here you are correct that the Circumvesuviana train is what to use. You don't prebook. It is a local commuter. I'll be using it next month to do the same trip. Apparently runs several times per hour, is cheap, and is ripe with pickpockets.

You don't need to book ahead on the Circumvesuviana. It's 2,50 Euro (or close to that) one way and you buy it at the tabacchi shop at Sorrento station. It runs every 30 minutes or so. Pompei is a little more than halfway to Naples, so about an hour--at least 10 stops. Efficient but a little sketchy at times--we rode it last month and it was fine. Best to not ride it at night or with baggage.

There is also the Campania Express, and you'll have to do a search on the threads here as to its schedule and whether to buy tickets ahead of time. I believe 8,00 Euro one way, supposedly a better class of people.

I wouldn't try to use the Curreri Viaggi bus for this trip.

You don't have to pre-book the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii. Really. Tickets are very cheap and very easy to just buy at the train station in Sorrento. They sell them to thousands of tourists every year. There are also no assigned seats on this train so advance tickets wouldn't be of any advantage anyway. Heck, I'm not even sure you CAN purchase them in advance.

Ask for round-trip (ritorno) tickets when you buy them in Sorrento, and don't forget to validate them before boarding the trains each way. This train runs very frequently.

As far as the Campania Express train, here's the schedule and prices.

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/content/campania-express-2017

I did a test run for online tickets and the booking tab doesn't seem to be operational so if you want this one, just buy tickets at the Sorrento station. I don't believe this train has assigned seats either.

Editing to add: you'll want to get off at Pompei S. Villa Misteri station. Here are the Circumvesuviana schedules both to and from Pompei/Sorrento:

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Sorrento%20-%20Napoli_0.pdf

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Napoli%20-%20Sorrento_1.pdf

If you are still nervous, I believe that the tickets sold at the tobacco shop are not dated in any way. You could buy four tickets (two each way, the SAME ticket) the day before, and put them in your room overnight. Don't forget to Validate them in the machine just before the train comes.

It is better to ride the Circumvesuviana on a day you don't have your luggage with you, but many people do bring their luggage, and check it at the entrance to Pompeii. This is a trivial excursion by public transportation. Hundreds of people do it every day. I have done it. Another day, we went to both Herculaneum and Villa Oplontis, two different Circumvesuviana stops.

Honestly, there's not a thing to be nervous about. We didn't have much of a clue either but walked up to the ticket seller and asked for tickets to Pompei. They sell oodles of these DAILY, and we were asked us if we wanted return tickets, not that whomever is on staff will ask you. It's not difficult. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can do it. Just remember to validate those tickets as they don't remind you of that little detail.

Sorrento is a MAJOR tourist entry for the Amalfi, they're well used to dealing with visitors from all over the world, and I'm guessing that a significant amount of them make the trip to Pompei.

I've just seen this other thread of yours:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/booked-a-trenitalia-train-ticket-but-forgot-to-assign-a-seat-big-deal

You mention that you "...have two trains, one from Pompeii to Naples, then Naples to Rome." :

Train:Regionale 3382 date 25/04/2017
Departure: Pompei (time: 07:44); Arrival: Napoli Centrale (time: 08:22)
Seat : Seats (only 2° Classe) Service : 2° Classe

Train:Regionale 12276 date 25/04/2017
Departure: Napoli Centrale (time: 15:37); Arrival: Roma Termini (time: 18:24)
Seat : Seats (only 2° Classe) Service : 2° Classe

I'm curious why you booked a morning train from Pompei to Naples if you're staying in Sorrento? Why not take the Circumvesuviana all the way to Naples? Am I missing something? The station this train will depart from in Pompei will not be the same one you'll arrive at when when you go the archeological site, nor will it be the same train line.

The subject of your second train to Rome being a slooooooow regionale is being addressed on that other thread.

I want to check out Pompeii after Sorrento.

Please confirm with me: the Trenitalia station is about 2 km east from the Circumvesuviana station (Scavi). The ruins are essentially in between the two.

I was kinda hesitant to do the Circumvesuviana for any leg in my trip as I had read it may be crowded and sketchy.

I may end up doing the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Pompei Scavi station as it seems everyone is suggesting I don't take the Curreri Viaggi bus.

So according to the time schedule (updated in 2015) the Circumvesuviana train starts running at 6am from Sorrento to Pompei. Is that right?

http://www.sitabus.it/en/circumvesuviana-timetables-and-rates/

Curious why Google Maps has not updated directions with Circumvesuviana.

You cannot carry your luggage through ancient Pompeii to get to the other side. You'll have to call a taxi to go all the way from the Circumvesuviana station/Porta Marina entrance of the excavation, to the Trenitalia station in MODERN Pompeii city, if you insist on not using the Circumvesuviana a second time. See Google Maps for an overview.

You are overplanning before collecting all the facts, and sabotaging yourself. Please start over. Perhaps you can avoid a lot of stress by seeing Pompeii while sleeping in Naples or Sorrento.

Edit: (For completeness, there IS another entrance to ancient Pompeii, from modern Pompeii. But you can't take your backpack through the ancient excavation. And you can't re-enter the site after exiting to pick up your baggage at the checking counter. If hostels let you deposit your bags long before checking in (?) you could taxi there before Pompeii. Don't count on a street hail at the Pompeii Scavi CV stop.) Pompeii is VERY hot and VERY sunny.

I want to check out Pompeii after Sorrento.

this the the schedule for the train you've booked:

Train:Regionale 3382 date 25/04/2017
Departure: Pompei (time: 07:44); Arrival: Napoli Centrale (time: 08:22)

Were you planning on leaving Sorrento on the 24th or earlier and staying in Pompei overnight? It would help a lot to know what your complete itinerary is.

Okay, my itinerary is as follows:

Leave Sorrento on morning of the 24 and arrive in Pompeii.

Stay the night of the 24 in Pompeii. My hostel is very close to the Trenitalia station.

I think I'd be willing to taxi it from Pompei Scavi stn to my hostel if I were to use Circumvesuviana to get to Pompei.

Haha, I think I did sabotage myself by giving myself too few days in too many locations.

Ah. OK. I probably wouldn't have chosen to stay overnight in Pompei as it's only 1/2 hour from Sorrento. You could easily have taken the Circ. to the scavi (ruins), checked your luggage, spent a good amount of time sightseeing and then moved on to Naples. Or simply gone back to Sorrento for the night: no need to have booked a 1-nighter just 30 minutes away.

But be that as it may, I'd still just check your bag at the site - as you'll arrive right in front of it (Pompei S. Villa Misteri station) if taking the Circumvesuviana - and then grab a taxi to your hostel when you're done with your visit. You'll likely encounter a less crowded train from Sorrento to Pompei than if coming from Naples.

I'd still see if you could change your tickets for that sloooooow train from Naples to Rome but if you bought super-economy, that's not possible. Oh well! Bring your breakfast and and a good book! :O)