Evening transportation options from Naples to Sorrento

We were in Sorrento in December 2012/January 2013, with a rental car. We didn't use any hydrofoils (took the ferry to/from Capri one day, though). Our Circumvesuviana trips to and from Naples had no sign of pickpockets (we stayed seated the whole time), but there was one aggressive guy who muscled his way into a seat, even though there were lots of women standing nearby. This was as we got closer to Naples and the train car got fuller. Closer to Sorrento, it was a pleasant ride.

As long as you remember to keep your wits about you on the train, you'll be absolutely fine. The number of people riding it later in the evening also drops tremendously, making it much less of a problem. (The pickpockets rely on the trains being crowded and the tourists being clueless.)

Don't even count on water-based transportation that late in the season. If it's windy, you'll be riding the Circumvesuviana.

Here's my story:
After a full day, we got on around sunset, heading toward Sorrento.

Unfortunately, we were so tired, we nodded off as we passed the stops where we needed to make a transfer... o_O...
Toward the end of this accidental continuation on the 'locals line', people started to roust us...
(not to take our unattended bag, but to find out our intended destination).
With plenty of kind help we got back to the station we needed
and finally caught the last train into Sorrento to make it home much later than we had hoped.

So, my suggestion is not to worry about pickpockets, but to make certain you've hopped on the correct train!

Not sure what you mean about "transfers", Bill. You catch a train in Naples that takes you to Sorrento, with stops along the way. What am I missing here?

I'm confused by Bill's comment, too. Sorrento is the last stop on the Circumvesuviana line that goes there. No transfers between Naples and Sorrento, unless you board the wrong train in Naples.

We got on at Ercolano. Two lines stop there.

We had just missed the blue line train but the green was right behind. At the section with the 'Torre's' we were supposed to transfer to the blue line (it was too quiet at the Ercolano station, so a change of scenery and an Amaro sounded nice).

But we found ourselves napping within 6 or 7 minutes on the green line, instead of looking for the right place to hop off (good spots to transfer were 15 minutes down the line), ending up out at Poggiomarino before doubling back to Torre Annunziata for the correct train.

That explains it!

Funny as a another member is looking at jetboat/ferry transport from Sorrento to Naples right around mid-to early October as well. To my knowledge, alilauro is the only company with service between these two locations so I think Circumvesuviana will be your best (or only) option as well.

Don't worry overmuch about that train. It's definitely a battered, no-frills commuter but thousands of tourists take use it without incident. If you have your valuables secured just as you should in any busy tourist area in the world, and a firm hand on your luggage, you'll be just fine. They can't pick your pocket if there's nothing in it to pick, right?

Thanks for the input everyone- looks as though it will be the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento then...

Note to others who are contemplating purchase of a Rail Europe pass (for train travel elsewhere)- make sure you order far enough in advance for delivery at home! My wife and I are taking trains 3 of the days we are in Italy and I decided (two days before I leave) to get train passes. I will be receiving them via overnight delivery.

Rick's book and online content have been a huge help determining how best to spend our time. We are being a bit aggressive with travel to see more of the country. 19-day trip (3 of the days in Paris and the remainder in Italy: Rome, Venice, Cinque Terra and Sorrento/Capri/maybe another day trip or just chilaxin).

Cheers.

Make sure that if you are using any trains except the lowest of the low with that railpass coming by overnight - that you get your mandatory reservations or face a big fine.

You can just jump on Regionale and Regionale Veloce with the pass but not the private Circumvesuviana where you have to buy a ticket because your pass is not valid.

Other private segments are found in the south where your pass is not valid.

Your pass is not valid on any InterCity or EuroStar Italia or FrecciaBianca, FrecciaArgento or FrecciaRossa UNLESS you have bought a mandatory reservation for them.

Personal preference but I'd never purchase a Rail Europe pass for Italy. So many of our trips have involved inexpensive regionale and local trains for which tickets are so easily purchased once in we're there. For journeys on faster, more expensive trains requiring reservations, Trenitalia or Italo are generally the go-to sites.

Thanks Nigel.

No overnight trains for us. I went with Rick's recommendation and bought 1st class Rail Europe passes and booked reservations for all of our train segments except the one from Florence to La Spezia (that does not accept reservations).

Cheers.

Interesting as on his rail page for Italy, he generally advises against passes for this country.

Not an issue (we all do things differently!) but it's interesting that you were advised otherwise.

Had a wonderful trip and positive train experiences in Italy. Before departing, I read Rick's post https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/transportation/trains/should-i-get-a-rail-pass. Given that I was traveling longer distances in Italy on three of the days, I opted for the 3-day pass and advance booking which worked out quite well.

Venice to La Spezia-> Riomaggiore was stellar (switched trains in Firenze and chose the somewhat slower/direct Regionale as opposed to changing trains again in Pisa). Turned out to be a good move- Pisa was quite crowded and unless we ended up directly in front of the doors when the train stopped, we wouldn't have gotten a seat.

On the Frecciarossa from La Spezia to Rome, there was a medical emergency ~1/2 of the way there. The train made an unscheduled stop and medical personnel were dispatched. Upon arrival, they evaluated and removed a passenger. We missed our connecting train at Roma Termini bound for Naples. The Rome Termini station was something along the lines of a whirlpool of people in a semi-disoragnized state of constant motion with long queues all over (including in front of the last minute train assistance booths.

I decided we were hopping on the next "4-digit" fast train to Naples without missing 2-3 trains while waiting in a long line to get a reissued ticket. We ended up standing in between two cars with 5 semi-behaved hoodlums who were pushing and shoving each other and smoking the whole way to Naples. They were sizing me up for sure though I think they sensed my willingness for "international relations encouragement" and decided to stay out of my grill.

No one came along checking train tickets so I guess we lucked out.

The Circumvesuviana was even more intriguing. That is the first time I've encountered panhandlers breathing down my neck at the ticket window asking for a handout whilst I was purchasing tickets. The trains had been running very late all day so the platform was packed with people (3/4th's of them were smoking like stacks- doesn't particualrly bother me; my wife was a bit put off). We eventually boarded the severely overdue train, standing room only.

Teens were punching, slapping and hitting each other, throwing empty water bottles around, etc. There were a few adults on board who appeared to be looking for "an opportunity". I remained standing next to our small amount of luggage for a good bit of the 1+ hour ride to Sorrento. I've been on worse subways and trains (not many though).

Next time, I might take the train from middle/Northern Italy to Salerno instead and then a bus or ferry to Positano or Amalfi.

Hi, Mon-

Glad the train journeys worked. The aggressive guy I mentioned above - really a jerk - was, undoubtedly a shoving, hitting teenager 40 years ago, and there are clearly still more around! As for the smoking (I think somebody in Rome was handing out lit cigarettes to passers-by, since everyone seemed to have one), Marlboro and Camel may or may not be losing customers in the USA, but they seem to have plenty of business in some other parts of the world. Cheers!