From Sorrento to Naples - Train Ticket Purchaging Advice

last year we rode the train from Sorrento to Naples, in May. for memory we did not have trouble buying the tickets at Sorrento. as Sorrento was the end of the line we got on first and sat near the driver, so we could put our luggage close to us in the luggage rack.( and to get away from any of the 'gypsies' who were on the train)
As the stations went by more and more people got on. by the time we got to Naples the train was absolutely packed. like sardines. Really bad if anyone had wanted to get off. luckily everyone got off at Naples, so we could get our luggage out of the rack. We walked up to change trains for the fast train back to Rome, no problem. except for a dodgy man on the platform making out to be official train staff wanting to lift our bags onto the Rome train ( and charging euros) perhaps this was because we were travelling business class. they see tourists as an easy target. We certainly kept our eyes open when in Naples.

Hope this helps

We did this trip a couple of weeks ago. Why are you buying Rome tickets in advance? We just purchased tickets on the Italo fast train in the station. You can purchase them from machines or go into the ticket office. The people there were extremely helpful (got me a senior discount for being 60 even though the machine said 65). I'd imagine the Trenitalia experience would be about the same. It's not that long a trip, how much would super-economy save you? I think our tickets were 27 and 35 Euros and we had assigned seats.

Good idea to sit near the driver on the Circumvesuviana. I worried about not having our bags in sight even though we were only a few feet from them, the train was so crowded. Buy your Circumvesuviana tickets at the Tabachi outside the train station in Sorrento. No lines, nice people, speak English. It's about a 20 minute walk from one station to another in Naples, so maybe you want to give yourself twice that amount of time?

We did not care for the Circumvesiviana train. We took the rickety train from Naples to Sorrento. Very crowded. But it got us to Sorrento safely with a great story to laugh about when we got home. On the way back to Naples we decided to take the ferry! It was beautiful! We caught the ferry in Sorrento. Once we arrived it was a short walk to the taxi stand. With a quick drive to the Naples train station by a very nice taxi driver we ended at the Naples train station with pre-purchased tickets. The concierge at our hotel in Sorrento suggested that we purchased out tickets the night before we left. I'm glad we did. The train was packed! Any who... The ferry ride was our favorite part of the trip😍

The Circumvesuviana train station (next to last stop) in Napoli is one flight of stairs below Napoli Centrale.

Bill, ifyou had a 20-minute walk you got off at the last station.

Why are you buying Rome tickets in advance -
Thanks for the tip about the Italo trains from Naples to Rome. I have been only checking the Trenitalia trains and to purchase the super economy now for our October trip is about 22 Euros per person whereas when checking what the price would be if I purchased it "today", the cost was about 43 Euros per person. So based on your information, I will just get the Italo ticket when we get to the Naples station and not worry about getting it in advance. Also thanks for the reminder about sitting close to the driver on the Vesuviana train and buying the ticket at the Tabachi. I love this forum!!!

The price difference for advance purchase versus base fare is as you have found it online with either Trenitalia or Italo. There's no deadline to buy tickets, but the saver rates (with refund and change restrictions) will be the first to sell out with either company. Do you qualify for the senior rates that Bill mentioned?

You will get a view of Napoli Centrale station on your way into the region, so spend enough time there to understand where you will go upon your return. If you think it will take half an hour, then allow an hour (by choosing an earlier Circumvesuviana) to make yourself more comfortable.

The twenty minute number accounted for bathroom time.

'Nuf said.