Getting from Rome to the Amalfi Coast

Hi Pete.
Sounds like a great trip you're planning. We just spent time on the Amalfi coast in September; I also lived in Italy for 4 years.
I think you're on the right track by not driving from Rome to Sorrento. The trains from Rome's Termini station to Naples are great and you can pick up the Circumvesuviana right there and head to Sorrento. OR you could take a hydrofoil over to Capri and chill for a day or two before taking another boat over to Sorrento.
From Sorrento you could either take a train (Circ. to Naples then Naples to Salerno) or boat from Sorrento to Salerno.
We found train travel very inexpensive in Italy and very convenient. Buses are also excellent. I would definitely skip the car till Salerno.
And if you can travel light, you'll be very happy when you have to get all your luggage into the vehicle.
Buon viaggio!
Sharon

Why would you train from Rome to Salerno if you're staying in Sorrento? Train from Rome to Sorrento with a change in Naples.

As for driving- have you checked that your rental company will allow you to take their car to Sicily? It likely differs between countries, but some rental companies don't permit their cars on ferries.

And don't forget your IDP.

I would take the train into town when you arrive in Rome, have an evening in Rome rather than out at the airport. Next day, you can take the fast train down to Naples, then walk across the station and down a level and take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento.

Personally if my next stop after Sorrento were Sicily, I would then go BACK to Naples and fly to Palermo or Catania from there (and pick up a rental car at the airport upon arrival), but you must have a reason for wanting to drive all the way down! I'd prefer to spend my time in Sicily rather than getting there.

Actually, there are advantages to drive to Sorrento. You don't have to change modes of transportation or move luggage on and off three different trains. Your time is your own.

If you're aware of the Italian rules of the road and have no problems with driving on the autostrada, go for it.
If you have time rent the car the night before, drive to your hotel.
This allows you to leave as early or late as you want the next day.

Drive time FCO -Sorrento is 3+ hours

About the same time as the train.
Drop your luggage, then drop the car in Sorrento.

For transportation around the AC use the bus or ferries.

Schedule here.
http://www.positano.com

Ferrys will save you time.

When finished, ferry to Salerno and rent another car for this portion of your trip.

I’m a little confused by your route. It seems like you intend to drive from Sorrento or Salerno to Sicily and then from Sicily to Verona. If that is the case, once you get to Rome, I would fly to Sicily - either Palermo or Catania - rent the car there and explore the island. You could then take the ferry and drive up the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento and then to Verona.

I’ve driven from Sicily to Sorrento and it’s a looong drive and the road along the Amalfi Coast, even off season, is a difficult drive - slow, endless curves, narrow, blind corners, hilly. The last time I did the drive, this past December, I drove from Salerno to Paestum with an overnight in Amalfi. I was quite happy to leave the coast road. Beautiful scenery but the drive grows old. Depending on weather and traffic, it can be exhausting. To make the most of your time in Italy, consider flying to Sicily, renting a car on the island, flying back to Naples and then either use public transportation or rent a car to tour the Sorrento/Amalfi area. Current airfares for April on Alitalia from FCO to Palermo or Catania and then to Naples are less than €40 a ticket for each leg.

I’d also leave the car in Sorrento since it’s over an 8 hour drive to Verona. Trains would cost about the same as fuel and tolls and get you there in half the time.

If you fly Rome to Naples, you can catch a dedicated bus to Sorrento to the airport. Or take train Rome to Naples and Circumvesiana train Naples to Sorrento. Or driver service Naples to Sorrento.
Are you doing day trips to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento? Sorrento is on the Bay of Naples , not on the Amalfi Coast so your post title is confusing. The Amalfi Coast is a great day trip by bus.

Actually, Suki, Sorrento is where the Amalfi Coast starts. From Naples to Sorrento it is the Costiera Sorrentina; from Sorrento to Amalfi it is the Costiera Amalfitana. ;-)
You are correct, however, that Sorrento is on the Bay of Naples.

If you decide to stay in Salerno (a very good base for the AC), take the train there. If you want to stay in Sorrento, look into taking a private transfer - it shouldn't be exhorbitant for 4 people - either from Rome or Naples. There's no good way to get from Salerno to Sorrento with luggage. You would be on a local bus and have to change buses in Amalfi. Or take a ferry - not sure if there's a route from Salerno to Sorrento without a transfer.

Why not fly from Naples to Sicily and rent a car there?

Pete, here is another fun option.
From Sorrento go back to Naples and take the overnight ferry to PALERMO. I did this a number of years ago and it is great. There was an Italian lounge singer who entertained in the evening, the other passengers are almost all Italians; it is like a vacation-within-your-vacation/mini-cruise. You get to PA very early in the morning and you could pick up your car when you're ready to leave PA. Or while you're there, depending on what you plan to do. PA is a beautiful, historic city, well worth seeing.

As noted, Sorrento is not actually on the Amalfi Coast, but it is an ideal place to stay if you are (as you said) using public transportation to make a variety of daytrips. It's not a particularly good place to have a car, even if your hotel has promised you a free parking space and daily in-outs, which is unlikely. Perhaps you mentioned Salerno because you found online that the main railroad agency runs trains there from Rome, without having to change in Naples. Have you used Google Maps to see how far Salerno is from Sorrento?

You did not give the month of the year, which makes a big difference in driving from Salerno to Sorrento. (Is that your scheme?)

As many have posted here in past threads (see Search box top center of desktop site), a typical way to get from Rome to Sorrento (getting to the Amalfi Coast is harder ... ) is a low-cost advance purchase Frecciarossa ticket to Naples, and the dirt-cheap Circumvesuviana from there to Sorrento. However, the Circumvesuviana can be so crowded and unpleasant that for four persons, I would consider a private transfer ... if your luggage will fit into a vehicle you can book for the trip. A related issue is whether you need a taxi anyway upon arrival in Sorrento, which could cost 1/4 of the private transfer cost, again, if your luggage will fit into one cab.

We took the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento, but paid for a private transfer back to Naples to avoid the fierce (month of May) crowds and musicians on the Circumvesuviana. We enjoyed the ease of daily daytrips without luggage on the Circumvesuviana, however.

Thanks to everyone who contributed. You all were a big help. That is why I love forums - so much expertise and quality recommendations from folks who have been there.

We decided to change our plans to eliminate driving to Sicily from Sorrento, and to fly from Naples to Catania airport, as there are more convenient flights than to Palermo. So we will not need a rental car in Sorrento, and will use use the Circumvesuviana, buses, and tours to get around.
Seems like for 4 people plus luggage, a car service is better than the dedicated bus from/to Naples airport to Sorrento. Is Uber/Lyft available in Italy?

After Sicily, we plan to fly to Bari, pick up another car and see Puglia for a few days, then drive north through La Marche and San Marino to get to Verona, where we will stay with friends for a week.

Thats what I did. I actually drove from Rome to Sorrento, but that was because my flight to Naples got canceled from Paris. But i wouldve taken the train/Bus. Sicily take a flight to Catania...Palermo is good for a day and street food. Sicily is awesome. Hit Taormina, Savoca, Noto , Ragusa and Syacusa since they are close to Catania if you cant get to the other side.