We will be spending two weeks in Italy in the spring, flying into Venice and out of Rome.
The itinerary is Venice > Lake Como >Sorrento.
We have been to Venice and Lake Como before , but the Sorrento segment is long-awaited and COVID-delayed. In Lake Como, we are staying in Varenna.
In our initial plan pre-COVID, we were going to fly directly from Milan to Naples, then get a driver from Naples to the Sorrento hotel.
Now as we are currently planning, I'm looking for input for traveling from (Varenna ) Milan to Naples. Is flying still the best option (quickest , even with airport check-in etc, carryon luggage only ) or would train travel be better, (more flexible options, but number of train changes, dependable schedule?) I would appreciate input from those of you who have actually done/ considered this route, so have practical feedback. Is Linate airport better than Malpensa.? I'm sure there are factors I'm not considering.
Thanks so much in advance!
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7261 posts
Posted by
872 posts
Direct train 4.5 hours, city center to city center; you get on, you get off. Total time for a one-hour flight 6 to 6.5 hours.
Posted by
OP
San Diego, California
5685 posts
Thx so much, Christine, I must have missed that thread!
Posted by
Italy
3812 posts
There are many direct trains between Milan and Naples. Ask the driver where you should get off the train, at Napoli centrale or at Napoli Afragola (far from downtown traffic).
Trenitalia has uploaded the schedules up to June 11 and Italotreno up to March 31, so I don't know what you mean with "dependable". If you mean that you are travelling after June 11, rest assured that the summer schedules will be very similar to the winter ones. Or better.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7085 posts
Is flying still the best option (quickest , even with airport check-in
etc, carryon luggage only ) or would train travel be better,
Flying wasn't the best option before Covid, and still isn't. The train is cheaper, more comfortable and most likely faster.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16644 posts
Doggone it, what happened to the thread that Christine linked? There were a lot of useful contributions to that one. Even if the OP didn't choose to use any of it, others like Pat here might have. :O(
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
7261 posts
Ugh
So annoying and inconsiderate of a first time poster
Sadly happens a lot
Posted by
OP
San Diego, California
5685 posts
Darn, I read Christine's linked post, but didn't print it. So much for trying to save paper.
But thanks to everyone here, we will be using the train, so your advice was taken seriously and heeded. Dario, N.Kingdom, Badger and Christine, you all always share helpful info and it is appreciated.
Last night, I was able to contact the driver service from Naples to Sorrento that was shared/recommended in the deleted thread, and the price is less than others I've contacted.
Again, I appreciate the time you all take to post, and your efforts will make our spring trip even better!
Safe travels!