Parking in Sorrento

Rick's book recommends parking in the underground Achille Lauro garage, not far from the train station, on Via Correale, €24/day. Here's a map that Roberto provided on an earlier forum thread. Or, this Central Parking (found online) offers a shuttle van connection. The main street of Sorrento is flat and pretty easy walking if you've packed light. Don't leave any gear visible in the car.

That is a great reply. I just want to say that because we were staying nearby (Grand Hotel Ambasciatori Via Califano,18), I saw a line of cars waiting ten minutes or more, to get into the cited garage (A1) every night. Although Sorrento (which we enjoyed very much) is the exact opposite of a medieval town, it has very narrow streets, many of them with one travel lane, and all the traffic problems of any other European city. For example, part of the main square is shut down every night for Passeggiata, which I like. That's one, of several reasons why we didn't rent a car. One of the reasons for staying in Sorrento is for access to the Circumvesuviana train, for daytrips between Naples and Sorrento.

Yes, it's true that the Circumvesuviana is useless for travel on the Amalfi coast. We paid a car and driver for 8 hours on the AC. I do understand that many visitors want more of the AC than 8 hours.

Thanks Laura and Tim! I think to avoid all the hassles of coming and going to/from the garage, we might just keep the car in the garage and take the train to Naples, Pompeii, etc. Are there any traffic cameras in Sorrento (like they have in Florence) that fine you if you enter the boundaries of the center of town?

On page 7 of this document is a list of the restricted driving streets in Sorrento. The areas covered by ZTL regs can change by time of day, day of month (eg public holidays) and time of year (eg the ZTLcovering Marina Grande opens in June and lasts until about October) so ask your hotel for advice or check when you are there.

http://trasparenza.comune.sorrento.na.it/archivio19_regolamenti-e-documentazione_0_2564_39_1.html

Here is another map of Sorrento showing parking spots. You are staying at the height of the holiday season so expect lots of competition for parking! Not noticed cameras specifically for parking but plenty of local police waiting to pounce!

http://www.sorrentotourism.com/_downloads/1438-Italiano-pianta-sorrento--s.agnello.gif

Thanks Linda and Tim! I appreciate all of your help and your links to such great information. We're driving to Sorrento from the north....any tips or things to watch out for as we approach Sorrento by car?

If you are going to go on day trips by train why are you keeping the car? You will be paying parking fees plus car rental fees for those days. Get rid of the car.

Linda would know - she's there often enough....

When I drove there (our own car) in early April a few years ago I had a pretty tough time parking, eventually finding a barren lot above the town watched over by an "attendant" and paid about €5 for the day. We stayed out of town and had no problems at night.

Street parking is a killer. But so is €24 a day to park. 4 of those and we'd have another day in a hotel!!

I suppose it would be asking a silly question if I would suggest asking your hotel what they can do for you?

Be sure to follow the signs carefully south of Naples around Pompei and don't get onto the easily mistaken turnoff for Castellammare di Stabia. Stay on the SS145 even if anything looks easier. It won't be.

Expect traffic getting into Sorrento, expect the journey to take longer than you expect.

It is some years since we had a car (traffic has got so much worse) in the area so my take on the situation is based on observation as a passenger on public transport and car transfers to Naples airport/station, walking around the area and talking to locals. Also we avoid Sorrento during July/August, just too hot and busy for us these days. Expect the road to the towns on the Sorrento peninsula to be one long tailback especially at weekends. This is because of local daytrippers from around the Bay of Naples heading to the seaside for the day. Travelling during the middle of the day or just after may not be so bad but no promises

The new Sejanus - Pozzano road tunnel is due to open on 16 July so should (fingers crossed) improve the situaution somewhat. As Nigel says aim for the SS145.

Have you seen the Italian film "Benvenuti al Sud"? Maybe carry a barbecue kit/picnic chairs with you just in case? Only joking!

Hi everyone! So I think we will ditch the rental car in Sorrento and then take the train to Rome, which is our final destination. Some questions:
1) Which Hertz location is OUTSIDE the ZTL? And is it within walking distance of our hotel (which is on the main street Corso Italia, next to Piazza Tasso)?
2) What is the name of the train station in Sorrento where we would take the Circumvesuviana to Naples?
3) Can I buy my Trenitalia tickets online in advance (ie. 4 weeks in advance) for the high speed train from Naples to Rome? Is their website safe to use for online purchases? Will the site provide me with a voucher of some kind to show at the train station in exchange for our actual tickets, or will the site send me an email with my e-tickets that I have to print?
4) Are there washrooms on board the train?!
5) are there luggage restrictions at all on the train? Or additional charges based on the number of pieces of luggage per person?

Thanks everyone!

The Hertz Office is at the Hotel Ascot which at the begining of via Capo/southern end of Corso Italia. It is just beyond the junction with the via degli Aranci. The junction is shown on the map link I posted and I would advise you to take the via degli Aranci route to the Ascot rather than try to drive through the town centre. Check with the Hertz site about opening times because shops, offices etc usually close for long lunch hours!

The railway station name is Sorrento and here is the current timetable. Pick a train time then catch the one before to allow for delays!

http://www.eavcampania.it/web/it/content/orario-ferroviario

PS - name of your hotel?

A wise decision to ditch the car!

There is only one train station in Sorrento proper, and it's right downtown, not far from Piazza Tasso (see a google map). It is, to my knowledge, just called "Sorrento."

Yes, you may purchase your Trenitalia train tickets for reserved seat on the faster trains in advance, and yes the site is safe. You will receive an email (purchase confirmation) with a code, seat reservation numbers, etc. that can be printed out to show the ticket agent on the train: they will scan that code.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=79aab5d8039cf310VgnVCM1000008916f90aRCRD

As an alternative, check the Italo website as well. This is a newer offering of very nice trains, the website is easy to use, and fares can be attractive:

http://www.italotreno.it/en/Pages/default.aspx

Some travelers to Italy have also preferred the http://www.italiarail.com website. There is a small booking fee involved in this one but comments have been that they've found it a little easier to use.

But unless there is a price advantage for doing so, such as landing a bargain fare, it's just as easy to just purchase your ticket at the station.

Yes, there will be restrooms on your train from Rome to Naples but not on the Circumvesuviana that runs between Naples and Sorrento. This is a bare-bones commuter train that is lacking in the comforts of longer-distance trains but is endurable for the 1/2 hour between Sorrento and Pompei, or the hour between Sorrento and Naples. Just keep a good hold and eye on your valuables on that one, OK? There are no class tiers or seat reservations on this one.

There are no luggage restrictions that I know for the trains but as you'll be muscling the bags about a LOT in Italy, the fewer and lighter of those, the better. You may not be stowing your larger bags near you, either. If they can't fit on racks above your head (especially true for 2nd class seats - which we always purchase) you'll be leaving them in luggage spaces at the front or rear of the carriage. DO keep them with you if taking them on the Circumvesuviana.

Just to add some clarification to the above responses.

1. The Hertz office is within walking distance of the center of Sorrento. My wife and I did it with luggage. However, if you can first stop at your hotel, or a closer point, to drop off the luggage it would be a good move. Your hotel should give you advice on this.

2. You can purchase your Naples to Rome tickets up to 4 months in advance. Advance purchase can result in major savings (like 50%). I am one of those that find the italiarail.com site to be MUCH easier to use than the trenitalia.com site.

Thank you Linda, Kathy and Bob!!! You are all angels!!
We are staying at the Hotel Del Corso. So, will a 25 minute gap (between arriving at Napoli Garibaldi station and departing on the train to Rome) be sufficient? Is the Circumvesuviana train known to run on schedule?? Thanks :)

You are staying on the right stretch of Corso Italia ie between Piazza Tasso and the Ascot. Providing you can tote your luggage should be no problem for walking to your hotel.

Trying not to be too downbeat but the train company has been in financial trouble for a number of years and the current austerity conditions have not helped. So be prepared for cancellations (lack of rolling stock due to maintenance issues), strikes (because staff have not been paid) etc etc. A pain when you are sightseeing but more serious when time is of the essence. If when you are there it is going through a bad period, your hotel should know, consider a private transfer to Naples railway station. More expensive at 75 to 90 euro but you will have saved some money on car hire/parking charges!

I just booked our tickets to Rome on the high-speed train! Yay! Thanks for everyone's help!

I picked the 12pm departure from Naples... so would you agree that it would be best to catch the 9:37am train out of Sorrento? The next one is not until 10:37, so that won't work!

Also, I had to rejig our car rental because of the change in dropoff.... now I'm booked with Budget (not Hertz anymore). Does anyone know if the Budget counter in Sorrento is inside a hotel, or do they have their own building? Apparently it is right on Corso Italia...