Please help a newbie traveller in Italy with Naples Centrali to Sorrento and Sorrento to Rome

The Circum... is a private, commuter line to Sorrento from Naples that runs several times each hour. Maybe a schedule is posted somewhere but we just go down the stairs to the lower level, as I remember walking to the left, it is 50 yards or so, find the ticket office, buy a ticket, validate the ticket, and get on the next train. It is all open seating. No seat - you stand till one becomes available. No point in buying tickets early.

The cheapest seats will be second class - about equal to business class on the airlines. Roomy and comfortable. There will be overhead rakes that can hold a carry-on size bag - nothing larger. Sometimes but not always the seats will be back to back forming an A shaped area between the seat backs. You can slide a bag into that area. Some cars will have all the seats facing the middle so there is no A space. There are luggage storage bins/racks near the entrance for larger bags or if the overhead space is taken. We have used that storage for years with no problems.

Getting to Rome via train is only through Naples. It is quick and convenient. There are a couple of buses with limited schedules as your observed. That is really you only choices.

The baggage if it is not too big should fit over the seat where you are sitting
You can catch that Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento. You do not need to buy tickets in advance on Easter it is scheduled to leave every 30 minutes from Napoli Centrale for example if your train arrives on time from Venice you can catch the the one at 2:11 or 2:41 and so on.

Just take the Circumvesuviana back to Naples and then the train back to Rome.

Thank you!! I am bringing 1 - 28 inch hard rolling suitcase and my purse. We are having a lot of trouble in booking the train even from Venice to Sorrento. We are trying to book the train to go from Venice --> Bologna -->Naples instead os Venice-->Rome--> Naples. Both take the same amount of time, but I am trying to stay away from Rome on Easter ...seems wise! There are 2 trains AM times that show going this route and they are also cheaper...using www.raileurope.com. We kept adding the 8:47 AM from Venice and other train, connecting in Bologna and ending in Naples and the site keeps changing it to go through Rome. What are we doing wrong?

Don't use raileurope they may not have all the offerings.
Instead try
http://www.trenitalia.com/
(this site you have use the italian spellings e.g. Venezia instead Venice and Napoli instead of Naples in your search)

or
http://www.italotreno.it/en

To book the train you need, go to

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ee13721bdd69a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

Use Italian names for stations.

Venezia Santa Lucia- Napoli Centrale.

Raileurope does not show all trains.

To reach the Circumvesuvian,follow the signs and go downstairs.

Are you aware you can fly to Naples? Easyjet airlines has a flight. VCE 8:40-NAP 9:50.
Price without a checked bag is
46,49 E.
You could then take the

http://www.curreriviaggi.it

Bus at 11:00 directly to Sorrento
Cost is 10 E. Much more comfortable than the Circumvesuvian. Luggage goes under the bus.

I am finding it hard to book in English... I do. It know the Italian names of train stations. Can anyone point me to specific train number from Venice to Naples via Bologna? Also regarding EasyJet, I would love to fly to Naples but we both have 28 inch suitcases that we would have to check and my understanding is that can cost more than the ticket and they don't tell you till you get there? Is that true?

If I take the train to Naples, you are suggesting a better way than Circumvesuvania?

All the information baggage rules Easy Jet are on the site.
You have to read the rules and just follow them otherwise don't book with them.
They don't deliberately try to mislead traveler otherwise they would not be in business.
Some travelers see prices and just do not bother to read the rules.

A 28" suitcase is huge. It will not fit on the overhead racks and you probably could not lift on to the rack because it is too heavy. And it will be too big for the A space. The luggage will have to go on the luggage racks/bins at the entrance. You really to re-think your luggage if you are using trains. Remember you will have to carry that bag up three steep, narrow stairs just to be on the train and off.

Why Bologna? Are you planning on getting off in Bologna? If you are then you need two tickets - one to Bologna and one to Naples.

EasyJet is a great discount airline. Far better than Ryanair. I would view they as similar in operations to S west in the US. If you pay for checked luggage when you buy the ticket it is a reasonable price. It is when you show up at the airport with a bag to be checked, that it gets expensive -- same for boarding pass.

Not to be Debbie Downer, but maybe you should just skip Sorrento this trip to make it easier on yourself. Your schedule only gives you one full day there. Train Venice to, say, Orvieto, spend two nights in a lovely town, train to Rome (about an hour)

Those 28" cases will be hell on stairs, and there is a full flight of them for the Circumvesuviana.

A 28" bag will not fit overhead on most trains.....also, unless it has a handle on the side, you will not be able to clear the step height in the stations or even to get on the trains if you are lifting it from the top.

Ay yi yi, Adrienne. First thing you need to do, as voiced by other posters, is to cut down those suitcases to a 22" bag max each. We have 21' soft-shell Samsonite spinners (4-wheels, have used them for 11-day & 17-day trips no problem) and just barely got them on the overhead rack on the trains, because of size (including wheels) not weight. Take less stuff, learn how to roll your clothing and pack concisely. Plenty of YouTube videos for that. Otherwise--with your proposed itinerary--you're in for problems, I can guarantee it.

From Naples to Sorrento you can take the Campania Express, which is being used for tourist and is touted as being safer than the regional train (multiple warnings regarding pick pockets) and takes about an hour. We are taking the same journey and will be using the Campania Express for comfort (air conditioning) and not having to worry.

PLEASE rethink your luggage size. If keeping your luggage close to you is important then you really do need to go smaller to ensure it fits in the overheard racks on the train. Take a larger tote instead of just your purse if you need more space (put your purse in the larger tote on if needed). The step from the platform onto the train is deep. Then to get off the train you have limited time and you must be ready to get off once the train stops, that means all bags in hand ready to move. My tote stays by my side at all times (has the most important stuff in it) by my feet on the train (plenty of room) and my 21 inch hard shell luggage goes overhead. Sometimes you will need to make a connection at the train station with your platform being four down, which requires you go down stairs, through a tunnel then up stairs to get to it and your connection is 7 min. There are many videos on you tube on how to pack 21 days in a carry on, how to choose a color scheme, use packing cubes etc. We go for 21 days and I only take 3 oz containers of shampoo, conditioner, hair product etc and they all last great.

Given that you already have 28" suitcases and are leaving soon -- looks like there are trains from Venezia S. Lucia at 07:25 and 10:25 to Napoli Centrale with no changes. others require a connection or two. Direct train would be your best bet for simplicity of bag-handling. I seem to remember an escalator going to Circumvesuviana station. IF the Campania Express is running, it would be worth waiting for that for more room and air conditioning -- but that service may well have been cancelled. Circumvesuviana is like a big-city subway train, so you just push on and stand next to your bag. Hope that your day in/around Sorrento is wonderful -- we will be there later in May, also on the Circumvesuviana although with 22" suitcases.

**** Campania Express timetable is up !!! That should make it easier for you -- and me! About 3 hours between trains, though.

You still have time to be sane and buy a 21 or 22 inch bag ! On our first European trip, we carried 25" bags and vowed never to do that insanity again ! I cannot even imagine a bag the size of a 28" on a train or subway or dragging it up and down the stairs !

If you listen to these wise posters, you will not be the laughingstock of the travel world !

And yes, I have traveled for 7 weeks with a 21" bag.....

size bag you take with you, once on the Circumvesuviana, you could face a full train, even though the stop at Naples Garibaldi is near the beginning of the line. As somebody mentioned previously, it's much like a big city USA subway.. you get on and if there's a seat, take it. If not, you will stand in an area near the entrance/exit doors. We did that for much of the journey from Naples to Sorrento.

Be VERY careful with your purse as you are getting on the train there.

The day we traveled, there was a big crowd waiting at Garibaldi. So large, that we were forcing ourselves onto the train. I felt great relief when somebody behind gave a big push to get us all onto the train before the doors closed. Then great dismay when I realized that in that big push, somebody also pushed the wallet up and out of my back pocket.

Lucky for me, the wallet dropped to the floor and I was able to recover it without any loss.

A very nice lady told me not to put it back in my rear pocket or even in my front pants pocket. I put it in my jacket pocket and never carried the wallet again while in Italy (and 10 days). Apparently, that big push is a common scenario used by pickpockets, which are (also) apparently very common at Naples Garibaldi.

Some people avoid that station altogether and just walk from Naples Centrale (upstairs from Garibaldi) to Porta Nolana station on Corso Garibaldi. That station reportedly sees fewer passengers boarding than does Garibaldi, since the walk down the stairs is more convenient.

Laura B., can you tell me the URL for the Campania Express train? I cannot find it anywhere. I will arrive at either 12:35 or 3:35 in Naples and it seems this train only runs 4X/day and I cannot find the times. Also how much is it?

Also has anyone done the ferry to Sorrento and if it is raining, are you going to get soaked?

What about the shuttle vans.

@Adrienne,sorry I can't copy and paste but the info is on a post from Letizia -- search for "Campania Express 2017"

2017 Campania Express schedule:

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/content/campania-express-2017-it

Regular Circumvesuviana schedule from Napoli Garibaldi to Sorrento:

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Napoli%20-%20Sorrento_1.pdf

From Sorrento to Napoli Garibaldi:

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Sorrento%20-%20Napoli_0.pdf

Trains marked "FER" do not run on Sundays or public holidays. You do not need to purchase tickets in advance: do not forget to validate your tickets before getting on the train!

Ferry schedule from Naples (you'd have to transfer from Napoli Centrale to the docks) to Sorrento is here BUT they're only running during the week right now so the Express or regular Circumvesuviana trains are your choices on the weekend.

http://www.capri.net/en/ferry-schedule?from=napoli&to=sorrento

To get to Rome on the 18th, take the Circumvesuviana or Express from Sorrento to Napoli Garibaldi, walk next door to Napoli Centrale and then a Trenitalia or Italo train to Roma Termini from there. What concerns me is that you say you "need" to be in Rome by 3:00? Why?

I'll also ask if you must do this Venice-to-Sorrento trip at all? It sounds like you've already purchased your train tickets to Naples but this is a really long way to go for only one full day.

And just one more vote to lose those 28" suitcases: you're going to be miserable. We take 24" - not heavily overpacked - and can handle them everywhere by ourselves but I can't imagine going larger than that.

Adrienne,

Here is some info on Venice transportation. No one has mentioned this. If you plan on using the vaporetto, the 48 hour pass and one additional ticket may work.

https://quickvenice.com/transportation/index-transportation.htm

If you wanted to use the Curreri Viaggi bus from the train station in Naples , take a taxi from Napoli Centrale to the airport.
Time 15 m. Fixed rate 22E.
Request fixed rate, driver will print out receipt. There is a bus at 16:30 to Sorrento.

This will limit the amount of time lugging the suitcases around.

Try to rethink the amount of clothing you will need. Your friends in Todi should have a washer, and hopefully a dryer.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

Edit: http://www.curreriviaggi.it/eng/autolinee.html

Timetable at top of page.
Could be an option to return to Naples for your trip to Rome.