Sorrento to Pompeii (with Large Luggage + Carry-on for each person) then on to Naples

Circumvesuviana is the train that also goes to Naples
No luggage storage on train so you would have to stand holding it and there is not a lot of room in the aisle

Train might be less crowded leaving Sorrento but will likely be packed like sardines from Pompeii to Naples

You might try to downsize what you bring
We travel for 3 or more weeks with just a carry on size and a small knapsack
Plan to do laundry/sink wash unders
See the Packing tips on this website

If you can’t deal with downsizing consider hiring a driver to Pompeii then on to Naples
You will have issues on the fast trains as well either too much luggage

First of all, I hope you enjoy your trip to that region as much as we did. We spent 2 weeks in Sorrento in 2023 and loved it.

The Circumvesuviana runs between Sorrento and Naples but is a local commuter train and not high speed. Their are luggage racks above the seats but they won't even fit your carry-on. Depending on the time of day the train could be exceptionally crowded and you'll need to keep your luggage with you (imagine the subway in New York or the El in Chicago). It could mean standing near the doors for the ride. We only had carry-on and we sat it on our laps for the trip from Sorrento to Naples.

Here's a link to a Rick Steves Guidebook that I thought was exceptional for describing transportation in the region.

https://store.ricksteves.com/shop/p/amalfi-coast-guidebook

Keep it simple. Large luggage can really complicate travel if anything other than point to point. So focus on getting as light as you can. The circum.... train is a commuter train with no special provisions for luggage. Get on, find a seat, and push the luggage where ever it will fit. Pickpockets will leave your luggage alone as they are only interested in your billfold or maybe purse. BUT -- we have been on the Circum..... five or six times over the past decade and never saw a pickpocket. Pickpockets are not like a door greeter at Walmart when you get on the train. Biggest problem is that big luggage is heavy and it makes it awkward to get up the steep steps into the train. The Circum... is the train to Naples. There is no high speed train to Naples from Pompeii

Luggage storage is available at Pompeii.

I have no experience with the Circumvesuviana train, but the online information doesn't paint a pretty picture. If you are 'very concerned' about security, and are trying to figure out the best plan, it would be helpful to know if you have any mobility issues or if there is a budget. Travel in this area is difficult, but so worth it!!

There is no issue with large luggage on a Trenitalia train. I would wonder if those lockers at Pompeii are big enough for your large pieces of luggage.

I would suggest hiring a car. Last year, we were on a day trip (cruise stopped in Naples) and we hired a driver for 8 hours. During that time, we were able to drive to Positano, add a stop for limoncello tasting, add a stop for ceramics shopping, go to Ravello for the best lunch with the best views, and then stop at Pompeii for an hour and a half (it was enough for us) before getting back to Naples. If you do a one way trip, you wouldn't need 8 hours, depending on how long you are in Pompeii. And your bags would be safe in the car, as the driver stays with the car. This way of covering that area was so much fun that we are doing it again next month.
Have a great trip.

We spent a whole day at Pompeii. We used the circumvesuviana between Naples and Sorrento, both directions. We checked our luggage at Pompeii for a small fee. We had no issues with circumvesuviana, but it is not fancy, there is graffiti and you may have to stand. We also used circumvesuviana on our most recent trip to Italy to get to Herculaneum from Naples and back, again, no issues.

You should bring whatever size luggage you want, but it certainly is a lot easier to have a small to medium suitcase. I like to make sure I have good control over my belongings and do not need anyone to help me. I rarely check a bag, and we typically travel for at least 4 weeks at a time. When necessary, I sink (or while in the shower) wash a few clothes. You can get lots of help from folks on the forum for packing suggestions.

My recollection and I could be wrong, but I do not believe there were any steps up to the train or into the train on the circumvesiviana. The other trains in Italy seemed to have more of a gap and I needed to step up to get on. I'm 5-3, so my height factors into boarding a train with luggage.

You should be careful about pickpockets, but the possibility is anywhere, not just circumvesuvia. In fact, I was boarding a high speed Trenitalia train in Milan when two women surrounded me in the aisle, creating a distraction and then I could feel one of them trying to unzip my purse. I grabbed her arm and raised my voice and they ran off the train. Like the luggage issue, you can find suggestions if you search the forum for avoiding a pickpocket situation. In my case, my wallet and passport were buried deep in my purse underneath my train snacks. After that situation I used a safety pin for the zipper and when I got home I purchased a purse for travel with locking zippers.

There are two stations in Pompeii. The Circumvesuviana station is at the main entrance to the site and the regular Trenitalia station in the actual town of Pompeii at the other end of the site (the coliseum end). I am not sure about the locker situation at either end, but both trains go from Sorrento to Naples so you get to pick. Have fun!

but both trains go from Sorrento to Naples so you get to pick.

Both trains do not go from Sorrento to Naples.
The Circ goes from Sorrento to Naples.
Trenitalia goes from Pompei (town) to Naples- it does not go to Sorrento. This is not a high speed train

The Trenitalia Pompei station is a good 15 min walk from the Pompeii site exit

The 2 stations are not connected in any way. If you take the Circ to Pompeii Scavi and check your luggage there I don't think you'd want to leave the site from the Pompei town station.

Hi there, great question and you’ve received some really good answers. I will just add that you can have laundry done in a day or two wherever you’re stopping for a few nights.. Drop off your laundry in the morning pick it up the next day. I googled my hotel in Pompeii and found a place to have laundry done one block away! This would be vastly preferable to taking a large suitcase on a multi stop trip!, there will just be too many places where you end up, having to carry your suitcase up to a train platform. There is an entire section here on the forum about packing light. Here’s one good threat with lots of suggestions about traveling light! https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/packing/carry-on-only-for-family-of-8

We’ve also hired a driver for the day because we were coming back from the Amalfi to stop at Pompeii, the driver stayed with the luggage until we came back a few hours later and took the car to the Naples train station. I hope you have a great trip!

we will each have a large piece of luggage as well as a carry-on piece

What size is 'large'?

What is the 'carry-on piece'? Any other 'personal' piece? ( e.g., purse, backpack etc)

If you are staying in Sorrento, I would not do Pompeii on the day I was moving to Naples with lots of luggage.
Rather do Pompeii as a day trip so you need only bring a small day bag.
.

We didn't have big suitcases, we had carry on size, but it was easy and efficient to stop at Pompeii between Naples and Sorento. The bag check is right by the train and entrance to the Pompeii site. That large suitcase is going to make it difficult for the whole trip, whether its Pompeii or elsewhere.

I've changed so much in my packing as my travels have evolved in the last 10 years or so. I realized that I am too busy having fun to care much about what I wear or my hair and makeup. When I'm out and about all day, I can't be "picture perfect", well, lets face it, I'm never picture perfect, but my point, is my efforts can easily be lost in the weather and bustling around.

We haven't heard back from the OP, but I would suggest for the ease of the logistics, to downsize the suitcase.

Yes, crowded, as everywhere, you will have to manage your own luggage. The Pompei Trenitalia station looks like it only has Regionale trains running from it (at the moment it is buses? but in November it is normal trains) to get to Naples, so it wouldn't behoove you to make the trek to the other one to get a better train, as they aren't the high speed ones.

I will echo everyone else, I can't travel in Italy (or Europe) with anything larger than a carry on size suitcase (even though I check it on the flight, I don't want to be lugging my luggage any more than necessary) because by the end of my first train ride I want to chuck it off the train. There will be no exiting the train quickly with 4+ pieces of luggage, which might be problematic.

Sorry but large luggage only works if you or someone else is driving or you are on a tour that handles luggage. There's no way I would try to take trains with the luggage you intend to bring.

Thank you for all of the suggestions. I realize that I will need to pack lighter, and carry a medium suitcase with a carryon. Hearing how difficult the Circumvesuviana train is was eye opening. The other scenario I just thought of was to pack what I need for Sorrento in my carryon, then store my medium luggage in the lockers at the Naples Terminal. That way I wouldn't have to deal with it on the smaller Circumvesuviana train. I think, if I understand correctly, if I book first class on the high-speed train from Naples to Florence I should not have so much trouble with the medium luggage. I have NEVER stored luggage...has anyone else done this? How safe is it? I hate that it will not be with me for a couple of days, but perhaps this is the best solution. Thoughts???

The other scenario I just thought of was to pack what I need for
Sorrento in my carryon, then store my medium luggage in the lockers at
the Naples Terminal.

That's a great idea! As is taking less stuff. I won't comment on specifically storing luggage in Naples train station, but lots of people on the forum have done it. We've done it numerous other places, lockers are usually downstairs in the train station. Good luck!!

I have only stored luggage during the daytime, I remember in Florence, Torino, and Verona I think? It's very easy, you find where the "deposito baggagli" signs are pointing to and give it to them :) I just tried the KiBag, the one inside the station (the english version looked weird) and it does have a place to request a reservation for days instead of just hours, so I assume it works! No need to make a reservation in advance.

BUT.....it has made your trip to Sorrento better.......but what about the rest of the trip?

I literally am so fed up with my carry on size bag that I want to throw it off the train on the FIRST train I take, you will still have to deal with it in all of the other places you are going. I feel like adding a stop at Napoli Centrale to drop off or pick up your luggage (there could be a line) while you are going to and fro will add some stress. We are not saying taking your luggage on the Circumvesuviana can't be done, we are saying that you are making it hard on yourself by bringing so much luggage. Unless you can both maneuver your medium suitcase AND your carryon suitcase with your two hands and not need to use the hand rails while getting on and off the trains quickly (train stops and people move quickly) you need to have at least a hand free. You will want to throw at least one of those suitcases off of the train on your first train I can guarantee.

If you are not going to downsize luggage you might want to make sure all your lodgings have an elevator
Dragging all those suitcases up and down stairs won’t be fun

Hi Robbin, and congratulations on your first European adventure!

You might try this test (learned from unpleasant experiences) that Dear Hubby and I now use when packing for train travel:

Pick up all of your luggage at the same time and then try to climb 3 or 4 steps while holding on to the stair railing. So basically you have one hand to carry a suitcase. A backpack or a long strap for carrying the other piece over your shoulder helps a lot.

If you can't do this, you may have a very difficult time boarding many trains. Between the gap, steps, and the impatient crowd behind you, it's no picnic with too much luggage.

Dont worry...you'll sort it out. Happy travels!

I'm a bigger packer myself, so I'm surprised at all of the Luggage-Scolds. Our big, expensive cliffside hotel in Sorrento had a policy of discounting by making hotel-only bill credits, rather than discounting their room rates. So we sort of, HAD to do expensive hotel laundry. But over age 65, that is fine with me. I've spent too much time in European laundromats, washing my clothes in astonishingly hot water. Anyway ...

October might be more bearable, but we were lucky to get onto our Circumvesuviana car (straight to Sorrento, we enjoyed a daytrip to Pompeii without luggage later on, five nights in Sorrento.) with our big bags. We somehow placed them without blocking doors or corridors, but there was no floor of the train car visible, it was so darn full. No scary pickpockets or accordionists passing the hat, they could not move in the car, either. We could, maybe, touch our bags with one finger, and they were certainly visible to us. I don't remember if we were just lucky to get seats, or if they were offered to grey-haired passengers!

Your OP would get better answers if you gave more information. How many nights in Sorrento? Are you only going to sleep on the Amalfi Coast? Do you imagine that you are going to be in a sleepy postwar town with widows in black carrying baskets on their arms? (No.) That is the ONLY reason I can see for doing Pompeii on the way, because it so difficult from the Amalfi Coast (as opposed to From Sorrento, which costs a few Euros a person on the same crowded train. In October, you may find Sorrento livelier than the AC. Be sure to check the right ferry schedule if you are in the second half of October. There might be no ferries for your town. Are you going to daytrip to Capri?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-2-weeks-of-day-trips-from-sorrento

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/naples-to-sorrento-train-or-private-driver

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-coast-for-7-nights-itinerary-help

This is the first trip I've ever planned overseas. Well pat yourself on the back you’re doing great!! MANY people show up not having thought it through, sounds like you’re learning a lot.

I rarely if ever buy new guidebooks. But I agree with Allan, the RS guide to Naples & AC is a light weight gem. $14 and you can always leave it in your last local destination & let someone else enjoy it. (I'm reading it now.)

Also, would the Circumvesuviana be the train that goes on to Naples, or is the high speed train be available from Pompeii. - The CircumV leaves from close to the lockers and what people seem to call the main exit from Pompeii so it wouldn't be convenient for you. I've looked on a map, it's a 10-15 minute walk to the exit close to the 'regular' Trenitalia.

Jules m - I realized that I am too busy having fun to care much about what I wear or my hair and makeup. HILARIOUS.

Well, I certainly don't think anyone was trying to luggage shame at all. We were in Italy a year ago. We started with a cruise from Istanbul to Venice and then up to the Dolomites. Temperatures ranged from 40 to 100 F. I did have what I'd characterize as a medium suitcase, because I thought I'd want some variety on a 15 day cruise followed by a half a month in cooler mountain temperature. For most of the Italy piece we did have a car, but there were times that I was trying to lug the suitcase up train steps or bus steps while also trying to pay. I do get that sometimes a larger suitcase is just necessary. Oh, but it sure did make me appreciate traveling with a smaller suitcase.

As I think about it now, a good question is how many locations will you be visiting? If you are only going to Amalfi, then a bigger suitcase is less of an issue. If you are visiting multiple places, then the luggage size could be a problem for you. Also, if you are staying in a full service, fancier property, you will likely have assistance with luggage.

My other concerns would be the "regular" Trenitalia trains. I am not an Olympic athlete, but I do work out almost daily. I'm short. I have a heck of a time sometimes getting on the Trenitalia trains with a suitcase. There's a gap, then at least a step up to the train, then likely some more steps. Often, someone will offer help, but not always.

Everybody wants you to have a good time. That first trip is so exciting. Congrats for finding the forum. My first trip would have been easier had I found the forum during my trip planning.

I'm short. I have a heck of a time sometimes getting on the Trenitalia
trains with a suitcase.

My wife is 5' tall and that's why I remind her I'm irreplaceable, especially on trains. I'm in charge of carrying both suitcases onto trains because height vs. steps vs. time limitations to get on board can make it a bit of a struggle. She can do it, but it usually makes sense for me to do it instead. It's a well rehearsed team effort. She has a friend who missed her flight home from Rome last year because she missed her train in Florence due to a luggage struggle. It's an extreme example, but it happens.