Hi, we just booked a last minute trip to Rome and we plan to go to Sorrento for 3 nights (first 5 nights in Rome). I believe that we take a train (Frecciarossa) to Naples and then get on the local Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. If so can I book the entire trip on Trenitalia? Or is the Circumvesuviana a different site altogether...a little confused about how this works...also do I book in advance or do it the day of? Thank you!
Posted by
Pa and Italy
4152 posts
the circumvesuviana is a private line not controlled by trenitalia. You can't really book those tickets in advance but it's never a problem. It's a commuter train without reservations so just get on the next available one when you get to Naples. It's very easy to do. Donna
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23302 posts
I would book it when you got to Rome. Since you are spending five days in Rome you should be able to get a discount ticket to Naples. Either buy your tickets at the airport ticket office when you get your Leonard Express ticket or at Termini. Other than some discounts there is no advantage to booking early.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
Not knowing the exact date you're planning to travel to Sorrento...by just plugging some near dates into trenitalia.com, you can take a 1h10m train for €45,00, 2nd class or a 2h05m train for €22,00, 2nd class. YOu can get advance-purchase fares ('MINI') but looking 2 weeks out from now, the best discount I can find is €32,00 for the faster train and €15,00 for the slower train. Not HUGE discounts, so you may want to just purchase them when you're in Rome. You can buy them at the Rome station at any time...and you just may score the cheaper MINI fares anyway! And ditto to buying the Circumvesuviana ticket on site. Ooh - a whirlwind trip to Rome; have a great time!
Posted by
San Jose, CA, USA
36 posts
Like Donna said, Circumvesuviana is a private line and cannot be booked in advance. One thing not mentioned in Rick's guides (or is and I missed it) is that the Circumvesuviana railway observes bank holidays and that cost us a very pricey taxi trip as it was too late in the day to catch a ferry on Easter day. Got lucky and there were others in the same boat (not to be confused with the ferry:) and we were able to split the cost with another couple. For the life of me can't figure out why they observe bank holidays when all other trains were running. Just be sure that you're not arriving on a bank holiday or if you are that there is plenty of time to get to the docks to catch a ferry.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
Thnaks, Randy - after a very brief search, I found this site. Whew - that was a close one; I just missed a holiday by a few days...
Posted by
OP
Collingswood, NJ, USA
9 posts
Thanks so much to everyone for the helpful information. This is our first time to Italy and was a bit nervous about the trains but the information given is great!
Posted by
edmonton
91 posts
Unless you've already booked train rides, you can avoid the costly Rome-Naples train (45 euros) and the 4-euro Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (which requires going below the Naples station) by simply taking a Rome-Sorrento bus, with no changes. Much cheaper, as well: 16 euros. Check Marozzivt.it and Curreriviaggi.it. The latter leaves the Roma Tiburtina station at 2 pm and arrives at 5.30 in Sorrento. Marozzi goes (and arrives) a little later.