Transfer from Sorrento to Naples Central train station

Hi June -
There are some recommendations for drivers/transfer companies in these threads:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/driver-from-napoli-to-sorrento
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/driver-for-transfer-from-naples-to-sorrento-and-return

You could just take the train like everyday Italians do. You'll read a lot of pearl-clutching about the Circumvisuviana, but I've always experienced it to be just fine.

Hi, Giangilberto from Milan, so your question is more than legitimate.
In the sense that in october there could actually be bad weather problems that will affect the ferries, especially the hydrofoils, which are the smallest and least stable ones. They could be delayed or even cancelled, so you would have to rely on the larger ferries that have less frequency but are much more stable in the water. That said, there is a train option with Trenitalia called Freccialink and it's a package that basically lets you do a stretch by bus.
So a bus that is provided by Trenitalia that takes you from Sorrento to Naples Afragola and then from Naples Afragola you have to take a train to get to Naples Central.

https://www.trenitalia.com/it/frecciarossa/collegamenti-frecciarossa/freccialink-sorrento.html

Unfortunately this link to the Trenitalia page dedicated to the Freccialink to Sorrento is only in Italian. There is no English page on the Trenitalia official website. However, you can easily translate it with a common online translator.
Alternatively there is the Circumvesuviana train fromSorrento to Naples, is another company it is not Trenitalia it is EAV I put below the link to the page where all the timetables for this route are shown.

https://www.eavsrl.it/download/orario-ferrovia-l1-napoli-sorrento-valido-dal-28-marzo-2026/

However, if you decide to take the ferry anyway, always check with the shipping company and especially with the Port Authority what are the sea and weather conditions like on those days.
Last but not least with regards to having to get a private transfer.
I don't know those who operate in that area, a friend of mine works as NCC but in the Milan area, there are various NCC companies in Italy. He told me that you could perhaps also try contacting the National NCC Association and ask them directly which are the most reliable companies in that area.

https://associazionenccitalia.it/

Anyway as I said before there are various companies in Italy.
The conditions are very similar among all the companies, If I were you, I would try to ask for a quote from at least three of them and then make my decision.

You could just take the train like everyday Italians do.

I'd agree, Chris. The Circ. is sort of a battered, unlovely thing but worked for us (to/from Pompeii) but I guess if someone is willing to spend what it costs for a driver, it's one way to get the job done. :O)

Editing to add: anything but the Circ. to Napoli Centrale or a private driver will be a 2-seat option, although you could take a look at Flixbus? Price is good but it only makes one (EARLY) morning run. Still, a one-seat option. Looks like Itabus makes an early morning run too, and would be another one-seat option.

https://shop.flixbus.com

https://www.itabus.it/en/search?origin=SOR_T&destination=NAP_T&datestart=2026-10-04&adults=1&children=0

The Circumvesuviana is getting new trains (with AC!) and a lot of the stations are being renovated, lines upgraded etc... so the system is set to improve. I would not have any qualms about using it even in its present state. The issue of trains being dirty on the outside (they are usually fine inside) is mostly cosmetics.