Transportation from Naples to Sorrento

The train is fine as is the station. It is crowded, busy, noisy and pickpocket do hang around BUT take some normal precautions (as you indicated) and you will be fine. No one is going to mug you. We have passed through the Naples station a number of times with no problems. The line to Sorrento is a local commuter line, not the greatest seats, but you will have lots of tourist company with you. Other than rush hour it will be overly crowded.

Maria, your hotel can recommend a 90 +-Euro limo transfer if you are afraid of public transportation. How big is your luggage ? Your profile does not say where you live. Have you ever used crowded public transit? It's a question of budget and independence.

There's nothing wrong with being overly cautious. There are 2 options the Circumvesuvian has an express train in season cost is € 8, takes 1 hr, but limited schedule, the other is to take the Alibus to the airport, 15 min
€4, then the Curreri Viaggi Bus to Sorrento. 1 hr 29 m € 10. But it's a lot of moving around.

I personally have no problem with the Circumvesuvian. It's really no worse then the metro in NYC or the "L" in Chicago.

After spending many hours in both the NY and Chicago subway system, I think the Circum..... is a couple of notches better but it is in the eye of the beholder. It is fine. We can have a little fun knocking the train but it works and it is cheap.

Thank you for your comments they are really helpful and the more I read up on traveling in Italy the more comfortable I become. I live outside of Boston and take public transportation trave into the city so I’m happy to hear your thoughts on the Naples local train. Thank you again for your insights! Looking forward to our Italy adventure

Maria, we recently went from Naples to Sorrento and I was anxious about the CV train, as I don't use public transportation here in the US. I have been on at least 20 trains in Italy, but this is not a part of the Trenitalia line, it is a small local train. If you are aware of your surroundings, have your purse secured you will be fine. When we boarded the train with our luggage, there were two men pushing everyone(I think they were checking the security of pocketbooks) and then people playing loud instruments with their children asking for money (no one gave them any) that jumped off the train after three or four stops. The train was very crowded and hot, even in late september, so if you have an issue with mobility, etc. consider hiring a service. We traveled with a group of four people and we never had an issue, but we never got a seat on the train, either. I sat on my roll-on luggage. Good luck! Marie

Marie, how far advance to suggest we book our train tickets from Rome-Naples and Naples to Siena? We are traveling in the beginning of June.

Ticket will become available within 90 to 120 days so start checking availability at 120. The Super Economy tickets will go quickly followed by the Economy tickets. These are no change, no refund, tickets.

Maria, you can book the fast trains (Napoli Centrale to Firenze SMN and Firenze SMN to Verona Porta Nuovo) 120 days ahead of time, but these are non refundable. Make sure you allow time to reach NC from Sorrento (approx 1 hr depending on which train you get on). When you are in NC coming from Rome, you can look around the station to see where the train is that departs for Firenze. Then you walk to the left, go down the stairs to the CV train which is another train line. Marie

Rome - Naples train. Is there any difference between ItaliaRail and Trentalia trains? When I book my ticket from Rome what train station do you recommend. It looks like there's a few of them so I'm not sure which one I should choose.

Is there any difference between ItaliaRail and Trentalia trains?

Maria, ItaliaRail isn't "trains"; it's just a booking site, and many of us don't use it.

Trenitalia is Italy's national rail system
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Additionally, Italo is a private rail system with nice trains but more limited routes. This system does service Napoli Centrale.
https://www.italotreno.it/en

Either Trenitalia or Italo will be fine; choose based on desired departure times and prices.

Rome's main train station is Roma Termini.

Thank you everyone for your responses! This is so helpful especially when I'm planning this on my own and not using a travel agency. Getting your insight and suggestions is valuable!

Does everyone buy first class or second class tickets? Are there significant benefits with a first class ticket.

I can't answer for anyone else but we buy 2nd class and the carriages have been just fine for us.