Travel information from Rome to Sorrento and from Sorrento to Venice

what is the fastest, yet most economical way to get there

Trains are definitely the fastest, most efficient way to get around most of Italy. Sorrento is a little different animal as it's only served by a local commuter train from Naples whereas "fast" trains serve Rome, Venice and Naples. That commuter train (Circumvesuviana) can be picked up at Garibaldi Station - which is connected to Napoli Centrale - and is super cheap, although a battered, no-frills thing. It takes about an hour from Naples to Sorrento.

http://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

Depending on what season you're traveling, there is a seasonal express train Naples>Sorrento (Campania Express) which operates on the same route but makes fewer stops, has air conditioning, is not as battered, cost is reasonable but it has far fewer daily runs. Schedules will not be up until this spring (they appeared in early April last year) but here's last year's schedule

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

It operated from mid-April to mid October in 2017. Tickets do not need to be purchased in advance nor do tickets for the Circumvesuviana: buy them when you get to Naples.

You could also take a cab from Napoli Centrale to the port and a ferry to Sorrento (higher cost than the commuter train).

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

Most expensive option would be a private transfer from Naples to Sorrento.

There are umpty threads on this forum about trains in Italy so a search of "trains, Rome to Venice" etc. will bring up previous discussions, such as this one:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/train-from-rome-to-venice-which-one-and-which-type-of-ticket

This is also a great resource for understanding the Italian train system:
https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm

A note about validation: "fast" train tickets have assigned carriages and seating so no ticket validation is needed before boarding the trains. Tickets DO, however, need to be validated before boarding the Circumvesuviana as it operates like a regionale train, with no assigned carriages or seats.

Train travel in Italy is relatively inexpensive. If you have firm dates/times, purchase tickets as early as possible to get the best prices. But if you miss the train or have to change your plans, the least expensive tickets will be worthless. Here’s a link to TrenItalia. They also have an easy to use app in the App Store. When entering city names, they must in Italian - Roma, Napoli, Venezia. Depending on the the ages of your children, they should be “bimbo gratis” - free!

1. To get from Rome to Sorrento, you would take TI from Roma (Tutte la Stazioni) to Naples and change to the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento. Circumvesuviana is not part of TI and reservations and early purchase is not necessary.
2. Take the Circumvesuviana back to Napoli and go to Venezia S. Lucia.
3. Lastly, from Venezia S. Lucia back to Roma.

Thank you for the responses. We are traveling in June with 10 and 12 year old boys. I am looking at last years Campania Express and I don't see a direct train from Naples to Sorrento. Am I missing something? Also, if I purchase in advance (which I am inclined to do, as I'm a planner) and God forbid we miss the train, ( not that we are planning to) will they still accommodate us on the train. Dumb question? I just want to know my B plan should something go awry. I apologize for my ignorance on all of this.

In regards to Sorrento to Venice, I assume the same will be true that we will have to take the local to Naples and take the train out of Naples?

Also, if I purchase in advance (which I am inclined to do, as I'm a
planner) and God forbid we miss the train, ( not that we are planning
to) will they still accommodate us on the train.

Kath, as I said above, you do not need to buy tickets for either the Express or the Circumvesuviana in advance, and you cannot do that on the Trenitalia website anyway. There's no benefit at all for doing so as prices are fixed and there's no assigned seating. I'm not even sure that you CAN buy tickets for the Circ. in advance but never looked as there's no reason to. So, there's no worry about missing a train if purchasing your tickets when you arrive at Centrale.

Tickets for TRENITALIA (or Italo) fast trains are a different animal. You may be following the discussion on VoisineTab 's thread about those, or reference the https://www.seat61.com/Italy-trains.htm site for background.

I am looking at last years Campania Express and I don't see a direct
train from Naples to Sorrento.

Both the Circ and the Express are "direct" to Sorrento but with stops along the way. The Express just has fewer of those. Sorrento is also the very end of both lines. If you look at the chart in the link for 2017 Express, you'd be getting on the train at Napoli P. Garibaldi, and off at Sorrento, with short stops at the noted points in between.

In regards to Sorrento to Venice, I assume the same will be true that
we will have to take the local to Naples and take the train out of
Naples?

You got it! Just reverse the process.

"I am looking at last years Campania Express and I don't see a direct train from Naples to Sorrento. Am I missing something?"

Yes, since it starts in Naples and ends in Sorrento! I'm not sure where you're looking, but rest assured it's the correct line. Remember, if the times for the Campania Express don't work, you can take the regular Circumvesuviana, which makes more stops but takes the same route.

"Also, if I purchase in advance (which I am inclined to do, as I'm a planner) and God forbid we miss the train, ( not that we are planning to) will they still accommodate us on the train. Dumb question? I just want to know my B plan should something go awry."

It depends on the fare. If you bought a discount fare and you miss your train, you will have to buy a whole new ticket. If you bought a full fare and exchange it before travel or within a certain time after the train departs, you do not lose money (you still have to buy a new ticket). But they will not "accommodate you on the train." A ticket is good only for a particular train; it is not valid on any other train, and you must be in possession of a valid ticket for that exact train before your board, or you'll get fined.

So, if you're even thinking you may miss a train, just wait and buy tickets when you are ready to travel. If you're doing this at the station instead of online, allow some time to get through ticket lines (e.g. don't show up at 1:50 PM without tickets and plan on getting the 2 PM train). Tickets can be bought online or an the app, and do not need to be printed out.

"I apologize for my ignorance on all of this."

Nothing to apologize for - we were all beginners once. When you've done this a few times, you'll see how easy it all is, but before hand, when it's abstract, it's much harder.

"In regards to Sorrento to Venice, I assume the same will be true that we will have to take the local to Naples and take the train out of Naples?"

Yes. Remember that Sorrento to Naples isn't just a "local," it's run by a different train company, so its tickets have to be bought separately.

Honestly, I would not want to take children and luggage on the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrento, crowded, grungy commuter train. We only took it as a day trip from Sorrento to Pompeii but that was enough.
Look to see if there are any inexpensive flights from Naples to Venice as well as the trains.
There is a dedicated bus to Sorrento from Naples airport.

You can take a "direct" bus from Rome to Sorrento as well if you want to avoid the commuter train with the children and luggage.
Very easy to travel via this bus with luggage.

Couple of issues with the bus: it leaves from the Tiburtina Station in Rome so depending on where you are staying it may require a taxi

Secondly though direct many locals take the bus and the driver makes frequent stops for these locals off the route ; as well as in my experience a couple of coffee break stops in route. In the end these unadvertised stops result in it arriving at least an hour behind schedule and that seemed normal ; therefore the bus is never going to be quicker than the train. It can be less stressful though and drops you off right at the Sorrento bus stop.

I think the important thing is that that knowledge of the possible methods and procedures is essential. This Forum is a wealth of really good "nitty gritty" information by travelers who probably have done what you wish to do on recent trips that they have made. Before you get confused by the minutiae on this thread, Let me suggest that you arm yourself with a guidebook or two to get a comprehensive overview of traveling in Italy.

Rick Steves' Italy guidebook is really written in a manner that will fill you with confidence that you can to the trip without undue anxiety or expenditure of valuable travel funds. I have a copy of his "Europe Through the Back Door" on my iPad, which accompanies me on all my travels, and I purchase both the digital versions of whichever country I am traveling in and a paper copy to do my planning and to have for reference. I rip up the paper copy and staple together the sections relating to the places I am visiting. The paper can be highlighted and marked up as I travel. I also love the Lonely Planet guides and do the same thing with them.

This sounds like it might be off-thread because your question is related to traveling to/from Sorrento. However, Rick Steves really includes about 75% of what you have already read on this thread in his Italy guidebook. You will enjoy having these tips in your daypack as you brave the (admittedly) confusing travel options. Enjoy Sorrento; it's one of my favorite places in Italy.

You can take a "direct" bus from Rome to Sorrento as well if you want
to avoid the commuter train with the children and luggage.

I think our nice mreynolds is referencing the Marozzi bus, and yes, that is an option but it sometimes only has one run a day, and never more than two. A random date in June shows one bus leaving Rome at 7:00 and another at 15:00, both taking about 4 hours. Other random date/months show just the one at 7:00 or the 15:00. You can check your dates here:

https://www.marozzivt.it/home

Put "Roma" in the "Partenza" box and "Sorrento" in the "Arrivo" box and choose a date from the calendar.
One question? Are you trying to get to Sorrento the same day you fly into Rome?

I am trying to get to Sorrento the same day I fly into Rome fm USA. Trying to decide whether to hire a car fm Naples to Sorrento bc of long day travel or to do train - two adults late sept. About 6 mo ago flew fm US to Munich and just went straight into sightseeing after bfast and this worked great to help acclimate to time change but that did not include two train trips after the flight like this one will.

I suggest you consider staying in Salerno rather than Sorrento. There are fast trains from Rome to Salerno and from Salerno to Venice. In Salerno it's a 10-15 minute walk or a short taxi ride to the center, which is just a couple blocks from the seashore with a large sandy beach. Salerno is mostly level. Sorrento is perched on the cliffs so the beach is down a lot of stairs (never been down to the water, don't know if it's sand or pebbles). Salerno is also cheaper than Sorrento, both rooms and restaurants.

Of course it depends on your plans. You can get to Pompeii pretty easily, but Herucaleum is not so convenient. Also, if you want to go to Capri, I think you need to get to Sorrento. But it's easier to visit the Amalfi Coast towns from Salerno by bus or ferry.

Okay, I'm back. So, how bad is the circumvesuviana? I got my tickets and get into Napoli Centrali at 10:32 am. Was planning on getting on the 10:39 (not sure if that's doable) or 11:09am circumvesuviana to Sorrento to get in by the last bus to our hotel at 12:30. (Cutting it close I know.) My question is about the train. Is it as sketchy as I'm hearing and would I be better served on the Campania Express? If so, I'm confused by the schedule. For those of you who know the line and schedule, am I reading it correctly that the 1031 train leaves at 11:36 and arrives in Sorrento at 12:25? Thanks in advance. All input is appreciated.

I got my tickets and get into Napoli Centrali at 10:32 am... Was
planning on getting on the 10:39 (not sure if that's doable) or
11:09am circumvesuviana to Sorrento to get in by the last bus to our
hotel at 12:30. (Cutting it close I know.)

Kath, sorry but I've no idea what you mean by "last bus" to your hotel in Sorrento if you're you're taking a train from Rome to Naples.

If you're interested in the Campania Express train (versus the Circumvesuviana commuter train) from Naples (Napoli P. Garibaldi station: it's connected to Napoli Centrale) this is the schedule for 2018:

https://www.eavsrl.it/web/content/campania-express-2018-it

Otherwise, the Circumvesuviana has FAR more daily runs, and I'd take it versus hanging around Centrale for a long time waiting for the Express, although it looks like you could easily catch the 11:37/11:39.

Oh there is a bus that picks up at the train station to take to hotel. Irrelevant I suppose. In your opinion is the circumvesuviana as sketchy as they say? Safe for little ones? Thanks.

I guess your comfort level all depends on how many forms of public transit you've taken. I'll often compare the Circ. to the "L" in Chicago: battered and strictly utilitarian. It can be crowded and hot (no air conditioning) but gets the job done. Care needs to be taken with one's valuables but the same is true for similar forms of public transit in Italy, such as the buses and metro in Rome. We've used it without incident and would do so again but others have felt differently.

If you can make the timing work, then take the Express as it has air conditioning and will likely be less crowded. You can pre-purchase your tickets if you wish to.

http://ots.eavsrl.it/web/public/ots/ticket/index?changeLang=en