Travel to Capri, from Rome, via Sorrento , or Naples?

I would not have any reservations about connecting through Naples. Naples has a tough reputation but don't know if pickpockets are any worse than in Rome or elsewhere. We have been through the station a couple of times and down to the port and around without any problems. If you are experienced travelers and taken normal precautions you should not have any problems.

Hi Deb - The connection to Sorrento or Capri is great from Napoli - 35 minutes gets you into either location. Naples is the most dangerous Italian City for pickpockets and thieves. They are not subtle - will attack in the middle of the day on crowded streets and the police do very little. I'm Italian and I hate to say it but be careful in Napoli. Whether you're an experienced traveler or not has absloutely nothing to do with it - All the precautions in the world can be taken and if you're the target that particular day, you will be robbed and anyone suggesting otherwise is doing a very large disservice commenting on a traveler's Helpline!!

greg

Greg,

That sounds awfully alarmist. Do you have any evidence to back that up? You're basically suggesting that people will be mugged in broad daylight.

Michael - I've been taking people to Italy for about 30 years - so yes - I know what I'm talking about - Is it alarmist? - Damned right - and truthful so people who have not been there can be aware of the danger , in the event they have never read or heard about how dangerous Napoli is.

To soft soap "newbies" into believing it's no big deal is wrong!!!
The same fellow couldn't believe I've seen thieves rip and cut money belts off folks - He said - Greg - perhaps you don't know they wear them under their clothes. Yep - they do - and the thieves after standing around watching the tourists feel for their belts go up to them , rip their shirt or blouse off and slice the belt off - Yes Michael - in broad daylight - they work in teams and the police can't be everywhere at once. Hope that explains it clearly for you!!
See, some people get on the helpline and pretend that they are helping , when in fact, they are misleading people - probably due to the fact that they haven't spent 35 years travelling all over- MY HOME COUNTRY.

OK thanks, We realize that it might be dangerous there, we are not inexperienced travelers however, just new to that particular area. What are your feelings on going on to Sorrento, seeing the sights there, and hopping back to Capri from there. Then, we can get assistance returning to Naples for our flight back to Madrid.(we will also be under certain time constraints on the return from Capri to Naples so we can do the 180 euros, reluctantly) Based on Gregs reply this is what we are thinking. We have friends however, that just returned from Naples, no problems whatsoever, and they did not have money belts or any other secure luggage! Go figure! Open to other ideas? Any thing else out there? Thanks !

It is difficult to tell if Greg's comments are sage advice or bombastic boasting behind the pseudo personality of the internet. He accuses some of us of under warning newbies but could he be just as guilty of over scaring the newbies. I think the collective wisdom and experiences of this site carries the day. There are thousands of posting with not a personal report of a mugging in Naples. We have had some postings about muggings or attempted muggings in Prague, Barcelona, Paris. If Naples is a bad as Greg pretends I would think we would have seen at least a couple posting on this subject. In '93 did see two guys on a Vespa pull a camera off the shoulder of a teenager. On three other visit (mostly recently last year) I thought it seened safer but we may have just been more comfortable with Naples. But maybe Greg does know more the rest of us. After all he is a 25 year CIA operative, shop owner in Mykonos, extraordinary tour guide to thousands of tourists. Now we learn that he is Italian. Perhaps born in Naples? Hard to judge.

Thank you Frank, and I do agree with you for the most part,but to anyone reading this my main question is , do you think it is reasonable to go by train from Rome to Sorrento, do lunch or dinner there and explore a bit, and then catch a boat over to Capri from there and begin our Capri trip. It would save us two boat trips back to both Sorrento, and later Positano. So financially it might make sense. But time wise and even safety wise is it worth it? We appreciate any suggestions. Thanks!

It is hard to make a recommendation when it is your personal safety or perception there of. If it was our choice we would have no reservation about making the connection in Naples if that was the most convenient. Because of Naples reputation we are always a little more nervous and a bit more on guard, I suppose, but we have never had any problems. But I cannot tell you what you should do. Just what we would do.

I don't quite understand why the pickup in Sorrento or Naples. I take it you are not use the hydro or ferry to Capri.

We will take the ferry from either place, over to Capri, but it looks like there is a long walk or maybe it is better to take a cab to the harbor where the boats leave once off the train. I could not determine how far it was from the main station to the harbor in Naples. Looks like an easy walk to the harbor in Sorrento. I just thought the 180 Euro fee from our hotel was pricey one way!! That does include the hydrofoil however. But I know that is pretty reasonable just to purchase tickets once there. Thanks

We have been visiting the area once often twice a year for the last thirty years and this is what I would do if I wanted travel to Capri via Sorrento.

Arrange a private transfer from Naples train station to Sorrento, it should cost about 80 euro. Look at the sticky at the top of the Sorrento Forum on Tripadvisor for recs on drivers. In the past we have used the Circumvesuviana local train from Naples without problems (take the normal precautions for any busy and crowded place) but these days opt for comfort!

All I would add to the usual advice is to ignore the persistent pests that hang around on the station platform. They offer porterage services and find it hard to take no for an answer. The private car driver will meet you in the station and help you with your luggage.

What will you do with your luggage? I am not sure that there is anywhere to leave it while you visit Sorrento, never had to think about it. Maybe the Tourist Office can help.

http://www.sorrentotourism.com/eng/index.html#