Sorrento Travel Forum

Hi all, any suggests are welcome!

We are a family of 5 hoping to spend 3-4 days around Sorrento and Naples with a visit to both Pompeii and Capri. Will be arriving from Rome and after this short trip movong onto Florence. I have been recommended to stay in Sorrento rather than Naples but not sure why this is, any suggestions? Do you think that Naples or Sorrento would be a better base to visit Pompeii and Capri from? Also, is it easy enough to then catch a train onto Florence from either of these?

Looking forward to hearing your feedback,

Thanks!!

Sorrento is a pretty seaside (if elevated) town that has been a vacation spot for both Italians and foreigners for a long time. Naples is a big, crowded city that has lots of good and bad things, and whose culture is likely not like anything you've seen unless you are well traveled. While the life is lively there, so is petty crime (fortunately, the local organized crime families don't bother tourists much...but they don't repress petty crime like in some other places either). And the only time I was in Naples, it was in the middle of a weeks-long garbage strike...and all the garbage oddly did not seem out of place in the streets of Naples...

Sorrento is also well situated on the Circumvesuviana line that runs along the north side of the Amalfi peninsula all the way up to Naples. The Circumvesuviana station (this is a private railroad) is next to the FS (national railway) station in Naples, so it's easy (if you are not overburdened with luggage) to take the Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Naples, then switch to go up to Florence. And you will pass Pompeii (and Herculaneum) on the way, so taking a short trip up to Pompeii and back from Sorrento is very easy.

Capri can be reached by hydrofoil or ferry from Sorrento as well as from a number of other locations. In addition, you can take SITA buses to locations on the south side of the Amalfi peninsula such as Amalfi itself (no train along this stretch).

The advice you have received is understandable, and unless you are much more experienced travelers than normal, you will enjoy Sorrento better...

Bill

I agree. Sorrento is an attractive place to stay, and it is very easy to take the Cirumvesuviana train to Pompeii, Herculaneum or Naples from there. Naples is well worth a visit, but I would choose to stay in Sorrento.

I agree with Bill.

Sorrento is a most pleasant place, and it is extremely easy to get to Pompeii/Herculaneum/Villa Oplontis etc using the Circumvesuviana railway. Journey to 'Pompeii Scavi' is about 30 minutes, and the train stops outside the main entrance to Pompeii.

http://www.vesuviana.it/Reteeorari/Ferrovia/Orario

has timetables (Linea Napoli Sorrento).

There is a ferry and a hydrofoil service to Capri from Sorrento, the latter taking about 25 minutes.

Ferry/hydrofoil timetable: http://www.capri.net/en/ship-timetable

You could also take the bus or ferry to/from Amalfi, to see the beautiful coastline. The bus journey is entirely wonderful and highly recommended (by me). Bus timetable here:

http://www.sitabus.it/wps/portal/OrariCampania (under 'quadro 15')

Sorrento is just a much more pleasant base than Naples, being smaller and far far less frantic and noisy. You will arrive from Rome at Napoli Centrale station, and simmply descend one level to the Circumvesuviana (signed). Similarly, you take the Circumvesuviana to Napoli Centrale and go up one level for the train to Florence.

I think you may have to buy the tickets to Florence once you arrive at Naples on your return journey...I'm not sure if they will be sold at the Circumvesuviana stations. But it's very easy: there are ticket machines with English options at Napoli Centrale (at all large Italian stations actually).

www.trenitalia.com/en/index.html will give you train times and fares for journeys other than the Circumvesuviana.

Hello,
my family of 8 visited the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Pompeii in October 2007. The first 2 places are wonderful, especially the Amalfi coast - spectacular scenery! Or visit the Isle of Capri by ferry from Sorrento. I would definetly stay in Sorrento over Naples. On a previous trip to Italy i was told not to go to Naples - I went to Isola d'Elba instead (worth a visit too!). This time we did go to Naples just for 1 overnight as 2 people were flying out in the morning. I was never so glad about a decision not to stay more than one night in the city! It does have some nice areas along the marina, there are a number of sights to see, but maybe only if you feel the need to go into Naples. Florence and Rome maybe nicer cities to spend time in.
Nothing against Naples, the people were nice. It just seemed very unsafe to walk around at night - we felt very safe in Sorrento. The buses around Sorrento and the neighboring towns were very efficient and clean. Wonderful restaurants - be sure to walk around the alleyways in the Old Center. Check out the old paper mills in the gorge behind the main square.
We left our rental car in Sorrento and took the train to the Pompeii ruins for the day. Make sure you get off at the right stop! The Ruins were very interesting and very spread out! if you go on a hot day make sure to bring plenty of water and maybe an umbrella for shade. It was cold the day we were there though - snow on Mt. Vesuvius! Visiting the ruins could take all day. We got the audio guides, but the guidebook was informative as well.
Happy Travels!

Bonjour,
j'habite à Salerno et je suis contente de faire connaitre ma ville et l'aleantours aux autres, c'est une ville tranquille par rapport à naples,la + propre de la campanie, y elle jouit d'une position ideale pour visiter l'aleantours.
j'ai vu que vous parlez seulement de Sorrento mais je pense que la Cote amalfitaine est encore plus intèressants de Sorrento.
Du port de plaisance de Salerno il y a le départ de nombreux bateaux pour la cote amalfitaine et prècisement AMALFI-POSITANO et pour l'ile de Capri.
On peut bien se flaner dans le vieux centre ville, très jolie avec ses ruelles et la cathedrale qui merite une visite.
AMALFI et POSITANO sont des veritables panoramas à ne pas manquer!!!!
A quelques km de salerno il y a POMPEI,NAPLES,ERCOLANO,et en plus les temples grecq de Paestum avec le musée archeologique ,Unique exemple bien conservè en europe aprèe la Grece.
Le palays royal de Caserta aussi et à visiter avec son parc construit par Vanvitelli , le meme qui a construit la belle Versailles.
Tu choisis une destination innoubliable ! La côte Amalfitaine est un des joyaux de l'Italie ! C'est une région très touristique (connue dans le monde entier pour ses panoramas) et non loin de l'île de Capri. Elle se visite toute l'année. Si tu y vas en période noël, je pense que tu auras beau temps, température plus douces qu'en France. Surtout prend le temps de visiter Positano, Amalfi et Ravello.............les 3 perles de la côte Amalfitaine. Si tu aimes les panoramas vue mer, je te conseille de visiter la "Villa Cimbrone" à Ravello, une pure merveille ! Il y a un panorama à couper le souffle, ça s'appelle "la terrasse de l'infini". J'ai beaucoup voyagé dans ma vie, mais des panoramas comme celui-ci te reste gravé, car grandiose !
Bon voyage et si tu as le temps, va faire un tour sur l'île de Capri, tu auras un des panoramas les plus beaux du monde, celui de la baie de Naples.
Si tu as besoin d'un adresse pour un logement propre et pas cher(55 euro par jour)dans un gite près de la gare de salerno et à 5 min à pied de la mer tu peux contacter cette femme
lilianamanzo@tiscalinet.it
ou bien 00393478567194
Elle parle Français,Anglais.

i have been to this are 3 times and have to recommend staying in sorrento - it is central to many tourist sights by train - naples, pompeii, capri, amalfi coast. we stayed at a great place - il nido - best food we had the whole trip- check it out on tripadvisor or visit their website - www.ilnido.it