Getting around · Sorrento · Italy
Getting around Sorrento
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Mentnafunangann, CC BY-SA 3.0
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Quick answer
Central Sorrento is compact and best explored on foot. The Circumvesuviana railway links it to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples, ferries leave Marina Piccola for Capri, Naples and the Amalfi Coast, and buses cover the peninsula and the coast road. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Walking
- Airports
- NAP
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Unico Campania tickets
Ways to get around
Walking
Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, the old-town lanes and the Villa Comunale are all within about 10 minutes of each other; lifts and stairways link the centre to the marinas.
Train
The EAV Circumvesuviana runs from Sorrento to Naples in about 70 minutes, stopping at Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri and Ercolano Scavi. A seasonal Campania Express service with fewer stops usually runs in the main tourist months.
Trains get very crowded in summer; keep bags in front of you and board at Sorrento, the first stop, for a seat.
Ferry
Ferries and hydrofoils from Marina Piccola reach Capri in about 20–25 minutes and Naples in about 35–45 minutes, with seasonal boats to Positano and Amalfi.
Buy return tickets early for Capri in summer and check sea conditions, as sailings are cancelled in rough weather.
Bus
SITA buses run along the Amalfi Coast road to Positano and Amalfi from the bus stop by the train station, and local buses serve Massa Lubrense, Sant'Agata and Marina del Cantone.
Sit on the right-hand side towards Positano for sea views, and expect queues and standing room in summer.
Taxi
Taxis wait at Piazza Tasso and the port; fares on the peninsula and to the Amalfi Coast are high, so agree the price before setting off.
Scooter
Scooters are widely available to hire and are how many locals travel, but the coast road is narrow, busy and demanding for inexperienced riders.
Tickets and passes
Unico Campania tickets
Integrated regional tickets cover trains and buses in zones around Naples and the Sorrento peninsula; check which zones your journey needs.
From the airport
Naples International Airport (Capodichino) is about 50 km from Sorrento. A direct airport coach takes roughly 75–90 minutes; alternatively take the Alibus to Napoli Centrale/Garibaldi and the Circumvesuviana, or to the port for a ferry. Private transfers take about an hour outside rush hour.
Do you need a car?
No. Trains, ferries and buses reach all the main sights, and parking in Sorrento is scarce and costly. A car only helps for remote villages, and the Amalfi Coast road is stressful to drive in summer.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Capri | About 20–25 minutes by fast ferry | Ferry or hydrofoil from Marina Piccola |
| Pompeii | About 30 minutes by train | Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi–Villa dei Misteri |
| Herculaneum | About 50 minutes by train | Circumvesuviana to Ercolano Scavi |
| Positano | About 45–60 minutes by bus | SITA bus from Sorrento station, or seasonal ferry |
| Amalfi and Ravello | About 1.5 hours by bus or ferry | SITA bus or seasonal ferry to Amalfi, then bus to Ravello |
| Naples | About 40 minutes by ferry or 70 by train | Ferry from Marina Piccola or the Circumvesuviana |
| Mount Vesuvius | About 1.5 hours by train and shuttle | Circumvesuviana to Ercolano or Pompei, then a shuttle bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Sorrento?
No. Trains, ferries and buses reach all the main sights, and parking in Sorrento is scarce and costly. A car only helps for remote villages, and the Amalfi Coast road is stressful to drive in summer.
+How do you get from the airport to Sorrento?
Naples International Airport (Capodichino) is about 50 km from Sorrento. A direct airport coach takes roughly 75–90 minutes; alternatively take the Alibus to Napoli Centrale/Garibaldi and the Circumvesuviana, or to the port for a ferry. Private transfers take about an hour outside rush hour.
+What is the best way to get around Sorrento?
Walking: Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia, the old-town lanes and the Villa Comunale are all within about 10 minutes of each other; lifts and stairways link the centre to the marinas.