Sorrento is just over an hour from Naples on the Circumvesuviana - clifftop gardens above the Bay of Naples, lemon groves, and a port that serves as the gateway to Capri and the Amalfi Coast. All without a hire car.
Last verified: June 2026. Train times and prices change regularly. Always check official sources before travelling.
The train from Naples drops you in the centre of Sorrento - and what you find there is one of the most complete day trips in southern Italy. Views across the bay to Vesuvius from clifftop terraces. Narrow lanes scented with lemon. Ferries to Capri leaving from the port below. And SITA buses heading along the coast road towards Positano and Amalfi. Sorrento is a destination in its own right and a gateway to everything around it.
This guide covers the journey from Naples, what to do in Sorrento itself, and how to use it as a jumping-off point for the wider region.
At a Glance
| 🚆 From Naples | Circumvesuviana from Napoli Garibaldi — approx. 1h 10m, ~€5 one way, |
| 🚆 Campania Express | Tourist service — fewer stops, guaranteed seat, air conditioning, ~€15 one-way, ~€25 return |
| ⛴️ Ferry to Capri | 25 min hydrofoil from Marina Piccola — year round |
| 🚌 Bus to Amalfi Coast | SITA bus from Sorrento — frequent, scenic can be busy, no hire car needed |
| 🚆 Train to Pompeii | 40 min back towards Naples on Circumvesuviana |
| 📅 Best time | May–June and September–October — warm, less crowded |
| ⏱️ Time needed | Full day for Sorrento alone — overnight if combining with coast or islands |
In This Guide
Getting to Sorrento by Train from Naples
The Circumvesuviana
Sorrento is served by the Circumvesuviana - the regional train line that runs from Naples south and east along the coast, stopping at Herculaneum, Pompeii and the towns of the Sorrentine Peninsula before terminating at Sorrento. It is entirely separate from the Trenitalia main line network - a crucial point that catches out many first-time visitors.
The Circumvesuviana station in Naples is on the lower level of Napoli Centrale / Napoli Garibaldi - descend the stairs from the main Trenitalia platforms and follow signs for the Circumvesuviana. There is no lift or escalator to the platforms - only stairs. Trains to Sorrento almost always depart from platform 3 but always check the display.
Circumvesuviana tickets cost around €5 one way from Naples to Sorrento. Buy at the Circumvesuviana ticket counters or machines — not at the main Trenitalia windows. You can also use the Tap&Go system, tapping a contactless card directly on the enabled turnstiles. If buying a paper ticket, validate it in the yellow machines before boarding - an unvalidated ticket means you could be fined.
Trains run approximately every 30 minutes from around 5:40am to 10:11pm. Journey time is approximately 1 hour 10 minutes.
The Campania Express
The Campania Express is a tourist service running on the same Circumvesuviana line, stopping only at the main tourist destinations - Herculaneum, Pompeii, and a few towns on the Sorrentine Peninsula. It offers guaranteed seating and air conditioning - a significant improvement over the standard Circumvesuviana, which can be very crowded and uncomfortable in summer.
The Campania Express costs around €15 per person one way and runs from mid-March to October. A hop-on hop-off ticket is available, allowing you to stop at Pompeii or Herculaneum and continue to Sorrento on a later service with the same ticket. Buy tickets online or at EAV InfoPoint desks at Porta Nolana or Piazza Garibaldi stations.
Which to take: In July and August, the Campania Express is worth the premium — the standard Circumvesuviana can be extremely crowded and hot. In May, June, September and October, the standard train is perfectly adequate.
Arriving in Sorrento
Sorrento station is in the centre of town — the main piazza is a short walk away. Everything in Sorrento is walkable from the station. The historic centre, the port (Marina Piccola) and the main viewpoints are all within 15 minutes on foot.
To reach Marina Piccola (where ferries to Capri depart): from the station, walk towards the town centre and then follow signs down to the port. There is a lift from the clifftop to the marina level, or you can take the steps.
What to See and Do in Sorrento
The Historic Centre and Piazza Tasso
Sorrento's historic centre is a network of narrow lanes radiating from Piazza Tasso - the main square, named after the Renaissance poet Torquato Tasso who was born here in 1544. The piazza is surrounded by cafés, restaurants and hotels and is the natural starting point for exploring the town.
The lanes around the piazza are lined with ceramics shops, limoncello producers, lemon-scented everything and the occasional genuine artisan workshop. Via San Cesareo is the main pedestrian shopping street - busier and more tourist-oriented, but worth walking slowly for the colour and energy of it.
The Clifftop Gardens and Sea Views
Sorrento sits on a high cliff above the Bay of Naples and the views from the clifftop gardens and terraces are the defining visual experience of the town. Villa Comunale is the main public garden - free to enter, with a terrace directly above the sea giving views across the bay to Vesuvius and, on clear days, to Capri. One of the finest views in southern Italy for the price of nothing.
Further along the cliff, Terrazza della Vittoria offers another panoramic viewpoint, particularly beautiful in the early evening when the light on the bay is extraordinary.
Museo Correale di Terranova
Sorrento's main museum occupies an 18th-century villa at the eastern end of town - a collection of decorative arts, Neapolitan paintings and local antiquities and almost always uncrowded. The garden terrace has excellent views over the bay. Entry around €15.
The Lemon Groves and Limoncello
Sorrento is surrounded by lemon groves - the source of the Sorrento IGP lemon, which is larger, less acidic and more fragrant than standard lemons. Limoncello, the lemon liqueur produced from the zest, was invented on the Sorrentine Peninsula. Several producers offer tastings - look for bottles produced with Sorrento IGP lemons rather than generic alternatives.
Food and Drink in Sorrento
Sorrento has a strong food culture rooted in the Campanian tradition - pasta, seafood, excellent local produce and the lemon that defines everything.
Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is the essential local dish - potato gnocchi baked with tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella and basil, finished in the oven until the cheese is bubbling and golden. Simple, comforting and available on almost every menu in the historic centre.
Delizia al limone is the local dessert - a dome-shaped sponge soaked in limoncello and filled with lemon cream, covered in a lemon glaze. The definitive Sorrento sweet. Visit this site for a nice description of this dessert.
Marina Grande - the smaller of Sorrento's two ports, reached via a steep path or stairs from the upper town - has a cluster of seafood restaurants that are significantly better value than the tourist-oriented places around Piazza Tasso. The catch is local and the atmosphere is genuinely more authentic. Worth the descent.
For coffee and pastries - Bar Fauno on Piazza Tasso has been at the centre of Sorrento life since 1858 - sit outside and watch the square rather than rushing on.
Ferry to Capri from Sorrento
Sorrento is the closest mainland point to Capri - and the shortest and most convenient ferry crossing to the island. Hydrofoils from Marina Piccola take around 25 minutes and run year-round, with multiple daily departures. Tickets cost around €25 per person one way.
This makes Sorrento the ideal base for a Capri day trip - take the first hydrofoil out, spend the day on the island, and return by early evening. See our complete guide to Capri by ferry for everything you need to plan the island visit.
Sorrento as a Base for the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento is the natural gateway to the Amalfi Coast for car-free travellers. The SITA bus network connects Sorrento with Positano, Amalfi and the towns along the coast road.
SITA bus to Positano: Around 45 minutes, buses run frequently throughout the day. Buy tickets at the SITA bus terminal near Sorrento station or from any tabacchi. The ride along the coastal road - with its vertiginous bends above the sea - is one of the most dramatic bus journeys in Italy and costs only €2.40 one-way.
SITA bus to Amalfi: Around 1 hour 30 minutes from Sorrento. The full coastal route. And costs €3.40 one-way.
Sorrento also serves as the starting point for the Path of the Gods — take the SITA bus to Agerola/Bomerano and walk the clifftop trail to Nocelle above Positano. See our Salerno and Amalfi Coast guide for the full logistics of the path.
Combining Sorrento with Pompeii
Pompeii is 40 minutes from Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana - stop Pompeii Villa dei Misteri, directly opposite the main entrance to the site. This makes a Pompeii and Sorrento combination one of the most natural in the region.
Suggested order: Pompeii first - arrive as the site opens at 9am, allow three to four hours, then take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento for the afternoon. This gives you the archaeological site in the cooler morning hours and Sorrento in the afternoon, ending with the golden hour views from the clifftop gardens before the return train.
Important: Book your Pompeii entrance ticket online in advance - timed entry is compulsory and the site regularly sells out in peak season. See our complete guide to Pompeii and Herculaneum for everything you need.
Practical Information
Getting back to Naples: The last Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Naples departs at around 10pm. Don't leave it too late - the trains in the early evening can be very full.
Luggage: If you're staying in Sorrento and arriving with large bags, note that the station has no lift to the platforms and the town itself is hilly. Luggage storage is available at the station. Radical Storage and Bounce also have locations near the centre.
The Circumvesuviana in summer: The standard train is not air-conditioned and can be extremely crowded and hot in July and August. Consider the Campania Express in peak season - the €15 one-way ticket buys you a guaranteed seat and air conditioning.
Getting to Marina Piccola: The port is at the bottom of the cliff - there is a lift near Villa Comunale, or you can descend on the steps. Taxis and three-wheeled taxis also run between the town centre and the port.
Day trip or overnight: Sorrento works well as a day trip from Naples but rewards an overnight stay - the town is much quieter in the evenings once the day visitors have gone, and basing yourself here opens up early morning ferry options to Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get from Naples to Sorrento by train?
Take the Circumvesuviana from the lower level of Napoli Centrale / Napoli Garibaldi - follow signs for the Circumvesuviana, not the main Trenitalia platforms. Trains run approximately every 30 minutes to Sorrento (the end of the line) and take around 1 hour 10 minutes. Tickets cost around €5 one way. In summer, consider the Campania Express tourist service for guaranteed seating and air conditioning.
Is Sorrento worth visiting as a day trip from Naples?
Yes - Sorrento has enough to fill a full day, and the clifftop views across the Bay of Naples are worth it. The historic centre, the gardens, Marina Grande and the lemon-scented lanes are all genuinely rewarding. It also works as a gateway to Capri (25 minutes by ferry) and the Amalfi Coast (by SITA bus).
What is the Campania Express?
The Campania Express is a tourist train service running on the Circumvesuviana line between Naples and Sorrento. It stops only at key tourist destinations, offers guaranteed seating and air conditioning, and costs around €15 per person one way. A hop-on hop-off ticket allows you to stop at Pompeii or Herculaneum and continue on a later service. Runs mid-March to October.
Can I get to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento without a car?
Yes - SITA buses run from Sorrento along the coast road to Positano (around 45 minutes) and Amalfi (around 1 hour 30 minutes). The same bus network connects Sorrento with Agerola for the Path of the Gods. No hire car is needed.
How do I get from Sorrento to Capri?
Hydrofoils from Marina Piccola in Sorrento reach Capri in around 25 minutes. Multiple daily departures run year-round. Tickets cost around €25 one way. Sorrento is the most convenient mainland departure point for Capri.
Can I combine Sorrento with Pompeii in one day?
Yes - Pompeii is 30 minutes from Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana. The recommended order is Pompeii in the morning (arrive when the site opens at 9am) and Sorrento in the afternoon. Book Pompeii entrance tickets online in advance - timed entry is compulsory.
Is the Circumvesuviana safe?
Yes — though it is known for pickpockets on crowded services in summer. Keep your bag in front of you and your valuables close. The train itself is perfectly safe.
Also on The Unseen Italy: Capri by Ferry from Naples and Sorrento · Salerno and the Amalfi Coast · Pompeii and Herculaneum by Train · How Italy's Train Network Works
