How to Get Around Sorrento and Beyond

One of the best things about Sorrento is that you rarely need a car. The town sits at the heart of a small, well-connected peninsula: a cheap train links it to Naples and Pompeii, ferries fan out across the Bay to Capri and the Amalfi Coast, buses climb to Positano and Amalfi, and a lift carries you from the clifftop centre down to the sea. This guide walks you through every option — how long each takes, roughly what it costs, and where to check live times before you set off.

Getting around at a glance

Times and fares below are indicative for the 2026 season and can change (especially seasonal ferry and bus timetables). For the next departures on any route, use our interactive timetable finder, and always confirm on the official site linked in each section before you travel.

From Naples Airport to Sorrento

The simplest way from Naples-Capodichino Airport to Sorrento is the Curreri shuttle bus, which runs direct from outside the terminal to Sorrento train station (Piazza De Curtis). There are about eight departures a day in each direction, the ride takes roughly an hour and a half, and a one-way ticket is around €13. Buses stop along the way at Pompeii (on request), Castellammare di Stabia, Vico Equense, Meta, Piano and Sant’Agnello, so you can often get off close to your accommodation.

The alternative is to take the Alibus into Naples’ central station (Napoli Garibaldi) and change onto the Circumvesuviana train (see below). It is a little cheaper but involves a change with luggage; the Curreri bus is usually the easier choice for a first arrival. For a door-to-door option you can also pre-book a private transfer.

• Curreri Viaggi — airport shuttle Timetable & tickets · info +39 081 19460894

By train: the Circumvesuviana

The Circumvesuviana, run by EAV, is the cheapest and most useful way to move along the coast towards Naples. The Naples–Pompeii–Sorrento line ends right in the centre of Sorrento and reaches Naples (Porta Nolana / Garibaldi) in about 70 minutes, with a single ticket costing only a few euros. It is also how most visitors reach Pompeii and Herculaneum for a day trip — you simply get off at Pompei Scavi or Ercolano Scavi.

Alongside the regular trains (marked DD, “direttissimo”) there is a tourist service, the Campania Express (marked EXP in the timetable): fewer stops, guaranteed seating and luggage space, at a higher fare. It runs seasonally and is worth it in high summer when ordinary trains get very busy. Tickets and passes are sold at station machines and ticket offices.

• EAV — official timetables & live train times Toll-free 800 211 388 · Campania Express tickets on eavsrl.it

By ferry: Capri, the islands and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento’s harbour, Marina Piccola, is one of the best-connected on the Bay of Naples. In season, fast ferries and hydrofoils run to Capri, Positano, Amalfi, Naples, and the islands of Ischia and Procida, plus Salerno. Capri is the star route — the crossing takes only about 20–25 minutes — so it is easy to visit the island for the day and be back for dinner.

A few practical points: ferry schedules are seasonal and busiest in July and August, so book popular sailings (especially Capri) ahead and arrive at the harbour in good time. Every ticket to Capri also carries a landing tax — €5.00 per person in summer (1 April–31 October), often added at booking rather than shown in the base fare. For full day-tour itineraries and prices, see our dedicated boat tours and 2026 prices guide; for the coves and lidos you can reach by sea, see the beaches and beach clubs guide.

• NLG — Navigazione Libera del Golfo Sorrento ticket office +39 081 807 1812
• Alilauro / Gescab Capri, Ischia, Positano, Amalfi, Naples
• SNAV & Caremar Fast ferries Sorrento–Capri

Along the Amalfi Coast by bus (SITA)

When the sea is rough or you want the famous clifftop views, the blue SITA Sud buses are the way to reach the Amalfi Coast overland. From Sorrento the coast road climbs to Positano in roughly 40–50 minutes and continues to Amalfi in about 75–90 minutes; other lines serve the peninsula villages of Sant’Agata, Massa Lubrense and Marina del Cantone (Nerano).

Buy your ticket before boarding — at tabacchi, bars or the station kiosk, not from the driver. If you plan a round trip or several hops, the CostieraSITA 24-hour pass (about €10) is usually the best value. In peak summer, buses can leave Amalfi already full, so travel early and be patient at busy stops.

• SITA Sud — official routes & timetables Amalfi Coast line 5070 and peninsula routes

To and from Rome: the Marozzi coach

If you are travelling to or from Rome without flying, Marozzi runs a direct coach between Rome (Tiburtina) and Sorrento (Corso Italia), stopping at Pompeii, Castellammare di Stabia and Vico Equense. The journey takes about four hours and a one-way ticket is around €22, with a rest stop en route. Departure times vary by day of the week, so check before booking.

• Marozzi — Rome ↔ Sorrento coach Timetable & online booking

Around town: the lift and on foot

Sorrento’s historic centre sits on a cliff above its harbours, so the quickest way down to the sea is the Sorrento Lift. It runs from Piazza F.S. Gargiulo, inside the Villa Comunale gardens, down to Marina Piccola and the beach clubs, saving you a steep walk. A single ride is €1.20 (€2.20 return), and in high summer (June–September) it stays open from 07:00 until well after midnight (around 00:30), with shorter hours in the quieter months.

Otherwise, the centre is small and made for walking — most of the sights, shops and restaurants are within a few minutes of Piazza Tasso. To make the most of it on foot, follow our walk through Sorrento’s old town.

Getting around in the evening

The Circumvesuviana stops running in the late evening, but a night bus links Sorrento and Naples for early flights or late arrivals, and licensed taxis serve Sorrento and the neighbouring towns. You will find night-bus departures, taxi ranks and all the useful phone numbers in our practical information guide.

Good to know: transport times and fares change with the season. This guide reflects the 2026 season based on the operators’ official information; always double-check the official sites or the timetable finder before travelling.