How to get from Naples airport to Sorrento

You land at Naples airport but you have a cocktail of emotions. Excitement and happiness and anxiety and stress. How the **** do you get from Naples airport to Sorrento???

Thankfully, there are a number of options but as always it is highly recommended to plan in advance so you’re not getting too stressed out once you leave the airport terminal.

If you want a belt and braces approach to getting to your accommodation then it’s not a bad idea to have a back up plan just in case anything goes wrong. 

Below we are going to present you with every option to get you from Naples airport to Sorrento. 

Option 1: Private transfer from Naples airport to Sorrento.

Just to be clear, when we talk about a “private transfer” from Naples to Sorrento we do not mean catching a taxi outside the airport. That IS an option but an unnecessarily expensive one and not really one of our recommended options to get you to Sorrento.

A private transfer is a car or shuttle bus which you have booked in advance. You can either arrange this directly with the transfer company or contact your hotel/Air BnB and ask them to do it for you.

Before you even land at Naples airport you will have selected an airport transfer company, agreed on a price and have the contact number of the driver on your phone should you need to contact them on your arrival.

The driver will normally be waiting for you in the arrivals hall holding a card with your surname.

The car will typically be parked inside the airport’s parking so you should not have far to walk.

How much is a private transfer from Naples airport to Sorrento?

A standard car for 3-4 people is likely to cost around € 110 – 150 one way. That price range is pretty much down to the company. Some charge more and some charge less.

How long does it take from Naples airport to Sorrento?

Journey times from Naples airport to the centre of Sorrento very much depend on the time of day you are travelling.

Arriving in Naples makes the journey time to Sorrento a little less stressful as you do not have any planes to catch.

However, the return journey TO Naples airport can be stressful especially if your flight coincides with rush hour traffic.

Broadly speaking, transfer times between Naples airport and the Sorrento old town are anything between 50 mins and 1hr 30 mins.

The airport shuttle company will have a very good idea of travel times dependant upon your check in times at the airport.

Option 2: Take the bus from Naples airport to Sorrento.

A much more affordable way of getting from Naples airport to Sorrento and some of the towns nearby is to take the bus known as Curreri Viaggi.

The bus can be found in the airport coach park (please see illustration below) and it is easy enough to find. Walk out of the airport terminal and then walk straight ahead on the right hand side until you get to the coach park. The Curreri Viaggi bus may not always be there when you arrive as it depends on your flight times.

The bus runs approximately every two hours from Naples airport so you really need to make a reservation beforehand or risk being turned away if the bus is too full.

How much is the Curreri Viaggi bus from Naples airport to Sorrento?

A single journey for one passenger costs € 10.

Reservations are highly recommended as the bus may be full if you try to “hop on” without a reservation

How long does it take from Naples airport to Sorrento?

The bus takes around 1 hour 15 mins to reach Sorrento railway station but it also stops at a few places along the way such as Meta di Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento and Sant Agnello.

A full list of scheduled stops can be seen in the graphic below and on their website here. 

Pro’s

Significantly cheaper than a private transfer. You really cannot grumble at €10 per person.

Con’s

The bus only departs from Naples airport at certain times of the day so you may have to wait for the next one to arrive depending upon your flight arrival time.

Hop on passengers are not guaranteed a seat so reservations are advisable.

Option 3: Catch the ferry from Naples to Sorrento.

On the face of it, catching a ferry from Naples to Sorrento can sound like the best option.

Just looking at a map of the area you can see that this is the most direct route to the Sorrento peninsula.

Travelling by water also avoids any road traffic which could delay journey times and, for some people, there’s a certain charm to landing in a foreign city and then jumping on a boat to reach your hotel.

We’ll take a look at the pros and cons but the first thing you need to know is where to catch the ferry from.

Unfortunately, and not too surprisingly, the ferry boat is not right outside the airport terminal, nor is it within walking distance of Naples airport so you are going to have to either catch a taxi to the port of Beverello or catch a bus to Beverello (please note that Beverello is the name of the port in Naples which operates ferries to and from Sorrento).

A taxi from Naples airport to Beverello port can be pricey-expect to pay around € 40 with a journey time of approx. 8 minutes depending on traffic.

A cheaper option is the Alibus shuttle bus. There are 4 stops along the way with the last stop being Beverello port. Journey time is approx. 35 minutes and the price is only € 5.

Tickets for the Alibus can be purchased through the vending machines inside the airport at arrivals, online, or directly from the driver of the bus.  

How much is the ferry from Naples airport to Sorrento?

A one way ticket for the ferry from Naples Beverello port to Sorrento is around € 16 – € 18.50 (dependant upon which operator you book with) but please be aware that you MUST catch the ferry from Beverello and not any other port in Naples as the ferries to Sorrento only operate from this port.

Bear in mind that the ferry ticket is in addition to the cost of getting to Naples Beverello port from the airport so remember to add the taxi fare or the Alibus price to your calculations. 

Which port in Sorrento will you arrive at?

The ferry from Naples to Sorrento ends up at Marina Piccola which is fairly central in Sorrento town but…….requires a lot of climbing to actually reach Sorrento’s main street.

There is a lift at the marina which will take you up. There is a small charge of €1 per person and further details can be found here.  The lift will take you to Villa Communale.

Pro’s

When you add up all the possible fares you need to pay e.g. shuttle bus from the airport to Beverello, ferry fare, lift fare then you are probably looking at an overall cost of about € 24 which seems pretty good compared to the costs of a private transfer from Naples airport to Sorrento.

Catching the ferry from Naples to Sorrento can be a wonderfully scenic, exciting and romantic way to reach Sorrento. Far better than being stuck in a car on the freeway or in a crowded train carriage.

Con’s

Although you will save on costs you will lose on time. The bus to Beverello, waiting for the next ferry, the ferry journey itself, walking from Marina Piccola to Sorrento’s town centre all takes more time than a simple bus transfer or private car transfer from Naples.

The ferry schedule can be impacted by weather and sea conditions. Although in the summer the likelihood of disruption due to stormy weather is small it cannot be entirely ruled out.

Catching the ferry from Naples to Sorrento requires quite a lot of legwork and stress. Some people love the adventure whilst others prefer a more comfortable, relaxed way of reaching their accommodation.

Option 4: Catch the Naples to Sorrento train.

If you are looking for the cheapest way to get from Naples airport to Sorrento then the train is the answer.

 You will still have to factor in transfer costs between Naples airport and Naples train station and then your train ticket to Sorrento but even with these costs combined the train still works out as the cheapest way to get from Naples to Sorrento.

How much is the train from Naples to Sorrento?

Expect to pay around € 4 for a ticket for the Naples to Sorrento train.

Don’t forget though that you also need to get from Naples airport to the train station.

How to get to Naples train station from Naples airport?

To get from the airport to downtown Naples, and to the train station, you can catch a taxi from outside the airport. Taxi fares are about € 20 and journey time (without heavy traffic) is about 10 minutes.

The other option is to catch the Alibus. A single journey costs € 5 and tickets can be bought from inside the arrivals hall, from the bus driver or online. Bus journey time is about 15 minutes and the bus runs around every 10/15 minutes throughout the day and evening. It becomes less frequent after 10pm and last bus is usually around midnight

The Alibus bus stop is outside the arrivals hall. Just follow the signs as you exit the airport or watch this very handy video which walks you through where to find the bus stop.

The train station you want is called Napoli Centrale (Napoli Garibaldi) which is Naples main train station.

To catch the train to Sorrento you will want to go down to the lower level of the train station. Please be aware that the station is not wheelchair friendly and you will have to walk down the steps to the lower level.

The main train service which runs from Naples to Sorrento is called the Circumvesuviana. The Circumvesuviana is a commuter train which runs very frequently between Naples and Sorrento (trains are about every 35 mins). As this is a commuter train then expect PLENTY of stops, Sorrento is actually the sixteenth stop at the end of the line.

This train service is usually crowded, very crowded and it is not unusual to have to stand for the whole duration of your journey to Sorrento.

You cannot buy tickets online but only at the train station and seats cannot be reserved.

The train stock is old. There are no bathrooms on board the carriages and no dedicated luggage space.

We are not trying to deter you from using this option but it’s only fair that you know what to expect.

Journey time from Napoli Centrale to Sorrento train station is just over one hour. 

What is the Campania Express?

The Campania Express is another train service which runs on the same line as the Circumvesuviana but is aimed at the tourist market.

It only stops at stations which tourists frequently visit (or stay) such as Pompei or Herculaneum though journey times to Sorrento are strangely about the same as the Circumvesuviana (just over an hour). However, the train carriages are much more comfortable. You can reserve a guaranteed seat. Carriages are air conditioned and they have dedicated luggage spaces!

Ticket prices for the Campania Express train from Naples to Sorrento is € 15

On the downside, the service only runs during the tourist season and trains are not frequent-they run about every three hours.

Pro’s

The train is the cheapest way of getting from Naples airport to Sorrento.

The Campania Express train is a good option if you want to stop at some of the tourist sites.

No risk of getting caught in any traffic congestion and the trains runs regardless of the weather.

Con’s

The train might be the cheapest but not by much. The Curreri Viaggi bus is only € 10.

Once you’re on the train then it’s faster than driving from Naples to Sorrento but you still lose time getting from Naples airport to Naples train station, buying your tickets, walking to the platform etc. It all adds up and doesn’t make the time saving aspect massively appealing if that’s what you’re looking for.

The Circumvesviana is a commuter train. It can get very crowded with little to no seating and no space for luggage. It’s not the most comfortable or stress free option. 

Arriving at Sorrento Train Station

Once you arrive at Sorrento train station then things are fairly easy.

The train station is (thankfully) located very close to the centre of Sorrento-a comfortable six minute walk away from Piazza Tasso.

Directly in front of the station, as you exit, is a taxi rank and bus stops. There is also a ticket office where you can buy your bus tickets.

There is usually a kiosk selling “skip the line” tickets for Pompeii and just as you exit the station (on your left as you are heading out) is a tourist information office. 

How to walk from Sorrento train station to Piazza Tasso

As you come out of the train station, turn left. Walk past the tourist office and keep the large stone wall to your left hand side.

A few metres further along the road will fork to the left and right. If you want to go to Piazza Tasso and/or Corso Italia then you need to follow the road to the right. See image below. 

Once you turn right you will be on Via Marziale (see image below). It is a short road so follow it all the way to the end.

You can only walk as far as the junction that cuts across you. From here you can either turn left or right. This street is called Corso Italia (see image below).

If you turn left then this leads you directly to Piazza Tasso, the main square of Sorrento.