How to Get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento

By Martha Bakerjian

Italy Travel Expert, about.com

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To get from Rome to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, you'll first need to take a train from Rome to Naples. Then take the private Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento on the Amalfi Peninsula. Here's how to get to Sorrento starting from Rome's main train station. To get from Sorrento to Rome, follow the directions in reverse.

Trains from Rome to Naples

First you need to get a train from Roma Termini, Rome's main train station, to Napoli Centrale, Naples' main train station. Trains run directly between the two stations, although a few slow trains require a change, from early morning (currently 4:52) until late at night (currently 22:13). For more details, see How to get from Rome to Naples. You can check schedules and ticket prices on the Trenitalia web site or Select Italy's train tickets page where you can also buy advance tickets online in US dollars.

Trains from Naples to Sorrento on the Amalfi Peninsula

Circumvesuviana Trains run between Napoli Centrale (Naples main train station) and Sorrento on the Amalfi Peninsula (see Amalfi map).

Circumvesuviana is a private train company.

• To get to the Circumvesuviana Garibaldi Station in the Naples train station (Napoli Centrale), go downstairs. Tickets for these trains (inexpensive) are separate from the Rome to Naples tickets and must be bought at a Circumvesuviana station. There are other stops for this train in Naples.

• Train time to Sorrento is one hour, seven minutes. Trains run every half hour (currently leaving Naples at 10 and 40 minutes past the hour starting at 5:10AM with last train at 22:43 and from Sorrento starting at 5:37AM from Sorrento with the last train at 22:25). There may be fewer trains on Sundays or holidays.

• Circumvesuviana trains also go to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius. For Pompeii, get off at Pompeii Scavi stop, 36 minutes from Naples. Trains for Herculaneum (Ercalano) and Mount Vesuvius depart several times an hour (don't take the Sorrento line). For the Ercalano archaeological site, get off at Ercalano Scavi, 17 minutes from Naples. To get to Mount Vesuvius, get off the train at Ercolano station where you can catch a Compagnia Trasporti Vesuviani bus outside the station.

• Check the Circumvesuviana web site for current schedules.

Bus from Sorrento to Amalfi Coast Towns

The bus leaves from near the Sorrento train station to connect to other Amalfi Coast towns.

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Trains from Naples to Salerno for Eastern Amalfi Coast

To reach Eastern Amalfi Coast towns such as Amalfi, Positano, Praiano and Ravello, continue on a regular train from Naples (see above) and then take a bus from Salerno. During summer season ferries run from Salerno to Amalfi, Minori, and Positano. See TravelMar for ferry schedules.

You can check schedules and ticket prices on the Trenitalia web site or on Select Italy's train tickets page, where you can also buy advance tickets online in US dollars..

Bus from Naples Airport to Sorrento

A bus goes directly from Naples Airport to Sorrento three times a day.

How to Get to Sorrento and Amalfi Coast by Car

You may want a car if you're staying in one of the Amalfi Peninsula's small villages. To drive from Rome, take the A1 Autostrada (toll road) to Naples, then the A3 autostrada. (See Interactive Autostrada Map).

To get to Sorrento, exit at Castellammare di Stabia and take the SP 145. Follow Via Sorrentina along the coast. To get to Positano, follow directions toward Sorrento, then take the SS 163 (Via Nastro Azzurro) to Positano. To get to Amalfi or villages near Amalfi, stay on the A3 and exit at Vietri Sul Mare, then take the SS 163, Via Costiera, toward Amalfi.

You could also take the train to Sorrento, then pick up a rental car there.

• Find car rentals in Rome through Auto Europe
• Find car rentals in Sorrento through Auto Europe

Ferries from Naples

During summer ferries and hydrofoils run between the port of Naples (molo Beverello), Sorrento, Capri Island, and other Amalfi Coast towns. Some ferries run during other seasons but they are less frequent. Check hydrofoil times on this web site (in Italian).