Naples Port - Sorrento and Positano

Hi Everyone,

We will be on the Allure of the Seas traveling to the Naples port in September. We have been here once and made the trip over to Capri. This time we would like to visit Sorrento and Positano on our own. Can someone help me figure out the details?

I think I understand it would be best to do Sorrento in the morning when shops are open but what is the best way to get there? And then how about traveling to Positano and then back to the ship?

TIA!

Asheli

By "on your own" do you mean using public transport, or simply booking a private tour (not going through the ship)?

Because it possible to do Naples to Sorrento and Positano by public transport, but you have to keep close track of the schedules, and hope that there are not too many delays, or too many other people trying to do the same thing at the same time as you. In particular, I have seen a crowd of 100 people at the bus stop in Sorrento hoping to squeeze on to the next bus to Positano/Amalfi. And the bus never came…

The Naples to Sorrento part is no big deal (train or hydrofoil), but you might consider getting a private tour from Sorrento to visit the Amalfi Coast for a couple of hours.

Thanks for the caution! I mean using public transport. So we would take the hydrofoil to Sorrento. Then is a bus typically the best way to get to Positano from there? And then a bus back to the ship port?

Much depends on your port time. If you have an early arrival like 7 AM you can't waste the time waiting for the ferry to Sorrento, which doesn't depart until 9 AM.

http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3

With an early arrival you can already be in Sorrento before the ferry departs from Naples. With the new metro station across from the cruise port it's even easier to use the train. The downside of the metro to the station is that you get on at the second stop of the Circumvesuviana line, which means no chance of getting a seat. The other option is the #1 tram from the cruise port to the Porta Nolana station, the first one on the line, which increases your odds of getting a seat but there are no guarantees.

The difficulty of trying to see the Amalfi Coast on your own on a port day is getting back in time. There are few ferries between Positano and Sorrento each day few from Sorrento back to Naples. Unless you have a very late departure you'd probably need to be on the 4:25 ferry back to Naples.

Alicost has a 10:30 ferry from Sorrento to Positano but only one return, at 12 PM. It hardly seems worth it to me for just 90 minutes but you may feel differently.

There is an alternate ferry company between Sorrento and Positano but they are not publishing their route times so it's impossible to say how they might factor into your plans: http://www.coopsantandrea.com/default.asp

A more convoluted and expensive route would be to go by ferry from Naples to Capri, then from Capri to Positano. This would put you in Positano at 10:30 AM.

http://www.navlib.it/ita/linee/DettaglioLinea.asp?idli=45&datasel=26%2F08%2F2015

By "on your own" do you mean using public transport, or simply booking a private tour (not going through the ship)?

 

Because it possible to do Naples to Sorrento and Positano by public transport, but you have to keep close track of the schedules, and hope that there are not too many delays, or too many other people trying to do the same thing at the same time as you. In particular, I have seen a crowd of 100 people at the bus stop in Sorrento hoping to squeeze on to the next bus to Positano/Amalfi. And the bus never came…

 

The Naples to Sorrento part is no big deal (train or hydrofoil), but you might consider getting a private tour from Sorrento to visit the Amalfi Coast for a couple of hours.

Although I have no experience with the public transportation, I am going to agree with the suggestion to think about a private tour. We used APTours in May and I highly recommend it. They are very easy to work with and basically the car is yours for the day to do whatever you please, it's your tour. We did do the full Amalfi Coast Tour, but if you only want to go to Sorrento and Positano, you can do that. We were met at the ship and you can be brought back as well if that is what you want. We however, chose to take the Ferry back from Sorrento. Our driver even went to purchase our tickets for us so that we could spend more time walking around Sorrento before going back. Our driver, Alberto was wonderful ... very knowledgeable, funny and professional, speaking excellent English. We also felt the price was very reasonable. You might want to at least give this option some thought. We had a wonderful time. Whatever you choose, enjoy and Happy Sailing! :)

Much depends on your port time. If you have an early arrival like 7 AM you can't waste the time waiting for the ferry to Sorrento, which doesn't depart until 9 AM.

 

http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3

 

With an early arrival you can already be in Sorrento before the ferry departs from Naples. With the new metro station across from the cruise port it's even easier to use the train. The downside of the metro to the station is that you get on at the second stop of the Circumvesuviana line, which means no chance of getting a seat. The other option is the #1 tram from the cruise port to the Porta Nolana station, the first one on the line, which increases your odds of getting a seat but there are no guarantees.

Eurocruiser, could you please give details of the new Metro station near the cruise terminal? It's the first I've heard of it. We were planning to use tram no.1 to Porta Nolana & didn't know we had an alternative, apart from walking/taxi.

The new municipio station, which is on line #1, opened in June. Eventually there will be an entrance at/nearer to the cruise port but right now the entrance is at the intersection of Piazza Municipio and Via Medina.

You can see the stop on the metro map even though it hasn't been updated to reflect that the station is now open. The Duomo stop on the same line is not yet open so going from Municipio to Garibaldi/Napoli Centrale right now will mean only one stop in between at Univerista.

http://www.comune.napoli.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/16510

Thank so much! You are a wealth of information! So it looks like if that's what we want to do then a private car would almost be necessary. Maybe you have a different suggestion? I am thinking Sorrento because I heard it's good for shopping and also just wanted to visit somewhere on the Amalfi coast so picked Positano. We don't care for ruins or much sight seeing. Hoping more to explore, eat, shop, drink wine, and enjoy the views. Do you have a suggestion that might be better? TIA!

Okay, here's what I would do. First, I wouldn't worry so much about hitting Sorrento at a particular time, for two reasons. First, the shops that cater to tourists will stay open all day and, second, you can buy pretty much the same stuff in Amalfi and Positano that you'll find in Sorrento.

Arrive at 7 AM and head right for the metro to Napoli Centrale.

Take the 7:55 train to Salerno (not Sorrento). You should have plenty of time to get to the station (at most about five minutes on the metro) even if they are a bit late letting you off the ship.

Arrive Salerno at 8:34 (more likely a bit later than this, it's a commuter train and doesn't run as precisely as you'd like). Your next step is a high speed ferry at 9:40 AM so you've got time to have a cup of coffee between the station and the ferry port, which is three blocks away at Piazza Concordia, on the waterfront.

Take the 9:40 AM ferry to either Amalfi or Positano, your choice. If you can let go of Sorrento you've got time for both.

If you want to return by water you need to get to Sorrento in time for the 4:25 ferry, which will get you back hours early. There is a later crossing, at 6:45 PM that arrives at 7:30 PM but I think that's too late for you.

You could also choose to return by train from Sorrento to Naples, which gives you a lot more options regarding time and allows you to stay longer. In fact, if you plan out your day with a couple of hours at Amalfi (10:15 AM - 12:30 PM), followed by a couple of hours at Positano (1 PM - 3 PM), and then on to Sorrento you'd be there when all of the shops re-open for the evening at 4 PM so that solves that problem as well.

The section that's hard to plan is Positano to Sorrento. There is ferry service between the two but the company isn't posting a schedule on line. I would plan on having to spend the money for a taxi for this segment and be pleasantly surprised if you can take a ferry instead.

Here are the links for the transit info:

Trenitalia: http://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia.html

Ferries from Salerno to Amalfi, and Amalfi to Positano: http://www.travelmar.it/it/orari

Ferry from Positano to Sorrento (maybe if you e-mail them you can get times): http://www.coopsantandrea.com/

Ferries between Naples/Sorrento: http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3

Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples: http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/orariautomobilisti/SO-NA%20con%20Poz.pdf

I am also in the same situation. I want to go to capri and Sorrento and positano. We are two people and we were thinking to get off the ship and take the ferry to capri and spend a few hours there then take the ferry from capri to Sorrento then get a private driver to take us to positano and then later back to the ship.

Does anybody have an opinion on this itinerary?

Also, if anybody is interested in this itinerary and would like to share the private driver it would be less expensive for all of us and more convenient.

I don't feel that comfortable trying to figure out the different modes of transportation. It is not my neck of the woods and would feel better using a private driver. Maybe if I go back a second time I would feel more comfortable the next time. But I am also looking to save money because everything adds up.

If anybody is interested in sharing let me know. I will give you my e-mail address or phone number if needed.

Leslie

Although I have no experience with the public transportation, I am going to agree with the suggestion to think about a private tour. We used APTours in May and I highly recommend it. They are very easy to work with and basically the car is yours for the day to do whatever you please, it's your tour. We did do the full Amalfi Coast Tour, but if you only want to go to Sorrento and Positano, you can do that. We were met at the ship and you can be brought back as well if that is what you want. We however, chose to take the Ferry back from Sorrento. Our driver even went to purchase our tickets for us so that we could spend more time walking around Sorrento before going back. Our driver, Alberto was wonderful ... very knowledgeable, funny and professional, speaking excellent English. We also felt the price was very reasonable. You might want to at least give this option some thought. We had a wonderful time. Whatever you choose, enjoy and Happy Sailing! :)

Just returned from our cruise on the NCL Epic and taking the all-inclusive Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano tour via Joe Banana Limos. I would highly recommend them if you're considering a private tour. They have really positive reviews on TripAdvisor which helped me feel confident in choosing them before hand. Our guide Nunzio spoke excellent English and our group of 6 was escorted in a nice Mercedes van.

My GF and I DIY'ed most of the other ports and took the train, but after the nearly hour drive to Sorrento and even further to Positano, the DIY option in Naples doesn't seem as appealing. You might also miss the beautiful drive along the coastline and our guides knowledge of the area which made the drive seem shorter than it was.

Joe Bananas was very responsive via email in setting up my tour (replied within a day) and they said there was some flexibility in customizing the tour. It looks like what you're looking for is similar to this tour they provide: https://www.joebananalimos.net/local-tours/local-tours-from-naples/Sorrento-Amalfi-Coast-from-Naples

I was also able to set up a share on their site (https://italytoursharing.com/) and had 2 other couples sign up which I was able to find via the Roll Call. The benefit of the sharing option is that each party has their credit card information so if they no show, they're the ones liable for paying. Additionally, if you set up the share now, the tour will be listed on the calendar for other people to join, which will help lower your cost.

Hope that helps!

Just returned from our cruise on the NCL Epic and taking the all-inclusive Pompeii, Sorrento, Positano tour via Joe Banana Limos. I would highly recommend them if you're considering a private tour. They have really positive reviews on TripAdvisor which helped me feel confident in choosing them before hand. Our guide Nunzio spoke excellent English and our group of 6 was escorted in a nice Mercedes van.

 

My GF and I DIY'ed most of the other ports and took the train, but after the nearly hour drive to Sorrento and even further to Positano, the DIY option in Naples doesn't seem as appealing. You might also miss the beautiful drive along the coastline and our guides knowledge of the area which made the drive seem shorter than it was.

 

Joe Bananas was very responsive via email in setting up my tour (replied within a day) and they said there was some flexibility in customizing the tour. It looks like what you're looking for is similar to this tour they provide: https://www.joebananalimos.net/local-tours/local-tours-from-naples/Sorrento-Amalfi-Coast-from-Naples

 

I was also able to set up a share on their site (https://italytoursharing.com/) and had 2 other couples sign up which I was able to find via the Roll Call. The benefit of the sharing option is that each party has their credit card information so if they no show, they're the ones liable for paying. Additionally, if you set up the share now, the tour will be listed on the calendar for other people to join, which will help lower your cost.

 

Hope that helps!

I TOTALLY AGREE,,, I've done this tour with joe bananas and italytoursharing.com. My very favorite...we included the restaurant meal.

I'm going again in June and am booking again...3x same tour...must be good, lol!!

Can anyone tell me where to get the tram and where to get off the bus to arrive at Porto Nolano? Thank you in advance for any information.

Can anyone tell me where to get the tram and where to get off the bus to arrive at Porto Nolano?

You get the #1 tram (watch the front as there are two different trams that use this station and tracks) in the street in front of the cruise port (Via Cristoforo Colombo). You'll see the stop in the median in the center of the road.

Stay on the tram until the fifth stop, which will be the first one after the tram makes a left turn onto Corso Garibaldi. This stop is directly in front of the Porta Nolana station.

You are amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Euro cruiser...or anyone else willing to share ideas and information--

We will be visiting Naples in October. We have enjoyed a visit to Sorrento on a previous cruise, so would like to visit either Capri or Positano. We would rather use public transportation, so I think it is best to limit our adventure to one town.

Is there a convenient way of getting from the cruise port in Naples to Positano?

Thank you in advance! :)

Euro cruiser...or anyone else willing to share ideas and information--

We will be visiting Naples in October. We have enjoyed a visit to Sorrento on a previous cruise' date=' so would like to visit either Capri or Positano. We would rather use public transportation, so I think it is best to limit our adventure to one town.

Is there a convenient way of getting from the cruise port in Naples to Positano?

Thank you in advance! :)[/quote']

 

Getting to and from Positano is somewhat of a logistical nightmare unless you want to rent a car and drive. But going to Capri, on your own, is one of the easiest trips you can find in Italy :). It is just a short stroll from the cruise port over to the nearby "Molo Beverello" ferry terminal where you simply buy tickets on the next jetboat/hydrofoil to Capri (there are at least two different companies so it is usually best to just wait until you get to the terminal and choose whoever has the next boat). Once on Capri make sure you immediately purchase a return ticket (choose whichever boat best fits your schedule) and enjoy the island. Besides the Blue Grotto (a popular tourist trap) there is Capri Town, the more laid back Anacapri, and the chair lift from Anacapri up to the top of the mountain (amazing views for those not afraid of heights).

 

As to Positano, there are some fast ferry connections which do not always work well for cruises. It is also possible to take the train down to Sorrento and then grab the regional SITA bus to Positano...but we tend not to recommend this to folks who have not a lot of travel experience in Italy.

 

Hank

Getting to and from Positano is somewhat of a logistical nightmare unless you want to rent a car and drive. But going to Capri, on your own, is one of the easiest trips you can find in Italy :). It is just a short stroll from the cruise port over to the nearby "Molo Beverello" ferry terminal where you simply buy tickets on the next jetboat/hydrofoil to Capri (there are at least two different companies so it is usually best to just wait until you get to the terminal and choose whoever has the next boat). Once on Capri make sure you immediately purchase a return ticket (choose whichever boat best fits your schedule) and enjoy the island. Besides the Blue Grotto (a popular tourist trap) there is Capri Town, the more laid back Anacapri, and the chair lift from Anacapri up to the top of the mountain (amazing views for those not afraid of heights).

 

As to Positano, there are some fast ferry connections which do not always work well for cruises. It is also possible to take the train down to Sorrento and then grab the regional SITA bus to Positano...but we tend not to recommend this to folks who have not a lot of travel experience in Italy.

 

Hank

Hank--thank you very much for your advice and information. We have always enjoyed walking and making our own way when in port, but I realize the time constraints of a cruise can limit reasonable possibilities. I read earlier posts on this thread which spoke to the possibility of visiting Sorrento and Positano, but as much as we enjoyed Sorrento on our last visit, I feel we might be better off simply enjoying one special adventure. My husband speaks enough Italian to get us around, but I like to do a little homework. I have read wonderful things about Capri, and that sounds like it might be a simple and fun.

I really appreciate your perspective,

Caryn

hi euro_cruiser! I noticed there is no ferries during the winter from Positano to Sorrento. What would you suggest for transportation during november?

we want to travel from port of Napoli to Positano, then from Positano to Sorrento, and Sorrento to Pompeii and back to the cruise port. We will be there from 0700 to 1800 at the Naples port. We didn't plan to stay in Pompeii for long time, just want to go there and take a look and take the train back to the port.

please advise.

Okay, here's what I would do. First, I wouldn't worry so much about hitting Sorrento at a particular time, for two reasons. First, the shops that cater to tourists will stay open all day and, second, you can buy pretty much the same stuff in Amalfi and Positano that you'll find in Sorrento.

 

Arrive at 7 AM and head right for the metro to Napoli Centrale.

 

Take the 7:55 train to Salerno (not Sorrento). You should have plenty of time to get to the station (at most about five minutes on the metro) even if they are a bit late letting you off the ship.

 

Arrive Salerno at 8:34 (more likely a bit later than this, it's a commuter train and doesn't run as precisely as you'd like). Your next step is a high speed ferry at 9:40 AM so you've got time to have a cup of coffee between the station and the ferry port, which is three blocks away at Piazza Concordia, on the waterfront.

 

Take the 9:40 AM ferry to either Amalfi or Positano, your choice. If you can let go of Sorrento you've got time for both.

 

If you want to return by water you need to get to Sorrento in time for the 4:25 ferry, which will get you back hours early. There is a later crossing, at 6:45 PM that arrives at 7:30 PM but I think that's too late for you.

 

You could also choose to return by train from Sorrento to Naples, which gives you a lot more options regarding time and allows you to stay longer. In fact, if you plan out your day with a couple of hours at Amalfi (10:15 AM - 12:30 PM), followed by a couple of hours at Positano (1 PM - 3 PM), and then on to Sorrento you'd be there when all of the shops re-open for the evening at 4 PM so that solves that problem as well.

 

The section that's hard to plan is Positano to Sorrento. There is ferry service between the two but the company isn't posting a schedule on line. I would plan on having to spend the money for a taxi for this segment and be pleasantly surprised if you can take a ferry instead.

 

Here are the links for the transit info:

 

Trenitalia: http://www.trenitalia.com/trenitalia.html

 

Ferries from Salerno to Amalfi, and Amalfi to Positano: http://www.travelmar.it/it/orari

 

Ferry from Positano to Sorrento (maybe if you e-mail them you can get times): http://www.coopsantandrea.com/

 

Ferries between Naples/Sorrento: http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3

 

Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples: http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/orariautomobilisti/SO-NA%20con%20Poz.pdf

hi euro_cruiser! I noticed there is no ferries during the winter from Positano to Sorrento. What would you suggest for transportation during november?

 

we want to travel from port of Napoli to Positano, then from Positano to Sorrento, and Sorrento to Pompeii and back to the cruise port. We will be there from 0700 to 1800 at the Naples port. We didn't plan to stay in Pompeii for long time, just want to go there and take a look and take the train back to the port.

You simply cannot do all of this using public transit within the confines of a port day, unless you just go to each stop but don't get off the train/bus.

Okay, that's an overstatement but I'm trying to make a point. It's just too much.

The transit between Sorrento and Positano is the biggest time hog, it's an hour each way plus the time you wait for a bus. If you drop Positano you can easily see the others, or else drop Pompei. Dropping Sorrento doesn't really buy you much time.

thanks euro cruiser for your reply. What if we give up pompeii? is it better to travel from port to salerno then take the SITA bus to positano and sorrento, OR travel from port to sorrento then take the SITA bus to positano and back to sorrento?

it is my first time going to naples, and I have been reading comments for positano over sorrento. What would you suggest? Should I give up positano? my main interest is the pastel houses on the amalfi coast, where would be the best place to view that?

thanks a lot!

You simply cannot do all of this using public transit within the confines of a port day, unless you just go to each stop but don't get off the train/bus.

 

Okay, that's an overstatement but I'm trying to make a point. It's just too much.

 

The transit between Sorrento and Positano is the biggest time hog, it's an hour each way plus the time you wait for a bus. If you drop Positano you can easily see the others, or else drop Pompei. Dropping Sorrento doesn't really buy you much time.

What if we give up pompeii? is it better to travel from port to salerno then take the SITA bus to positano and sorrento, OR travel from port to sorrento then take the SITA bus to positano and back to sorrento?

 

it is my first time going to naples, and I have been reading comments for positano over sorrento. What would you suggest? Should I give up positano? my main interest is the pastel houses on the amalfi coast, where would be the best place to view that?

It sounds like the Amalfi Coast is really what you want to see. In that case I would do as you suggest and take the train from Naples to Salerno (Trenitalia, not the Circumvesuviana), then the SITA bus from Salerno to Amalfi. At that point you can choose either the SITA bus from Amalfi to Positano, or the City Sightseeing "Coast to Coast" bus. The later is more expensive but you're much more likely to get a seat. More info on that here: http://www.sorrento.city-sightseeing.it/mappa_coast_to_coast.pdf

I suspect that Positano is what you are looking for regarding the houses but there are several lovely towns along the coast and the bus ride gives you at least a glimpse of each of them (except Ravello, which is up above the coast).

So, with a 7 AM arrival I would walk out of the port and head to the new Municipio metro station, where you would take the metro to Garibaldi, the stop for Napoli Centrale station. I would shoot for the 7:55 train to Salerno (ignore the 7:41, it actually gets there later) as you'll probably not get off the ship fast enough to make the 7:25. That puts you in Salerno at 8:34, plenty of time to have a coffee before the next SITA bus departure at 9 AM (schedule here: http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/archivio/Download/corse/sitasud/Campania/Salerno/d76a3fe2-3fda-4ccb-af45-45aaeeb18906_QUADROXV_2015_AUTUNNO_5.pdf/0), putting you in Amalfi at 10:15 AM.

The trickiest part of the return is the Positano to Sorrento section. Even in the off season the public buses are sometimes so full they won't take on any new passengers, which is why the HOHO bus might be a good alternative even at the higher cost. Certainly there are always taxis as a fall back option if you get in trouble but it would be a costly ride.

For a 6 PM departure you'd need to be on the 4:25 PM ferry from Sorrento back to Naples. This is a far more comfortable way to get back than the train and it's faster too. Info on the ferry here: http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3

hi euro_cruiser,

I really appreciate your information. we are going to be in Naples in mid November, and I checked the coast to coast bus schedule, and seems like they are only operating until Oct 31, is that correct? does that mean we will have no choice but to take the SITA bus?

when we arrive in Positano, where is the best place to view the pastel houses on the coast? or where should we go to get the best views of Positano?

thanks a lot!

It sounds like the Amalfi Coast is really what you want to see. In that case I would do as you suggest and take the train from Naples to Salerno (Trenitalia, not the Circumvesuviana), then the SITA bus from Salerno to Amalfi. At that point you can choose either the SITA bus from Amalfi to Positano, or the City Sightseeing "Coast to Coast" bus. The later is more expensive but you're much more likely to get a seat. More info on that here: http://www.sorrento.city-sightseeing.it/mappa_coast_to_coast.pdf

 

I suspect that Positano is what you are looking for regarding the houses but there are several lovely towns along the coast and the bus ride gives you at least a glimpse of each of them (except Ravello, which is up above the coast).

 

So, with a 7 AM arrival I would walk out of the port and head to the new Municipio metro station, where you would take the metro to Garibaldi, the stop for Napoli Centrale station. I would shoot for the 7:55 train to Salerno (ignore the 7:41, it actually gets there later) as you'll probably not get off the ship fast enough to make the 7:25. That puts you in Salerno at 8:34, plenty of time to have a coffee before the next SITA bus departure at 9 AM (schedule here: http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/archivio/Download/corse/sitasud/Campania/Salerno/d76a3fe2-3fda-4ccb-af45-45aaeeb18906_QUADROXV_2015_AUTUNNO_5.pdf/0), putting you in Amalfi at 10:15 AM.

 

The trickiest part of the return is the Positano to Sorrento section. Even in the off season the public buses are sometimes so full they won't take on any new passengers, which is why the HOHO bus might be a good alternative even at the higher cost. Certainly there are always taxis as a fall back option if you get in trouble but it would be a costly ride.

 

For a 6 PM departure you'd need to be on the 4:25 PM ferry from Sorrento back to Naples. This is a far more comfortable way to get back than the train and it's faster too. Info on the ferry here: http://www.alilauro.it/orari-e-tariffe?route_group_id=3