Planning a Trip

Getting There

Sorrento is connected to most other destinations in the region by the Circumvesuviana railway (tel. 800-053939; www.vesuviana.it), and the ride takes about 50 minutes from Naples. SITA (tel. 081-5522176; www.sitabus.it) offers frequent bus service to Sorrento from Naples, Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno. Curreri Viaggi (tel. 081-8015420; www.curreriviaggi.it) maintains routes from Naples's Capodichino Airport, as well as from Rome and Naples, with stops in Castellammare di Stabia, Vico Equense, Meta, Piano di Sorrento, and Sant'Agnello. The ride to Sorrento from Naples takes about 1 hour and costs 10€; from Rome it is about 3 1/2 hours and costs 16€ (for more information on fares, see "The Unico Travel Pass). Marozzi (tel. 06-44249519; www.marozzivt.it) has daily connections from Rome to Sorrento with stops in Naples, Pompeii, Castellammare di Stabia, and Vico Equense.

In summer, ferries and hydrofoils are a pleasant way to travel. LMP-Linee Marittime Partenopee (tel. 081-55513236; www.consorziolmp.it), NLG-Navigazione Libera del Golfo (tel. 081-5527209; www.navlib.it), and Linee Lauro (tel. 081-5522838; www.alilauro.it) make daily runs to and from Naples, Ischia, and Capri. Caremar (tel. 081-5513882; www.caremar.it) also serves Capri; and Volaviamare (tel. 081-4972211; www.volaviamare.it) makes runs from Amalfi and Positano. Metrò del Mare, at the Marina Piccola downtown (tel. 199-446644; www.metrodelmare.com), is a summer-only commuter ferry serving the whole coast between Salerno and Bacoli.

Taxis offer a flat rate of 100€ to Sorrento from Naples, and car service can be arranged in advance with 2golfi, Via Deserto 30/e, 80064 Sant'Agata sui due Golfi (tel. 339-8307748 or 339-3494479; www.duegolficarservice.com). Curreri Viaggi offers a shuttle service (80€ for the first three passengers, 10€ each additional passenger).

By car, take the exit for CASTELLAMMARE DI STABIA off autostrada A3, and then follow signs for VICO EQUENSE, META DI SORRENTO, and SORRENTO; these will lead you to route SS 145, the Sorrento peninsula's coastal road.

Getting Around

The Circumvesuviana railway is convenient, as are ferries to harbors along the coast. Another option is to rent a boat or join a tour group.

Taxi stands are at the harbor (tel. 081-8783527), on Piazza Tasso (tel. 081-8782204), and in the adjacent village of Sant'Agnello (tel. 081-8781428).

Car-rental companies in town include De Martino, Via Parsano 8 (tel. 081 8782801; www.autoservizidemartino.com), which also provides car service and rents boats and motor scooters. You can rent a motor scooter at Penisola Rent, Corso Italia 257 (tel. 081-8774664; www.penisolarent.com), which also rents cars; and at Sorrento Car Service/Rent a Scooter, Corso Italia 210 (tel. 081-8781386; www.sorrento.it). For bicycle rental, head to Reaction Retail, Viale Nizza 58 (tel. 081-8770613; www.emporiobici.com).

Visitor Information

The AASCT tourist office (tel. 081-8074033; fax 081-8773397; www.sorrentotourism.com) is at Via Luigi De Maio 35, off Piazza Tasso. It's open Monday to Saturday from 9am to 6pm; in July and August it's also open Sunday from 9am to 12:30pm. Besides a good city map, it carries copies of the excellent free magazine Sorrentum.

Fast Facts -- You'll find a pharmacy (tel. 081-8781226) on Corso Italia 131. The hospital (tel. 081-5331111) is on Corso Italia 1. For an ambulance, dial tel. 118. You can call the police at tel. 112, 113, or 081-8075311; and you can reach the fire department at tel. 115. You will find several ATMs in town; one is at the Deutsche Bank, Piazza Angelina Lauro 22. The post office (tel. 081-8781495) is at Corso Italia 210; it's open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 8am to 12:30pm. For Internet access, go to Sorrento info, Via Tasso 19 (tel. 081-8074000).