Hydro-foil Naples to Sorrento
 

Is taking the hydro-foil the best way to get from Naples train station(taxi to Port)to Sorrento, rather than train? I have been trying to find a schedule.

AS you'll be already at the train station (Napoli Centrale I suppose), I would take the circumvesuviana train that connects Naples to Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana station is below Centrale (follow the signs). The ride takes about 1 hour.

http://www.vesuviana.it/infoeng.htm

Train would be quicker as they leave every 20 mins or so from Naples train station - hydrofoil port is quite a ways away from the train station. Plus a quick look at schedules fails to show any Naples-Sorrento direct boats - ones i see go via Capri or Ischia so would be much longer.

I will be on a cruise - someone told me we can walk across the port in about 5 minutes and grab the hydrofoil to Sorrento - does anyone know if it is really this easy - have you done it and if so any advice would be appreciated. I will beo on the Carnival Liberty. Thanks!

Again looking at the Thomas Cook timetable of boat services in the Golf of Naples it shows only Naples-Capri and Capri-Sorrento but as there are many sailings a day on both routes should be a snap and the most scenic and effortless way to go if you are already at the port!

To answer sbailey's question, taking the Circumvesuviana train at the Napoli centrale station is the best bet. Costs under 2 euros for the 50 min ride into Sorrento. It is too much trouble to trty to take a taxi from the train station down to the port, then onto a boat, to Sorrento. Plus at arrival in Sorrento, you will be down at the port and need to either walk up or take a bus into the main part of town. Not convenient at all - train is better bet.

flycatcher06, if on a cruise already in the Naples bay, you can just walk over to Molo Beverello to take the boat to Sorrento. I do not know exactly where the Carnival Liberty docks, but will presume it is in that same area. Regardless, you can walk along the waterfront to Molo Beverello. I have done this numerous times, it is very easy to find - the boat company names are posted across the ticket office fronts and visible when you approach the area.

Boats in the Golfo di Napoli are run by various firms, some of which are also grouped into consortiums.
Alilauro (www.alilauro.it) advertises fast craft from Napoli Molo Beverello to Sorrento at 0900, 1100, 1305, 1500, 1715, 1930 and 2105. The same services are advertised by LMP (www.consorziolmp.it) with an additional service at 1835.
The only way to check is to ask at the ticket offices at the port. If you're at Napoli Centrale, the Circumvesuviana trains offer a much more frequent and convenient service to Sorrento.

We greatly enjoyed taking the hydrofoil from Sorrento to Naples and back. That was during the summer a few years ago.

The boats went direct and left fairly often. I can't remember how long the trip took but it wasn't too long and the scenery is spectacular.

Since you'll be at the port already, it is probably the most convenient and pleasant way to go.

cw

We just got back from our first trip to Italy and took a taxi from the Naples train station to the port, then the hydrofoil from Naples to Positano. We had no trouble. I think both options are relatively easy so it depends on what is most convenient for you. If you are already at the train station it would be easiest to just hop onto another train from there and head to Sorrento. If you are at the port, catch the hydrofoil. Some things to consider...the train is less expensive than the hydrofoil, but the hydrofoil can be quicker with less stops than the train. If you get sea sick, stick to the train. Another suggestion if you want to take the hydrofoil...check to make sure that they are actually running that day. If you are coming from the train station, check the information kiosk and ask them to verify that the hydrofoils are still running that day before you take the taxi over to the port. This way you don't waste your time. If you're already at the port and the hydrofoils aren't running, it's a quick taxi ride to the train station.

On another note, if you're on a cruise be careful! We ran into a couple that took the hydrofoil from Naples to Sorrento and then they missed the hydrofoil back to Naples so they tried to catch a bus back, but got on the bus to Positano instead. The hydrofoil service they used didn't have a return trip back despite what their printed schedule said. Make sure to verbally confirm the return trip back to Naples so you don't miss the ship! Or make sure you have a train schedule as a backup plan!

thanks for taking the time. seems like the train is the more convenient.

thank you - i thought it ws pretty easy from the port! Last year i did get seasick and i do not usually from Sorrento to Naples. I was surprised at the roughness of the ocean. Thanks alot! Debbie