Positano to Naples in late June -- please advise
 

So I know about taking the train from Sorrento to Pompeii (30 min, i've read here), but am debating whether to take a BOAT or BUS from Positano to Sorrento.

I would really appreciate comments on the difference in ease, time, and cost of the two options.

Also -
--If we leave in the morning, would the traffic going towards Sorrento be as bad, as the traffic coming towards Sorrento?
(I'm from L.A. where the traffic is bad, so i'm sorry to over analyze)
--does the bus go directly to the train station? I think the ferry does not.

Thanks!!
dina

The traffic is not like LA because it's not multi-lane highways. The road is so narrow that at many spots where cars/buses meet someone has to back up for the other to get by. Even to make it around some of the curves, buses must back up and turn several times to manuever around the curve. This slows everyone down.

The docks in Sorrento are way below the actual town which is up on the cliffs. The Bellevue Syrene's website has a picture which shows the hotel and some docks below to give you an idea. The Bellevue is in a lower part of town than the train station.
http://www.bellevue.it/

Here's picture's of Marina Grande and Marina Piccola.
http://www.capriweb.com/Sorrento/MarinaGrande
http://www.capriweb.com/Sorrento/MarinaPiccola

Hi Dina - For POMPEII from Positano it's MUCH quicker (- and cheaper) by bus/train than ferry/train.

From Positano take the SITA Sorrento bus to META (- 25 mins).

Meta is the nearest railway station to Positano on the Circumvesuviana line. The bus stops at Meta station.
http://www.supermappe.com/campania/meta.html

From META it's 25 mins by train to Pompeii Scavi.

This is the quickest option on the outward journey.


N.B. On the return journey to Positano, however, it's advisable to take the train from Pompeii back to SORRENTO (- rather than changing at Meta) - to guarantee yourself a seat on the Positano bus.

[Positano buses often leave Sorrento full (- so for anyone boarding at Meta it's standing room only :( ]

Get bus tickets in advance - and VALIDATE on boarding.

.....

For NAPLES from Positano you can take the same bus/train route via Meta.

Alternatively in high season there is an occasional Positano-Naples hydrofoil service.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. If you're planning to spend time in Sorrento on the return leg to Positano ... you COULD take the ferry/hydrofoil back from Sorrento.

Check departure times in advance (- services are not very frequent).

Steve

dina4-
Your question is an excellent one. As someone who used to live in LA myself, I know you have very sophisticated Traffic awareness!

The fact is, traffic in the morning go INTO Sorrento from the Amalfi Coast is much lighter than traffic in the other direction, though you will have one or two "chicane" or tight z-shaped turns in Positano where there could be a wait while tour buses "thread the needle" (as kybourbon posted) and hold up cars in both directions for a bit. Then traffic gets heavy going into Sorrento in the afternoon "Rush hour".

Steve_James )as usual gives good advice, in that if you take the SITA bus and get off at META, you can catch the circumsuviana to Pompeii there, saving lots of time.

Return to Positano (depending on when you finish at Pompeii) would be easy to do by ferry/hydrofoil from Sorrento.

boorkkma

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Someone posted this video of driving the Amalfi coast on another thread. It doesn't seen to have been filmed during a very busy time though. About 1 minute in the road starts to narrow and the end in Sorrento will be more typical on the coast roads with the vespas zigzagging in and out.
http://www.travelistic.com/video/sho...i-Coast,-Italy

Thank you SO much for your responses. I have been so swamped the last few days, I haven't even had time to read them. Looking forward to doing so later tonight.

thanks again!
dina

"Get bus tickets in advance" -- how and when do we get bus tickets in advance for the Sorrento -> Positano bus?

what is the cost difference compared to the bus?

thanks!

Dina - Are you staying in Positano?

If yes, you can buy bus tickets for both outward and return journeys to Sorrento at newsagents and bars in Positano displaying the SITA sign.

The newsagents shop at the entrance to Sorrento railway station also sells Sita tickets.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Yes, we're staying in Positano. Thanks. (again!!)

bkmk

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