jazzy_22

I am staying in Sorrento for a week starting 29th May, doing various day trips. Is it worth doing a day trip to Rome, I've never been before? I think I could get the train to Naples, then another train to Rome. Has anyone got the website links for the train timetables? I think there is a slower and faster train to Naples from Sorrento, but can't find out the times.

bobthenavigator

It is not easy, and will take about 6 hours of travel time RT.

The local commuter train runs often from Sorrento to Naples and takes just over an hour. Then, fast trains run hourly to Rome and take less than 2 hours. That may give you as much as 6 hours in Rome before you need to head back. Your call !

greg

Do you suddenly materialize in Sorrento and leaving home from Sorrento without going somewhere else?

If you are coming from the North or heading back to North to go home, try to configure your itinerary to visit Rome. It is quite a chore to do Rome as a day trip from Sorrento.

Napoli-Rome train schedule is at www.trenitalia.com.
Sorrento-Napoli train schedule is at http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/defau...oviario/Cy.pdf and http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/defau...oviario/Cx.pdf

bobthenavigator

Correction !
It is the IC slower trains that take 2 hours---the fast trains take only 1:10 each way. Still a 5 hour travel schedule RT by the time you get to and from the stations.

jazzy_22

Thanks for the responses. Yes I will just be flying straight from the UK to Naples, staying in Sorrento for a week. Just wondered whether it was a possible day trip. Guess it depends how much time we want to spend on the train. Are the popular tourist spots in Rome all within walking distance of each other, central to the train station?

PalenQ

If you will never be in Italy again then hop on the chance to see Rome at least for a few hours - head to the Roman Forum/Colosseum area first then to the center of Rome - Piazza Navona, Spanish Steps or the Vatican though you do not have time to take a tour thru the Vatican Museums.

Can't you schedule at least an overnight in Rome or as Greg asks - where are you flying out of or into - Naples I assume but perhaps that could be changed to Rome?

Buy tickets for the fastest trains way in advance - like NOW to nap nifty discounts but those are non-changeble non-refundable I believe and as sold in limited numbers on each train must be booked in stone NOW to guarantee - but savings can be huge.

www.seat61.com is a great source of info about Italian trains and using www.trenitalai.com - some folks find that site frsutrating and bulking at times but www.italiarail.com - powered by Trenitalia it says has it seems very simlar fares and as it is in the U.S. easy to deal with with American credit cards (also saves the oft 3% c card exchange fee) - for general info on Italian trains - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com - tjhe CircumVesuviana commuter train Sorrento-Pompeii Scavi (right at the entrance to the ruined city of Pompeii) - Naples is dirt cheap and cannot or should not be bought ahead of time - flat fare regardless of when you go - just buy from machines at Sorrento's station or ticket windows - transfer at Naples Central station to the Trenitalia system.

jazzy_22

Thanks. I'll take a look at the train websites and see how the journey looks, how long the day might be! I'm just flying in and out of Naples, so don't have the option of having an overnight in Rome at start/end of trip.

greg

Are tourist spots within walking distance from the Rome Termini station? It depends on what is a walking distance to you. Vatican is over 4 km and Colosseum is about 2 km. What would consume what little time you have would be visiting popular sites without tickets already in hand. If you just walk up to the Colosseum, it would chew up a lot of your time waiting in the ticket queue.

Blueeyedcod

Don't be put off. This is an easily accomplished day - after all many people do the reverse, coming from Rome to visit Pompeii for the day and returning.
You could get the first train out of Sorrento at 6am - will get you to Naples at 7am. Head upstairs and take the high speed train to Rome. There is a service at 7.30am which gets you to Roma Termini at 8.40am.

From there, hop on the Rome metro to Spagna stop and you'll be at the Spanish Steps. I would just spend your day walking around the historic centre and seeing the Colosseum from the outside (forget tours, you don't have enough time). You can walk from the Spanish Steps down through the historic centre, all the way to St. Peter's, passing the Trevi Fountain, the Pantheon and Piazza Navona on your way. It will be a beautiful day - stop in a quiet piazza for lunch somewhere and just marvel at Rome. when you get to St. Peter's, take a taxi to the Colosseum and walk around the outside, see the Arch of Constantine which is right beside it. Then hop on the metro at Colosseo stop and get off at Termini for your journey back to Naples/Sorrento.

It's easily done and a really rewarding day. Just take it easy.

isabel

I totally second what blueeyedcod above just said. There is much to see in Rome without going "into" anything. The Pantheon is free and easy to just pop into (and very worthwhile). The squares, the fountains, the Colosseum - all great and no waiting on lines, etc. The route he described is exactly what I was going to suggest except that I would add that while you are in the area of the Colosseum go up to the Campidogio for wonderful views down into the Forum (almost as good as being in it). I would actually walk back to Termini rather than take the metro unless you are completely tired or out of time.

For the trip from Sorrento TO Rome, just be aware that the commuter train you will be taking from Sorrento to Naples normally takes an hour and about 10 minutes, but it is often late so don't cut it too close if you have purchased the discount tickets from Naples to Rome. Total time on the trains will be less than an hour and a half each way, but you do have to allow for a bit of delay.

I would do it if you don't think you'll get another chance to go to Rome in the near future.

sandralist

If you mainly want to see famous sights, you might take a look at websites or books that specialize in advising people who arrive on cruise ships about how to conquer Rome in a day (just kidding). But most people arriving on cruise ships have less time than you will in the city.

That said, I would also do some research to focus on 1 or 2 things that might mean a lot for you to see, and then don't rush those. And don't feel obliged to make it a famous sight. Just make it a personal one.

I wouldn't spend any time on the metro. You won't see anything, and you will be on trains long enough. When you arrive in Rome, maybe the thing to do is grab a taxi and go to your furthest point, and work your way back to Termini. Wear comfortable shoes and eat as you go!

I also wouldn't schedule an overnight because you don't want to go if it rains. If you have only one day in Rome, make it a sunny one.

sandralist

(One other thing -- everybody is different, but I would not get up at 5am to go to start catching trains to go to Rome. If you arrive in Rome by 11am and keep at it until 7pm or a bit later, you will see a lot and enjoy it.

sandralist

Just did a quick google search for "what+to+do+if+you+only+have+one+day+in+rome" and got a ton of hits

Blueeyedcod

The metro in Rome IMHO is a good idea as lines for taxis at Termini - especially in peak hour when you will arrive - are sometimes up to a 20 minute wait - plus time sitting in Rome's traffic if/when you eventually get that cab.
Staying in Rome until 7pm means getting back to Naples at around 8.30-9.00pm and then joining the Circumvesuviana at a late hour. The last train for Sorrento leaves Naples at 9.40pm and gets to Sorrento at 10.45pm so if you do stay late you will have to factor in this connection and determine if you feel comfortable catching trains this late.

isabel

In my post above there's a typo - I meant you will spend less than Two and a half hours on trains each way, not one and a half.

WWK

Since you're landing in Naples, have you thought about taking the fast train to Rome ( 70 min) and overnighting there? It would cut out the backtracking Sorrento-Naples-Rome.

You could then do the trip in reverse, and take the commuter train or private transfer back to Sorrento for the rest of your stay.

jazzy_22

Thanks. We land in the evening, and already have the hotel booked for 7 nights in Sorrento. Thanks for the info and advice. I appreciate it's cheaper to book the Naples-Rome train in advance, but I think maybe we'll just leave it open and decide during the week when we're there.

PalenQ

full fares are not going to break your bank and will give you the flexibility about not having to pay for a train ticket you may not end up taking.

IC trains are slower but much cheaper I think on a walk-up basis.