Naples to Sorrento Ferry

The Naples to Sorrento ferry is a 40-minute high speed ferry crossing from Molo Beverello, the ferry pier in central Naples, to Marina Piccola, the port of Sorrento. Two companies run it: Alilauro, with five or six boats a day in summer at €16, and NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo), with two a day at €20.50. In late September 2026 the first boat left Naples at 09:00 and the last at 18:25, or 19:30 on Fridays, weekends and holidays. The one thing a first-timer should know: the ferry is the pleasant way to travel from Naples to Sorrento, but it is not the frequent way. The Circumvesuviana train runs roughly every 30 minutes for about €5, and in winter it is often the only practical option.

Ferry options compared

Every sailing on this route is operated by a passenger-only high speed ferry or hydrofoil. There are no conventional car ferries, no cabins and no vehicle deck. The crossing covers about 14 nautical miles across the Bay of Naples, with Mount Vesuvius behind you and the cliffs of the Sorrentine Peninsula ahead.

• Alilauro. The main ferry operator on the route. In summer 2026 its high speed ferry left Naples Beverello at 09:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:05 and 17:15, plus 19:30 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The crossing is timetabled at 40 minutes and the adult fare was €16, the cheapest on the route. Luggage allowance: one bag up to 50×35×20 cm and 9 kg.
• NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo). Two daily departures, at 10:00 and 18:25, until 3 November 2026. Direct Ferries lists NLG as the fastest ferry at 35 minutes. The fare was €20.50. NLG's luggage allowance is tighter: one piece up to 50×30×15 cm and 5 kg.
• Others. Ferryhopper also lists Positano Jet on the route, and a Lucibello boat ran from Sorrento to Naples on Tuesdays to Thursdays in September 2026. Neither is a daily option.

For most people the choice is simply the departure that fits. Alilauro is cheaper and more frequent. NLG fills the 10:00 gap and gives a later evening boat on weekdays.

Ferry or train from Naples to Sorrento

Most travellers weigh the Naples to Sorrento ferry against the train. Here is how they compare.

• Circumvesuviana train. Run by EAV from Napoli Porta Nolana and Napoli Garibaldi (under Napoli Centrale station) to Sorrento. The trip takes about 70–75 minutes, with more than 30 stops including Ercolano and Pompei. Trains run roughly every 30 minutes, from about 05:40 to about 22:10. A single ticket costs about €5; sources in 2026 quote €4.60 to €5. It is a commuter train, not a tourist train: no air conditioning, no dedicated luggage space, and it is often crowded at peak times. The Garibaldi platforms have no lift.
• Campania Express. EAV's tourist train with reserved seats and luggage space cost €15 one way between Naples and Sorrento. EAV has suspended it from 1 October 2026 until further notice, so don't count on it for autumn or winter travel.
• Ferry. The journey is faster, calmer and far more comfortable with a suitcase, at three to four times the price of the train. Taking the boat also means you arrive at the Sorrento port, a short bus or taxi ride below the town center.

A good rule: take the ferry if you land in Naples by day with luggage, or if the timing fits. Take the train if you travel early or late, in winter, or on a tight budget. Many people take the train one way and the boat the other.

Timetable and season

The ferry from Naples to Sorrento is seasonal in practice. Ferryhopper counts up to 8 departures a day in high season and about 5 at other times. Direct Ferries counted 33 sailings a week in September 2026.

In late September 2026, the departures from Naples Beverello were 09:00, 10:00, 11:00, 13:00, 15:05, 17:15 and 18:25, with a 19:30 Alilauro boat on Friday to Sunday and holidays. In the other direction, boats left Sorrento at 07:20 (NLG), 08:15, 10:00, 12:00, 14:00 and 16:25 (Alilauro), 17:00 (NLG) and 18:45 (Alilauro, Friday to Sunday).

In winter the service shrinks sharply. In winter 2025–26, NLG ran only on Saturdays and Sundays, at 10:00 and 17:00, for €18.50. Alilauro's daily departures are listed as a summer schedule. Expect the full timetable to return around Easter, and check before you book a hotel around a boat.

Very rough seas cancel the high speed ferry services at short notice, and there is no slower ship to fall back on. If the wind is up, the train is your backup.

Getting to Molo Beverello in Naples

Molo Beverello is the passenger pier in the port area opposite Castel Nuovo and Piazza Municipio, a short walk from the historic center. The hydrofoils and high speed ferry routes to Sorrento, Capri and Ischia all leave from Naples Beverello. Each company has its own ticket office in the terminal area.

• Metro: Metro Line 1 to Municipio, then a five-minute walk to the pier.
• From Naples airport: the Alibus runs to Molo Beverello (via Piazza Garibaldi and Porta di Massa) every 15–25 minutes from about 05:30 to midnight. The ticket costs €5 and the ride to the port takes about 30 minutes. A taxi has a fixed fare of €24 from the airport to the port; ask for the tariffa predeterminata when you get in. A shared taxi costs €6 per person.
• From Napoli Centrale: take Metro Line 1 from Garibaldi to Municipio, or the Alibus from Piazza Garibaldi.
• Taxi in the city: Naples traffic is slow around the port. Allow extra time for a taxi ride from the centro storico or Chiaia.

Arrive at least 30–45 minutes before departure in summer. Ferryhopper recommends 45 minutes in high season, because queues at the ticket office and boarding gate move slowly when several boats leave at once. Don't confuse Molo Beverello with Calata Porta di Massa, about 500 metres east. Porta di Massa handles car ferries and slower ferries, and no Sorrento boat leaves from there.

Arriving in Sorrento

The boat docks at Marina Piccola, the Sorrento port below the town. The town center sits on the clifftop above.

• To Piazza Tasso: walk 10–15 minutes up steps and road, take the local bus up to the main square, or use the lift in the Villa Comunale park.
• Onward to Capri: Marina Piccola is also the Capri pier. More than 30 boats a day make the 20–30 minute crossing in summer. See Sorrento to Capri ferry.
• Onward to the Amalfi Coast: Sorrento is the usual base for day trips to Positano and Amalfi. For boats that go directly from Naples, see Naples to Positano ferry and Naples to Amalfi ferry.

With heavy luggage and a hotel up in town, a taxi from the port is worth the cost.

Tickets and prices

You can book Sorrento ferry tickets online on the operators' sites (Alilauro and NLG) or through Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries, or buy them at the ticket office at Molo Beverello. Check your booking confirmation to see whether the operator wants the e-ticket shown on your phone or exchanged for a boarding pass at its window.

Ticket prices on the Naples to Sorrento route in summer 2026 were €16 with Alilauro and €20.50 with NLG, one way per adult. Children get discounts and small pets pay about €5. Extra luggage beyond the free allowance (one bag of 9 kg with Alilauro, 5 kg with NLG) costs extra.

When to book: Ferryhopper advises booking 2–4 weeks ahead for July and August. With only six to eight boats a day, the popular late-morning and early-evening departures sell out on summer weekends. Outside high season you can usually buy tickets at the port.

Tips

• Check the day of the week. The 19:30 from Naples and the 18:45 from Sorrento run only on Fridays, weekends and holidays in the 2026 timetable.
• Have a plan B. If a sailing is cancelled for weather, walk to Municipio, take Metro Line 1 to Garibaldi and catch the Circumvesuviana. It costs about €5 and gets you there in about 75 minutes.
• Look back at Vesuvius. Heading south from Naples the volcano is on the left side of the boat, and the Sorrentine Peninsula fills the view ahead.
• Pack light. Cabin space is limited. A 50×35×20 cm, 9 kg bag travels free with Alilauro. Bigger suitcases are charged and stacked by the door.
• Combine routes. Naples to Sorrento by ferry and Sorrento to Capri the next morning is an easy two-day plan. For the bigger picture, see our Bay of Naples ferries guide, the Naples ferry port page and the Alilauro operator page.