Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Posted 9 years ago
Hiya, I've had a quick search but can't find the answer I'm looking for so thought I should start a new topic.
I'm looking at doing something close to the above this summer. My main issue is getting from Barcelona to Naples/Sorrento. I see there's a ferry which takes the best part of 24 hours, but I want to consider other options really.
I was thinking around three nights in each, and mostly traveling by train (ferry from Ancona to Split I assume is the best option to get from Italy to Croatia).
Any help or advice would be warmly appreciated. It was thanks to here I ended up passing through Lake Bled a couple of years ago, and it was such a wonderful place that I'd never have considered otherwise.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
The ferry from Barcelona to Civitavecchia is certainly your best option - travelling along the coast by train will take considerably longer and you will have to include at least one overnight stop.
Civitavecchia - Naples is quite easy then, there is a number of direct IC trains which are about 30€ bought on the spot and even cheaper when bought in advance. From Napoli you can travel with Circumvesuviana local trains to Sorrento.
Split - Dubrovnik would be by bus then.
Flo 8)
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Thanks a lot Flow. If I were to do the route outlined in the title, would I be best getting an inter-rail pass? I don't know if a 5 in 10 pass would be best or buying train and ferry tickets separately.
Also, if I did get a railpass would I be able to use it on the ferries, and how much extra would they cost?
Thanks.
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
A rail pass doesnt make much sense as you would only use three train travel days:
Madrid - Barcelona: Buy at [ux]https://rail.shop/omio/[/ux]
Civitavecchia - Napoli and Napoli - Ancona: Buy at [ux]https://rail.shop/omio[/ux] or [ux]https://rail.shop/acprail/trenitalia[/ux]
Ferries: [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-ferry/ancona-split/37[/u] and [u]https://rail.cc/en/interrail-ferry/barcelona-civitavecchia/23[/u]
Napoli - Sorrento is by Circumvesuviana, Interrail not valid. Buy tickets locally. You can also travel with Trenitalia regional trains as far as Castellamare and change here to Circumvesuviana - this might be faster but you have to change between stations.
Split - Dubvronik is by bus; buy tickets locally at the bus station
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Thanks Flo, that's great. Would I not be able to use an inter-rail pass on the ferries then?
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
No, you would just get a discount on the Barcelona - Civitavecchia ferry, not on Ancona - Split. Just have a look at the links I posted. :)
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Thanks again.
After looking at my options I was thinking a different route might be better. The Barcelona to Civitavecchia ferry is 20 hours overnight, and then a long journey down to Sorrento meaning I would arrive in the early hours of the morning, which is not very practical.
So instead I was thinking perhaps a train from Barcelona to Marseille, two nights in Marseille, then a train to Milan and two nights there. From Milan I could get the train to Naples and down to Sorrento. Does that sound better? If there are any recommendations you can make that would be great.
Also, if this become my route would it then be more practical to get an Inter-rail pass?
Madrid-Barcelona-Marseille-Milan-Sorrento-Split-Dubrovnik.
I would probably get a five in ten and use it to get to Barcelona, Marseille, Milan, Sorrento and Ancona (on my way to Split) if possible. Then just pay for the journey from Split to Dubrovnik and the ferry from Ancona to Split. I'm not sure if this makes the most sense, any advice is greatly appreciated.
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Now I'm thinking perhaps another option might be better. If I get the ferry as planned to Civitavecchia, I could then get the train to Rome and stay in Rome for a couple of nights before heading down to Sorrento.
If I were to get a 5 in 10 days rail pass I could use it on the following:
Madrid to Barcelona
Barcelona to Civitavecchia (I believe you said their was a discount on the ferry?)
Civitavecchia to Rome
Rome to Sorrento
Sorrento to Ancona to Split
If I activate the railpass when I leave Madrid for Barcelona on the 24th July, I believe the final day to use it would be the 2nd, when I plan on traveling to Split.
Again, I may have got something wrong here so any help is appreciated.
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
Apologies for spamming the thread a bit, but I've had another thought. I think it's unrealistic to do all of the above due to the amount of travel, and only really wanting to go for two weeks (it's spread to nearly three on the above example).
So perhaps what would be best would be either of the following:
Madrid - Barcelona - Rome - Sorrento
Madrid - Barcelona - Rome - Split - Dubrovnik
I think going down to Sorrento from Rome and then back up to get across to Ancona and Split is a bit much, so it's probably one or the other. Please bare in mind I've only listed Rome because it's kind of the middle of where I want to be (I've already been to Rome so I'm not desperate to go again, but wouldn't mind if it made my travel plans easier).
There is still this option I guess: Madrid - Barcelona - Marseille - Milan - Sorrento. But that would involve some long train journeys itself and Marseille and Milan weren't in my initial plans.
I really can't decide :|
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
IMO the 5in10 doesnt make much sense for your second route if you are willing to prebook your train tickets. You would get a (20%) discount on the ferry from Barcelona, however you would not need a travel day for it (as it is only a discounted trip), meaning that you would only need four travel days.
Also, Civitavecchia to Rome is a short trip on a cheap regional train and even Roma - Napoli/Sorrent is quite cheap when bought locally.
Only for Madrid - Barcelona and Sorrent/Napoli - Ancona I would recommend pre booked tickets (I posted the links above already).
Just read your new post.
If you would skip Napoli/Sorrent altogether and do not have to go to Rome you could also think about taking the ferry to Livorno, then maybe spend one or two days at nearby Cinque Terre and/or continue to Ancona via Florence and Bologna. Intermediate stops would be possible at Lucca, Siena, Florence, Bologna; maybe even Ravenna, Perugia or Assisi. If you have time you could include the scenic lines from Pistoia to Bologna or Florence via Borgo San Lorenzo to Faenza.
This route would be even better suited for travel with regional trains only. For instance, Livorno - Florence would be just 9,20€; Florence - Ancona from 20,20€.
Corks118
Traveller
30 comments
I've had another change of plan. I was thinking of flying from Barcelona to Naples which would cut out the ferry and extra couple of nights in Rome that I hadn't planned for. I know that the journey is part of the fun, but when it is a 21 hour ferry followed by staying a couple of extra nights in a place you wouldn't otherwise, it's probably best just to fly that one time. That also allows me to still do both Sorrento and Split/Dubrovnik, which is what I wanted. The route is once again the same as the title, only I'll be flying from Barcelona to Naples. Does that seem sensible?
You're right about the railpass; point to point tickets seem more sensible. They are about £60 from Madrid to Barcelona and £60 from Naples to Ancona, and then the ferry would be about £30 overnight to Split I think. Everything else is local (Naples-Sorrento, Sorrento-Naples, Split-Dubrovnik, and transfers to and from airports).
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Well, personally I wouldnt mind travelling with the ferry - back in January I took the Travemünde - Helsinki ferry which takes about 36 hours and thoroughly enjoyed it. Also, Civitavecchia - Napoli is possible in about 2h30 to 3h so I wouldnt mind that either.
Anyway, if it fits your plan better and you are not to keen on the ferry trip why not take the plane instead. :)
Napoli - Anonca definitely should be cheaper than 60 GBP, especially when booked in advance.