Why are you planning on the bus? I’d take the train exclusively in Italy — faster, more convenient, more comfortable and probably not all that much more expensive if you avoid the luxury trains. The circumvesuvius line, which will serve Naples, Sorrento, Pompeii (take the line that goes to Pompeii Scavo if you want to visit the ruins) has service about every 1/2 hour is more like an urban subway than the train, but I still think it will have more frequent service than the bus.

I’m confused as to why you want to take the bus on some of these trips. Here are the train fares for the trips you listed(all in 2nd class and on local trains except where noted)
Venice to Verona Eur 6,15 on local train Eur 16,60 on EScity service
Verona to Florence EUR 16,80 making a connection EUR 29,80 direct service on EScity(2hr on EScity versus 2:40 on local)
Florence to Siena Eur 6,20
Cheers
Howie

May I make a suggestion? Skip Naples entirely (dirty, crime ridden and unfriendly). Instead take a bus (or better yet rent a car) and go from sorrento to salerno along the Amalfi coast. The most beautiful drive in the world. Breathtaking ocean views, winding road through beautiful fishing villages, etc.

If taking the bus, make sure you get a window seat on the ocean side (i.e. opposite side of the bus to the bus driver – otherwise you’ll be looking at cliffs the whole way).

Thanks Howie. That’s what I needed to hear. Didn’t know whether or not bus or train would be better. I heard trains were cheap in Europe, but when I looked it up at trenitalia.com.. it seems quite expensive. Anyways, I’ll take your suggestion and try train.

I’m for sure skipping Naples.. just no train from Siena directly to Sorrento. So I have to make a stop at Naples and bus to Sorrento. That’s what I’ve seen.. but if anyone know something else.. please let me know.

Cheers!

There is a train from Naples to Sorrento but it’s a super slow local service and doesn’t show on the trenitalia site since it’s run by the local Government I believe. It’s called the Circumvesuviana Transportation System I know fancy name right? You can also get from Naples to Sorrento by boat which I’ve been told is faster but will set you back more.
Cheers
Howie

Would you know the price for Rome to Venice. I’ve looked and that seems quite expensive? I’ve tried www.trenitalia.com. I thought that was the only train company in Italy. Any other ones you can suggest. I’ve put in the day I’m travelling and it’s like 90 euros.

Edit: Would anybody think it’s worth it for me to buy an InterRail pass for my 2 week trip?

The price for Rome to Venice varies depending on which specific train you choose. Many of the trains on this route are premium “name” trains. While the price for the ticket is always the same, the price for the reservation on some of the name trains will double the total price. What you’re seeing on Trenitalia is the price with reservation — and perhaps even 1st class tickets with even more expensive reservations. Look for trains that leave Rome in the middle of the day (or other less popular times) to find cheaper prices. 2nd class on any name train it Italy is perfectly acceptable.

Interrail and Eurail passes will not cover the cost of reservations. Many Italian trains require reservations and unless you make a serious effort to avoid the trains that require reservations you’re probably going to end up with at least some reservations. While a Eurail pass may save a little money in Italy, I don’t think it’s worth it because of the difficulty in buying “just a reservation” to use with a railpass. I believe () Interrail is cheaper than Eurail, so perhaps the financial decision is different. I assume you’re a citizen/resident of Europe and thus eligible for Interrail

We just stayed in Naples a few months ago. It was congested and not particularly clean, but no dirtier than Rome. There are a lot of (presumably illegal) immigrants there that spread their faux good on the sidewalks and hawk them aggresively, but the people other than them were not unfriendly. You can get a day pass on the commuter railroad that will take you past Herculaneum, Pompeii, and all the way to Sorento, and you have on and off privileges with the pass. That’s an economical and effective way to see all those places.
The day pass is only good after 9:45, I think. My lack of Italian was a barrier in understanding this, but we got on the train then and went to Sorento to walk around and get lunch, then went back to Pompeii and saw that; the next day we bought another and saw Herculaneum. We’re no longer fast walkers so others could probably see more in a day than we did.

There are also a multitude of boats to and from Capri; we took an early morning boat (5:00 AM if I recall correctly, ugh!) but beat the crowds to Capri and didn’t have to stand in a lot of lines there.

Naples also has a famed opera house, great food, and a museum with many of the original artifacts that have been excavated from Pompeii. I’m glad we saw (and ate at) Naples, but I doubt we will go there again.

How many days ahead should I do the reservation? What if I go the train station and buy the tickets there a day or two ahead of time? Would that be possible too?

A day or two ahead of time should be plenty of time to buy tickets and buying at the station or on line from www.trenitalia.com is the cheapest way. At the station it’s best to use the automated kiosks as there are often long lines at the ticket windows. The kiosks seldom have any line and they’re easy to use in English. The ticket will include a reservation if the specific train requires one. You are usually usually allowed one change of the reservation without charge — assuming the new reservation is the same price as the old one and it’s before the original reservation time/date.

If you use a railpass you will probably have to wait in a fairly long line to buy “just a reservation” to use with the railpass. I suggest buying all the reservations you’ll need at one time to avoid standing in line multiple times.