A 2 week road trip in Italy?

[ARareKindaBear]

We were going to book a 2 week road trip in the USA but I quite fancy Italy instead. DH thinks it won’t be as good … AIBU to think it’s a better idea? We’ve been to America many times … so much of Italy we haven’t seen yet!

many recommendations of places to see in Italy? We’ve been to Venice and Rome. I’m thinking of starting off in Venice to do the carnival in feb and then driving south from there?

Would love to see Naples, Sorrento, Pompei

I love southern Italy and have driven in Apulia without problem, but you couldn't pay me to drive from Naples along the Amalfi coast. It's a truly scary city / road. 😃 Might be better / less busy in Feb. It's a hell of a trip from Venice, though. It would be very easy to take 2 weeks just around that area, especially if you take a few days to do Capri/ Ischia, Vesuvius, Pompeii etc.. I flew to Naples, used public transport around there (very good, frequent and reliable), then bussed to Bari and got a car there for the rest of the trip. Dropped the car and flew home from Brindisi (but some airlines have these airports as summer-only).

Italy can be cold in February but the whole country is just as beautiful.
My favourite country in the world.
When you plan your route allow for weather conditions and check rules ( if any) on snow chains, I know these apply in France.

Is your dh afraid of corners?

For a road trip I'd take Italy every time

Italy is just wonderful, the Amalfi coast roads are not for the faint hearted though! I also wouldn't go in February, the weather will be cold and may be miserable. I'd go in May or early June ideally.

Naples, Pompei and Sorrento, not to mention Herculaneum, Vesuvius, Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, Minori and Maori are all pretty close together and it is so easy to get around by bus and ferry - the ferries around the Amalfi coast are the best way to travel!

I'd fly into Naples and use the trains to get around and visit the sites then a bus down to Sorrento, bus to Positano and then ferries and walking to get around from there. The walk from Amalfi to Atrani is not to be missed. And if you are keen hikers check out The Path of the Gods. You could then take the train from Salerno all the way to Sicily if you wanted. I'd never drive in Italy knowing how good the public transport is - book it a good while in advance and it's cheap too.

If you have to do it in February I wouldn’t do to Italy. It will be wet and raining, dark in late afternoon and lots of places will be shut down out of season. Italian coast comes alive in April.

trains are great in Italy but really depends on where you want to visit - if you’re down in Puglia for example the public transport is really limited so def need a car.

No point going in Feb I would agree

We drive regularly from south east England to Italy and get to Aosta / Turin in a (long) day. Turin and all around Piedmont is fab - esp around truffle season. Wandering around Alba with the smell of truffles in the air is amazing.

The Dolomites are also amazing in spring / summer too - from somewhere like Trento you are only a few hours by car away from Verona, Milan etc and the lakes. We’ve done that a few times and have been amazed at the variety of experience there.

Heading south Puglia is fabulous - but I would suggest June or late September is best to drive around there - not as hot and less crowded.