We had a wonderful trip a couple of years ago with a few nights at Sorrento and then in Rome. If I was going again I would stay in one of the smaller train stop villages i.e. Vico Equense as Sorrento was a lot more commercialised than I had imagined, but we had wonderful trips to Pompei and Capri.

Weather wise we were lucky and had temperatures in the 20s. It was too cold for swimming pools in Sorrento but DS and DH jumped into the sea at one of the bathing platforms. It was a good temperature for sight seeing in Rome - any hotter would have been unpleasant.

We've been to Albufeira in Portugal and not overly impressed. But I am planning solo trip to Lisbon and there are beach resorts nearby.

Do you have children or is it just an adult holiday?

I love Italy in the Autumn. The hoards of tourists are gone, tables are still outside and you get to see a little of real ife there.

I liked Lisbon too and went to Cascais for a weekend.

However - I would pick Italy. Ravello and Rome.

Definitely Italy. Love the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is nice and Pompeii/Vesuvius is interesting. But avoid Naples and Capri.

Portugal won't be as warm and its on the Atlantic Ocean, so not great for swimming either imho.

When we went to Sorrento, we didn't rent a car. But we were only there for 4 days. Just got the heavily graffiti covered train down from Naples. This was before kids though. Since then, we always hire a car. Especially now, with this virus around!

Also, not sure about Rome and Amalfi together. I went to Rome on a separate 4 day trip!

Amalfi coat provides a week's entertainment ie as well as Ravello, Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, Capri, Pompeii, Vesuvis6, Herculaneum, Naples, Salerno .. there are trips up into the hills and tiny beach resorts.I think that a week is too little for both. Rome has several days worth of sightseeing at a minimum as well as seaside and hill trips.
I am a poor driver and wouldn't dream of driving in the cities. The trains and buses work well but for getting the most out of smaller places , particularly if the weather is changeable a car would be really useful.

I think you could easily do a week in Sorrento/Amalfi coast area @yikesanotherbooboo has listed out loads to do. I'd visit Capri in September and avoid it like the plague in August!

It's a great mix of culture and beach (although maybe not warm enough to swim by then).

Spent 3 weeks in Rome and the Amalfi coast a few years ago. It was wonderful. We stayed in Positano. Driving around the area(Amafi) is pretty nail biting and you need to have nerves of steel , parking is also a massive issue . Rome was fine for parking. Loved every minute of it. I think you will struggle with just a week as there is so much to in both areas . If you can extend the trip to 10 days ( use both weekends of half term) you may squeeze it all in .

I'm going to go against the grain as DH and I preferred the Algarve to the Amalfi coast. It might have been the time of year or the places we went to, but we found the Algarve (Lagos) was lovely, relaxed, good service, good value, etc. Whereas some places on the Amalfi coast were just not that nice (with the exception of Positano where I wish we had stayed, we just did a day trip there, and it was lovely), it was expensive and we had a lot of bad attitude and bad service.

I should point out that we went to Lagos in low season (so it was reasonably quiet) and the Amalfi coast in August (bad timing) so as I say that was probably a factor!

I would definitely recommend hiring a car for the Amalfi coast.

I can't remember why but we didn't and we had a nightmare visiting Pompéi and Vesuvius on public transport, waited ages for the bus back down from Vesuvius and then it left without picking up passengers so we (and a bunch of others) had a stressful time trying to hitch a lift.

That was just me and DH and if I was holidaying with kids I would definitely want a hire car so we could travel on our own steam.

Italian driving is as bad as the stereotype though IME!

I’ve been to both - much prefer the Amalfi coast (sorry!) to the Portugal option but weather wise having just checked the stats, Portugal looks like it would be marginally warmer - the weather in Amalfi is typically 22 degrees in October and going down to 18 in November so going late October it may/may not be warm enough to swim. Portugal is only marginally better though!

We usually travel across Italy by train (visit Trenitalia in advance for cheaper tickets than on the day). The PPs who’ve said for the Amalfi coast a car is probably better are right though - despite the mad drivers, your other option unless you’re Sorrento based (and Sorrento isn’t the best place on that stretch of coastline) is the public bus which having used it isn’t the loveliest! I personally like Amalfi but there are lots of beautiful towns along that stretch.

I’ve been to Tavira on the Algarve and Lisbon too - I quite liked both but tbh, have never been bothered about going back which I guess says something!

We had a few nights in Sorrento last August, then a week in Umbria, followed by a weekend in Rome. It was amazing, but I can't wait to get back to the Amalfi coast out of season, and get to Herculaneum and the museum in Naples. We managed Pompeii, and Capri, but never got to Positano. We drove from the airport in Rome, but the driving once you hit Naples into the peninsula is terrifying, much worse than even normal Italian standards! Once we got to Sorrento, we left the car in the car park, and did everything by public transport. Might not be so bad out of season though. It was also pretty expensive, whereas Rome seemed very cheap in comparison, but that could just be fewer tourists in Rome in August.

I've been to Lisbon and the Algarve, and don't really have any pull to go back, particularly when Italy is your other option. I've never been disappointed with Italy, it always ranks highly in our holidays!

PS we stayed in a fantastic apartment in Sorrento if you'd like details, location was near train station, easy stroll into the main square, close to everything, 3 beds and air conditioned! PM me if you'd like details.

Driving in Naples and along the Amalfi coast is not for the very nervous. Drivers in Naples (where you'll be picking up your car) are aggressive and the roads along the Amalfi coast are a series of wiggly roads and hairpin bends. I remember having to reverse along one stretch, because a bus was coming the other way and he sure as hell wasn't giving way! If you're a confident driver though, it's doable.

You'd need 10-14 days to do Rome and all the stuff in and around the Amalfi coast justice, so I'd pick one or the other and bear in mind that the weather could be anything from gloriously mild and sunny to grey and rainy.

I’ve done the Amalfi Coast and enjoyed it, Sorrento is a lovely base but you’d need to visit other places Positano is lovely.

I needed a break last year to include sun in October and ended up going to Cyprus. It was in the 30 + all week and safe to drive. No confusion re the roads.

@zafferana that is very true, we went on a couple of buses and they stop for no one ! The hairpin bends above the coastal drops was fun!

We spent two weeks on the Amalfi coast. Taxi from Naples to Positano. Boat from Positano to Amalfi then bus to Ravello. Boat from Amalfi to Capri. hydrofoil from Capri back to Naples.

Had a day in Sorrento (taxi from Positano) but that was for an emergency dentist!

Was our ever best holiday despite broken tooth (even better than our honeymoon).

We have been to both and would definitely prefer the Amalfi coast, although Portugal is very nice. The Amalfi coast is just breathtaking, we travelled by boat but imagine going by car would be amazing too, as long as you are a confident driver as the Italian roads are crazy! Its worth it for the food alone. We stopped off in Massa Lubrense and had the most fantastic pizzas as big as bin lids, in a small restaurant over looking the ocean, it was heavenly!!

I reckon you’d need nerves of steel, and excellent insurance cover to drive around Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. The worst driving I’ve ever seen, and parking a nightmare.