Italy, near Pompeii in July, car hire or public transport?

[Monr0e]

We are a family of 4 First timers going to Italy in July. Advice needed please! We are staying in Scafati which is close to Pompeii, is anyone familiar with the area? We are wondering whether to hire a car or if public transport will be ok. DH is leaning towards hiring a car as we will need to transfer from Naples airport however I’ve heard driving in Italy is not for the faint hearted. We are hoping to visit Pompeii and Sorrento and also any other local areas, just not sure how accessible everywhere is.

And also how easy the trains are to use. I am not very confident in new countries and worry about things like this.

Also, (again, very stupid question) we are arriving late in the evening (around 9pm) and self catering, are there large supermarkets locally or will we struggle to shop in the evening?
Thanks for any advice

We did a two week trip to Italy a few years ago and the person we'd hired the accommodation from organised a shop for us plus an airport pickup and brought the hire car to us.
Perhaps the person you're renting from could provide similar?
The driving was pretty easy to be honest the traffic on the amalfi coast is chic a block so we never drove too fast !!
You'll have a wonderful time.

We got the train from Salerno but we did get off at the wrong stop, you have to be careful! And you have to book the train otherwise you may not get on.

The trains between Naples and Pompeii and Sorrento are fine, just busy! Buying a ticket was a bit chaotic, I was incorrectly expecting British queues...

Hire a car! You can do your shopping easily then. Just Google Scafati supermarket! Some pop up. Having a car means you control your time. Driving is easy enough but book it in advance. Arriving late is an issue so check car hire is actually open! Book it via airline maybe?

Italian city to city trains are good. Local trains can suffer from eratic timetabling and cancellations are common. We have always enjoyed exploring by car in Italy and air conditioning is bliss. Waiting for a bus in blazing heat isn’t.

Don't hire a Car!

We went near there last year and Italians are mad drivers.

Arghh, no clearer! I like the idea of air conditioning 🙂

And easy access to local supermarkets and restaurants. Don't like the idea of crazy drivers, although if heading into major cities, I think we would use the train anyway.

I've messaged the owner to see if they advise anyone for transfers or car hire. Those that have hired cars, who did you do it through? Is it ridiculously expensive?

Thank you

Seriously, don't bother with a hire car. The roads are not great and Italians are mad drivers. I have been to this part of Italy a few times, including in high summer.

Also no real need as the train goes to Naples, Ercolano, Sorrento. Bus from sorrento or Naples all down the Amalfi coast (don't sit on the right hand side if heights make you wobbly!). The ferry to capri is also accessible from Naples, Sorrento or Piano.

You will struggle to get supplies if you are arriving late. I suggest you ask the host of your lodgings if they can arrange a delivery of the essentials. Although you can always eat out, and can expect to be served dinner even after 10pm (although not ideal if you're travelling with kids)

I have details of a decent driver who can do an airport pickup or arrange a tour for you. We have used him for airport transfers and he also did us a great tour down the Amalfi coast through Positano, Priano and Amalfi to Ravello. Let me know if you want his details.

Trains between sorrento and Herculaneum and pompeii are really easy. I wouldn’t drive. Italian drivers are crazy.

I stayed in Sorrento with my mum. We took the train to Naples. She was desperate for a coffee, we saw a coffee bar on the other side of the street but she decided against it as it involved crossing the road. Yes, there were crossings. No, the drivers didn't care.

I would not want to drive in Italy.

I've been to Sorrento & the Amalfi Coast a few times - public transport all the way!
The train between Naples & Sorrento is very easy & regular. You buy tickets from the train station.
The buses are very good too - go from Sorrento down the coast. But you have to buy tickets from a tabbachi or Tourist Information Centre. Bus time tables & train time tables are available online.
For food - most restaurants etc will still be open; & you should be able to google the local supermarkets to see what times they open.

Driving in Italy is crazy! I've seen a 4-lane motorway turned into a 7-lane motorway; & been in a huge coach that was cut up by a tiny car full of nuns! I believe it was the Major of Naples who said traffic lights & signs were just a suggestion
However, the secret with crossing the road is to just GO! Drivers will stop if you're on the road, but they won't if you're waiting at the side. I've seen lone dogs cross the road & the cars stop for them.

Driving in Italy is fine! I would always recommend hiring a car for the freedom it gives you, particularly arriving late in the evening - I would find it much more stressful to have to sort out public transport in those circumstances. However, maybe you could get a taxi to take you via a supermarket?
I found this car hire company the most reasonable: https://www.doyouitaly.com/index.htm#
Having said that, we have done a fair bit of travel on Italian trains and they are reasonably priced and (usually) very good.

I'd do the car but that's because we got caught in the heatwave there last year and 40+ degrees daily meant we had a week around the pool/locally rather than waiting at bus stops. I'd rather have the air con but you'd need to really plan parking.

I’m a confident, experienced driver who has driven across Europe, the US & South Africa but that part of Italy is the maddest place I have ever driven in. The locals are completely crazy. I particularly remember one incident when I was waiting for a gap in the traffic to turn right at an uphill junction. The driver behind me was evidently unimpressed by my caution so he started nudging the back of my car with the front of his, literally pushing me over the white line.

The roads along the Amalfi coast are too narrow for huge modern cars, making driving on them a nightmare. If you’re going to do this, don’t let the rental company fob you off with a ‘free upgrade’. The last thing you need is a big SUV. Stick to the little Fiat instead You’ll be glad you did.

Second this...the first couple of hours in Naples we were hesitant about crossing, after that even my 12yo was confidently crossing the road (although I always tried to make sure I was between them and the oncoming traffic just in case!)

The driving is fine! Obviously people here haven’t been to India. You might get the odd fast guy but most people drive well. You don’t need to go on motorways if you don’t want to.

My family live about 20 minutes from Salerno.
i would not drive the Amalfi Coast as there are hairpin bends also the parking can be quite tricky - they know where the parking is. Many years ago, a boyfriend hired a car. He learnt to drive in London and was a car enthusiast. He has an accident on his first day. The buses are good along the coast although it gets very tight. There is also I think water ferries. The local train around that area go to Herculaneum and Pompei. Remember to buy the tickets in kiosks and validate on the train / bus ( punch the tickets).

I cannot believe people are scared of driving. Clearly most Italians are not crazy or mad. You can drive very carefully around bends. Any competent driver is going to be ok. Crossing the road has its hazards in many countries. They have different customs and rules. I cannot imagine using buses in extreme heat. Yuk.

@Wazzzzzuuuuuuup that would be great if you could, thank you.

I'm still undecided, especially with the mix of answers! I think we will price up transfers etc and look at the cost of hiring the car.

Thank you for the tips on using the trains as well, these are the things that keep me awake at night! I believe where we are staying is only 10 minute walk from local train station so I'm leaning towards public transport but dh is the one who fancies driving.

Thanks aswell @Newname2308 for the link, I will check them out as well

@Monr0e www.sorrentocab.it

If you're planning to hire a car & want to do the Sorrento-Amalfi Coast drive, this review gives a very fair idea of the experience:

www.earthtrekkers.com/driving-the-amalfi-coast/

Air-conditioned buses exist! My DC noted very quickly that Italy is very noisy from all the honking of car horns.

I’m LOL at people saying restaurants should still be open at 10pm. Where we are in southern Italy, we don’t even start eating until 10 or 1030pm. On the other hand, no restaurants open before 8pm, and then it’s strictly tourists eating at that time.

Driving is fine, and necessary imho in the sweltering summer heat. Just go carefully around the hairpins, and opt for a smaller car.

I'm a confident driver and wouldn't want to drive round there. We stayed in Sorrento several years ago and the traffic on the narrow roads was bonkers.

It is pretty irrelevant comparing driving in Italy with driving in India because the OP is going to Italy, not India. It's like saying that the M25 is busier than the A1 north of Morpeth 🙍