Naples and Amalfi coast

[connie26]

My friend and I are in Naples for four nights early July before travelling up to Milan via train. Planning on staying in Naples for the first two nights and including a tour of Pompeii. We then want to visit Sorrento and possibly the Amalfi coast or Capri. We won't be driving, so will need to take the bus or taxis. Does anyone have any suggestions as to making the most of that area with limited time that we have? Would we be better staying in Sorrento and going from there to other places or should we go straight to the Amalfi coast and stay in that area ie Positano?
Thanks in advance!

I'm following this thread and now I know I am probably not your typical Sorrento Sister! I am skipping Amalfi coast and going straight to Salerno. From there I can take ferry or train to Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii, Caserta and Paestum. OK I'm not into crowded streets full of tat, overpriced cafes and restaurants, lemons everywhere lol and I don't drink, so feck the lemoncello 😊

I'm just into the Greek and Roman stuff. So Salerno looks good to me! Two nights in Naples on the way back to try the pizza and see the museum, and god knows what else! I'm 68 and going on my own. Congrats to me!

Hope you all have a lovely time doing what appeals to YOU.

Fair enough @damselly. I guess people are responding to OP in terms of advice she has asked in terms of her holiday planning.

I’m following as we have booked a villa just outside Sorrento early Autumn so I’ll be pinching recommendations . I love limoncello!

I didn't mean to be mean! I suppose it's horses for courses and I as I said I hope whatever you all decide makes for a fabulous trip.

Ischia is gorgeous, and I went to Cinque Terra which is fabulous and not as touristy as perhaps Capri

Isn’t Cinque Terre in a completely different part of Italy, hundreds of miles up the coast?

Naples to Sorrento is around a 2 hour car journey. I would stay in Sorrento its on the Amalfi coast everything is easily accessible. You pick up the Ferry from Marina Piccolo that can take you to Capri, Ischia Positano, You can also get buses/coaches to Ravello. I would recommend the spa in Ischia and Positano of a night.

@MysticHalfWitch cinque terra is on my Italian hit list!

If you have to choose between Pompeii and Herculaneum, go for Herculaneum. If you can do both, go first to Pompeii and then to Herculaneum. You can get to both under your own steam but once you've bought your tickets to get in I'd strongly suggest joining a group with a guide. You'll get so much more out of the visit rather than wandering about by yourself.

If history is your thing then once you've visited the ruins, like others have said next stop is the National Archaeological Museum in Naples. It is amazing, especially when you can put what you see into the context of the ruins you've seen.

I was distinctly underwhelmed by Vesuvius.

@nauticant agree Vesuvius was a nice walk, that’s it really. Had done Etna a few years previously and obviously, more to see!

Etna! Now you're talking!

@WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing is absolutely stunning. I’m desperate to go back (with a different man 😂).

Waaaay too many answers, but here is my experience: try to make everything in one day trips using the ferry. We did this and where very satisfied with hiw it turned out to be. This www.ferryhopper.com/en/blog/featured/day-trips-from-naples is a very well made blog we relied on to prepare. I hope that helps, and enjoy your holidays!

if I remember rightly there is a train that goes from Naples to somewhere like Sorrento, so just stay at the end of the line. I wouldn't rely on taxis / buses - you could get really stung or spend much time waiting around

Maybe not in July though.....

we are in Naples for 1 day in July. Debating between trip to capri ourselves ( following the plan above !) or guided tour private amalfi coast. What time of year did you visit please ? Thank you

Hello! We were there in late October. So it was likely a lot cooler than it will be in July, though it was still pretty warm (full on summer clothes for us). I would want to avoid the crowded bus in the heat of summer I think. Have a lovely time!

Thank you !

We based ourselves in Sorrento, which I understand is a lot prettier and calmer than Naples. We took the train to Pompeii and Heracleum from there.

We took a ferry across to Capri. It was nice being on the boat, and Capri is pretty, BUT ridiculously expensive. (They were charging 9 euros for a small coffee in the square at the top of the funicular railway). It is pretty to wander around for an hour or two but not a lot to see there really.
Boat trip along the Amalfi Coast is also pretty, and relaxing after an exhausting day at Pompeii.

@JustGiveMeReason
If you were only going to do one boat
trip, would you do capri or amalfi coast? Did you get off the boat in Amalfi?

Amalfi coast, if choosing.

Yes, we went to Amalfi.
There is a beautiful Cathedral there, which includes a crypt and a museum which is worth going in to.
Much more competition for shops and cafes, so you don't need a mortgage for an ice-cream or cup of coffee.

Watching this as I’m going in October!

We stayed in Sorrento and from there visited Positano and the Amalfi Coast we also spent a day in Capri which was very expensive but worth a visit

It is very pretty, isn't it @Empress13 ?

I found it very relaxing after a long a tiring - although incredibly interesting - day at Pompeii.

But if I had to choose only one of them, I think there is more at Amalfi, and you can spend longer there, plus spend longer on the boat, which I enjoyed.

You’ll have a great time. It’s a lovely part of the world. I’d not split your stay for such a short visit as you’ll spend at least half a day travelling and checking into new accommodation. Pick either Naples or Sorrento depending on your preference. I imagine things will be pretty booked up by now (and expensive) in Sorrento. Not so sure about Naples. We’re going to Sorrento for ten nights in September - it’s gorgeous there. It’ll be about our fourth visit. Naples - we do as a day trip by ferry from Sorrento.