Amalfi coast, Italy - please help me plan a trip

[ImNotReallyHere]

HI, as the title suggests.

We have return flights booked to Naples and only there 8 days not including travelling days.
Teens would like Versuvious and either Pompeii or Herculaneum. I’d like to go to Postiano. Any suggestions for an itinerary? Leaving in a week so need a plan soon.

Oh and I’ve traveled solo and in groups extensively on public transport around this area including Naples and never been pickpocketed or approached, whereas I have in Rome and Barcelona. I do take precautions and keep my wits about me, but it’s not like you’ll see violent crime happening here. It’s as safe as any large southern Europe city in my experience.

Naples is amazing. I’m about to take my tenth visit there. See the archeological museum. If finances stretch get a private guide dm me as I have used the same person twice and she is well worth it.
in Naples see the Veiled Christ - book before you go - Christmas Alley, the underground Greek and Roman ruins. Spot the Banksy, buy handmade leather gloves and visit the Spanish Quarter.

This is really good advice

Perhaps a short stay in Sorrento to see these sights and then head to Ischia for 4 nights, get a hotel with pool and beach shuttle

However there’s no way I’d visit Pompeii in the height of summer. It’s massive and so exposed- hardly any shade. Whereas Herculaneum is smaller and more packed into dense area, lots of shade because taller buildings and closer together. Nowhere near as exposed as Pompeii

I think you’ve left it late to book especially if you want Sorrento or the Amalfi coast. You might find more accommodation on Ischia. I’m off to Sorrento again in September and booked months ago! I’d book somewhere with a pool and avoid Vesuvius and Pompeii as they’re exposed with no shade and will be boiling! It’s a lovely area but will be very crowded. Not trying to be negative as I love it, but you’ve got to manage your expectations against the popularity, heat etc

We went to Sorrento in July 2022, staying at Seiano at the blue moon hotel - it was fab
Naples is known for being gloriously seedy. The original treasures from the excavations in the area are safely preserved in the Museo Nazionale here. Book at ticket for the gabinetto secreto.
The circum vesuviana train is notoriously unpredictable, often inexplicably delayed for 30min or more and usually slow but everyone uses it anyway. I'd be nervous of including it in my airport departure plans.

Vesuvius - This will take most of a day, certainly a long morning. You can take a public bus from outside Pompeii Scavi most of the way up and back down so no need to book anything special. Do book tickets in advance. It's likely to be sunny but cooler.
Pompeii Scavi - is the archaeological site. It is vast - literally the same size as Winchester: approx 1.5k on the long axis from entry gate (porta marina) to the stadium. It's a further 1K out to the Villa of the Mysteries. Some people whip round the highlights but if you want to do it properly, it's a full day. Take lunch supplies b/c there is a 'café' but it's terrible - like a budget version of Pret - super crowded, and you'll need to picnic anyway.
It will be hot but the cross streets are very breezy, there is deep shade beside cool walls and the original fountains are flowing (with modern pipes) so bring a refillable bottle.

Herculaneum is much smaller, just a few city blocks, and usually quieter b/c Pompeii is the main draw. There are no fountains but the café is nicer. This is a longish morning trip or less, depending on your depth of interest. In contrast to Pompeii, at Herculaneum, the lava and mud preserved perishable furnishings like wooden screens and leather goods.

There is a train line that runs from Naples all around the base of Vesuvius, called the Circumvesuviana, stopping at Ercolano (aka Herculaneum) and it runs along the north of the Amalfi peninsula to Sorrento (Google 'Circumvesuviana map'). It doesn't go to Positano, which is on the south side of the Amalfi peninsula, but you can get a bus or a boat from Sorrento. If you want to do the trip on public transport, Sorrento would be a decent base, although I think it's very touristy, expensive and not that nice.

The other alternative is to rent a car. Don't do this if you are timid drivers - you need to be comfortable in busy traffic, with lots of crazy drivers and also have a high degree of comfort with hairpin bends and reversing on narrow roads with the sea on one side because a 52-seater bus is coming in the opposite direction and he's not backing up for you! However, if you are confident drivers and have driven plenty on the continent before you'll be fine and this will give you lots of freedom in where to stay. When we visited, we spent a few nights in Naples and then based ourselves in Amalfi, which is charming, but everywhere is very busy and crowded. When are you going?

One more thing: when you look at the train map, the stops for Pompeii and Herculaneum are called Pompei Scavi (excavations) and Ercolano Scavi.

I'm just throwing this out there, it may not be what you were thinking of, but it will enable you to see the entire Amalfi coast on day trips and is easy to get to from Naples.

I based myself in Salerno a few years ago, in Summer (no choice in timing). It was great, a working town with lots of facilities, and best of all, the harbour had ferries going all the way along the Amalfi coast every day, several times a day stopping at the main towns. It was much less crowded and frantic than Sorrento, Positano etc. The train goes there direct from Naples, and in the other direction goes to Pompeii and Ercolano. There is also a train to the absolutely magnificent Greek temples at Paestum, an another up to the WOW palace at Caserta. Nice to get away from the crowds on the coast.

Just my experience. I honestly would not be able to tolerate the heat and crowds in the Amalfi area, so Salerno worked out great to enable long or short day trips as and when.