Hello, I know a million questions like this have been asked and answered, but figuring out how best to see this seemingly close yet disconnected area of Italy is confusing (and exciting). My wife, our 20 year-old son, 13 year-old daughter and will be in the Naples/Amalfi Coast area for 5 nights. I'm thinking that we stay in Naples for 3 nights then to Positano for 2. We want to see Pompeii and Herculaneum with perhaps one day excursion to Capri. Do these two "base" destinations make sense or is there a "better" idea? Thank you
Posted by
Ontario, Canada
5653 posts
Here comes the dreaded "It depends".
Naples will certainly be handy for Capri, with the ferry, and easy train connections to the Pompeii and Herculaneum sites.
But Positano will require a few hoops to jump thru to get there and back. Unless you're hiring a car and driver, you'd need to take a train and 2 buses to get to Positano. What do you want to do in Positano? And where are you going after Positano? If you have to fly out of Naples, you'd likely have to return there the night before your flight. If you're continuing to other places in Italy, you'd have to get back to Salerno to pick up the train.
Posted by
5271 posts
I like that plan--do very little from idyllic Positano but enjoy the views (maybe a boat ride or hike), and visit Pompeii and Herculaneum and myriad other treasures from the exciting city of Naples. Some say to base in one place like Sorrento, but I think you lose more than you gain that way. You could also visit Capri from Positano if you wanted to tip the balance a bit.
I think the best way to get to Positano is to take a train to Salerno and then a ferry to Positano, but splash out for a private driver if that is in your budget.
What month?
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
If you have not been to Italy before Naples is not a place I would recommend you stay.
Stay all 5 nights in Positano ; or 3 nights Sorrento and 2 Positano ; or all 5 Sorrento
You can still do your day trips from these places.
Posted by
1064 posts
It does seem overwhelming logistically. You have the right idea though. Any sightseeing plans on the Naples side of the peninsula should be done from that side (and vice versa.) With plans to see both Pompeii and Herculaneum you’re doing this right, and I recommend folks see both if they can.
I really enjoyed Naples, and kind of wish I based there. However, I came to appreciate the quiet, easygoing charms of Sorrento after a long, hot day of sightseeing and riding the Circumvesuviana. With your family in tow, it’s worth considering. Naples is gritty, intense, and marvelous for those reasons. I won’t talk you out of staying there and you should definitely make time for it, but it’s not anymore advantageous than Sorrento for transportation and sightseeing.
Also suggested in RS guidebook, you can visit Capri as a stopover on your way to Positano. I thought this worked great. With an early ferry from Sorrento, I had plenty of time to explore, and when the crowds all finally caught up to me in Anacapri I just jumped the ferry to Positano. Some people suggest more time there, I thought a day was plenty.