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6 nights in Italy

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September 5-11 my 19yr old niece, husband and I are going to Italy for the first time. Rome and Amalfi are their top picks so our itinerary is currently 3 nights in Rome and 3 nights in Sorrento. My question is about our Sorrento itinerary. What I currently have is

9/8 depart Rome by train to Naples in the am. Drop bags in Naples station lockers and do a 2 hour Food tour in Naples and maybe archeology museum. Ferry or train to Sorrento that afternoon, Or we could just skip Naples and go straight to Pompeii with our bags and from there go to Sorrento. Check in for our Airbnb in Marina Grande isn’t until after 3pm.

9/9 Amalfi Coast boat tour from Sorrento with stops in Positano and Amalfi
9/10 ferry to Ischia and/or Procida for the day. Hot springs lunch shopping Vespas etc
9/11 depart Sorrento by private transfer to Naples for 645 am flight

Should I just stay in Naples instead of Sorrento bc of that early return flight? Two nights in Sorrento and 1 in Naples seems like it would just cost time with the check ins/outs. Private shuttle at 3am to catch our early flight is $200.

Or Should I switch it? and arrive in Naples on 9/9, check our luggage and ferry to ischia for the day, come back on the latest ferry and then head into Sorrento for two nights, and then on 9/10 we go to Pompeii then onto to Naples for the night before our flight?

Is it reasonable to do a stop in Pompeii on 9/8 on the way to Sorrento as well?

Can I see Ischia and Procida in one day? For example 2-3 hours in Procida and 5-6 hours in Ischia.

Private boat tours that combine Procida and Ischia are pretty pricy at 200 a person so thought it would be more cost effective to take the first/last ferry and give us more time on the islands.

I’m trying to maximize our travel time and and do a mix of cultural excursions and exploring but being mindful of costs and leaving room for relaxing. Any opinions are appreciated! Trying to hit Naples pizza, Pompeii, ischia/Procida, and Amalfi boat tour all in three days within our transfers.

Posted by
100 posts

With all that you want to see and do, I don't think you'll have much time for relaxing. This is a busy itinerary, but doable.

You'll want a guide for Pompeii - there is no signage, and you'll get much less out of the site without one. There are always guides hanging around the entrance but the quality is hit or miss, so I advise booking an independent guide on your own. We met ours at the Naples train station and she escorted us on the connecting train to Pompeii (I'd give you her name but she is no longer working locally).

With that in mind, here's how I would structure it:

9/8 - Early morning fast train Rome > Naples. Leave bags at Naples station and meet your guide, then onward to tour Pompeii. Return to Naples with your guide to visit the archaeology museum, eat pizza et al. Collect your bags at the station and head to Sorrento from there (train or transfer).

9/9 - Amalfi Coast. You don't need to book a boat tour per se; the ferries run continually and they stop at the major towns including Positano and Amalfi.

9/10 - I haven't been to Ischia/Procida so can't comment there. Capri would be another possibility and I think a 19-year-old would find it magical.

9/11 - Transfer to Naples (oof, that's an early flight, but at that hour I would hope the airport lines won't be too bad). You either lose a night in Sorrento, which is far far FAR lovelier than Naples IMO, or you lose some sleep in the wee hours. I would opt for more time in Sorrento and just accept the early wake-up call.

Posted by
6194 posts

I would be in Naples the night before that early am flight
You can stay in the center as airport is a quick cab ride

Posted by
100 posts

I suppose if you leave Sorrento late (9 pm or so), that does give you time to get to a central Naples hotel and get a decent amount of sleep before your flight. Up to you.

Posted by
11224 posts

9/10 ferry to Ischia and/or Procida for the day. Hot springs lunch shopping Vespas etc
9/11 depart Sorrento by private transfer to Naples for 645 am flight

Vespas-- are you experienced motorcycle riders? If not, Italy is not the place to learn.

As for the early flight, the 3AM ride or the night in Naples is pretty much a choice of having the hangman use the green rope or the blue rope.

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