Advice on October in Ligurian or Amalfi Coasts

The Amalfi coast will have more things to do. You've got Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Capri, Paestum, and several lovely coastal towns to explore. Further north the weather may be an issue at that time of the year. Sorrento is a good place to base yourself, or Positano.

Check out VRBO.com along the Amalfi coast. I think Ravello is a great town and base. You have all of the ruin sites not far, Capri is a whole day trip on the hydro foil, Positano, Sorrento, etc. when we were in Ravello last year we met a couple from the east coast that rent the same villa from vrbo every year for a whole month. There is plenty to do.....and to NOT do on the Amalfi coast. This is il dolce far niente at its best. Don't forget to check out Mamma Agata's cooking class too. We are taking it when we go again this September.

I forgot to add a bit about hiking the Amalfi trail....it's kind of world famous for hiking. :-)

A very tough choice! We have gone to Liguria three of the last four Octobers and loved it. We stay in the Cinque Terre and do hikes there as well as excursions to towns like Portofino, Lerici. Portovenere is still on my list to do as is Genoa and several small towns. The weather has cooperated, but I always keep the idea of Genoa or Pisa for a rainy day. Carrara is close too, and a friend of mine from there is always encouraging a visit to his home town. I love the convenience of the trains there, and there are good bus connections. The food in Liguria is by far our favorite in Italy.

We spent a week one December in Sorrento and found It a fine base for sites as mentioned by April: Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, many intriguing little towns. We found the good hiking less accessible here, without a car. We have wanted to hike the Sentiero degli Dei but the only way I can figure to make that work without a car is to stay in Amalfi Town for a night or two. The A.C. bus service is good, the Circumvesuviana is not as convenient or pleasant as the trains of the CT.

We also spent 3 nights in Ravello and LOVED that location, although the trip up-and-down the hill to Amalfi could get old as it is 30 minutes each way in a little bus. Don't know that I'd want to do that for a week or two!

For hikers, the trek from Amalfi up to Ravello is about 45minutes.... We have never taken a bus for that. Ravello itself is part of the Amalfi trail for hiking. There are a plethora of maps available via google that you can research.

If Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins are not at the top of your to-do list, then I lean toward Liguria. It's closer to more of our favorite destinations and the local train connections feel more convenient than the bus/Circumvesuviana around Amalfi. Water and weather should still be warm enough for swimming in both locations.

Thanks for your advice. Pompeii is not important on this trip,,have already been there twice. Am leaning toward Ligurian Coast for ease of travel even through Amalfi area looks stunning. Any recommendations on which villages would be best to stay as a base for day trips with public transportation.? Thanks again

Only thing I would add is that the seasonal boat services along the Amalfi Coast start to shut down in October. Exactly when is a moveable feast, average is second or third week in October but could be earlier/later! Services from Sorrento to Capri or Naples run, weather permitting, all year round.