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Advice On Where to Stay Between Amalfi and Taormina

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We are taking a long trip to Italy, broken into 2 main segments. Segment 1 we are meeting friends and staying on the Amalfi Coast for a week. Three days later (late September) Segment 2 starts and we need to be in Taormina, Sicily, to meet up with another set of friends and start a Sicily/Malta vacation. We need to get ourselves to Taormina by the time our friends get there (they are flying into Catania). We do not have a car and we definitely want to take that Salerno to Sicily Train/Ferry combo (where they put the train cars directly on the ferry).

Where should we stay for those 2 -3 days? We could go to Salerno and hang out for 2 – 3 days, or go to a village/town on the train route (Sapri? Paola?), or stay 2 -3 days in Messina, or stay in Catania, or the northeast Sicilian coast, etc. etc.? We don’t need a lot of to see or do, just a few restaurants and somewhere nice to walk around and mostly relax.

Any suggestions?

Posted by
5997 posts

A lot would depend on what the plans are for during each week. I'd mull over these three options to see what stands out as most appealing to you.
1) A few days in Salerno could allow you to do some things you may miss while on the AC--a trip into Naples, Paestum temples, etc.
2) Stopping somewhere along the train line would give you a brief glimpse of Calabria perhaps (or the little bit of coastal Basilicata, Maratea). Unless it is high summer, this could be a welcome respite from crowds, allow you to regroup before joining others again.
3) Depending on what the Sicily plans are, you could fit in something you may miss during week 2, tons of options.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you. I guess I'm looking for specific ideas on places. We only have a 2 -3 days and we don't have a car, so my thought is wherever we go, we'd stay there rather than use it as a jumping off point to see other things. I've heard Salerno is industrial so if true, it might not be a good option. I know nothing about Sapri or Paola except they are on the train line from Salerno to Taormina. But maybe one of them is a good option for a restaurants and passagiatas :) Hence my questions :) :)

Posted by
5997 posts

You can find what you are looking for in all those places. You may find someone who has been to all three but I would just research the places on the train line. The ones you mentioned are not ones I am familiar with.
Salerno is not industrial—it’s a small city but has many fans here as a location for visiting the Amalfi Coast. I found it pleasant but I’m more attracted to small villages (or massive cities—two opposites!).

If we knew where you were going in Sicily we could suggest spots you are missing.

Posted by
3 posts

Thank you! I appreciate your thoughtful answer. I did read somewhere that this part of Italy (south of Amalfi to just above Sicily) is the least touristed (at least by non-Italians) so that must be why I'm having trouble getting more information.
In that general area, we will be going to Cefalu, Taormina, Syracusa/Ortygia.

Thank you again!

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