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Advise on how to spend a day - Amalfi coast or Pompeii (From Capri back to Naples)

We are spending 7 days on Capri end of July, and our AirBnB ends on a Thursday, while our flight out of Naples is at 2PM on Friday.

We need some help deciding how to spend that one day - from what I have read, the options are - visit Pompeii (maybe too hot in late July for a mid-day tour?) and stay in Sorrento for the night, next day to Naples airport, visit one of the Amalfi coast towns and stay overnight (but which one is the issue and how is transportation back to Naples), go straight to Naples and visit (insert suggestions :-)

Ideas, suggestions, iteneraries welcome, we really need the help!

Posted by
4105 posts

Spend the nite in Amalfi, 50 minutes by ferry from Capri. Timetable...

https://www.positano.com/en/t/capri/amalfi

From Amalfi, visit as many as you can. Positano, 20 min. by ferry, Ravello, 30 min. by bus. Atrani, short walk from Amalfi, Minori by ferry or bus
Sol di Riso pasticceria, in Minori , best pastries
around.

To reach Naples Capodicino airport, bus or ferry to Salerno and train to Napoli Centrale. Fixed rate taxi to airport €13.

This however doesn't work if you have an early flight.

Edit...
This is easier. Ferry Amalfi to Sorrento 1 hour. Curreri Viaggi bus to airport.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/ferry-schedule?from=amalfi&to=sorrento&all=1

Posted by
11201 posts

our flight out of Naples is at 2PM on Friday.

Where does this flight go?

If it goes to a Schengen country, you need not be at the airport as far ahead of departure time as a flight to a non-Schengen destination ( e.g. UK)

When you have to be at the airport could influence what destination(s) or activities are practical for your last day.

Posted by
5 posts

Thank you both for the replies.

Heading out to a non-Schengen country for a flight at 2:25PM.

Posted by
6148 posts

With 7 days on Capri do you plan to do any day trips?
Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi coast towns are all doable as day trips.
Leave Naples visit for that last night- stay in town- no need to stay near airport as it is a quick cab ride from the center of Naples.

Unless you use a private driver to get airport I would not want to be IN an Amalfi coast town on departure day. (Sorrento would be OK)

Posted by
9422 posts

I’d pick Pompeii. My son was there this past Friday, it was almost empty. Bring an umbrella for shade.

Posted by
11294 posts

If you like (or at least don't mind) an intense and fascinating city, you could do a lot worse than spend a day in Naples. Rick has a good chapter on Naples in his Italy book, with a highlights walk as well as some specific sights.

My two personal must-sees in Naples are:
1) The Archeology Museum, with stunning giant sculptures from the baths of Caracalla, as well as paintings and frescoes from Pompeii and Herculaneum (almost everything at those two sites is a reproduction; the originals are here).
2)The Capella Sansevero, with its amazing sculptures on the ground floor and eerie "anatomical machines" in the basement.

However, if you don't like intense cities, stay well clear of Naples. In that case, the easiest place to stay is Sorrento, since there's a bus direct from Sorrento to Naples airport, making it easy and inexpensive to get to the airport for your flight without having to change in Naples itself. Staying anywhere else means either multiple modes of transit, or a very expensive prebooked car.

Posted by
2973 posts

Why not sleep in Naples and explore the Spanish Quarter and the Archaeological Museum? Rick Steves’ guidebook has a self-guided walking tour in his guidebook that starts at the Archaeological Museum. I would spend that last night in or near the Spanish Quarter.

Posted by
1373 posts

Several years ago we had the same choice and selected Pompeii. The Pompei site was great and the town enjoyable.

Posted by
7337 posts

The answer depends a lot on your personal enjoyments-art, architecture, beach resorts, local food, etc. Another way to say that is that Pompeii was on my "life list", and I was very glad to spend almost 8 hours there. But it is desperately exposed to the heat and sun, and a challenge to walk safely on worn stones even for the well-abled. The Naples museum is, after all, a museum, and some people find them sterile. BTW, I thought the Farnese Marbles were almost as worth the visit as the works moved (for protection) from Pompeii.

I also really wanted to see Positano (but had no real desire to sleep there.) My personal opinion is that Capri is a much nicer pedestrian experience among the international clothing and jewelry boutiques that I would never actually buy anything in. But an hour or two to view Positano is appropriate. Having visited Amalfi and Ravello on foot as well, I liked Ravello the best, but it is too out of the way unless you hire a car and driver for your limited time on-the-ground. I'm saying that Positano alone is sufficient. (OPINION!)

Naples is often disdained, but I agree about its cultural and historic importance. But I put Pompeii and the AC ahead of it for your schedule. BTW, we had to wait an hour outside in the heat to get a table for Naples pizza. And it was superb, but a bit damp for American tastes. You do need to plan (post Covid) for possible fierce crowding at the end of July, anywhere on this vacation. I would make the most of Capri mornings and evenings. Have you checked on the best way to get your luggage to your AirBnB (which I disapprove of, anywhere )? Much of Capri is fully pedestrianized.