Almalfi Coast Itinery 4 days end of September

What kinds of things do you like to do?
What else is in your plans?
Any interest in Pompeii?

Only you can decide what you want to do!

Here us a good starting point
https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/italy/amalfi-coast

Both Amalfi and Sorrento (although not on AC) make good bases
Splitting your find is often not a bad idea

There are dozens of posts here addressing same questions you have, scroll thru forum or do a few searches
Once you’ve got your must do list, come back for itinerary suggestions

To add to the helpful advice above, how many NIGHTS will you have for the coast? Per a previous post, you're planning on driving from Lake Garda to Venice, returning the car, and flying to Naples. From there, you'll need to access the coast; how to do that depends on where you end up staying.

Anyway, if this transfer day counts as one of your 4, the process is going to eat most of that day, leaving you 3 FULL days to work with. Additionally, where are you going after the Coast? If you are flying home (US?) from Naples - especially if it's in the morning - you may want to consider staying in Naples the night before your flight.

If you had 4 FULL days to work with, I might consider splitting locations but if it's just 3, that may be more trouble than it's worth. That's keeping in mind that high-season transport in this region is not exactly efficient, and that you want to devote 1 day to Capri. Ferries to that one take considerably less time from Sorrento - which is not the AC but a gateway to it - than, say, from Salerno. Pompeii is an easy trip from Sorrento too. Amalfi and Ravello are less time-consuming from Salerno, and that city is served by Italo and Trenitalia rail unlike Sorrento, which is only served by slower commuter-type rail. Ferries and SITA buses serve both plus some other villages around the coast.

We are flying into Naples and plan to spend 4 days in Almalfi Coast. What is a good itinerary? Also where is a good place to stay?

Amalfi is the best base for the Amalfi Coast.  Amalfi is the transportation hub of the coast and all the other towns are eailsily accessible by bus and/or ferry.  Positano is 20 minutes away, Atrani is 10 minutes away, Ravello is 25 ninutes away. Capri is also just a 50 minute ferry ride away.

For your itinerary look into Positano, Amalfi and Ravello but also lesser mentioned towns such as Atrani, Minori and Maiori.  Positano and Amalfi are great for walking around because they have spots with gorgeous views.  The cathedral in Amalfi is also worth a visit.  But for me the top AC highlights were views of the towns and coast from the ferries and Ravello with Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone.

Look into visiting Capri.  In Capri look you can visit Giardini di Augusto, Villa San Michelle and Monte Solaro.  If you have time, there are several hikes with gorgeous views. For the hikes, type in google maps "Natural Arch", "Belvedere Tragara" and "Faraglione di Terra" for directions.

With only 4 days and due to transportation challenges in the region I wouldn't want to waste time changing locations and would pick one. Sorrento isn't on the Amalfi Coast but if your itinerary includes Pompeii and/or Herculaneum I would choose it. If the goal is rest and relaxation with incredible views than somewhere actually on the Amalfi Coast would work. Amalfi Town is the transportation hub on the AC if you want to make daily trips to other towns.

we will fly from Venice to Naples on Sept 16. Flight gets in at 1:30. So we will have 3 full days. On Friday Sept 20 we will travel back to Naples. Suggestions on that? We spend the night in Naples (suggestion?)
We fly back to the states Saturday morning.

I really want to see Positano, Ravello, and capri island. Not so sure about Pompei. I’m looking at two different hotels. Hotel le Terrazze and Villa Nettuno. I am overwhelmed with how expensive rooms can be! Wow. That’s where a person should own a hotel! I’m not sure the best way to get to each different location would be. Can you suggest please. Also, a thought on if those are nice hotels and good locations.

I appreciate the advice!

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/naples-italy-airport

In your earlier post, folks attached several Searches for the AC, with suggestions for activities and routes. Perhaps you didn't see these answers, but there's a lot of helpful info to wade through.
Have a great trip, and book accommodations asap, as places fill up very quickly. There is no shoulder season anymore.
Safe travels!

Yes, spend the night in Naples on 9/20.

Out of these hotels, I would go with Villa Nettuno. I wouldn't stay in Hotel le Terrazze based on its location. I think staying in Hotel le Terrazze would complicate getting to the towns you want to see.

If you stay in Positano:
- From Naples to Positano - take the ferry
- From Positano to Ravello - take the ferry or bus to Amalfi, then take the bus to Ravello
- From Positano to Capri - take the ferry

Thank you so very much for the detailed info! It’s very much appreciated. Is there a hotel you would recommend for Naples close to the airport?

No need to be close to the airport, it’s a quick taxi ride from the center

Do a search for a Naples hotels here on forum
Stay anywhere you like

Since your time is short I’d suggest just staying in Sorrento don’t waste any of that little time getting around to a town on AC it’s pokey and inefficient
Easy ferry to Capri
Easy train to Pompeii should you decide to visit
Easy ferry back to Naples for your last night

Look into the Mondo guide tours of Amalfi Coast
Very affordable
They also do a Capri tour- we did that in 2019 really really fun day
www.sharedtours.com

I don't think the Mondo Tours out of Sorrento suggestion is a good option for you because you've said Ravello and Positano are priorities but with Mondo Tours you'll get either 2 or 3 hours combined in both and that's not enough time and get zero views of the coast and towns from the sea.

I took this tour out of Sorrento in April. The way it works is the driver takes you to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello and he'll give you 1 hour in 2 towns and 2 hours in 1 town. So take Ravello for example, to see both Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone you need at least 3 hours. If you get lucky and get 2 hours in Ravello, you can still see only 1 of the villas. When I took the tour, I got lucky because the driver gave us 2 hours in Ravello, but 2 hours was not enough time to see both villas. I had to return another day to see Villa Cimbrone. Additionally, the top highlight of the Amalfi Coast is seeing the towns and coast from the sea and with this tour you get none of that.

You have 3 full days to spend on the Amalfi Coast, but if you go with the option of staying in Sorrento and seeing the AC only via Mondo Tours, you'll miss out on the views from the sea and you'll only spend 2 or 3 hours in the towns you really want to see... with 3 FULL DAYS.