Amalfi and capri

Third day is practically impossible. You need one more day to do it all.

I agree with Suki.

Start by being honest with yourself about how much usable time you really have. You say "3 nights" but then admit you will arrive in the evening, so you really have two usable days. Do you even have two full days there? When are you leaving? Late on Day 2, or on Day 3 (after Night 3)?

In any case, even with two (whole) days, you don't have enough time to do what you want. Pompei takes most of a day. Capri takes most of a day. Amalfi takes most of a day. There's three days. And Sorrento is quite pleasant, too, for that matter. You will want to slow down a bit and savor the limoncello.

How's the pace of the rest of your Italy trip?

Agree with the two previous posters. You will need more time. Have an entire day in Sorrento (especially if it will be your first day in Italy). Allowing a full day for Pompeii is good, even if you do not stay there all day. Allow an entire day for Capri. And, while you are sooooo close, do not miss Ravello (beautiful views). Positano is beautiful. It would be ideal to have a driver take you along the coast, then take a boat back to Sorrento -- that way you can enjoy the views to the sea and then the view back from the sea toward land.

I'll agree with the posts above and with one additional comment: I wouldn't go to Capri if your main reason for doing so is the Blue Grotto. Personally, if I consider anything resembling a tourist trap on the island it's that one. It's not a given if the seas are too rough to get into the thing, you're in it for very little time for the price, and there are many reports of visitors being hassled by the boatmen for tips. Go to Capri if you have a day to spend and the desire to explore, on foot, parts of it further afield of the piazzas and shopping areas. Staying overnight is even better.

We skipped it during our 2-night stay and weren't sorry at all.

Amalfi is a wonderful and interesting town but getting there is not easy or quick. The trip there, whether by ferry or by bus along the Amalfi Coast Road, can be an entertaining experience in itself but either way will take some time. One way or another Amalfi and the trip to and from will likely require a significant part of a day.

Thanks for the posts,makes things easier to plan.
Think this time will skip capri and blue grotto on this trip , and keep one full day for Pompeii and exploring sorrento and other day for Amalfi. Think best to avoid overpalnning and keep things relaxed and easy. Will keep capri for our next visit .
Can Amalfi be visited on a our own or is a guided tour easier ?
Rest of our trip we are planning 3 days in Rome and 4 days in Florence before flying back home .

I spent 2 days visiting the Amalfi Coast from Salerno to Sorrento. What most impressed me were there beautiful views from the road. I think the views from the sea would be at least as good, but the ferries weren't running when I was there. There's not much to explore in the towns themselves. With a full day, you can hop from town to town by bus or ferry. In Amalfi, you can take the bus up to Ravello for more views and then either hike or bus back down to Amalfi.

You can absolutely visit Amalfi on your own, as you can take a SITA bus from Sorrento to Amalfi, then explore there, and you can even go to Ravello or any other to from the transport hub of Amalfi as well. I would either do it on my own or a private driver for the day, as the only difficulty on your own is getting a seat on the bus sometimes. On your own, you can go at your own pace.