Amalfi and Cinque Terre

There is no reason why you can't. Our friends are visiting Lake Como, Cinque Terre, and the Amalfi Coast this September.

I would spend 2-3 nights, for 3-4 days, in Cinque Terre.
I would spend 4 nights, for 5 days, in the Amalfi Coast.

Do you think they will share their itinerary i.e. where they stay in Amafi and Cinque Terre and Lake Como and how they get around to the 3 different locations?
Thanks

Do you think they will share their itinerary i.e. where they stay in
Amafi and Cinque Terre and Lake Como and how they get around to the 3
different locations?

alleung555, how you get around can depend on what time of year you intend to go. During the warmer months you can take ferries but during the rest of year your transport options with be buses and trains...although trains won't get you around the Amalfi Coast.

What to book for accommodations and what to see (itinerary) depend on your budget, what sort of amenities you desire, and what you're interested in seeing/doing. It would be helpful for you to spend some time with some guidebooks to see what each of these areas have to offer.

I plan to go next year, either May/June or September.
I normally do middle of the road. I have been to Amafi but only 1 day, didn't know there is much to do there. I like mountain and lake/ocean for landscape photography. My son went to Cinque Terre and I really like the scenery. So I plan to hike all the 5 islands. I was hoping that I know whether I can stay in 1 island each nite and hike to the other one or do I need to take transportation to go from 1 island to the other. If so which is the best island to stay in.

The Cinque Terre needs less time than the Amalfi/Gulf of Naples area, where there is lots to see.
I think 2 or 3 nights would be sufficient for the Cinque Terre.
But anything less than 4 nights in the Gulf of Naples area would be too short.

You can certainly hop from island to island, and stay each night in a different place, but that is not what I would do. because that would require a lot of time waste in the hotel change process (check in/unpack/repack/check out then rinse and repeat). Rather it would be more efficient to stay put in one base and take trips from there. From a logistic stand point, Sorrento or Naples would be the best as a base. Naples is a large chaotic burstling vibrant port city (NYC on the Med). Sorrento is a quieter and quaint resort town. Which one you want is up to you. Of course you could choose to stay in superquaint Positano, or Capri, or Procida. They are very idyllic localities, but a bit less efficient logistically if you want to take day trips to the other destinations in the area.

Spend 3 nights in the Cinque Terra. It is a collection of 5 villages, separated by a low mountain area, not islands. By train it takes 24-28 minutes end to end. Each village is between 6 and 8 minutes apart. The ferry runs in season you can stop in each town other than Corneglia. The full trip is 35 minutes.

The Amalfi coast is again a collection of villages. Busses and ferries connect them.
It takes a considerable amount of time to connect here which is why you need more time at your disposal.

To travel between the two coasts, use.

http://www.trenitalia.com/cms/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=ee13721bdd69a110VgnVCM1000003f16f90aRCRD

Use the Italian names of stations.

Try to use a multi city airfare.
Into Pisa or Naples ( both require a connecting flight) or Milan. Then fly out of of the other.

Ex. Into Naples. Out of Milan or Pisa.

Flying into Naples, you can take the Curreri Viaggi bus as far as Sorrento. Then bus or ferry to whichever town you want to stay in.

You need to decide where you want to stay. Moving every other night uses up too much vacation time, and you're lugging around your luggage.

You need a good guide book and a map to see where places are located.

For lodging, booking.com is a good resource. Use the filters to set $$ amount and BnBs and hotels.

Then come back and we'll gladly answer your questions.

I like mountain and lake/ocean for landscape photography.

Ah, well you'll be spoiled for lovely scenery, although neither area is exactly what I'd call mountainous. Very hilly, though! Roberto and Gerri have given you some good information about getting around. As Gerri noted, the Cinque Terre is 5 villages - not islands - along the coast, and as Roberto advised, it's easier to just stay in one of them to do your exploring as they're very close together. Hikes between them range from just a few miles to much longer treks, or you may travel between them in just a few minutes by train.

It is possible to visit an island or two from near the Amalfi Coast. Ferries travel from Sorrento and some other locations around the region to Capri and Ischia. You could also visit the ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum between Sorrento and Naples: very easy by train. Just a start?

To give you an idea of train connections.

Day 01.
Arrive Milan. Train to Cinque Terre (3 nights)
IC 665
Dep 12:10 MILANO CENTRALE (Italy)
Arr 15:05 MONTEROSSO (Italy)

Day 04.
Train to Naples, then on to Sorrento (4 nights)
IC 651
Dep 09:07 MONTEROSSO (Italy)
Arr 09:58 VIAREGGIO (Italy)
RE 21413
Dep 10:10 VIAREGGIO (Italy)
Arr 11:50 FIRENZE S.M.N. (Italy)
FR 9521
Dep 12:08 FIRENZE S.M.N. (Italy)
Arr 15:00 NAPOLI CENTRALE (Italy)

Day 08.
Depart from Naples

Local train from Naples to Sorrento is the Circumvesuviana.

I think you everyone for your help and advise.

While both areas are beautiful and quite different ; I think you would be better off choosing one and making them as separate trips.
Combine with the 1 something else also beautiful but closer. As stated Amalfi Coast definitely needs more time to explore, it is a large area compared with the tiny area of the Cinque Terre.
Amalfi Coast paired with Rome makes 1 great trip
Cinque Terre paired with Florence and Venice as a 2nd trip ; or Cinque Terre with Florence and Tuscan Countryside instead of Venice.

Hum, great suggestion.
I may do Florence, I spent 1 day only there and day there before but not enough time just did the downtown area. Wouldn't mind go back there for a day or two. I like Tucscany the hilly landscape is great.
I been to Amalfi 1 day but didn't think there is a lot to do there, but everyone seems to suggest there are a lot of things to explore, looks like I need to do more research and go there the following year.

When most say Amalfi, they are referring to the region and surrounding main sites not just the small town which is why 4-5 nights is needed since this may include some or all of:
Island of Capri (takes a full day)
Pompeii (takes a full day)
Towns of Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello plus a couple of other smaller ones which are less visited ; seeing those 4 main scenic towns will take 2 days plus and can be done using buses and/or ferries
Path of the Gods if you like hiking is something to research on the Amalfi Coast.
Some will add day trip to Naples or Paestum