Amalfi Coast area - How long will it take ?

Travel in the area is slow. From Naples, there is Trenitalia to Salerno, from there you can get to Paestum. But there's no direct way to Pompeii from either. From Naples, you can take the local Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii, it goes as far as Sorrento. I believe there is bus service between Salerno and Sorrento. What do you want to see on the Amalfi Coast? There are several towns. If you rent a car, it may be doable, but driving around the Amalfi Coast isn't easy.

Day One - Arrive Naples and transfer to Circumvesuviana to Sorrento. Orient to Sorrento and sleep in Sorrento

Day Two - Day trip to Pompeii. If you get a tour, you can probably also do Vesuvius. I have not done Vesuvius yet, but I think it is possible. In fact, I believe Rick Steves outlines this in his guide. Return to Sorrento to sleep.

Day Three - Day trip to Paestum -- this will be a long day of bus rides but you can do it. Again, see Rick Steve' guide. Along the way you will see the Amalfi Coast. You probably won't have enough time to stop anywhere except to change buses. Return to Sorrento to sleep.

Day Four - Leave early from Sorrento and stop in Naples to see the Archaeological Museum (opens at 10:00) and whatever else interests you. Once again I have to direct you to the Rick Steves guide as he has a self-guided day plan. Check your luggage at the station when you get off the Circumvesuiviana. Catch a Frecciarossa to Rome about 18:00 and enjoy your dinner after you check-in in Rome.

Thanks Chani & Laurel for your replies.

Chani - I mainly want to traverse the entire Amalfi coast -- possibly take a bus tour. Don't want to drive.Maybe stopping for an hour on the way at any place which seems good.

Laurel -- I my main interest in the 3 days is firstly Amalfi coast trip by bus & then fit in others as possible. I checked Rick Steve's South Italy tour. That is a much longer trip & he has 2 nights halt each in Sorrento & Positano. From his halt in Positano he covering AC & Paestum & from Sorrento he is doing Pompeii (& skipping Vesuvius).

Do you think it would be better to base myself in Positano then ? But Sorrento does have a bus trip all the way to Amalfi. I can skip Paestum if needed.

From these 3 --> - Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and Paestum which one do you think can be skipped ?

Also from Naples to Rome -- are there any fast trains ? How long will it take ?

Fast train from Naples to Rome takes about an hour and 15 minutes to an hour and a half.

I would skip Vesuvius if you have limited time, sometimes weather is a factor in how far up you can go.

Remember a Rick Steve's tour can do more in a day than a private party because they have a driver who knows exactly where he is going, there are no transfers, and everything is prearranged. I'd focus on Pompeii and a bus ride to/from Amalfi town (one day each) and hit Naples on your way to Rome. Anything else you can fit in is a bonus.

Thanks Zoe - agreed; looks like it would be best to skip Vesuvius.

Laurel - Ok - I will stick to Amalfi & spend a day visiting Pompeii. Maybe try to cover Naples on the same day as Pompeii so that on my return trip day to Rome I can reach earlier. Do you think that would work ?

Ok - I will stick to Amalfi & spend a day visiting Pompeii. Maybe try to cover Naples on the same day as Pompeii so that on my return trip day to Rome I can reach earlier. Do you think that would work ?

You can make it work but you will give short shrift to Naples. If your goal is only the Arch. Museum, it opens at 10:00 and will take one-to-two hours. Pompeii is then back toward Sorrento 30+ minutes and IMHO requires at least 3 hours to see well.

10:00 - arrive at museum for opening; spend 120 minutes or so
12:30 - get a train to Pompeii, eat a sandwich on the train
13:30 - enter Pompeii
16:30 - leave Pompeii and go back to Sorrento

You can slow it down a little. Not sure how late Pompeii is open when you will be there. worth checking.

You could go to Pompei first (there is luggage storage at the site) and then go to Naples, no backtracking. Some people prefer to see the site first, or the museum first - it depends on your preference.

Probably might do as Zoe suggests - First see Pompeii & then go to Naples. Then I can spend till evening / late evening & head back to Sorrento at night.

In Naples would you suggest seeing the Arch Museum or taking the Neapolitan walk ? Given that I am visiting Pompeii is the Arch museum still a must see ?

If both are must see, then maybe I can see the Arch Museum on the day I visit Pompeii & then do the Neapolitan walk the last day when I transit through Naples to Rome (depositing the luggage at the train station for 3 hours).

Suggestions ?

Luggage storage is at the entrance to Pompeii, about a half mile walk from the train station.

Regarding the Amalfi Coast, I'd recommend a private driver rather than the bus. You might be able to find someone to share it with to reduce the cost. We did this, and it was wonderful to have someone to answer questions, tell you about where you are. They will stop at beautiful places for photos, give you time to wander the towns and you will have a wonderful day. A less expensive option is to take the ferries. From Sorrento you could take a ferry or a bus to Positano, hang out for a while, then take the ferry to Amalfi, walk around, and catch a bus up the hill to Ravello, which has one of the world's greatest views! Then do it all in reverse to get back to Sorrento. Start early, stay late!

Check it out!

Jan

You could also ferry one way on the Amalfi Coast

http://www.coopsantandrea.com/en/servizidilinea/servizi.asp

Then bus back

http://www.theamalficoast.net/orari_sita_bus_timetables.html

More info on the towns

http://www.theamalficoast.net/

My favorites are Ravello and Vietri sul Mare

PS Mt Vesuvius and Paestum should be your last priorities! The museum in Naples is a half day by itself. Some people love to see the Herculaneum along with Pompeii. We will be visiting this area for the third time this summer on a cruise, and will be taking the ferry from Salerno to Amalfi and bus up to Ravello, then back to the ship to check out, taking the train to Pompeii for the afternoon (storing our luggage there), then off to Rome for a few days!

Have you considered hiring a private driver so as to maximize your time along the coast? You will be able to squeeze more sites in if you use a driver because you won't have to worry about the logistics of getting from place to place and the driver can tailor the day to your interests as well as your kids. I can suggest a great driver if you'd like. I know it's a lot of money but my husband & I felt it was well worth it because we got to see so much more than if we had done it on our own!

Thanks for the great tips & links. Yes - I will skip Mt Vesuvius & Paestum - to keep the trip manageable.

Till now I had not thought about the option of private driver - but seems to be a good option if the costs allow that.

Sheron - could you let me know about the driver you mentioned & the approx. cost for a day. Let me get in touch with the person & explore that option as well.

Almost a year ago (heavy sigh) we spent 5 nights in Sorrento. I wanted to see Paestum so we hired Monetti taxi (in RS book) and were picked up at our hotel at 8am, drove along the Amalfi coast with stops in Positano and Amalfi town (maybe an hour each). Were were able to stop along the coast where ever we liked for photo ops. We were in Paestum for lunch around 2 or so, then left Paestum around 4:30. I think were were dropped back off at our hotel in Sorrento around 6:30 or 7. Raffael was a great tour guide also, and got a lot of history along that way. It was a long day, not inexpensive, but I was fascinated by the Greek ruins and glad we did planned this day.

I sent you a private message regarding the driver we used for the Amalfi Coast. Have a great trip.

Thanks Karen & Sheron - will explore both of these.

At Sheron and Karen- I am interested in hiring a private driver for the Amalfi coast. Could you send me your recommendations? Also we will have 3 possibly 4 people traveling will they be able to accommodate our whole party?

Thanks,
Lisa