We are doing Venice, Florence, Amalfi and Rome end of November. I am a little concerned about the Amalfi Coast this time of year. How is Amalfi in the end of November? Can you still have a good time, are there enough things open? Can you go to Capri still? Thank you in advance
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15585 posts
I spent a few days in Salerno in February to enjoy the AC and it was lovely, few tourists, mostly pleasant weather. I also spent a few days in Sorrento in February several years ago. In those cities, everything was open. The small Amalfi towns were a lot quieter - many (most?) hotels and B&Bs and a number of cafes/restaurants were closed - a good time to visit if you aren't actually staying in one of the towns. Since the summer season ends in October, it is possible that much more will still be open then . . . maybe through the Christmas season. The only ferry service then is between Sorrento and Capri (though it won't run if the seas are rough). The bus ride from Salerno to Positano is more scenic that from Sorrento. The road from Sorrento to Positano is mostly inland, from Positano to Salerno it's all coastal road. Salerno is easier to get to than Sorrento because there's fast train service. The only connection to Sorrento is by local train from Naples - it's really a tram, not a train.
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
Good and bad to consider for Amalfi in late November. The good--you'll have the run of the place, and the scenery is drop-dead spectacular, some of the best vistas on Earth. The bad--on the A.C. itself, from Positano to Amalfi to Ravello to Cetara--there won't be a lot open, especially in those areas that normally cater to tourists. And the weather will decidedly be unpredictable, making a visit to Capri a crapshoot because of potential rough seas. Temp-wise probably 40's-50's.
That being said--as my friend Chani has stated--I'd still definitely do it, in fact to me it's much preferred to visit then than in high season. Stay either in Salerno or Sorrento, where there are places open and life goes on 12 months of the year, and day trip to wherever you want to go, usually an hour or less trip. No ferries in late November, but the SITA bus or Circumvesuviana train work just fine and both are dirt cheap.
And don't forget the prospects of visiting Pompei on a nice day or if it's raining, the Archeological Museum in Naples. Both are must-sees. We stayed in Sorrento for 5 nights in early March of this year, and it rained 3 of the days, and was cool and clear the other two. We made it work. Both Salerno and Sorrento have fabulous food, if that's important to you.
Enjoy your planning!