Amalfi coast or Puglia

When will the trip take place? I found Sorrento to be crowded but very bearable, but that was last week. I would not have wanted to use the city as a base and the day trips to the islands and the Amalfi Coast..e could see th ferry lines from our terrace and they were very long...people we spoke to who had been on day trips to Capri reported heavy crowds and some said they would not go again to the islands on a day trip. (not would I)

I am in Puglia now and it's been heaven....but wwe are not planning to visit any of the tourist hot spots, as we have been here quite a few times......I love Puglia but my advice would be to get out very early In the mornings to visit the popular towns....or visit in the evenings... Towns like Polignano have become jam-packed during the day and things will get worse as summer begins....

We have had spectacular meals here every night so far..but I do a lot of research on restaurants...booking is essential for many places..

It's desirable to have a car in Puglia...not on the Amalfi Coast.

Again, much depends on when your trip will take place, I'd also be concerned about making hotel reservations at this late dat if you intend to go this summer...

We spent two weeks in Sorrento in April 2023 and loved it, but you've listed scenery as not being important and as far as I'm concerned, that's all the AC is good for. That trip was one of our best ever and I would have absolutely regretted not going. The highlights for us were Pompeii, Herculaneum and Naples, as well as Capri. We're making plans for a future trip to Capri for several days which we enjoyed far more than the Amalfi Coast.

I've never been to Puglia and can't compare.

What time of year would that portion fall?
I would find it extremely tedious to set out for day trips from Sorrento every day.

Scenery is important, maybe that was not clear.
It is May next year, part of a 3 month trip.
Am reading varying reports in the crowds
I would skip Capri if too hot and crowded possibly snd the grotto is if no interest as seen similar in other countries
Lemon grove lunch and walk of the lemons are of interest
Just thinking if we would prefer Puglia mainly due to too many people in the heat.
Both would be great but no time

It is usually not until late May that it gets really hot.
If you are not as jazzed about Capri and not going to Pompeii, then you could stay on the Amalfi coast rather than in Sorrento and cut out some of the travel time. After such a long intensive sightseeing trip, I would prioritize something less crowded, but if you have your heart set on seeing the AC, May is a much safer bet than summer.

I would vote for Puglia. After Rome, Florence & Venice, you will be ready for some peaceful, beautiful scenery. I’d rearrange slightly: Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, Bologna.

From Bologna, head first to Trani — a lovely little seaport town. Then down the Adriatic coast — if you have a car, the Gargano peninsula would give you spectacular views. Go inland for the trulli villages or Matera. Then to Bari and fly from there to Istanbul (Turkish airlines, about 2 hours).

We have to start in Venice as coming from Salzburg and heading to Istanbul after Italy . Love suggestions of places we may not have thought of.
I’m visiting my daughter in Austria at the moment and the heat wave had made me consider where we go next year a bit. This trip is a very short one just to see her and we haven’t done Europe bee.
Staying on the Amalfi coast itself is not an option as it’s too expensive for us, we are from New Zealand and our dollar is half the USD

Come to Puglia..it's paradise right now (late May)....easy to get away from the bus tours, but you should have a car.

.it's a snap to drive around here...hard to keep my eyes on the road, however, with such glorious scenery passing by!!

I would plan, as bases, some of the less-famous tons, which are every bit as beautiful as the ones everyone talks about....
we were in Noci on Sunday, for example, and I didi not spot one indication of a tourist presence, but the town is just as pretty as all the other famous "white" towns..with endless trulli lining the roads near town....and so easy to drive around here....

Last fall we also found an untouristed gem in Ceglie Messapica.....the options are endless; it'd a very large region with distinct landscapes, architecture and food from place to place....the value, especially in the less discovered towns, is excellent...

I could give you so many examples of the kindness we experienced here, and in Matera, on this current visit....

I wish I had flown Turkish instead of ITA!!

You have not mentioned if car rental is an option—that can greatly affect recommendations, and in May, when traveling by car, I’ve had sites to myself in a handful of regions. You might enjoy Umbria or Marche. Did you specifically want coastal?
The Amalfi coast does have a few bargains still. The place I stayed in Cetara was lovely and less than 100euros per night.

We can hire a car, would not on Amalfi coast though.
We are used to driving on the left though but will be driving around Tuscany
Leaning towards Puglia although my husband wants to see Pompei