I know many people have recommended Sorrento as good place to base but we are most interested in Amalfi, Revello, and Positano and want to avoid the dreaded drive and traffic. We will be traveling with an 85 years old that has a hard time climbing stairs so I suppose Positano is not a good choice which is a shame. We have 14 days and would like to break our trip into two locations. The Montpulciano/Pienza area and the Amalfi coast. We would fly in and out of Rome and have a car while in Tuscany but uncertain if we should even have a car in AC. Traveling by ferry sounds wonderful in AC. Any recommendation on how to get from Rome-Tuscany- AC- Rome or vise versa would be a big help. I am particularly interested in Revello as a base. Thank you in advance for any help/suggestions you may offer. Any fantastic hotels, B&B's, with views??
Posted by
NorthCarolina
1101 posts
There are LOTS of stairs in Italy. Have you thought of spending more time in Florence and taking Day Trips into Tuscany = you really don't even need a car. We used WalkAbout Florence and loved it.
We spent 4 nights in Sorrento and did a day trip to the Amalfi Coast with a Rick Steves recommended guide - sharedtours.com == I would not want a car near Amalfi Coast - the roads are crazy narrow and winding - let someone else drive, while you relax and take in the views.
We love Venice too. Really better than AC.
Have you considered Rome, Florence (with day trips to Tuscany - we did Best of Tuscany and Chiani Wine & Food Safari with WalkAbout Florence, Sorrento w/day trips to AC, Herculaneum - not sure what your 85 yo can do, but there is lots of walking in Italy)? We never got a car - the train was SO easy. You will have a blast with whatever you choose. I'll be curious as to what others recommend = we are planning to return Oct 2019.
Posted by
11676 posts
Sorrento is basically flat as is Ravello which is beautiful. Hire a driver to visit other towns on the Amalfi Coast. Personally, I would rather stay in Ravello than in Positano.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
Gee, I don't remember a flat Sorrento. True, the historic center is mostly flat but it's uphill from there to the train/bus station and way downhill to the sea for the ferries.
If your main interest in the AC, Salerno is a better choice. Most of the town is at sea level, though part of the historic center does go up the hills up bit. There's a castle overlooking the town, easy to drive to or take a bus or taxi. There are elevators in the sight itself and great views. The center of Amalfi Town is pretty flat, one long flight of stairs up to the cathedral. That means that you won't find hotels with views that are convenient to public transportation. I'm told Ravello is pretty flat after you get up there. I tried to drive, but the road was too narrow (with 2-way traffic) for me to be comfortable so about half way, I carefully and painstakingly turned around and retreated. There's a bus from Amalfi. Minori is worth a stop for lunch or just pastries (the best ever) and/or gelati at Sal de Riso, right across from the water. You could also visit the Greek temples and archaeology museum in Paestum - level walking - either driving, train or bus from Salerno.
The problem with Ravello is that you need to take the bus down to Amalfi, then a bus or ferry to get anywhere else.
It may be pretty difficult to find a combination of easy (flat) walking and great views - you're either near the sea where it's flat or on a hillside where it's not.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16203 posts
Whether you keep your car or not for the Amalfi coast, the ferries/hydrofoils dock at Salerno, Amalfi, and Positano, therefore you should stick to one of these towns. Positano is on a steep hill, Amalfi a bit less so, Salerno is largely flat, but it’s a city, not a village like the others. Buses go from Salerno to Amalfi. Then there is another bus that goes from Amalfi to Positano and all the way to Sorrento. A car works as long as you are aware of the high parking prices (3€/hr up to 25 or 30€ a day). There is traffic, especially on summer weekends, which affect both cars and buses (but not boats).
Posted by
Treasure Island, Florida, USA
267 posts
Aren't there inter-town buses in Positano and Amalfi that take you up and down the hills? I would think if you made sure you got a hotel that is on that bus route, the older person would be fine...making Positano an OK choice?
Posted by
Cincinnati, Ohio
303 posts
We took the Frecca train from Rome to Salerno where we stayed at the B and B Salerno Centrale at the edge of Old Town. There weren't challenging stairs in that area. We never used the SITA buses, but relying exclusively on the ferries. Ferries from Salerno go up the coast with stops at Amalfi (and access to Ravello by means of a local bus up the steep hills to the village), Positano and Sorrento. Salerno is also a train hub that can access Pompeii and Paestum. Word of caution about Positano! It is straight UP! It will too challenging for your 85 year old! I speak from experience! If you base in Ravello, you have to rely on the crowded bus going to Amalfi then use another mode of transportation every time you want to explore other villages. I would explore train options to and from Salerno to the other regions you want to see in Italy. You might have more options than Sorrento. Amalfi and Positano o have no train stations.