Very fortunate to have been to all and am looking for a relaxing few days in the south of Italy - October 1 - 4 and flying out of Naples on the 5th.
Would like to see Herculaneum and Paestum but am wondering if anyone has any ideas of where else to go/stay/not miss that would primarily involve relaxing on a beach and swimming given the water should still be tolerable?
Traveling with my adult daughter - her first experience with all Italy has to offer.
Thanks!
You are flying out of Naples. Where are you flying INTO? Are you going to be anywhere else on this trip? Asking for connection - no point suggesting places that are not well connected.
Without knowing additional info, you could consider: Salerno is still part of the Amalfi Coast but is close to Paestum and close enough to Herculaneum but admit I have not done the beaches (it was rainy when I was there). I believe there are beaches near Sorrento you could consider that has you connected ok, but Paestum could be a hurdle. Could Ischia also be an option, though not as easy to get to your other goals.
Hi there, sounds fun! I'm not sure how 'tolerable' swimming will be at the beginning of October. I swam in Amalfi May 1st, it was chilly! Italians lined up on the beach to scold me for going into such cold water, then commented to each other, "oh, a FOREIGNER"! One alternative would be to pick somewhere to 'relax BY the beach' but also soak in thermal waters - IF the weather is good? Ischia comes to mind, if too cold to swim the thermal baths would still be fun.
In no particular order, just giving you some ideas here. What time does your flight arrive? If early enough, drop your suitcases at the train station and see Herculaneum on day of arrival? Herculaneum is easy to reach from downtown Naples, many people say it's a 2-3 hour visit.
You could hang out at the beach 2 days at beginning would be my preference because you want to be sure and make a ferry back to the mainland. Stay in a Naples hotel for convenience last 2 nights, take train to Paestum on Day 3 and go back to Naples for the night before your flight out? Not sure
I just posted a thread about week of Christmas in Pompei, (modern city across from entrance to ruins) visiting some things that interested you. Maybe some logistics are useful? Especially recommended tour guides. https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/ideas-about-our-trip-to-pompeii-naples-paestum
I agree, that's not swimming weather (Italy is along the same latitude as the mid Atlantic states, and though the med is probably warmer, would you want to plan a swimming vacation to New Jersey in October?)......I LOVE Salerno, but I don't love the beaches there (even though they are passable for people who live there). There are better beaches in Paestum and south. I also agree that Ischia and the thermal baths are a great idea and it is very pretty, but the transport time is a hindrance. Vietri, just a 5 min drive away from Salerno is also a nice "coastal" place that you could manage with taxis to the Salerno train station to take the daytrips (buses to/from Vietri baffle me, they always seem to never come or all at once), but maybe not a swimming place.
Hi again. I’ll be coming in from Rome and this is my last leg of my Italian venture before returning to Switzerland and then France.
So, would arrive early from Rome via train into Naples.
Am sleeping in Naples on Saturday so thought that day could be devoted to Herculaneum for a few hours, nice dinner in Naples and then bed as flying out next day at 7 am.
So, looking for something to do that’s beach/pretty/very relaxed between Wednesday October 1 and Saturday morning October 4 - before I make my way to Naples and Herculaneum.
While ischia may be best bet - if there is anywhere else south of Naples you would recommend I head - we are up for it. I haven’t booked my train tickets from Rome yet / so still wide open for the moment.
Thanks everyone!
Look at places in/around Puglia, Calabria, or Sicily. Sea water temps should be fine through the first week of October.
Two years ago we were in Malta in late September and into the first few days of October. Weather was absolutely perfect: hot, sunny days (so hot we had to avoid being out during mid-days) and the sea water was lovely for swimming (we went SCUBA diving there in October). Malta is not far from southern Italy (on a clear day, one can actually see Sicily from Malta); the southern Mediterranean should be plenty warm enough for swimming the first few days of October.
I have swum well into October in Sicily and Puglia. The water is still warm from the summer - much nicer than in May. You just need a nice sunny day and you'll be fine
