Bologna, Florence, Salerno & the Amalfi Coast, Rome

Welcome to the forum!

Logistically it works
But 2 nights in locations only gives you 1 full day
If you can extend the trip add 1 night each to Bologna, Florence and Rome
Or drop one of those 2 night locations

Look for a flight into Bologna from Amsterdam, instead of Milan. Bologna is a nice little airport, very easy to negotiate, and connected to the Bologna Central station by monorail. There are nice hotels right by the station, or It is easy to walk from the train station to the central area, even with luggage (we have done that twice). It it is an inexpensive taxi ride.

I love having Salerno as a base, I use it for my day trips too! Last time we went to Paestum/Vietri, Amalfi/Ravello, Herculaneum, and Capri. With 4 nights, you get 3 full days. You have 4 options to fit in 3 days, and I would suggest:
1) Paestum (and you could do Vietri too! or Visit a buffalo mozzarella farm!)
2) One of the two, Pompeii or Herculaneum
3) I would say to combine your "Amalfi Coast" ideas, I would take a ferry from Salerno (to get your "boat tour") to Amalfi, then take a bus to Ravello, have lunch, come down and back Salerno!

This way you get 3 different activity experiences :)

Florence is way shortchanged, you have one full day and only a few hours on your arrival and departure days. I would either extend like the other person said or take those 2 Bologna nights and put them with Florence.

These are all very good suggestions. I may just plan to head to Rome to fly home and do that city another time. Flights from Amsterdam to Bologna are roughly the same as the flight/train combo. And Katherine, you had me at buffalo mozzarella farm! 😀

That is a lot of traveling to spend only 2 nights in places like Florence and Rome.

Bologna is good, but pales compared to Florence and Rome.

I have been to Rome twice for a total of 11 days and still haven't seen it all.

Also, I would stay in Sorrento rather than Salerno.

I'm glad you're spending 4 nights in Salerno. You might enjoy seeing the tomb of the Apostle Matthew in the Duomo.

https://www.cattedraledisalerno.it/

I expected to like Paestum, which I did, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed a nearby Water Buffalo farm/mozzarella factory. I thought it would be touristy, which it was - but it reminded me a bit of Napa.

https://www.tenutavannulo.com/en/

In April 2022, we chartered a boat from Salerno-based Blu Mediterraneo for a gorgeous ride along the Amalfi Coast. We had the option to spend time in Positano, but we opted to enjoy the views from the water instead. Some friends used them in June 2023 for a great charter as well - and they got to go swimming!

https://www.blumediterraneosas.com/

With that "back to Rome" before you fly out is throwing an almost wasted travel day with no reward into your plans. Normally it is easiest to bundle that last relocation with the payoff of another city to visit. If you do that your last day in country, you will almost have two travel days in a row, which is not the most relaxing way to end an amazing anniversary trip.

I would honestly chuck the nights in Bologna and add at LEAST one to Florence and Rome each, and possibly even take one night away from Salerno to add to either of those. BUT it is all up to what specifically interests YOU and why YOU want to go those places. It may be your DREAM to visit Bologna and we have no idea! If it is possible, I would check on your options for flights in and out of many places, so you can optimize your time in country.

Sorrento vs Salerno, its up to what you're looking for, but speaking of transport and that "last day" move, another option would be to stay in Sorrento, make an early morning move to Naples that last day and do the archeological museum and get a taste of the city and fly out of Naples (though there are probably 0 options for non stops to the US form there) the next day. That way it doesn't seem like SUCH a wasted day, as the trip from door to door would probably be only 1.5-2 hours.

Sorrento - easier access to the ruins of Herculaneum and Pompeii, town leaning a little more focus on tourism
Salerno - easier access to Paestum, city leaning a little less focus on tourism, more on locals, I'm biased though....

All depending on what your priorities are.....

oh wow Estimated prophet, I am so glad you came along! I know I hard heard some things on here about people with the mozzarella farms, I just didn't remember who or which!

I rented a boat (without a skipper) from Salerno to go along the Amalfi Coast for my birthday and it was one of the best things EVER! We went swimming, we had a picnic that we had picked up from our local deli in Salerno, and then even docked at Amalfi to wander about! So fun! Though if the OP had any particular desires to accomplish seeing for the coast, it might not be the best, as we basically accomplished nothing all day hahaha

Katherine - Your day along the Amalfi Coast sounds magical! I don't know why more Americans don't choose to stay in Salerno - let's keep it to ourselves. With that said, sometimes I sound like the Chamber of Commerce.

I can remember the name of Vannulo because I bought a bag in the leather shop that is the perfect big purse/small carry-on.

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions! I now have the final plan, just need to secure lodging in Salerno.

Fly from Amsterdam to Florence
Florence-4 nights
Train to Salerno
Salerno-4 nights
Train to Rome
Rome-4 nights

I was trying to go too many places initially. Now, we have an excuse to go back for what we missed. 😀

Thanks again!!

When you look for lodging in Salerno, look to the west of the train station along the coast (in general). That is the start of the corso (the long shopping street that the folks wander about every evening) which morphs into Via Mercanti, the tiny "corso" of the centro storico (historic center). Anything between the tourist port and the larger port along those ways would be generally good, location wise. If you want to take ferries (to the coast) and trains (to Naples, Paestum etc) then the closer you are to the train station which is almost directly in front of the tourist port (just a few blocks away) will cut down on your walking. I took the ferry to Capri the last time from the big port, but since I was staying in the centro storico, it wasn't too far. Along Via Roma or the Corso is more modern, and busier, but closer to the transportation, in the centro storico along Via Mercanti is more "quaint" and old school Italy, but a longer walk (which when you arrive in country and take a train to Salerno immediately, you want to punch someone having to drag your suitcase that far haha).

Anywhere in that area will give you amazing access to the lungomare, the seawalk, where the rest of the Salernitani walk in the evenings if they aren't on the corso!

If you want a homey, local, low-cost room in Salerno, look at Centro B&B. It's conveniently located on the edge of the historic center, easy walk to the big sandy beach and the lovely seaside promenade. 10-15 minute walk to the ferry, bus and train. I was referred there by another forum member and have seen others recommend it as well. They have 3 rooms, 2 with en suite modern bathrooms, the 3rd is private but access from the hallway. The son handles the business end, he can arrange a car for a day trip to the Vanullo buffalo farm (loved it - best cannoli ever) on the way to Paestum for a day and others as well. They picked me up at the train station (complementary) when I arrived.

Chani, that sounds like a great family to stay with! My ABSOLUTE FAVORITE place, Seaview Salerno has unfortunately closed as the owners wanted to retire. But that one is PERFECTLY located, right at the beginning of the centro storico, as well as SO NEAR MY FAVORITE PIZZA PLACE, Trianon, as its right around the corner! Wurstel e patatine is my FAVORITE. Well, second favorite, as diavola is my favorite, but since Trianon has the best hot dog and french fry pizza that I know if, I can't miss a chance to have it when I go there!

Katherine, that explains a lot! 😀 I submitted an availability inquiry to Seaview Salerno last week [the website is still up] but hadn’t heard anything. It did look like a lovely place.

Chani - I didn't realize/remember that you had stayed at the Salerno Centro B&B. We stayed there in April 2022. Francesco, the son, picked us up our hotel in Pompeii. He took us to Paestum and Vannulo, arranging for excellent guides at both places. Since we are interested in Operation Avalanche, he found a German bunker on the beach at Paestum - beautiful beach. He also took us to Eboli to see the museum there, and explore the lovely small town.

Maybe the best thing he did was drive us along the Amalfi Coast. We stopped at a couple of view points, and spend a couple of hours at Ravello. He dropped us off in Amalfi so we could take the boat charter up to Positano and back to the dock at Salerno - where he picked us up.

The price for all that driving was amazingly affordable.

https://www.salernocentro.it/en/

Woah, I didn't realize that they still had the website up hummus_owl! I am friends with the owner (the wife) on fb, and I am almost positive that they said they were retiring, so I don't know! I hope I am crazy and they are still going but wow! I really hope I am crazy.....yes, I see on their fb page they posted Nov 2022 about them "taking a break", but I am unsure what that means :) haha

And wow estimated_prophet, that seems like a full service place! That is so great that they did all that! I'm glad you got to have such an amazing time in Salerno! I just hope you got to Trianon around the corner :) haha