I guess because everyone enjoys different things, I am getting conflicting information. If we want to hike, hang out on the beach, check out the town, and try good local food (but on a budget), should we just do Capri as a day trip? It sounds like a wonderful place after the ferries have left. It also sounds like Vico Esquense is a good respite from busy Sorrento and Amalfi. If we want to spend a few days just relaxing hiking and going to beaches and a few days visiting the other tourist sites, it seems like we will need around 6-7 days. So, we could either spend all 6-7 in Vico Esquense, which does not seem far from busy Sorrento, or a few nights in Capri and the rest in Vico Esquense. From there, we will go to Venice (just a stop off as we have been before and it is en route to Slovenia) and then Slovenia and northern Croatian beaches.Some have recommended just a few days in the Amalfi area, but it feels like we would be rushed the whole time. So confused!
Posted by
San Diego
1540 posts
I did a day trip to Capri and enjoyed it very much. I was staying in Sorrento and went down to the dock and got on a boat to Capri. I had plenty of time to wander around the lower level, and the upper level and even took the chair lift to the very top top. I had lunch at a small cafe on the upper level and wandered around many of the streets and paths to look at the house etc.
I did not go into the Grotto - because we were told that the tide was not good that day.
Capri is a wonderful place to take photos.
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
A day trip from Marina Grande is enough. Check out the different tours and ask about the tide for the dates you are interested in. Most tours won't tell you they aren't able to go into the cave unless you ask them. The high tide or very rough water will keep the boats from entering the cave. I can't imagine going to Capri and not going into the grotto. The shops are very expensive. The tours will arrange for a tour of the island, time to rxplore the town where you can have lunch and shop and then go into the grotto. You won't have to purchase anything else. Perhaps a euro per person for the grotto boat captain and a few euros for the tour guide. It is a great day trip but otherwise in my opinion not much else to do. I can't comment on the beaches but from what I've seen they're very rocky.
Enjoy
Lorieann
Posted by
Austin TX after living in Boulder CO for 25 years
1175 posts
The area is beautiful and you can't go wrong ! We stay in Ravello or Positano and these locations are a few journey legs longer than most people wish to travel ! In fact, on our last visit, we stayed 2 nights in Sorrento and 2 nights in Positano and I thought it was spot on.
The point is that you will visit ALL of the locations you desire to see, and your home base will not matter.
Do you like the B&B or hotel in Vico Esquense you have found ? Are you one to enjoy the "hotel move" ?
You could compromise and stay in 2 locations. Otherwise, go, stay in one spot and VISIT everything you wish !
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11852 posts
I love that you want to spend 6 or 7 days on the Amalfi Coast, taking your time and relaxing. No car, right? It would not be relaxing with a car.
Vico Equense is nicely located and you can pop into Sorrento by train or taxi for dinner or whatever. (Although I think the Circumvesuviana stops running about 21:30.....)
I am not a fan of Capri. It is pretty, and if you can get away from the shopping hordes you can find some peace and some local color (try the hike to the ruins of Tiberius' villa), but it is very expensive and stuffed with people.
Posted by
Boston, MA
1832 posts
I loved Capri it was breathtakingly beautiful. Definitely in well manicured way that may turn some off?
I did not price any hotels but imagine they are costly, at least one with a view or pool.
We went only on a day trip from Sorrento, but another day drove a boat from Positano around the island to see the grotto which unfortunately was closed due to waves/surf.
So 2 days I was there technically and still never seen the Blue Grotto inside.
I found the island easily fills a busy day, the chairlift up the mountain and walking around the top were one of the highlights of our entire trip. There are your fancy shops (Gucci, Prada, etc...) which we like for window shopping only but also some shops at more down to earth pricing less than a block off the main drag in the alleyways that my wife enjoyed.
If you want to be a bit more relaxed, not feel like your or on a schedule, like to hike or lounge on the beach, etc... staying overnight would give you much more freedom.
I would have really enjoyed an overnight stay (just for 1 night) to experience the place once the ferries leave, I think it could be really magical. Alas the hassle of bringing luggage on a ferry and then somehow transporting it from ferry dock to hotel and the inconvenience of checking in / checking out / unpacking when staying one night made it less than ideal.
Perfect case scenario if you have the budget, stay booked at your hotel in Sorrento or Positano and then pack just a day bag to head to Capri for 1 night. You could do this by paying for both rooms that night, or pay for just Capri as long as your other hotel will hold your bags for you when you return to check back in the next day. I did not think of this until after our trip but is how I would plan a return.
Doing something similar with a stay in the Dolomites this year, where we will be leaving for one night to stay at a mountain rifugio but have our base hotel to leave our luggage with.