We've been to Italy just once: Rome, Florence, Assisi, Umbria area. Considering either the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terra for a 40th wedding anniversary trip. Suggestions? Thanks!
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
That depends. Any desire to see Pompeii? The Blue Grotto on Capri? Eat pizza in Naples?
OR are you interested in hiking along the coast, and dining on pesto sauce where it originated?
Otherwise they are both a collection of quaint seaside villiages.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Yes, to hiking and eating well. My first read about AC was lots of shopping: not interested. We do like physical activity. A museum is fine, but we don't need multiples. Love the outdoors, walking and exploring. We will travel as three couples and likely will try to rent a house and have some meals cooked for us. Read on a related Forum about day trips to Portofino, Lucca, Pisa, Apuan Alps and Viareggio as well as Camogli, Lerici, Porto Venere and Santa Margherita. No car needed?
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
8056 posts
The Cinque Terra are now in a National Park, so hiking/walking opportunities exist, but sometimes parts of the trails linking the 5 towns are under maintenance, so could be closed to hiking. Trains and/or boast connect the town, if going by foot the whole way doesn't work. You'd also get to see the area that has been restored after the devastating floods of a couple of years ago. Magical place.
We stayed in Sorrento for New Year's 2013, and had a car for getting around, but private guides/drivers are available, as well as public transportation. Both the ruins at Pompeii and Herculaneum (and other ancient Roman sites) are outdoors, and give you opportunities for walking while exploring those sites, which we found fascinating. Depending on the time of year you go, boats to Capri could give you options for additional adventures in the area. If you're on foot along the Amalfi coast, you'll get plenty of opportunities to climb stairs and stroll steep streets, even if you don't shop for a thing.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I love the Amalfi Coast, lots to do besides shop. A little further south is Paestum, an archeological zone with three Greek temples, a very good museum for its size, and a beach. Also mozzarella farms that you can visit.
I like Praiano (between Positano and Amalfi) and Ravello as places to stay. Ravello is in the hills above Amalfi so it takes about 20-30 minutes to get to/from Amalfi town from there, but the views are great.