Cinque Terra or Amalfi Coast OR BOTH :)

it depends on what you're looking for. Cinque terre has small quaint villages overrun with tourists, while the Amalfi coast has bigger towns and smaller villages, a nice mixture. Both are beautiful, however the Amalfi coast is a bit more commercialized. Ravello is a little jewel on the Amalfi coast, my favourite. beautiful hill-top town. if you go, be sure to visit Villa Ruffolo; it has a beautiful garden with an amazing view.

I really believe you can do both easily. And I agree Ravello is NOT to be missed and Positano gorgeous. In Ravello they have beautiful dishes - and don't miss Villla Cimbrone as well. We are going to CT in late September and are planning 3 days there. We did 3 days on the Amafi coast a few years ago - a few more days would have been nice.

We are having the same dilemma. We have 3 weeks but as I outline a route, it seems like we have so little time. Land in Rome, spend three nights, head to the Amalfi Coast for 4 nights, back up to the Siena region for 4 nights, over to Cinque Terra for 2 nights, over to Florence for 3 nights, up to Venice (2 nights) and then we are on the overnight train to Paris. I am thinking of carving out a little more time be eliminating either the Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terra so that we can spend some time in the Veneto wine region or taking a cooking class a couple of times. Any input from someone who has been there would be appreciated.

We haven't been before and don't know when we will get back and are trying to find the balance between seeing everything and not going crazy.

Yes you will be rushed. CT is very nice but betw the two I would choose Amalfi coast. Assuming you are not flying home from Paris you could lv Paris for another trip as it warrants 5 days alone. then you would have more time in bella Italia.

To Debbie-If you want to spend more time in Tuscany, maybe you could carve a day or two from the Amalfi Coast. It is fabulous and NOT to be missed, but you might be able to drive/explore the Coast in 1-2 days and ferry over to Capri for 1 day. We fell in love with Capri!! This timing sounds like the trip we just took! If you follow the "walks" in the Rick Steve's books, you can actually do everything in his books in the time that you have-just stop to people watch for a break!

To Da-Per Kent's point, after you check your actual time on the ground/train travel times between places you plan to go, you can decide on these two awesome spots. Venice into LaSpezia/Cinque Terre is a bit tougher of a train trip than Rome down to Amalfi-you have to give yourself more time for that travel.

The old DVD I saw of Rick at the Amalfi coast left me thinking he wasn't so keen on the area.

That made me change my mind to spending all my time at CT instead.

Anyone else got that impression?

I'm also making my first trip to Italy this October (8-24) and I plan to hit both places. I'm planning to stay roughly 3 days in each to give me enough time to do/see both places. It may end up being a bit rushed, but I don't want to miss either place so I'm doing what I can to get them both in. I think u can do it!

I say do both if you want to!

On our first trip to Italy (16 days) we did both. And didn't regret it one bit! A couple of days and nights in Positano (warmer, a little more upscale, but not snooty) and 3 days and nights in Riomaggiore (better food for lower $$$, laid back, little to do but hike and rest). And we did it all by train and bus, and actually stopped for an afternoon and evening in Orvieto on our way from Positano to the CT. DO BOTH!!!!

Tony, you inspire me now to try more by bus and train!