Cinque Terra versus Amalfi Coast

I think the Amalfi Coast would offer more variety to you. You can see Pompeii and/or Herculaneum, go to a concert in Amalfi, do a daytrip to Capri ...

Having done both, and just leaving the Amalfi coast today, I would direct you to the Amalfi rather than the CT; however, you should base in Sorrento so that you can do the ruins in Pompei and Herculareum, along with the cities of Ravello, Amalfi, and Sorrento.

Ricks' tour of Sorrento was terrific, however, we found his brief tour of Pompei kind of disappointing, and used the guide supplied at the office. We spent the whole day there.

Did the bus to Amalfi and Ravella and walked down from Ravello, and it was super--the Duomo's in Amalfi and Sorrento are something to see.

I'd pick the Amalfi coast. And yes, base in Sorrento for more variety. Although a night in Positano would be incredible!!!!

I would do almafi..I haven't done Cinque Terre.But I have done Positano..i could live there..There are shops everywhere and you can do Sorrento and Pompeii as suggested..MAybe Capri...I mean i went here while staying with my friend in Frosinone..So it was a mini-trip..I think it will be good with combining the other destinations:)Positano is the most beautiful place in the world in my eyes.

Amalfi Amalfi Amalfi!

I say Amalfi too, really in Cinque Terra there is not much more to do other than hiking, eating, and looking at the pretty scenery. We loved it, but the Amalfi coast has a lot more to offer, i would stay in Sorrento as a base town.

Another vote for Amalfi. In addition to what has already been mentioned, there are lovely churches in Amalfi and Ravello. Also in Ravello are two villas, open to the public, with stunning gardens. Both of those cities are quite walkable. If you want to stay in one of the AC towns, rather than Sorrento, Amalfi is less expensive than Positano or Ravello and has good bus connections to the other towns. If ancient history is your thing, besides Pompeii and Herculaneum, you can visit Paestum.

Thank you everyone! Amalfi Coast it is!!!

I'm glad you chose the Amalfi Coast, it's amazing...wanted to recommend Hotel La Tonnarella in Sorrento. We've stayed there 3 times and love it. It's in Rick's Italy guide.

Yeah, if you're not into hiking I'd head to the Amalfi, b/c that is what the Cinque Terre primarily has to offer. If you base yourself in Sorrento, you can take a trip to see the towns along the Amalfi coast one day, go to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and/or Mt. Vesuvius one day (you can ride almost to the top), go to Naples to visit churches and museums and get some good pizza one day, take a trip to Capri one day, and you can even head down to Salerno and Paestum one day as well. There are even some places around and outside of Naples as well as a couple of other islands that could be worth exploring. So there's a lot you can do and explore if you want to.

Now, not to play devil's advocate necessarily, but keep in mind that the five towns of Cinque Terre are nice places to visit/explore themselves, very scenic with great character and good restaurants too. Monterosso probably has the better beaches of any of the places mentioned. You can even take day trips up the Italian Riviera to explore more coastal towns like Sestri Levante, Camogli, and Portofino. Also assuming you haven't been, you could even take day trips south to visit towns like Lucca, the ever-touristy Pisa, and see Michelangelo's marble at Carrara, all of which can be well worth it. So, just to give you an idea, there's still a good bit you can do and see in and around the Cinque Terre as there is in the Amalfi, but given that the highlight of the Cinque Terre is its hiking trails and views, then that may still sway you toward the Amalfi. It just depends on what you'd be interested in seeing and doing, I guess... (there's also some good hiking around the Amalfi as well!)