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Cinque Terre or Naples?

I am going to Italy during either the first or second week in November, so I'll be there for about 7 days. I'm going to spend a few days in Venice, and am trying to decide if I should spend the rest of my time in the Cinque Terre villages or in Naples (ideally Sorrento, but I think that would be deserted in November). Cinque Terre seems like it would be beautiful and very authentic, but I have read that Italy really intensifies as you go south, and that's what I want: a full blown experience of Italy. Plus, I would love to see Pompeii. What should I do?

Posted by
390 posts

That's a tough one - while Cinque Terre is beautiful, I think I would head south. I LOVED the Amalfi coast area, we stayed in Sorrento and Positano, visitdd Pompeii, which was very interesting, and took a day trip to Capri. If you have at least three days, I would spend them down south. Cinque Terre didn't have enough to hold my attention for more than a day or two, but the towns along the Amalfi coast are breathtaking.

Posted by
127 posts

i was told Naples was dirty, polluted, crowded, and to just stay a day..naples was dirty, polluted, crowded, and i stayed five...i loved* Naples.was only in Florence and also Rome, but Naples was by FAR the most "Italian", great food, nice ppl...a true Italian Expierence..it was what i was looking for...less tourists, more cool art, venues, ppl, and to be honest..intense...no clue about Cinque. btw: the graffeti was at times better then some of the art at the museums, looking out from the train to pompei. :]

Posted by
127 posts

oh...forgot the food...go down the one of many narrow streets, pop into one of the many small restaurants: u will expierence the true deal...family run...the little boy serves the water, the older brother serves the bread and takes your order, and the dinner...un forgettable expierence...i want to go again!!

Posted by
13 posts

Thanks for the responses so far, to be honest I was expecting people to recommend Cinque Terre, but I'm happy no one has!

Posted by
3551 posts

CT and Naples are so diff. But CT and Amalfi coast are more sim in that they are both more relaxed and picturesque. CT is more compact than Amalfi coast.
If you have time do Naples and Amalfi coast with a day for Pompeii, but do not rush it, it is worth staying 5 days to enjoy it right.

Posted by
13 posts

Do you think the Amalfi Coast will be deserted in November though? What if there is no cheap transportation between towns?

Posted by
390 posts

Void of tourists, yes. Deserted? No. There are still people that live in these towns. However, you won't find as many souvenier shops open and the beaches will be empty. But temps will be mild and the towns are still beautiful! SITA buses run between Sorrento and the Amalfi coast towns - we went to Positano and Amalfi. (about 3 euro/person I think)

The easiest/cheapest way to get to Sorrento from Naples is the Circumvesuviana train from Naples train station to Pompeii, then terminating in Sorrento - also very cheap.