Florence-Padua-Amalfi Coast-Sicily-Capri

Hello mauldenm , and welcome to the forum,

I'm not an expert on Seattle airport but I don't think you can go direct so I would suggest flying into Venice and then back from Sicily, Naples or Rome.

With no length restrictions I'd do at least 3 nights but probably more in Venice, quick transfer to Padova (prebook sites like Scrovegni Chapel) and then onto Florence for as long as you want - I'd say at least 4 or 5 nights. Train to Naples and pick up a driver there or onto Sorrento for a couple of nights - do Capri from there - and then get a driver for the AC. You could also train to Salerno and explore the Amalfi Coast from there via ferry or via driver. I think the view of the coast from the water is the best view of the AC. Both Sorrento and Salerno offer good access Pompeii and other locals sites.

Watch 'shoulder' versus 'off' season on the Amalfi Coast. There is definitely a quieter time, like October in the fall, but when the ferry schedule reduces on November 1st many places close or greatly reduce hours. We were there in October in 2024 and every day was beautiful but you are rolling the dice a bit on 'shoulder weather' - especially in seaside places.

Probably fly to Sicily from Naples would be the easiest way. Naples airport is close the city and convenient. There is a direct bus to airport from Sorrento and Salerno, I believe, so you could bus or driver back to Sorrento or ferry to Salerno and go from there.

That's a start, have a great trip,
=Tod

If you are already in Salerno then I would seriously consider the train to Sicily, to Catania, Taormina, Siracusa or Palermo. It takes a while but it travels for a long way right along the coast of the mainland and then there is the wonderful experience of the train going straight on to the ferry.

If you're staying in Sorrento then there is also the option of the ferry from Naples to Palermo. Or maybe fly from Florence or perhaps more likely Pisa to either Palermo or Catania or even Trapani. Then use the train or ferry to come back to Naples.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions! Will definitely consider all........appreciate it very much as we now have new considerations!

The Amalfi Coast (AC), Sorrento, Salerno, and Capri are all discussed here at least weekly, so you have a rich source of information in the Search box top left (desktop view). I mention this not as a reproach at all, but because your questions are much more complex than you may understand. Are you talking about a drive along the AC as an unmissable slice of Italy? I admit that Positano was a must-see for me, but I was greatly underwhelmed by it. The coasts of the USA have much nicer beaches than does the AC. We chose to sleep in Sorrento for five nights, and hired a car and driver for eight hours, to see Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello (maybe 1.5 hours in each place.) Note that drivers are not "guides". But when our driver asked us if we wanted to go to the "pottery factory", I instantly asked, "Do they have a row of toilets for the tourists?" and, indeed, they did. We didn't look at the pottery.

It takes a fair amount of time to get to, and away from the AC, not a reason not to go, but just requiring planning between transit modes and so on. You have not mentioned Pompeii or Herculaneum or Paestum. It's much easier to make daytrips from, say, Sorrento, than it is from any town on the AC, especially if the ferries are on their off-season schedule. But Sorrento, while pleasant enough, is not a "remarkable" place in Italy (for example, like Florence is.) Sorrento is built on a cliffside, so it has lovely views, but no beaches to speak of.

I've done two daytrips to Capri, but some posters here consider it essential to spend a night there. I found the (very large) island attractive and enjoyable, but I'm less interested in finding a hotel that I can get my luggage to, in view of how pedestrianized the island is. The island's taxis are unable to reach vast parts of the place.

We traveled to Sicily, Amalfi Coast and Capri at the end of October, beginning of November. It was a great time; the weather was beautiful, prices were soft, the crowds were very light and I think locals were probably more relaxed. The Caveat is things do close up. Restaurants and lodging may be shutting down and decreasing hours after October 31. Or sometimes they just close because it's slow that day. Still, I thought the trade-offs were absolutely worth it. Rough seas may be more likely to close the Blue Grotto , but honestly don't worry if you miss out. Capri will be blessedly quiet and lovely.

If you truly have more time, you could easily add another week for Sicily and still leave things for next time. We spent just over 3 weeks and I wish I had spent another. If you want more specifics about our trip, LMK.

There's advantages and disadvantages to whichever order you choose. What are your connections like?

at least a 2 week self-drive tour in Sicily, and a visit to Capri.

You mentioned Capri with your comment of the Sicily portion of your trip. Capri would be done with the Amalfi Coast.