Looking for input on tentative itinerary. Have traveled with bike group in Italy 3 times and was looking to develop my own trip by train. Thinking Florence (4-5 days)-Sienna-(2-3 days) -Sorrento - 6 days. Using Sorrento as a base for day trips to Pompeii, Capri, Amalfi and Positano. Question would Salerno be a better base? Other suggestions? Thanks, Ellen
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
I enjoyed staying in Sorrento as a base. I think it has great transportation services, bus, train, car rental. I also stayed in Positano as a base and just loved it. There are more options in Sorrento. Really your in the Amalfi coast....what's not to like. You itinerary sounds great. I'm not sure about taking a train to Sienna I havent been there. I'm sure there is a high speed train from Florence to Sienna. You will probably have to at some point get to Naples then Naples to Sorrento. Be cautious in the Naples Station, there are professional pick pockets. Enjoy the trip.
Lorieann
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16238 posts
Sorrento is a better base for what you want to visit. Sorrento is not technically on the Amalfi coast, which is only the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula, but close enough.
Arrange your itinerary above so that you do Siena first, then Florence, then Sorrento. From Florence to Naples there are plenty of high speed trains that get you there in 2h45min. There are no high speed trains in Siena and you would need to catch the bus back to Florence to get on one. Then from Naples the Curcumcesuviana commuter train takes just iver 1 HR to Sorrento.
Therefore, if you can fly as follows.
Fly to FLR then go to Siena on the day of arrival.
Days in Siena. Then back to Florence for a few days. Train to Napoli and Sorrento. Fly home from Napoli or Rome.
You probably have to spend the night in the city you depart from as Sorrento is not too close to NAP and your return flight likely departs in early AM.
Posted by
east haven, ct
365 posts
Ellen
Robert had a great suggestion to do Sienna first. Have you visited Rome?
Lorieann
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15798 posts
I like the idea of going first to Siena, then by bus to Florence, then trainS (fast one to Naples, slow one to Sorrento). Sorrento is much better for day trips.
Most people prefer Ravello and Positano to Amalfi. If the ferries are running (not during off-season), you can take a bus from Sorrento to the top of the town, work your way down and ferry back to Sorrento. There's an elevator (used to be €1) up to the center of town there.
Some have reported that Capri is just okay, or not worth it, for a day trip, but loved it as an overnight or longer.
Along with Pompeii, consider visiting Herculaneum and do not miss the Archaeology Museum in Naples. You can visit as a day trip from Sorrento or on the way from Sorrento to wherever you fly home from.