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Help with Amalfi/Naples Trip Itinerary

Posted by (GA, US) on

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and excited to be here. I’m a 30-year-old solo female traveler heading to southern Italy the first week of June. I’m planning everything very last-minute and would really appreciate feedback on this rough itinerary, especially around transport, safety, and feasibility. Please feel free to be honest if something sounds unrealistic.

This is part of a longer Europe trip. I’ll be visiting friends in France and spending a few days in Bruges, but I’m prioritizing the Italy portion first.

My priorities:

  • Scenic hikes (Path of the Gods and Lemon Trail)
  • Some beach time (preferably during sunset)
  • Visiting Pompeii and archaeological sites
  • Good meals, casual but local
  • Staying safe and minimizing wasted transit time

Monday, June 2 – Arrival and Lemon Trail

I land in Naples around noon. My Airbnb host suggested the Pintour shuttle to Maiori for 20 EUR. Is that a good option?
After checking in, I want to hike the full Path of Lemons Maiori-Ravello-Amalfi. It looks like it’s about 5.4 miles and takes 3.5 hours. I would dine in Amalfi and return to Maiori around 8-9 PM. Will there be a SITA bus to Maiori around that time? I’ve read the buses can be crowded and not ideal at night, but I would really like to eat in Amalfi after the hike. Thoughts?

Tuesday, June 3 – Path of the Gods and Beach

I plan to take a ferry from Maiori to Amalfi early in the morning, then SITA bus to Bomerano to hike the Path of the Gods. If I leave Maiori by 7 AM, can I expect to start the hike by 9 AM?
I finish the hike in Positano, so I plan to have lunch, ferry to Amalfi, explore for an hour or so, and then ferry back to Maiori around 4:30 PM.
I would love to spend some time at the beach after that. Would I still be able to get a beach chair and access to a lido around 5:30 PM? Do I need to reserve in advance? How much should I expect to pay this season? Is my schedule too tight?

Wednesday, June 4 – Pompeii and Naples

I plan to leave Maiori around 8 AM and travel to Pompeii via Salerno. I hope to arrive around 10 AM. I’ve read there is luggage storage either at the Pompeii site or train station. Does anyone know the current cost or which option is more convenient?

I’m still deciding whether to do a self-guided visit with an audio guide (either one I buy at the entrance or the Rick Steves version) or to book a guided tour. I’ve heard some people recommend a two-hour guided tour and then exploring on your own. Is that a good approach? Any specific companies to look at?

After Pompeii, I’ll take the train to Naples around 2 pm, check into my hotel (not yet booked), and I would like to visit the Naples Archaeological Museum before it closes. Would I have enough time to see the museum if I aim to arrive by around 5:00 PM?

In the evening, I’d like to walk through Centro Storico, especially Spaccanapoli and the Naples Cathedral. Is it safe to explore this area solo between 6:30 and 8:30 PM? Are there other spots nearby that are worth seeing in that window?

Naples Hotel Help

I fly out of Naples at 12:30 PM on Thursday, June 5. I am looking for a hotel for the night of June 4. My budget is around $280 USD or less. Is it best to stay in Centro Storico, or would somewhere closer to the airport be better while still offering something to see or do that evening? Any recommendations would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for reading and for any guidance you can share. I really appreciate your help in making the most of this last-minute trip!

Posted by
8036 posts

Welcome to the forum!

Plan looks good. I will just answer the questions I can

Mon June 2
Here is the SITA bus schedule-looks like last bus at 9 PM from Amalfi to Maiori, so you should be ok- just don't miss the bus!
https://www.positano.com/en/bus-schedule?route=amalfi_maiori_salerno

Tues June 3

Would I still be able to get a beach chair and access to a lido around
5:30 PM? Do I need to reserve in advance? How much should I expect to
pay this season? Is my schedule too tight?

This is something your host should be able to answer

Wednesday June 4- I think a guided tour really helps with bringing Pompeii to life. There are guides at the entrance you can book when you get enter or take a look at Mondo Guides tours- www.sharedtours.com
A guide will know how to manage the crowds and what is open, what is not etc. Saves a lot of time. The site is HUGE. No shade at all so be prepared with water, sun hat, sunscreen, etc.

Naples
I think the museum closes at 7- so if you have a plan you should be OK.

Naples hotel- the airport is only a 15-20 min taxi from the historic center- no need to stay at the airport.
I'd get on Booking.com right away and see what is available. You can book there or find the hotel website

Expect massive crowds everywhere along the AC and have alternatives for transportation. The buses and ferries fill up quickly.

Posted by
140 posts

I'm sorry, I can't get past your first day, June 2.

Did I read this right? You're landing in Naples after a ten hour flight, then getting on a bus to Maiori (another hour or two) and THEN you're going to take a 3-1/2 hour hike? (AND you plan to get up "early" the next morning?) I know you're young, but I think this is unrealistic for anybody.

Just my opinion, of course, but if you've traveled to Europe before and were able to pull off a schedule like this then you know best.

Posted by
8036 posts

I'm sorry, I can't get past your first day, June 2. Did I read this
right? You're landing in Naples after a ten hour flight, then getting
on a bus to Maiori (another hour or two) and THEN you're going to take
a 3-1/2 hour hike? (AND you plan to get up "early" the next morning?)
I know you're young, but I think this is unrealistic for anybody.

I assumed this part of the trip is after OP’s time in France and Bruges, at least I hope it is.

This is part of a longer Europe trip. I’ll be visiting friends in
France and spending a few days in Bruges, but I’m prioritizing the
Italy portion first.

OP could you clarify for others?

Posted by
3 posts

Stella, fair point. To clarify, I'm flying from Brussels, so I'll be doing a 5.4 mile hike after a 2 hour flight.

First solo traveler here, first time to Europe as well. I've mostly traveled to South America, so I don't know what I'm doing! Just trying to get the most out of the short time I have there, but I do want to make any changes if the timing doesn't make sense. I'm flying Atlanta to Paris, spending a night there, next day riding to Bruges, three nights there, then 9:30 am flight to Naples. I thought after sitting for so long, my body would welcome the hike...?

Posted by
8036 posts

I thought after sitting for so long, my body would welcome the
hike...?

So would mine, IF I was able to hike that like still ;)
Thanks for clarifying

I have never heard of Pintour shuttle-do you have a link or info?

There is a bus direct from NAP to Salerno
From there you can catch a ferry to Maiori
Links here :
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/naples-to-salerno-8bc5139f-ec28-4d0e-b7b7-2175672dfadb

Ferry schedule
https://www.positano.com/en/t/salerno/maiori

Posted by
140 posts

Stella, fair point. To clarify, I'm flying from Brussels, so I'll be
doing a 5.4 mile hike after a 2 hour flight. I'm flying Atlanta to
Paris, spending a night there, next day riding to Bruges, three nights
there, then 9:30 am flight to Naples. I thought after sitting for so
long, my body would welcome the hike...?

OH, okay, that is totally different! I am also in Atlanta, and it is a LONG flight to Naples (on our upcoming trip, it will be 13 hours total including the layover at CDG.)

Bruges is beautiful, you'll love it. It will be quite the "culture shock" going from Bruges to Naples, but I know you're going to have a great time. Good luck, and be safe!

Posted by
3 posts

Christine, I asked the airbnb host how to get to Maiori from the airport and she shared this link https://www.pintourbus.com/

It looks like a private shuttle company from what I can tell, but thank you so much for your info. I'd rather have different options to see what is more reliable, especially with how tight my itinerary is so far.

Stella, the flight length is no joke! I actually visit family in Colombia every year, so the longest flight I've ever taken is 4.5 hrs, and the last hour is always awful to me. I was dreading the whole flight experience, so probably the most expensive part of my trip is the delta nonstop flight... I think it'll be worth it.

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