I'll be in the Amalfi area for 3 full days. Hoping to visit Naples, Pompeii, AC, Sorrento, Capri during that span.
Currently planning on 1 day in Naples&Pompeii
2 days in AC/Sorrento/Capri
But I am thinking about cutting one of these out. Is Capri/Sorrento worth visiting? I've seen mixed reviews about Capri. The negative reviews state that it is overpriced and overrated and a "getaway for the rich."
If you base yourself in Sorrento (or also nearby Positano if you must stay on the AC proper) and spend all your nights there, you can visit all from there (including Naples) in 3 days. You don't need to split your stay and waste time changing accommodations.
A day excursion to Capri is worth it IMAO.
Read Rick's book on the Amalfi Coast and see what interests you. Also, look up the top ten things to do on Trip Advisor.
On our last trip to the Coast, we:
1. Hiked the Path of the Gods from Nocelle to Praiano, bussed to Amalfi and up to Ravello, and took the ferry back to Positano
2. Took the ferry to Capri - we did 5 hikes that day - the scenery along the coastline is spectacular and there were no people, just photo ops at every bend.
3. Rode the bus to Minori and Sorrento and wandered.
The Coast is simply amazing !
We spent two nights on Capri and really enjoyed it. And we're not rich!
The trick is to get away from the posh shops and the piazzas the day-trippers tend to clog up. Like Carla, we hiked (on paths and very narrow streets) to further reaches of the island where most of them don't go, and we did Anacapri early in the morning and then moved on about midday when it got a little too busy. I don't know when you're going but Villa Jovis is well worth the effort (closed in winter) and the view is wonderful. And take the chairlift up to the top of Mount Solaro for more on the same. You can hike down the mountain from there or just ride down the way you got up. Anyway, we found plenty to explore.
We also stayed in Sorrento to have easy access to Pompei and Positano, and transfer from Capri. It was a good base for us but I don't know as I'd make it a day trip.
Hmmm. I may consider basing in Sorrento now. Everyone seems to be suggesting that. I was originally considering making a loop from salerno->AC->Capri->Sorrento->Pompeii->Naples.
Is there anyway to get to Sorrento at night from Naples/Pompeii. Night as in departing after 7PM?
It seems the Circumvesuviana train departs every 30min until 11PM at night from Naples to Sorrento.
But it seems I cannot prebook this ticket online nor does it have a website? Meaning that I would have to go to the station physically to buy the ticket?
It seems the Circumvesuviana train departs every 30min until 11PM at
night from Naples to Sorrento. But it seems I cannot prebook this
ticket online nor does it have a website?
No, you do not have to pre-purchase a ticket nor is there any need to as they're very inexpensive, the prices do not change, there's no reserved seating, and it runs frequently. You get this train at Garibaldi Station in Naples; it's connected to Napoli Centrale. Here is the current schedule:
http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Napoli%20-%20Sorrento_1.pdf
Buy your ticket at the station, and VALIDATE IT (time-stamp it) in one of the machines for doing so before boarding the train. Note "Pompei S. Villa Misteri" on the schedule? That's the station for Pompei; it's right in front of the main entrance to the site.
Here is the Circumvesuviana schedule from Sorrento back to Naples:
http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/default/files/eavferro/Sorrento%20-%20Napoli_0.pdf
Thanks Kathy.
Why is the validation/timestamp needed after purchasing the ticket?
Tickets need to be validated to prevent the purchaser from using the ticket multiple times (in other words, cheating the system by using 1 ticket for multiple rides). The validation basically makes your ticket usable between "x" and "y" time on a certain date. So don't stamp your ticket too early - only before you board the train.
Agnes, oh I see.
I am thinking that maybe I should visit Naples and Pompeii first, on the first day. Purchase my circumvesuviana ticket in Pompeii and head to Sorrento that first night.
A ticket is usually only good a single journey, and time-stamping keeps people from trying to re-use a ticket more than once. If an authority on the train checks your ticket, that time stamp tells him/her approximately when you got on the train. If your ticket isn't stamped, they'll fine you as they'll suspect you were going to try and use that ticket again (and there's NO arguing about it).
Also, if that ticket shows a stamp from, say, the day before, they'll suspect it's already been used once and fine you for that.
Tickets for regionale trains in Italy have a life span of 4 hours or so from the time they've been stamped to the time you have to be off the train (or at least on your way to your final destination.) Again, that's to keep people from just re-using the same ticket all day long or more than one day.
I'm unsure of the life span of a Circumvesuviana ticket but safe to say, validate it just before you board your train to your destination and then discard the ticket after you've arrived.
Ah, here we go! Regarding the life span of a Circumvesuviana ticket:
http://www.napoliunplugged.com/naples-circumvesuviana-railway
A ticket from Naples to Pompeii is good for 140 minutes after it's been stamped.
A ticket from Naples to Sorrento is good for 180 minutes after it's been stamped.
So, adding up the time it will take to get to Pompeii from Naples and visit the ruins (they're vast), you'll need to buy another ticket from Pompeii to Sorrento; just do it at the station when you're ready to leave (validate that one too!) and it should only cost around 3 euro or so.
I would agree with Kathy:
"We spent two nights on Capri and really enjoyed it. And we're not rich!
And take the chairlift up to the top of Mount Solaro for more on the same. You can hike down the mountain from there or just ride down the way you got up. Anyway, we found plenty to explore".
I would not miss Capri, especially the chair lift; that was my favorite part of the trip on the Amalfi Coast.
The chairlift sounds interesting. How long is the ride?
I'm not too good with heights.
If you are not too good with heights, you may want to skip the funivia. Or look at it ascending and then decide.
Kathy makes a good point about keeping your validated ticket until you leave the station. At some stations, tickets are checked just before you exit the station, not while you are on the train/metro/tram.
The chairlift sounds interesting. How long is the ride? I'm not too
good with heights.
My Significant Other, who has a problem with heights, didn't have any trouble with it at all. Takes about 12 minutes. There's some photos on the websites below but you can google up some more. Well worth it for the view from the top, and there's a bar up there should you need some liquid courage for the return trip (or just hike down the mountain.) :O)
http://www.capriseggiovia.it/en/index.html
http://www.capri.com/en/s/mount-solaro-cetrella
oh. That doesn't look too bad height-wise.
Did you guys visit the Blue Grotto as well? I am hoping that that I would be able to with the 2 days I have in that area, but not sure if the weather in April will allow it.
There are also plenty of videos of the ride up on YouTube that you could check out to try and gauge it.
We did the Blue Grotto. It was ok but not as great as I thought it was going to be. We had to wait forever to get in (this was in July though) and then once we were in, it was not as impressive as they say it is. They have a million little boats waiting to get in and you go in with other boats, with all the "drivers" of the boats singing and shouting. It was awkward getting into the little gondola and then you have to duck going through.
Checked out some videos. Not too bad at all. Are you allowed to take pictures on the chairlift? I didn't see anyone in the videos taking pictures.
What happens if you drop your phone/camera -- assuming it didn't completely break, can you get it?
Wait, is there somewhere to store your luggage while going on the chairlift and Blue Grotto? I am basing myself out of Sorrento for 2 nights. On the first day, I am planning to visit AC first. On the second day I am planning to visit Capri. However, once I am on Capri, I plan to take a ferry directly to Naples at night, rather than return to Sorrento.
Are you allowed to take pictures on the chairlift? I didn't see anyone
in the videos taking pictures.
Of course you can. We did.
What happens if you drop your phone/camera -- assuming it didn't
completely break, can you get it?
Doubtful you'd never find it again even if you could spend all day trudging all over the mountainside...much of which is private property. Don't drop it.
Wait, is there somewhere to store your luggage while going on the
chairlift and Blue Grotto?
"..there is a baggage deposit in Marina Grande inside the souvenir shop opposite the pier. Make sure you ask their opening hours before leaving your bags."
We skipped the Grotto. It's up to individual preference but the very few minutes you get to see it wasn't worth it to us for the time, money and crowds involved. The boats also can't access it if the seas are too rough.
Editing typo: "..doubtful you'd EVER find it again..."
