Italian Riviera vs. the Amalfi Coast

We did 2 nights in CT in 08 and 12, and 3 nights in Amalfi Coast in 14. For time of year, CT both times was 3rd week of Sept, AC was around the 1st week Sept.

CT is much easier to get around because of the trains. It's so easy to hop on a train and you are in the next village in a matter of minutes. Trains are also pretty frequent. AC, on the other hand, you will have to use a bus (or ferry) which didn't seem to be as frequent and of course took longer where AC is much more spread out. You can do a car, but it is not something I would attempt because of the twisty turny roads, parking isn't that great, and sometimes the bus would pass with a few inches to spare from cars on the roads and parked - it was nerve wracking.

Ravello (AC) had to be one of my fav places of both areas.

Keeping that in mind, if our trip to CT in 2012 had been our first trip, I would not have been so enamoured. Very crowded...villages were crowded, trains and platforms overflowing. 2008 was a much nicer trip. I think the ease of getting between the villages has something to do with that, as well as the cruise ships. On the other hand, I didn't get overwhelmed with people at all on the AC (we stayed in Atrani, visited Sorrento, Positano - which was a bit crowded - Amalfi, Ravello).

Scenery is lovely in both. Hiking is possible in both. Some nice beaches in both. Gun to my head, I would pick AC. Tho I don't see myself returning to CT (unless it was the off season), I'd love to return to AC and spend a good week there.

We just returned from Italy and visited both Cinque Terre and Amalfi Coast. For us, the Amalfi Coast was the better experience. We are 65 and 72 years of age - good physical shape, but not hikers by any means. Although quite beautiful, the Cinque Terre was more hilly and so much up and down that we felt limited in what we could do. Amalfi Coast is more spread out and easier to get around. It too, has a lot of up and down challenges, but there was plenty to see and do that did not require the physicality. We stayed in Maiori and the physical challenges there were minor. It's all incredibly beautiful!!

Batkins--

Maiori would be my choice to stay next time to the A.C. We only saw the little pedestrian park between the road and the sea when traveling by bus between Salerno & Amalfi. And then the bus stopped there for a couple minutes on the way back to Salerno, and on a beautiful late winter afternoon with a low sun, I wanted to get off. Just picturesque in every possible way.

I have visited both and they are so different it is hard to say which is better. I also visited CT years ago when it was not crowded, so I have great memories of it. When I go now and it is busy I still have that feeling from previous trips. I think as long as your expectations are realistic you can still enjoy the beauty of CT. Ease of getting around is a plus. Amalfi is gorgeous and has a different feeling. I did the drive along the coast and we ended up in Sorrento. I would go back again but next time take the train... the car was not a plus on this part of my trip. Amalfi has more upscale hotels and restaurants but both are on the sea, which makes them amazing:)

I was briefly in the CT once in mid-October 2008. I'm not a hiker, but I enjoyed the easy parts of the trail from Riomaggiore to Corniglia and especially the ferry from Monterosso back to Riomaggiore. I would have liked one more full day to explore the towns. After reading about the huge crowds the area is subject to, I'll probably never return and won't feel deprived.

I spent 4 full days in Sorrento a few years ago in February and fell in love with it. I day-tripped to Naples (must-see Archaeology Museum, and I never use "must-see"), Herculaneum and Pompeii. I had planned to get to Paestum, but I found out I would be in Sorrento on their saint's day so I stayed put and was so glad I did. My only regret was that I didn't get to visit the Amalfi towns.

A return to Sorrento and time on the AC are high on my list.

The one thing I will say is that you need time. Because of the connections, you use up a lot of time in travel and it's not worth going there for less the 4-5 nights, even if you are fast-paced travelers (which I am definitely not). It also depends on the time of year. I don't think I'd like it in July-August, especially for Herculaneum/Pompeii. Just too darned hot. But spring or fall - I'd go back in a heartbeat.

I would choose the Amalfi coast over the Cinque Terre any day. Even more so in your case since you have visited the Cinque Terre already. Amalfi is farther from Tuscany however.