Itinerary Challenge

We took the train from Naples to Sorrento in June. It was the worst experience of our trip. Packed into the car worse than a can of sardines. The return train was slightly less crowded but I am sure that depends on the time of the day. That is an experience that I will never do again

I always prefer to leave Rome for the first leg, right after landing. This way you avoid wasting that day/last night with travel. The train to Florence is 90 minutes. Sorrento will take a bit longer to get to, but I agree that a private transfer is the way to go.

Thank you, appreciate the responses and reading through the long post! In your opinion, is Sorrento and adding another night in Sorrento or Capri a good use of travel days? I read mixed review on Sorrento/Almalfi but thought it would be a nice change from the cities, we have seen Pompeii already.

I guess we need to decide to stay a 3rd night in Sorrento, and a 4th night in Florence for the open 2 nights...or search for something near Siena for those 2 days.

Thanks for the responses, I'll book the private transfers.

Actually, since we aren't visiting Pompeii, in your experience is Capri a nicer overall experience than Sorrento (with ferry to Positano and maybe a day trip to Capri)? Thanks again.

How many nights are you going to be in IT? The Amalfi Coast is the outlier so I suggest plan on returning to IT. I’ve been there seven times and still have not seen everything. You cannot see the best of IT in eleven days. The Amalfi Coast would make a nice trip if you include Sicily in the mix.
If you are flying in and out of Rome, go to Florence the day you arrive. There’s a direct train departing Rome’s airport at 1:53p arriving at Florence’s SM Novella station (2h 30m). If you arrive in Rome sooner, you’ll need to transfer at Rome’s Termini station (45-minutes) to get to Florence (1h 45m).
Spend three nights in Florence and buy tickets for the Uffizi Gallery two months out to guarantee a reservation. After three nights in Florence take a direct bus to Siena (1h 15m) and sleep in the old town for two nights.
You only need a day and a night for Siena. After your first night there rent a car and drive along the Sienese Crest Road to Pienza’s old town and then to Montepulciano. You’ll see the best of Tuscany on this drive.
The next day take FlixBus from Siena to Rome (3h). You need a minimum of four nights in Rome if you go to Vatican City. The best of the Amalfi Coast is the coast and Capri lacks blockbuster sights unless you’re there on the longest day of the year when the sun shines inside the grotto. Getting from the coast to Tuscany will take an entire day and is not worth it.
If you have an extra day in Rome, go to Orvieto (1h 15m) then a funicular to the top of the town. Orvieto makes a good day trip from Rome.

Have you checked the ferry from Naples to Sorrento? Will it still be running when you are there? Did you consider staying in Positano? IMO it’s more representative of the Amalfi coast than Sorrento and it is more closer to the towns of Amalfi and Ravello. Have you considered a visit to Herculaneum? It’s small in comparison with Pompeii but is very interesting with stunning frescos and mosaics in situ.

Sorrento is not too touristy but it’s not a place with a lot to see or do. It’s a good base for visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum and for taking tours of the Amalfi Coast and other areas. There is no beach, rather sunbeds set up on wooden broadwalks at the base of the cliffs. there are good fish restaurants down along the fishing boat marina, with stunning views of Vesuvius at sunset.

I’ve ridden the Circumvesuvian many times in my trips to Sorrento and back in over 15 trips to the region. From the time I was 60 to present. If you’re aware of your surroundings and watch each other you’ll have no problem. If the thought of it bothers you, there is an alternative train.
For your transfer, use this tourist train, part of the Circumvesuvian, but has A/C and few locals use it. Problem is it’s schedule does not have as many trains.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/campania-express-train-schedule

I’d add a night to Sorrento, 2 nites is only 1 1/2 days. Capri is very busy at almost any time of year. If you haven’t traveled along the Amalfi Coast, try to visit, by ferry or bus. Any of the 13 villages that extend from Positano to Salerno.
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi coast.

Then add a night to Florence, there are many Tuscan towns along with Siena that you would be able to reach by both train and bus. There are also day tours that would enable you to visit 2-3 towns in one day.

Something like this.

https://www.getyourguide.com/florence-l32/san-gimignano-siena-and-chianti-full-day-tour-t7679/

hey hey Kathy
if you guys plan on renting a car at all, make sure you get your IDP from AAA/CAA for each driver. about $30, 2 passport photos and not much of a wait to receive same day. when are you leaving on this trip?
you could share cost of private transfer with your son/DIL. knowing what your feelings and doubts are plus what other poster said is it worth the cost. plus there are 4 of you with luggage, will need a van and gas is up.if you did get pickpocketed, would it be worth losing money/credit/debit card, being upset, ruined vacation for $150. don't be penny pinching, everyone lost a lot during pandemic and trying to make up for it, plus inflation everywhere, currency rate is even per dollar. in 2019 it was at 1.29E, prices have gone up on everything, here there and everywhere
few years back, roads in rome closed for protests, it was crazy with students, educators, cops cops cops!! was lucky to find a taxi while walking some side street to take us to rome cruise port (civitavecchia) so we would not miss cruise 140E oh well. few people were not happy, no shuttles running into city center, missed cruise and met 2 days later in barcelona pulling luggage onto ship as we we getting off to explore.
i would stay another day or two in florence and do day trips (tuscany wine tour, siena or lucca/pisa day trip, have a just relax day roaming the streets, having lunch with a glass of wine, doing a cooking class, take a food tour, have a lunch or dinner in a locals home, people watch, enjoy the atmosphere of florence,
i would not make any other plans going to lake como or venice, that would just add more costs, whatever you sdo and see is X 4.
you can't see it all, don't cram so much into your few days there, spending time at train stations, packing up, leaving, time to get to next town, unpacking again, get acclimated. always remember check out time 10-11a and check in is 2p-4p unless you get early check in or rent room day before. so many want to start early in morning and now what do i do with my bags waiting for check in time. see it happen so much and people are so so so upset. i've been there done that in london, waiting 5 hours. take a later flight
all the places you want to go to is the same places so many people want to go and see. expect crowds, lines, busy restaurants. turn down a side street and look for a mom/pop place or less people inside and not waiters at front doors calling you in.
tasteatlas.com
bomboloni, fried donut. go to pasticceriacucciolo.com
educated-traveller.com
wine windows of florence. we did a pedicab tour we picked up in city center and he took us by these with the history. they weren't open then.
chefcarmensorrento.com
take a cooking class with her or dinner at her restaurant "la locanda del gusto"
eatwith.com/ florence
check event type and see what they offer
getyourguide.com
look under florence and what they do
stop at a tourist kiosk in piazza to see what is going on
in rome you could walk the different markets, (mercatidiroma.com)
oldfrascati.com
take a short train ride (30 minutes) to village of frascati in the countryside. learn and visit the pope's summer home/gardens, lake nemi, ceralli.it bakery/pizza oven for "best porchetta" sandwich and lacucinaitaliana.com/ the buxom cookie. nonna is 94 and still bakes many goodies in the bakery. a day away from hustle and bustle of rome along with wine tasting. tuscany is not the only area for wine.
enjoy your vacation, be happy, no stressing, you'll get more gray hair
aloha

Sorrento isn’t ON the Amalfi Coast
If that’s what your son wants to see then go to Salerno -direct train from Rome then ferry, bus or driver to town of choice
We preferred Amalfi ( town) or you can stay in Salerno and day trip

Salerno itself is worth a visit. Less touristy, less expensive lodgings and some very good restaurants and sights in the historic center along with a lovely waterfront/beach
Paestum as a day trip is a very worthwhile visit as well
From Salerno you can take direct train to Florence

When is this trip?

Thank you all of you for taking the time to provide such thoughtful advice.

@brandonfickbohm - thanks for the experience, I do not want to be packed like sardines, booking transfer

@April - Thanks, good we have Rome first

@MaryPat - 11 nights (13 with travel) - agree with your focus on regions, but it's too late this time. Thanks for the details on Tuscany, and Orvieto, it's so helpful. We may not be able to cancel Sorrento at this point (have until the 15th).

@Ianlubber - yes we checked the Ferry, it would be a delay waiting from the train we already booked from Rome, and it goes to Capri so a bit longer. But a nice option Thanks for the fish restaurant tip. I've heard of Herculaneium so we'll check it out thank you. Thanks for the opinion on Capri - I've decided not worth it for such a short time.

@gerri - Nice to get another perspective and agree being street smart can work. We were robbed in Rome many years ago when we were young (by little girls actually who distracted us), and recently in airport at france (scammed by a helpful guy buying our tickets). I'll look again at the Tourist Line. Your adjustments to the itenaray is what we plan to do. Add the night in Sorrento and Florence and try for day trips. The issue with Sorrento is the last Ferrys back is 5:00

@princess - appreciate the details, reminders to not stress and adjust expectations while travelling! So much can happen - Well noted!

@ChristineH - I listened to a podcast on Untold Italy that mentioned Salerno; will check it out, thank you.

I'm going to check Positano and Salerno again. I think I missed someone with the Positano suggestions; we did look, very booked but will make it a day trip.

We did not plan an Italy trip until we booked flights mid-July then realized how very crowded Italy is right now; less than 2 months to plan, hotels (x 2 rooms) & very booked, Changed the itineary twice to avoid Rome/Florence on the weeknd, and getting hotels in Almalfi area was hard. Leaving in a few weeks!

Grazie Mille everyone, your time and responses are apprecaited!

hey hey Kathy
you are so welcome. so many do's and dont's, goods and bads. what a great and fun experience for first trip for son/DIL. lots of ooohing and aaahing, enjoying the sights. that's all that matter.
they may be planning their next italy trip on the flight home!! Ha Ha
with lemons make lemoncello, have a glass in amalfi area.
aloha

Kathy scroll down to getting here then for ferry and Amalfi coast bus schedules.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/

Take the ferry there and the bus back. Bus leaves much later than the ferry. Note… try to take the bus back from Amalfi town. You’ll have a much easier time as it’s the transportation hub. Never use the last bus, you might not get on, necessitating a very expensive cab ride.