Hi from New Zealand
I do need your advice.
First whether to stay at Sorrento or Positano. Arriving May 7-11 2026. We are keen to do Pompeii or Heraklion for a day, Capri and then probable a ferry hopper to do the coast line along Amalfi.
After the 3 nights leave to travel to Puglia May 11-15 2 026. We thought about staying our 4 nights at Alberobello but then realised we should be seeing Matera too. We have only 4 nights in Puglia and then fly out to Athens. I see there is an airport at Bari and searched the flights. It leaves extremely early ie 6am. We should stay in Bari for the last night. I'm just hoping there might be more flights that come onto the web page later! I know there are flights early afternoon but they arrive Athens after midnight!
I'm now thinking to maybe stay 2 nights in Matera and then 2 nights in Bari. I am extremely keen to see Alberobello area.,
At the moment we are unsure about driving so need to work out how to travel from Sorrento/Amalfi area to Matera and the Bari. I see there are buses but they take a very long time to get to the destination. I don't think we need a car in Matera as we can walk all around but do need to travel from there to Alberobello then Bari.
So I really appreciate your help to sort out my dilemma! Thanks so much.
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Rather than dissect your post will tell you what I did. I assume you are flying into Naples and I would go to Pompeii and Herculaneum from there. Then went from Amalfi to Sorrento by ferry (bus strike the day I was to leave, so ferry the only option). I was actually a tad disappointed as I had hoped the ferry would hug the coast but traveled far out into the water. From Sorrento took the train to Maratea and then the train onto Tropea and from there to Matera. Spent 2 full days in Matera. Stunning, unusual, unique.
From Matera took the train to Lecce for almost a week and it was outstanding as well as the day trips surrounding the city. From there to Polignano Al Mare. My only hiccup in many years of traveling is that I wanted to do Locotorondo and Alberobello the same day. Even though I scoped it out, went to the wrong bus stop and then when I found the "right" one I was on the wrong side of the street. I was not sure if the correct bus was very, very early or the last bus was late. I never made it to Locotorondo but Alberobello was more important for me. It's worth a day trip and really no more. I spent a few hours in Bari before getting the bus back to Naples. Bari was nicer than I thought and worth staying a day or two.
Monopoli was larger than PAL and more historic if you have time to fit it in. Enjoy!