After 9-10 days in Puglia with last stop in Matera, we will then head to Salerno for 3 nights, Amalfi town for 2 then Naples for 2 then home. Interested in visiting Pompeii, Herculeum, Paestum and hiking Path of the Gods. None of this is set in stone yet except our flights home!! Suggestions? Alternatives! Thanks! Regina
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1828 posts
You don't mention a month or time of year but assuming you're talking about off season in Amalfi this should okay.
Do Paestum from Salerno, Herculaneum from Naples and Pompeii from either. Schedulewise it would make more sense from Salerno since you have one more day there than Naples.
Ferry (or bus) to Amalfi from Salerno and then ferry (or bus) back and train to Naples or do AC > Sorrento > Naples if you want to do ground transportation through Sorrento. I think the coast is best seen from the water so I would always recommend the ferry although you need to consider luggage - especially in high season.
The ferry dock is just a few minutes down from the train station in Salerno. So you will be taking the train or a ferry every day so stay within easy distance of the train station. The 1km pedestrian street Corso Vittorio Emanuele heads north from the train station and ends in the old town with all the restaurants. Stay within this area and you'll be fine.
You're planning a lot so you will be busy every day under this plan but if that's what you want you're okay. Don't miss the Naples National Archaeological Museum while you're there.
Have a great - if very busy - trip,
=Tod
Posted by
OP
tampa, florida, usa
108 posts
So sorry. Around May 10-16. Thanks.
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15882 posts
If it were me, I'd delete the stay in Amalfi and add 1 night each to Salerno and Naples. You can get around the Amalfi Coast easily from Salerno by bus and ferry. There are more (and better) restaurants in Salerno and Naples than in Amalfi. Although I highly recommend allotting an hour or so for to-die-for pastries at Sal de Riso in Minori. It's an easy train ride from Salerno to Naples, no point wasting time going with luggage to and from Amalfi. Go to Paestum by train or bus (I had a car). I believe the bus stops closer to the temples than the train. Another option is to hire a driver for the day and stop at Vannulo buffalo farm for fresh mozzarella and wonderful gelati and cannoli on the way. The archaeology museum in Paestum is worth visiting. The temples are expecially lovely as the sun sets and then they gradually uplit as it gets dark. Better on a weekday, check when the museum is open. Visit Pompeii and Herculeum from Naples. If you are only there for 2 nights you may not have time for both. I found I wanted a lot of time at Pompeii and it could eat up an hour or more going from one to the other (the local Circumvesuviani "train" - metro really) can be crowded and delayed. IMO the archaeology museum in Naples is a must-see (doesn't matter before or after visiting the ruins themselves). If you have time, the RS walking tour of Naples is quite good, begins across the street from the museum. I'd recommend staying within walking distance of the central train station or close to a metro station for easy access to the ruins and the metro to get to the museum and/or other sights in Naples.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8580 posts
You didn't precisely say that you are flying home from Naples and not from Rome. Is that correct?
Note that Herculaneum is a 10-15 minute downhill walk from the Circumvesuviana, while Pompeii is right at the Circumvesuviana stop, and perhaps 1/2 mile from the Trenitalia (... Salerno) station. Pompeii has hot food inside, Herculaneum has no food inside. You cannot exit and re-enter either of them.
Having been there the last week in May, I would expect everything to be hot and crowded by the 15th of May. When we walked by the Sorrento bus stop for Positano/Amafli, there were always more people waiting than would fit on the next, half-hourly bus. So I presume the ferries are also crowded. We only took a ferry to Capri. We hired a car and driver for 8 hours on the AC, from Sorrento. Auto traffic is very slow on the two-lane road along the AC.
Posted by
OP
tampa, florida, usa
108 posts
Thank you for all the good info. Yes we are flying home from Naples.
I think the suggestion to just stay in Salerno and Naples sounds like a great plan.
Yes, I think the entire 6 1/2 weeks I have planned will be pretty busy but I have learned how to take time and just relax at a cafe and people watch. One of my favorite things in all of Europe is the cafe society.
Thanks again. I am sure I will have more questions as the plans come together further. Regina