Naples to Puglia

Posted by melinac on 04/04/22 01:43 AM

Hello. My mom, my brother and I are planning a trip to Southern Italy in June 2022. We booked RT air to and from Naples. Ina Naples, we thought maybe 3 days would be good plus day trip from Naples to Capri (with the Blue Grotto), SOrrento, and the Amalfi Coast. Perhaps a day trip to Pompeii and Heracleon is worth it? We also want to see the Puglia region specificallu Bari, Lecce, and Arrobello. From Naples, how would you recommend that we get there? Once in the region, where should we stay that is safe for people who do not speak Italian? Are there local tour operators we can use to help naviagte the area?

Thank you for your advice and suggestions.
MelC

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

04/04/22 01:53 AM

7278 posts

Capri, Sorrento and Amalfi coast all in one day is too much
Blue Grotto is a huge time suck tourist trap, if you do that you certainly will not have time for anywhere else that day other than Capri

Pompeii needs a good couple of hours, trying to visit Herculaneum on same day will be exhausting

Puglia is safe whether you speak Italian or not

Posted by MaryPat

Irving

04/04/22 02:29 AM

3315 posts

For me the best part of the Amalfi Coast was the coast itself. From Naples take the Circumvesuviana train from the Napoli Garibaldi station located downstairs of Napoli’s central station to Sorrento (end of line). Outside the station is where you’ll catch the bus that runs along the Amalfi Coast Road. Make sure you sit on the right facing the driver. If there are no seats get off and wait for the next one.
Make sure you wear motion sickness bracelets on each wrist to prevent nausea. This windy road goes up and down plus the gas fumes will make it a miserable experience. I also suggest asking your physician for a prescription. This is crucial because you want to take it to Amalfi where you can get off and explore there before hoping on a ferry to Positano. By the time you’re in Positano you may want lunch before taking another ferry to Sorrento. Once in Sorrento you can also take a ferry back to Naples.
This is a very long day so get an early start. I also visited Sorrento, Pompeii and Capri but as I already said seeing the Amalfi Coast by bus and ferry is what should not be missed. Personally, I would spend a full day in Naples and explore the Spanish Quarter. Furthermore, don’t carry any valuables even along the coast.

Posted by melinac OP

04/04/22 05:48 AM

2 posts

Thank you for the great advice on transportation and Amalfi!

Posted by Aussie

Bendigo, Australia

04/04/22 06:11 AM

1297 posts

Train from Naples to Bari is pretty straight forward. Train from Napoli Centrale to Caserta, change trains there for Caserta to Bari.

Total about 4 1/2 hours.

You might also consider visiting Matera, a most fascinating town. Train Bari to Matera.

Posted by Lola

Seattle, WA

04/04/22 02:04 PM

17572 posts

From Bari there is a train along the coast to Lecce.

For Alberobello, use Rome to Rio to see your options:

https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Lecce/Alberobello

Posted by Charlene

Centennial, CO, US

04/04/22 02:17 PM

2191 posts

In Lecce, we used a tour company called Experience-Path. They do all sorts of tours in Puglia; for us, it was a wine tasting and it was a highlight of our visit to Lecce.

I tell everyone going to Lecce to be aware of the long siesta … literally everything in town (except some churches) closes between about 2 and 6 pm. It becomes a ghost town. Restaurants (even pizza and gelato) don’t reopen til 8 pm. If you get hungry at 3 pm you are out of luck.