We are going to be on a cruise so I know our time/villages are limited but for that reason I could use some help in deciding what to see on my first trip to Italy outside of Rome. Our first stop is Palermo, then Salerno, Livorno, Genoa then Cannes. Each day it about 7-8 hours we can spend off the ship. We have been to Pompei and Almafie Coast. Enjoy smaller places, not large cities and want to see the true Italy not shopping. Any suggestions on places that you feel are a "must see"
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Barbara, cruise critic.com is a good place for port information, what to see and do and expect, and how to get from the port to places of interest. Also if you just google " tourist information" for each of the ports you will get helpful info.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
You can go to Monreale by bus or taxi from Palermo (buses run less than one per hour most of the day). Cefalu is an hour away from Palermo by train, if you want to see a beautiful cathedral and a good beach.
I can't estimate times/places for your other ports.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Trains from Livorno can take you to Pisa in 20 minutes, Lucca in 1 hour with a connection at Pisa, Florence in 1-1.5 hours (often direct), or Cinque Terre in 2 hours. You might consider Lucca to be the right combination for what you described. Rick's Mediterranean Cruise Ports book covers a few of your stops, not all. If you want to escape the big city of Genoa, then the trip to Cinque Terre is shorter from there, or Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino are in between. I have not tried the small towns closer to Genoa, but Camogli or Savona would be easy train rides.
How to Look Up Train Schedules and Routes Online gives you the DB train schedule link and tips for using it.
Posted by
OP
Spring Lake, MI
4 posts
thank you all for such good advice and ideas. I will look into many of them. We are so looking forward to our trip.