Planning 12 night Italy Trip - Is Sorrento/Naples worth it

If I were you I’m not sure that I would venture south of Rome this time for the same reason you mention - backtracking.

Some people like to linger in cities and others like to hop from destination to destination but I would choose no more than 3 places you want to visit, Rome being one of them (since you’re flying out of there). Sounds like you also want Florence, too, so you’re really down to one choice. Your last choice depends a little on what part of Switzerland you’re coming from and what interests you north of Rome. My suggestion.

Visiting Naples/Sorrento wouldnt be that hard to do. Milan for 2 nights, then Florence for 3 nights, then on to Naples for 3 nights,, and finally Rome for the rest of your stay. Sorrento will be very quiet, as will the Amalfi Coast, given the weather and seasonal closures. The AC ferries won't be running. But you could easily spend a day exploring Naples and another at Pompeii and/or Herculaneum.

Given the time of year, and the weather, it's a toss up as to whether Venice would be a better choice. It's a truly unique place, and even if it's cold and/or rainy, January is one of the few months when it isn't overrun by tourists. I've visited there half a dozen times and haven't tired of it yet.

We spent 11 days in Sorrento in April and it is well worth it, but it's worth more than a quick in-and-out. If it were me I'd concentrate on other areas and come back on another trip to give it the time it deserves.

Firenze to Naples is only 3 hours by train, with no changes necessary. Does it really matter that you would be “backtracking” to Rome afterward? Not if you want to see Naples and the coast.

You could plan 3 nights in Naples, and just make a daytrip to Sorrento if the weather looked favorable. It might be very pleasant without the crush of tourists.

The northern option of Venice, Verona and Bologna does not seem to appeal to you, so why go there? I will note that Bologna is notorious for dreary foggy weather in winter.

Hi all, thank you so much for all your responses. I'm definitely taking everything into consideration right now.

Just another quick question. Would seeing Venice/Sorrento be more worth it than going to Prague? I know a lot of it is up to personal choice/interest but just curious as to whether anyone has been to both and can compare. I understand that it might be a bit greedy for us to try fit everything in and it would be nice if we could take our time but to be honest it'll probably be a decade before we'll be able to come back.

Since you specifically mentioned Florence, you may want to spend more time there. I've been to Florence 4 times and every visit is longer. If you have enough time in Rome, you could do a day trip to Naples.
I have not been to Prague, but 12 days will only scratch the surface in Italy. I would not give any of that time to another country.

If you are coming from Switzerland, what cities do you plan to visit?

First of all, the big three Venice, Florence and Rome are a must. Need a minimum of 2 full days in Venice, 3-4 in Florence and 4-5 in Rome.

Second, if you go south to the Naples area, plan on going for at least 3-4 days. Suggest staying in Sorrento and visiting it, as well as Capri, Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. Look for local tours to save time.
Also, the museum in Naples is good.

Depending on what else you plan to see in northern Italy, you may have time for the Naples area.

If you really think you have the time, you might consider flying into Naples and working your way north to Milan. No backtracking required.