Planning 4 full days in Sorrento around the weather...what do we need to prebook?

We stayed on Capri for three nights and only pre booked our hotel. The smaller boat trips around the island ,including the Blue Grotto, are often canceled due to rough seas.

I spent a week in Sorrento last May and didn't prebook anything but my AirBnb. Like you, I wanted to pick my activities according to the weather. I think I bought my ferry ticket to Capri the previous evening; I booked an island circle/Blue Grotto boat tour after I got to Capri.

For the SITA bus, I just got there early so as to be near the front of the bus line (also, you want a seat on the right-hand side for the best views). I got off the bus in Amalfi, wandered around, took buses up to Ravello and back, then a ferry to Positano, and finally a ferry back to Sorrento. None of that was pre-booked. (It was also too much for one day - I didn't have that much time in any of the towns, so I think you're wise to visit the towns across two days).

Pompeii is easy to get to on the Circumvesuviana train; just buy a ticket when you get to the station. I think I booked a group guided tour (meeting the guide at the park) the day before, but I bet you could join a group on arrival. If you want to go up to Vesuvius, you can get a bus up there from Pompeii

Be sure to allow some time for Sorrento itself; I know some people find it too touristy, but I loved my time there and am considering going back this fall.

In Sorrento March 2017, we did have a Capri tour cancelled because of bad weather. It actually was raining three out of 5 days, after a week of flawless weather in Rome. Go figure.

As stated upthread, it's easy on the Circumvesuviana to get to the Pompei Scavi entrance. But don't do it on a rainy day, those slippery cobblestones will want to turn your ankle. An alternative to Pompei on a rainy day--and we did this--was to continue on the CV until Napoli Centrale station, then take a taxi to the Archeological Museum, which is probably the best in Italy. In fact, many of the Pompei relics are there. So, when we finally visited the ruins a couple days after, we were able to enjoy it more. It's a good one-two punch, flexible weather-wise.

You're in luck with the restaurant situation in Sorrento, which has certainly the most excellent dining options on the peninsula by a long shot. Just adjacent to the train/bus station, Leone Rosso Caffe caught us on two separate days after returning to Sorrento from touring just to rest and have a bowl of minestrone to warm up. It was so good we simply decided to stay, drink some more wine and ordered a full meal--this from a joint that wasn't even in the guidebooks. I wouldn't make restaurant reservations too far in advance, maybe even as soon as you get to town, unless there's a place and a specific night you have your heart set on.

From that station you can catch the SITA bus across the peninsula to Positano, but also it was said you need to queue up early to ensure a seat, even in April. And on the way back as well.

Thank you so much! Sounds like I can keep it pretty flexible which is great... kinda like my first visits to Europe back in the day when you just showed up to the sites, and stood in the queues.

So sounds like I should avoid Pompeii in the rain. Is Herculaneum any better for a rainy day?

Definitely plenty in Naples to keep us occupied, but if it's raining most/all of our time there might need to make some tough choices.

Thanks!

Ladyjayden--

One restaurant tip. It's touristy but make a reservation. TavernAllegra. Cavern-like, very upbeat with singing waiters, opera-style. A riot-and-a-half. And the food is fantastic, way better than it needs to be, but there is fierce competition for the dining dollar here so the bar is high in Sorrento--we dined there twice in five nights.

http://www.tavernallegra.com/en/index.php

Herculaneum is smaller and has a much larger percentage of smooth (not cobbled) walking paths than Pompeii, so I think it would be a better choice on a rainy day. Its sidewalks--where they exist--are not at the exaggerated height you often have to deal with in Pompeii. On a dry day I was concerned about hopping down onto the Pompeii cobbles.