Planning trip from C Terre to Amalfi Coast

Posted by peggy1627 on 01/26/23 08:09 PM

1) best to fly to Florence then train to C Terre? Is this a high speed train & do I need to get ticket online in advance?
What town in C Terre is most budget friendly? I am planning on staying in C Terre for 5 days, is this enough time to see all the towns and do some nice hiking?
2) I am travelling with one other person, therefore is it better to take trains from C Terre to Naples rather than a car? then would we get a bus from Naples train station to where in Amalfi? I'm seeing that more affordable to stay in Sorrento and would this be a good home spot to do day trips all around Amalfi? Convenient to boat to Capri? Should we plan on spending night in Capri or is a day trip enough? Also day trip to Pompei enough. Should we visit Naples for the day when we arrive from C Terre or day we leave for Naples airport?

I would appreciate itineraries and suggestions from anyone. We are planning on being in italy a total of 12 days and have already seen Florence but wouldnt mind going back if you would think a good day trip from C Terre. Otherwise we are planning on C Terre, Naples, Capri, Pompei, all Amalfi

Thank you

Posted by valadelphia

01/26/23 08:16 PM

5109 posts

Is anything booked? Pisa is much closer than Florence and I think you could get a flight there just as easily. I'd check Genoa as well--see the train times from Florence on the Trenitalia website.
I think there is widespread confusion about what there is to see in these tiny villages--there is not really much to do, just enjoy the views. An avid hiker could certainly fill five days and there are day trips you could do.
Likewise, search the trains to Naples on the Trenitalia website. A week in this area would be nice, but it's a personal preference whether to have one base or multiple.

Posted by Robert

Wilmington, DE, USA

01/26/23 08:24 PM

1066 posts

Welcome Peggy! You're going to hear a lot of good information on this site.
If you can fly into Florence, it is easy to get to Cinque Terre from there by train - but it is a local, not the Freccia train.
5 days? Hmm, For me that's a bit much but that would give you one day in each town. What time of the year are you planning to travel? It could be very, very crowded. That said, with 12 days you have choices that could include such places as Florence, Siena, Lucca and, of course, Rome.

To get to Naples, for two people I think it would be easy to take the Freccia train from Florence to Naples (you shouldn't have to change trains in Rome). I LOVE Sorrento and for years have made it my base for everything in that area. The Circumvesuviana train is ok but I prefer taking a boat across the bay. Can I suggest taking the ferry to Positano and Amalfi from Sorrento and then taking the bus back from the terminal in Amalfi? You get to see the best of the views that way, I think.
Capri is not my favorite. I'll let others help you out there.
Pompeii is easy to get to from Sorrento. It isn't impossible to do a day trip to Naples from Sorrento. That way you don't have to worry about luggage. I really enjoy taking the boat across the bay - much better views than from the train.

I'll be interested in what others have to offer!

Posted by ChristineH

Gettysburg PA

01/26/23 08:48 PM

7247 posts

How many NIGHTS will you actually have in Italy?
Better to count trip in nights, gives a clearer picture of your itinerary.

Agree with Robert that Sorrento will be your best choice for base.

Can you fly home from Naples?
You’ll need to be IN your departure city night before flight, so if you have to leave from Rome keep that in mind

Posted by Donna

Sunriver

01/26/23 09:23 PM

1321 posts

I'm not sure that I'd visit both those locations as they are sort of similar. getting to and from CT isn't the easiest but Rome or Naples makes visiting AC very easy.

Posted by Kathy

Minnesota 🎒

01/26/23 10:35 PM

16629 posts

What month would you be taking this trip?

Posted by Dario

Italy

01/28/23 12:53 AM

3812 posts

What month would you be taking this trip?

Good question, in season they could take a train to Salerno and a Travelmar ferry to Amalfi, Minori, Maiori or Positano.

The closest airport to the Cinque Terre is Genoa, followed by Pisa. There are IC direct trains from Milan to Monterosso, so Milan's MXP airport is another option. Florence would be my last choice.