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Potential 8 nights on the Amalfi Coast, 2 locations, insights please!

Posted by (Edmonton, AB, CANADA) on

Good day to the wonderful RS Forum!

My husband and I have travelled widely in Europe this last decade, using RS resources. We are planning to go back to Italy late September for 2 weeks of rest and relaxation with some sight seeing. The first 8-ish nights we would like to spend somewhere on the Amalfi coast, probably in 2 different locations (theoretically 4 nights in 2 locations). We know NOT to stay in Positano. And Sorrento feels "busy"/modern to our current research. Scattered throughout the 8-ish days, we hope to see 4 different places (as day trips most likely):
1. Paestum
2. Capri
3. Herculaneum (we have already visited Pompeii)
4. Archeological Museum (Naples)

Again, we are looking for the perfect locations to stay (insert eye roll). We are not looking for a strenuous trip. We are looking for Mediterranean beauty and vistas and walking and gentle exploring. Places/towns to stay in that are not too big, but not too small, have decent access to ferries/trains/private transport as needed. And are near the water (which is why we are not considering Ravello as a place to actually stay in). We would also consider basing in Capri for one of the 4-ish-night stays if that was recommended.

Also--should we actually be considering seeing Herculaneum/Archeological Museum as an overnight trip on our way back up to Rome? Instead of a stand-alone day trip from the AC?

When we are finished with our time on the AC, will will spend 4-5 nights in Rome (where we fly in and out of from Western Canada). We have been to Rome before and love it.

With great anticipation and gratitude for all the upcoming real life advice,
Tracey

Posted by
3169 posts

Well, your places are really spread out is the issue. Herculaneum and the archeological museum could be seen from Naples most efficiently.

Capri and Paestum are not very close to each other. You could stay in Salerno to go to Paestum and then stay on Capri. We only made a day trip to Capri and did not see it all. But four nights seems like a lot. But we took a ferry there (we stayed in Amalfi) and then a different ferry to Naples. That is something to consider. We had our luggage stored for the day.

Maybe do 3 nights in Salerno, 3 nights Capri and 2 nights Naples.

Posted by
8295 posts

Paestum, Herculaneum and Archeological Museum can all be reached from Salerno.
Not sure I would want to combine both Herculaneum and the museum on same day but it can be done.
You would take the train to Naples first I guess- see the museum then head to Herculaneum on the Circumvesuviana. To return to Salerno you’ll need to go back to Naples on the Circ and transfer to regular Trenitalia line.
Or you could do the opposite and get to Herculaneum first- back to Naples for museum then home to Salerno.
(Museum is closed on Tuesday so take that into account)

There are direct fast trains from Rome to Salerno.
Capri is a 2 hour ferry ride from Salerno
I wouldn’t want to day trip anywhere from Capri as ferries are so iffy.

Maybe head to Salerno on arrival to Rome (or to a nearby village- Vietri sul Mar is a quick train ride from Salerno, Cetara is another option -by ferry from Salerno).

You could split 5 nights in Salerno (or closeby village) then Capri for 3 nights (I think 3 nights is plenty there).

5 nights in Salerno allows-
1 day for relaxing/do nothing/see Salerno
1 day for Paestum
1 day for Herculaneum/Naples
1 day for AC- maybe a DIY ferry- stop in Amalfi and go up to Ravello

From Capri
Head to Rome by ferry to Naples then train. (Taxi from ferry to train station)
Or
Long ferry to Salerno then train to Rome.
The Salerno station is an easy 10 min walk from the ferry port.

We liked Salerno very much- budget friendly lodging, lots of good restaurants, non touristy, lovely seafront with views, interesting historic center, fun passegiatta.

Posted by
194 posts

I recommend Minori as a wonderful little town to stay in on the Amalfi coast. Not touristy, nice beach, boardwalk and town for exploring. Take a taxi up to Ravello, explore that town and then walk back down to Minori. The touristy town of Amalfi is also nearby.

And I think you should reconsider Sorrento. It’s very nice, quite manageable. Walk to the old harbour part of town and have a meal there next to the water. Also, Sorrento is a good location for shuttling over to Capri. For Capri, make sure you go there as early as possible in the day, or else you’ll spend all your time waiting in lines for the funicular and the bus up to Anacapri.

Posted by
5251 posts

We spent 2 weeks in Sorrento in 2023 and loved it. Transportation along the Amalfi Coast is challenging, slow and unreliable, and it can be costly if you rely on taxis or private drivers. You also risk using up a good chunk of a day moving between hotels if you want to stay in two places.

Sorrento is busier but no more modern than anything you'll find along the Amalfi Coast, and you may appreciate it as a transportation hub since Herculaneum, Naples and Capri are on your list, as trying to get to those from anywhere on the AC besides Salerno will be time consuming. You may also appreciate the restaurant options in Sorrento every evening.

I'm not sure about September but we were there late April and early May and the AC was already crowded, so I'm not sure if it will be any less 'busy' than Sorrento. Personally, we enjoyed Capri more than we did the AC.

Posted by
2202 posts

Reading roger and my friend Christine, I think Salerno & Minori should be your two bases. Salerno is just perfect, you can zig & zag at will depending on your daily plans. And Minori--while we didn't stay there on our last trip in April--I requested our wonderful drivers Danilo & Liliana (PM me for contact info) take us to the Sal De Riso dessert haven there. Worth the trip, definitely. We also visited Vietri sul Mare & Ravello that day. So glad we had a driver!

Only thing you might miss staying there is an easy way to the Scavi entrance at Pompei, as well as visiting Sorrento, which is only an OK place to stay but the food there is tremendous. But that's pretty much the case in the whole area--maybe my favorite food in Italy.

Posted by
45 posts

You all are wonderful!
I was not getting email alerts regarding postings, and just found all these wonderful replies today! Thank you!
I am sure I will have follow up questions, but my husband and I will digest these insights first.
Tracey

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