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Puglia to Naples Itinerary Suggestions

Posted by (Seattle, WA) on

We're heading to southern Italy just before Easter 2024. On Day 2, we start with the RS Sicily Tour and a couple of days after that, we start an "8-day," "self-guided" bike ride in Puglia from Alberobello to Lecce. We are looking at our final 6 nights in Italy at the end of April, ending with a flight home from Naples.

This itinerary?

  • Rent car in Lecce and drive to Cilento Coast - Pisciotta or Marina di Camerota (near Palinuro); What does anyone know about surcharges for rental cars (we are slightly over 70)?
  • 3 nights Cilento Coast; 2 days of towns and beaches and possibly Palinuro's Blue Grotto;
  • Drive to Naples and turn in car; stops at Paestum's Greek Temples and a Buffalo Cheese farm (Tenuta Vannulo looks good) along the way; and
  • 3 nights Naples; Archaeology Museum and city on the first day; Pompeii on the second (our last full day).

OR, this one?

  • Train from Lecce to Salerno, then bus to Amalfi or Praiano (between Amalfi & Positano);
  • 3 nights (two days) Amalfi Coast; possibly a bike ride/tour, possibly ferries;
  • Public Transport to Naples ... via Sorrento? or Salerno? Salerno's Duomo? Comments/Suggestions?
  • 3 nights Naples; Archaeology Museum and city on the first day; Pompeii on the second (our last full day).

Which do you suggest ... and why?

Thanks for your help on prior posts that have led us to this stage (Valedelphia, Gerri, Jean, Janet & Suki, to name a few). https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/southern-italy-itinerary-assistance-request and https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-vs-cilento-coast-re-dux

Posted by
11606 posts

I would choose your first option as we have really enjoyed all those places.
Once was enough for us and the crowded Amalfi Coast so I would not do option 2.

Posted by
314 posts

I have plans already in place for Southern Italy for November 2024 so I planned now to get a sense of public transpo options as I am S, F, 70+ and a solo traveler who only travels with public transpo.

I have only been to Naples area and so looking forward to a short visit to the Amalfi Coast. My plan is to arrive in Naples head right out to Sorrento and do the AC from there. Then head to Maratea and the rest of Southern Italy from there. So I would go with plan 2.

Posted by
395 posts

The drive from Puglia to Cilento is easy and nice. We stopped at Pietrapertosa on the way and loved it.
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2022/01/cilento-in-october-salerno.html
Going to Cilento after seeing the Lecce - Alberobello area seemed a little disappointing to us in comparison from a landscape point of view - , although we went in autumn. In spring everything might be a lot prettier with flowers etc.
I must say that Tenuta Vannulo was one of my best experiences in Italy and I live here!
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2022/01/naples-in-october-from-agropoli-to.html
Salerno is nice, I didn't get to see it properly because I made the mistake of going by car. I think there are ferries from there to Amalfi coast. I thought about Vietri a Mare near to Salerno as a base but haven't done anything about it yet. If you've never seen Amalfi coast and you're willing to brave the crowds, this could be the right opportunity.
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2022/01/cilento-in-october-salerno.html
There's a lot to see in Naples so you could increase the number of your nights there.

Posted by
407 posts

Grazie, Tinac.

Alas, we do not have the ability to extend our time in Naples. Our trip - at 29 full days in Italy, plus Trans-Atlantic travel days - is at or just beyond my wife's limit. Hence, our need to make a choice between Cilento (slower and perhaps closer to your fellow Italians) and Amalfi (more popular with foreigners and more spectacular to the eye). As for Napoli, we will have one full day there, but 3 nights for passegiatas and dinners and whatever else sparks joy. Love to hear your thoughts on that!

Of course, there is always the unexpected. Like when we stumbled onto the Gelato Festival when we were in Orvieto and then Piano City for a couple of days in Milano!

Thanks for your comment on Tenuta Vannulo.

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