Hello. In January I made reservations in Ravello at an Air B&B for a family of 4 for the beginning of July. At the time it was the most affordable option and most other hotels were already booked. We have a rent a car we are picking up after Rome for the remainder of our trip (drive to Ravello, than Tuscany, than Venice, than to Milan to fly home). Again, the rent a car was inexpensive in relation to using trains. And we live driving because of the freedom to pull off the beaten path. Assuming I find parking in Ravello, I will basically leave it parked and was possibly considering using it to drive along the coast to Sorrento and back. But so many posts say this is too stressful and a car is a bad thing! Is it really that bad? I live in congested NJ and drive in NYC regularly. Is it worse than NYC? It looks like the drive from Rome is not that bad because it comes in from the north and not necessarily along the coast. The Air B&B says I should be able to find parking along a local street in Ravello. Hopefully she is accurate. Assuming driving is out, it appears I can walk and get buses that will drive the coast, in which I can get off in the towns. Does my plan sound doable? Has anyone driven the coast from the south to the north, seems most start north and go south? Did you find it unbearable and would not do it again? Were you able to park in the various towns?
Posted by
Seattle, WA & Bordeaux, France
205 posts
Ravello is beautiful and I'm jealous you are staying there! When we visited last summer, there is a parking lot (just like US parking lots) just outside the wall. We found all of the 'official' parking lots take credit cards and were exactly like what we have in the US when you visit any city and drive to a parking garage or lot.
Driving on the Amalfi coast is similiar to driving the Pacific Coast Highway. The big difference is that the road is a bit narrower and there are many very large buses to contend with. Plus the "Sunday Drivers". There is a route from Ravello to Sorrento that is not along the coast but up above on the hills and is less crowded. Might be a consideration for one way of your drive. If you regularly drive in NYC, you will be completely fine driving anywhere in Italy. Well, maybe not Rome! ;-) Back on Parking for a second, there are loads of parking lots and garages all over Italy. You can google it and you will find all of the lots. We never had a problem finding parking. Even in the city of Florence! Just know where you're going and you will be totally fine.
Have a great time!
Posted by
Boston, MA
1829 posts
Driving on the Amalfi Coast road and probably the little backroad that heads up to Ravello from Amalfi can be stressful but is not really that challenging.
In a way similar to the PCH because the driver cannot really enjoy the view but the PCH is a driving road, Amalfi Coast Rd. is not at all. You are stuck at a slow speed and most turns and many sections are just wide enough for 2 cars.
There are small side roads off the PCH up the mountains further that feel like the Amalfi Coast road minus the traffic.
The stress comes when scooters try to overtake you and/or a bus is barreling around a turn just as you are approaching the same turn.
That plus 2 busses often meet at bad points, requiring them and other cars behind them to back up.
Above are everyday occurrences on that road. But all in all it is a small stretch of road we are talking about and I am sure you will survive if used to driving in the city.
Rome and other Italian cities the driving is far worse so not sure the car is going to be such a great help for the rest of your trip.
Make sure you are very aware of the ZTL's for everywhere you may be going and all of the little Italian driving caveats.
Posted by
lexington, il
4105 posts
It's not the cost of the car rental in Italy that gets you. It's fuel @ 6€ /gal, and tolls, use Via Michelin to compute these. Parking is also expensive. I drive the coast road often but in early May or October.
You won't have a problem in Ravello, only as you drive from Amalfi toward Sorrento. Keep in mind you can't go any faster than the cars or busses in front of you. Utilize the ferrys as much as you can they're faster and you'll have a much more pleasant trip on the AC.
The rest of you're locations are easy as far as a car is concerned. Just be sure you read this. Download their PDF.
https://www.italybeyondtheobvious.com/dont-mess-with-ztl-zones
Posted by
Portland, OR
1090 posts
We have done this drive three times. Once we drove to Salerno and then took the coast route to Ravello. The other two times we took the mountain route and both are equally narrow. If your mindset is Italian and you’re patient, knowing you’ll get there when you get there, it’s fine. Everything takes longer in this part of the country, but that’s why we go there. 😉