Rome & AC & OVERWHELMED

What time of year?

Thank you for pointing that out - mid to late May 2026. I've updated original post.

Instead of a quiet town like Minori or Maiori, which may be full of tourists in late May and not have many dining options, consider staying in Salerno. While it is a big city, you can stay a 10-15 minute walk from the train/bus/ferry and be in the historical center, which is very well preserved - and worth exploring. Salerno has a large sandy beach (most of the beaches in the AC towns are small and pebbly). It has a lovely seaside promenade, excellent restaurants, cafes and bars. It's also cheaper for rooms and meals than anywhere else on the AC. And it's easy to get to all the AC towns by ferry or bus. You might even consider not staying at all in Sorrento. There are high-speed trains from Rome to Salerno. You can get to Pompeii by train from Salerno, and to Capri by ferry, albeit a longer voyage, but much more scenic sailing along the AC. Honestly, Sorrento has not much to offer except for views of the sea and easy access to Capri.

Because questions like yours come up on this board almost weekly, you may find the Search box top left, blue type, to deliver vast amounts of useful information. Most of your reasonable ideas have a large number of important details to learn. For example, approaching Pompeii Scavi (the ancient city) from the Sorrento side and from the Salerno side involve two entirely different train companies, and different distances from the train stations to the Scavi. A Rome-Naples-Pompeii-Sorrento trip requires a change in Naples to the local commuter (unreserved) line, Circumvesuviana, which is especially hot and crowded. It sounds like you may already know that Pompeii Scavi entrances have very reliable luggage storage.

This area will already be hot and crowded by the last week in May, so air conditioning, and patience, are called for. There is only one two-lane road along most of the AC (don't use the word "Amalfi" to mean Amalfi Coast because it's also the name of a town), and it moves very slowly. A private boat tour will be much more expensive than ferries. You will find that taxis are quite expensive, because this area has high tourism costs. Can all your luggage fit in one sedan trunk?

Your travel style is your own, but I would not change hotels as often as you are planning to. We spent five nights in Sorrento (last week of May), which is a purpose-built, postwar resort town, because it has the best transportation options. But that meant we only saw the Amalfi Coast from an eight-hour car and driver excursion to Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Positano was a must-see for me, but I never need to go there again. Maiori and Minori are more accessible from Salerno than from Sorrento. From Sorrento, we had to write off the hope of seeing Paestum, because it was just too far. Edit: We enjoyed our daytrip to Capri, but we skipped the time-sucking Blue Grotto.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-coast-for-7-nights-itinerary-help

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/trip-report-2-weeks-of-day-trips-from-sorrento

Why stay in Sorrento at all?

For me, a day trip to Capri would not be a good idea..too much rushing around at the height of day when it will be jammed with day trippers like yourself. Read up on the logistics of a one-day visit--ferried, buses, boat ride....and keep in mind the possible heat and the certainty of crowds.

What about staying on Capri for a day or two, instead of Sorrento?

The whole idea of a vacation on this coast should be to relax and soak up the scenery. You are kind of defeating that purpose by rushing all over the place..taking crowded buses and ferries here and there..... You only have nine days on the ground, and for the first day you might be hit with jet lag..

If I were you, I'd skip Rome on this trip..fly into Naples (either direct or connecting in Rome of other city) and spend the time on the Amalfi Coast and the islands....staying in Salerno is a good idea, too. Fly to, and home from, Naples and leave Rome for another time--hopefully in less crowded seasons. Maybe spend there last night of the trip in Naples so you can just take taxi t the airport next day.

I think you have a pretty good itinerary. You have given Rome 4 full nights which is great. I think 3 in Sorrento will also be nice, but would suggest Ischia instead of Capri, as I do think you are going to feel a bit overwhelmed with crowds. You could also consider staying there or Procida for your beaching time. I would add a night to Naples; there is a lot to see there, and if you have had 5 nights of more relaxing time you could enjoy a last day in a busy city.

The only other option might be to reverse your time - fly into Naples and out of Rome. Some people would prefer this as Rome can be overwhelming and they would rather leave it for the end. If you do start with Rome then I'd suggest your first day you don't book anything too major so you can get over jet lag.

I do like Chani’s suggestion of Salerno. We really enjoyed our short stay there.

I would move Salerno (or Maoiri/Minori) to middle of the trip.
Rome will be busy and so will Sorrento/Capri. A “relaxing”
 bit in the middle will be nice

There are direct fast trains to Salerno from Rome- making that transit much easier.
Spend 3 nights in Salerno (3 nights is just 2 full days)
Day 1- visit Paestum by train
Day 2- visit Amalfi/Positano/Ravello by ferry

Travel by ferry to Sorrento. Spend 3 nights
I would skip Capri.
Visit Pompeii from Sorrento- no need to check bags etc

Then to Naples for 2 nights if you can add a few nights.

Do some searches here for "Salerno"
There are quite a few fans of this lovely little town

Please don’t be overwhelmed. Tourists have been doing what you plan for the past 2000 years and the vast majority have survived. I would say that for the southern part of your itinerary, those who stay in Salerno or Sorrento seem to report the best experience. My wife and I really liked Salerno.

THANK YOU!

Truly this has been so very helpful and I've learned a lot in the process with your suggestions and tips.

Currently we plan on the following:
Day 1 - arrive Rome, Stay Rome
Day 2 - sightsee Rome, Stay Rome
Day 3 - sightsee Rome, Stay Rome
Day 4 - sightsee Rome, Stay Rome
Day 5 - train to Salerno, Stay Salerno
Day 6 - Day long boat trip to see the AC towns of Positano, Amalfi, other, Stay Salerno
Day 7 - Day trip to Pompeii, Stay Salerno
Day 8 - Relax or take a ferry to a smaller town like Majori/Minori, Stay Salerno
Day 9 - Ferry to one of the island (Capri, Ischia or Procida), Stay island
Day 10 - explore chosen island, Stay Island
Day 11 - Ferry to Naples, stay in Naples for next morning flight

I like that we are moving around less - we have 4 nights in Rome, 4 nights in Salerno, 2 nights on an island.

Again, THANK YOU. I know I'll have more questions and will do a better job of searching before I ask.

Sounds like a great plan. You will fall in love with Italy. Planning is less overwhelming than the experience of being there :-)

For Naples, and your last day/night, consider staying at the Hotel Piazza Bellini. We stayed there for several days at the start of our Italy trip last month, and again for the last night before flying out. Their breakfast is outstanding, and if you have time and interest, the hotel is just down the street from the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, where the artifacts and treasures from Pompeii are on display.

Don’t skip Paestum!

honestly - i'd never heard of paestum. clearly i'm no history buff. BUT it looks like it's fairly easy to get to from Salerno and magnificent so will add it to the list.

i truly appreciate the help and feedback.

Paestum has ancient Greek temples, that are in better shape than anything remaining in Greece. Nice small museum, too.

Be sure to buy RT tickets in Salerno as the station in Paestum is not manned

There is a gap in the train schedule midday so look closely at that

The temples are magnificent and the museum is very well done