Will be in Rome October 6-13 and would like to see Pompeii then on to Positano for an overnighter, see Amalfi next day and return to Rome 2nd day. Train connections look good but unsure about bus to Positano. Is this realistic/ do-able? Also considering overnight in Sorento and visit Positano then return to Rome. Suggestions?
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
7312 posts
With the overnight this is possible, but you may prefer to pay 150 Euros or more each way for a car and driver from Naples to Positano. That's because the local commuter train and SITA public bus combination are slow, crowded (maybe less in October) and gritty. There are no real luggage racks (only a narrow briefcase shelf above the seats, like on a bus) on the Circumvesuviana, and normally all seats are full.
It can get very expensive to pay a car/driver to wait 2-4 hours while you see Pompeii, but it is NOT practical to do Pompeii as a public transportation daytrip from Positano. It is true, however, that Pompeii has very safe and reliable bag checks for people who are doing it on their own, on the way to either Positano or Sorrento. I would suggest that Positano is more special than Sorrento (and the latter has virtually no real beaches, except a squalid one by the marina fumes and noise.) The beaches in Positano are pebbles, not sand. It is very practical to do Pompeii as a daytrip from Sorrento, but I say that only for completeness, not because I think YOU should do that. (We did, but had five nights in Sorrento for the PURPOSE of easy daytrips. Note that you don't have time to go to both Positano and Capri.
Discount prices on the Frecciarossa from Rome to Naples (non changeable, non-refundable) get higher as the date approaches.
Posted by
Chicago
7850 posts
You should do Pompeii first one day since it takes time to get there and go through it and then Sorrento and Positano and Amalfi the next day. Stay in Sorrento as it is a better transportation hub to get places than Positano considering you are on a short trip
To save time take the Campania Expres from Naples to Pompeii instead of the Circumvesuviana, as the former does not make all stops and you may feel better having an assigned seat and more room to put your luggage.
For your short trip I recommend you use this service to get from Sorrento to Positano and to Amalfi and back:
https://www.city-sightseeing.it/it/citysightseeing-sorrento---coast-to-coast/.
Whereas the other alternative the Sitabus makes multiple stops the City
Sightseeing service only stops at the two towns you want to go to. Also consider a ferry between Positano and Amalfi.