Planning a trip for April 24th- May 3rd flying into Rome and out of Naples. We have 3 nights booked in Rome then want to see Pompeii, Paestum, a 1/2- full day on the Amalfi coast, and Naples (interest in that order). Should we base in Naples, Sorrento, or Salerno (or some combo). We’re thinking of doing AC in between the other 2 to break up the ruins yourself a bit. What makes sense transportation wise? I thought Salerno, based on a map, but I’m not seeing anything about it in any of the guidebooks and videos we saw on YouTube weren’t very enticing. We’ve been to Rome, Florence, Venice and loved all. Not afraid of cities, but try to avoid to tourist crowds when possible (yes, I know some are unavoidable!). Group is me (48F), husband (50f), and 2 daughters (14,16). Relying on trains mostly but would pay for taxi/ uber/ driver/ small tour if that makes things much easier/ smoother/ better. Love any thoughts. Thank!
Posted by
San Diego, California, USA
1832 posts
Hello sharonfoley9, and welcome to the forum,
It sounds like you have 9 or 10 nights - depending on whether you are flying out on the 3rd or the 4th. You have 3 nights planned in Rome and from there you will probably want to head to Sorrento or Salerno for 3 or 4 nights and then to Naples for the last 3 or so nights of your trip.
Sorrento will give you train access to Pompeii and bus/driver access to the AC. Salerno will give you super easy train access to Paestum, Pompeii and bus or ferry access to the AC. You can do all this from Naples - Pompeii, Paestum and then Sorrento or Salerno to hop to the AC but you will spend a lot of time covering the same train route when you could be closer and get a better start from either of the other cities.
Sorrento is not part of the AC but is close to it and many people stay there and their access point into and out of the AC and for ferry access to Capri. Since it is AC adjacent the pricing and crowds generally reflect that.
Salerno is much more blue collar and what the locals call "real Italy" versus the AC. Honestly visiting Salerno is mostly about what it is close to rather than the city itself but I kind of liked it. It has some of that southern Italy chaos feel to it but without the size and real chaos of Naples. It has a long pedestrian only shopping street with stores and cafes and then breaks down into the jumble of downtown with bars, cafes and ristorante dotted through out the old town.
Your schedule will be tight for getting everything in you list but it is doable.
Hope that helps,
=Tod
Posted by
Tel Aviv
15892 posts
Here's another vote for Salerno. I've stayed both there and in Sorrento on separate trips. Salerno is connected to Rome and Naples by high-speed train. It's a terminus for both bus and ferry routes to the rest of the Amalfi Coast. It's really the only good place to stay for a visit to Paestum by train or bus. I'd split the time between Salerno and Naples.
Now for why I really liked Salerno. It has a well-preserved historic center that is worth spending at least a few hours exploring. It has the only large sandy beach along the AC. It has a long lovely seaside promenade. To top it off, it has a large selection of good restaurants and the lowest prices for rooms and food on the AC.
You can access Pompeii from Salerno by train, then short taxi ride to the "back" entrance. Or you can easily get to the main entrance just meters from the Circumvesuviani "train" (it's a metro) from Naples.
I stayed at the wonderful Salerno Centro B&B which only has 3 rooms and may not be available. It was on the edge of the historic center, 10-15 minutes' walk to the train/bus/ferry, 5 minutes' to the promenade.
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8584 posts
Do you understand that there are no trains along the actual Amalfi Coast? It's mainly two busses, Salerno-Amalfi and Amalfi-Sorrento, and in-season, ferries. Taxis are very expensive, and distances long. Transportation is always an issue in the area.
Although I don't like hotel changes, Naples has enough to see to justify a night there. Salerno will favor its end of the AC. I only mention that in case you WANT to see Positano. It is not essential to visit Sorrento, but it has the best mix of daily transportation. On our five nights in Sorrento, we had to cross off Paestum because it is so far.
We did not want to do Pompeii en route, but many people do that. For you the issue would be that you'd like to enter Pompeii at the gritty Circumvesuviana entrance (right at the train stop), but exit the Amfiteatro entrance to take the (1/2 mile away) OTHER train company (Trenitalia) to Salerno. But you can't use two luggage checkrooms at the same time!
Do you have dreams of the beach? What time is your Naples departure?
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Do you understand that there are no trains along the actual Amalfi Coast? It's mainly two busses, Salerno-Amalfi and Amalfi-Sorrento, and in-season, ferries. Taxis are very expensive, and distances long. Transportation is always an issue in the area….
Do you have dreams of the beach? What time is your Naples departure?>
Yes, I understand there are no trains along the AC. All the issues you mentioned is exactly why I’m asking for recommendations :)
No dreams of the beach, just a (hopefully) sunny lunch. I wouldn’t think it would be warm enough at that time for a beach day. Thanks!