Hello - we are in the early stages of planning a minimum 2 week trip to southern Italy for the end of May/early June. We want to include locations such as Naples, Amalfi coast (probably base in Positano, but open to which town), Capri, Matera, Alberobello, Polignano a Mare and possibly Paestum. I'm trying to figure out a possible loop route to connect all these and determine length of stay in each area. Also looking for some off the beaten path stuff to do as well! Flying out of Philly, most likely into Rome and train to Naples to start the loop. we are willing to rent a car for part of the trip, but don't want to for the entire trip. Any ideas or suggestions would be helpful
Posted by
11642 posts
We spent ten days in beautiful Polignano a Mare. A car will make it so much easier to see this area of Italy. There are many towns to visit including Lecce, Monopoli, Locorotondo, Ostuni, Otranto, Trani and Alberobello.
We also visited Matera which was a bit of a downer learning about the poor people who lived in cave homes with no modern conveniences.
The govt finally built modern high rises to house them.
Posted by
OP
Philly
12 posts
i'm also thinking an additional way to do this is just focus on Naples, maybe Sorrento, Amalfi Coast, Capri and also do Procida and Isola d'Ischia. save the eastern side for another time
Posted by
1 posts
I'm trying to plan the same itinerary--two weeks to Amalfi coast and Puglia in September--and wondering if that's too much or totally fine? Also thinking train (FCO-Salerno or Naples) and ferry or bus to Positano, spend maybe four days there on the coast and then rent a car and drive to Puglia to make the rounds there. Then train back to Rome. OR should we go clockwise instead? I'm just starting to plan so if you don't mind my piggybacking on your inquiry I'd love to see if anyone has any tips to share!
Posted by
OP
Philly
12 posts
no worries! I think it can be done, but the more I thought about it, it required quite a bit of driving, especially the way I wanted to go. Plus timing of flights out of Rome plays a part for me. Not sure how good car rental spots are away from Naples - haven't checked into that yet. For me, switching to a closer zone of focus (this time) alleviates some issues. I may save the Puglia area for next time and focus on Naples, Amalfi and the adjacent islands this time around.
Posted by
755 posts
I think you’ll have a much better time if you do concentrate your two weeks in Naples and the Amalfi coast and surrounding area. I could easily spend two weeks there and I have already been about ten times. So much to see in the city and on the coast and beyond, such as the islands as you mentioned, Caserta, Pozzuoli, Pompeii and Herculaneum, Salerno,
Paestum, etc. And, it can all be accomplished using public transportation.
Posted by
5115 posts
If you end up sticking with the Naples area, you can easily fill your time, but if you find you can see what you want within 10 or so days, you might rent a car in Salerno and do a short loop south, perhaps as far as Maratea. The area just south of Salerno is called Cilento and it would fulfill your desire to get off the beaten path--it makes a nice companion with the Amalfi coast.
You won't need a car until you leave the Amalfi area. Another idea would be to divert to the island of Ponza as you head back toward Rome.
Posted by
OP
Philly
12 posts
we now may be changing our itinerary to include Puglia area. trying to figure out the best transport between Bari and Alberobello. Between Alberobello and Matera. and also between Matera and Amalfi Coast towns. Seeing a lot of conflicting info online. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated? We are also now planning on including Sicily! probably going there via overnight ferry from Naples.
Posted by
5115 posts
we now may be changing our itinerary to include Puglia area. trying to
figure out the best transport between Bari and Alberobello. Between
Alberobello and Matera. and also between Matera and Amalfi Coast
towns. Seeing a lot of conflicting info online. Any suggestions or
advice would be appreciated? We are also now planning on including
Sicily! probably going there via overnight ferry from Naples.
I would definitely rent a car for Bari-Alberobello-Matera, then drop it in Salerno and take a ferry to the Amalfi coast.
Bari has rental car agencies outside the ZTL, so if you are not coming from the airport or are spending time in Bari you do not have to go back to the airport (though it's a short train or taxi ride if you decide it's better to leave from the airport).
Posted by
Washington DC
28299 posts
I had a miserable night in a couchette on the night train from Rome to Sicily (the same one you'd be taking). I didn't sleep a wink because the carriage jerked constantly from side to side.
A good visit to many (not all) the sights in Sicily takes at least two weeks if you have a rental car, longer if you are relying on public transportation. I spent 17-18 days there in 2015 with no car, and it wasn't long enough, even though I skipped the three major Greek sites (Agrigento, Segest and Selinunte) for lack of interest.
Note also that Sicily (and Puglia, for that matter) will be getting hotter and hotter as you move through June. I am the voice of experience when it comes to visiting those parts of Italy in the summer. I enjoyed my trip, but the heat was exhausting.
You can explore actual, historical, day-by-day weather data on the website timeanddate.com.
Use the pull-down box above the graph at the right to check weather data for June in earlier years, because weather does vary a lot.