Hello all!
My wife and I are going on a 16-day trip to Italy starting in early September. I've read the Rick Steves book and come up with an itinerary but wanted to get feedback from the experts here! :)
About us: We prefer not to be too busy -- we typically like to do one activity (maybe two) per day, but have enough of the day "free" to relax and get a feel of the place. We LOVE food (especially Italian) and that'll be a big part of this trip. Also, though we like museums and churches well enough, we don't want to spend lots and lots of time seeing those. We also like to spend time walking around neighborhoods, some hiking, food tours, and just getting a feel for a place. We've found it helpful to have guides in the past (see below, this is another question) -- as a way to experience a place (or sight) without having our heads down looking at a book or phone.
Okay, with that in mind, here's some rough thinking -- any suggestions welcomed and appreciated!
- Fly into Rome (reach in the evening), then spend four full days there.
- Take a train to Salerno (seems like a charming and less touristy city than Naples). Spend the rest of the day wandering Salerno, sleep in Salerno.
- Spend the next day visiting Paestum, then return to Salerno for the night.
- Spend the next day taking a day trip to Amalfi and Ravello -- hopefully doing some hikes/strolls there. Sleep in Salerno.
- Take the ferry from Salerno to Capri, spend the day sightseeing in Anacapri, visit Capri in the evening when it's less crowded, sleep in Anacapri.
- Spend the next day taking a boat trip around Capri, doing some sightseeing and strolls/hikes in Capri/Anacapri. Evening and dinner in Capri, sleep in Anacapri.
- Spend the next day relaxing in Anacapri / Capri, with strolls and hikes.
- Spend 1/2 of the next day in Anacapri, then take the ferry from Capri to Sorrento in the late afternoon. Spend the evening strolling in Sorrento, sleep in Sorrento.
- Spend the next day taking a day trip to hike the Path of the Gods. Return to Sorrento, spend the evening there, sleep in Sorrento.
- Spend the next day taking a day trip to Positano and maybe a boat tour along the Amalfi Coast. Sleep in Sorrento.
- The next morning, take the fast train from Sorrento to Rome (via Naples), stopping along the way to spend a few hours visiting the ruins in Pompeii. Sleep in Rome.
- The next morning fly back to the U.S.
This works out to 5 nights in Rome, 3 in Salerno (mostly evenings in Salerno, with the days spent in Paestum and the Amalfi Coast areas), 3 in Anacapri, 3 in Sorrento (again mostly evenings, with the days spent on the Amalfi Coast), and then 1 last night again in Rome).
Would be happy to get any general advice, but in addition I have a few questions:
I originally thought about staying in Naples for a couple of nights instead of Salerno (Rome --> Naples --> Sorrento or Capri). But I thought Salerno might be less urban, more approachable, and more charming. Plus it allows us to visit Paestum. But would love to hear if that might be misguided.
- Are 3+ full days in Capri/Anacapri too much (don't want to be bored).
- We'd like to arrange for private guides in several of these areas and would appreciate any recommendations. In Rome, this would include a tour of the Vatican, another of the ruins, and maybe a third that's a food or neighborhood tour. Maybe one half-day tour in Capri, just to get a sense of history, etc. A guide for the Pompeii ruins. And maybe a guide for the Path of the Gods hike.
Thanks in advance! :)