Will be in Italy for 3 weeks in Oct. Three nights each in Venice, Bellagio and Vernazza, Then two nights in Firenze and 3 in Siena. So far all by train. One of the Siena days will be a r/t bus trip to a hilltown or two. Then we want to spend two nights in the Sorrento area and end up with four nights in Rome. There are two nights after Siena to get to Sorrento. Question is how and where to visit? Should we get a car to go from Siena to Sorrento and then leave it in Rome? That would allow for a car day in Tuscany(Civita, Orvieto etc.) and allow a stop at Pompeii or Herculaneum on the way, avoiding Naples and Rome traffic hopefully and to drive the Amalfi coast. Is that an easy drive logistically? I am an experienced driver and have driven all over Ireland and Provence but only used trains in past trips to Italy. OR... stay with trains and buses and see Orvieto and Pompeii on the way, with a day on Capri? Better to drive the Amalfi coast or take a bus tour from Sorrento? Is a car a hassle or a positive in the Sorrento area and is it worth dealing with Rome and Naples traffic? Thanks
Posted by
OP
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
255 posts
Then what? Do the whole southern area by bus and train? Pompeii, Sorrento, Amalfi coast etc. No need for a car there?
Posted by
Sacramento, California, United States
253 posts
We have done that route several times without a car.
The trains get you to Sorrento easily enough and driving in southern Italy is more of a challenge then up north. You can see Pompeii, for instance, using the Circumvesuviana.
I would NEVER have a car inside a large city anywhere in Europe, even with a Garmin. If time is money and you are on a budget, having a car is like having a hole in your money pouch when driving in a city like Naples.
We have only taken the bus south of Sorrento down the Amalfi Coast and I have to admit it was challenging, so picking up a car in Sorrento may be the way to see it. We stayed overnight on Capri and would do that again.
Posted by
Southern, MN
15 posts
I have not been to Italy yet, but what I am planning to do is rent a car in Rome drive to the hill towns for a 3 days and then drive to Sorrento and drop the car off there, possibly seeing Paestum on the way. Paestum is a little bit out of the way, but busing it from sorrento in a day trip seems like it could be a hassle.
I think it would be a huge inconvienience to drop a car off on the way from Tuscany to Sorrento and then board a train and wait in lines wasting a couple hours and cost of train tickets. It looks to be an easy 4-5hr drive from Siena to Sorrento.
I won't keep the car in Sorrento, all the day trips seem to be easily accesable by bus or train from Sorrento.
Thats my opionion, Please let me know if there is an easier way.
Posted by
Sacramento, California, United States
253 posts
Brian -
We like the Italian Rail Pass option with renting a car.
The pass is purchased in the U.S. before going to Italy and has options on the number of days for which you use it. Having the rail pass eliminates standing in line, other then the first day when you activate it.
Having a car for visiting hill towns, for instance, is a must. If I were doing this trip, it would include taking the train between the larger cities and distances and then renting a car for those side trips.
We took the bus down to Paestum. It was okay, but you do have to time everything to the bus schedule. So having a car with you in Sorrento could work out for you.
Not a fan for renting cars in big cities, like Rome. With a rail pass, you can figure out a convenient town along the way to pick up a car instead ahead of time.