Hello, we are planning a 10 day trip to Sorrento and Sicily in October 2023. Where would you recommend flying into - Rome or Naples? We know not to rent a car while visiting Sorrento but were thinking 2-3 nights in Sorrento and then renting a car and driving to Sicily. Leave the car in Sicily and fly home from either Rome or Naples. We have been do Rome a few times so would just use the airport.
Thanks to everyone responding.
On such a short, packed trip, every second counts, so I would make an effort to fly into Naples unless Rome is just much more cheap or a better schedule (b/c direct) for you. But most of all, I would consider just visiting Sicily on this trip.
Have you priced out flights to Palermo and Catania?
I have not yet looked at flights at Catánia and Palermo but will. Is there a specific area of Sicily you recommend we stay in?
Thanks very much.
2-3 nights in Sorrento and then renting a car and driving to Sicily.
Leave the car in Sicily
I'm curious if you've checked the drop-off fees for that would be? It can't be cheap to leave the car that distance away and the cost for the rental company to bring it back.
Based on your timeline I'd fly to Naples. We flew to Rome and then trains to Sorrento. If I had a do-over I wouldn't do it in one day again. It was a looong and wasted day after an overnight flight. It's likely at least another full day wasted on travel on a ferry with a car.
I would do reverse, fly into Palermo or Catania, do your thing, fly to Naples, do Sorrento for a couple days.
Flying to Sicily usually means flying through Rome, you could fly out of Rome as well if needed, a short train ride on fast trains between Naples and Rome, though I would spend my last night in Rome in that case.
Maybe I’m not grasping the agenda, but why are you bothering with the mainland at all? You’re eating a lot of time and creating a lot of complications by flying to Rome/Naples, staying for basically one full day in Sorrento, renting a car there, taking a ferry, driving to wherever in Sicily (where does the ferry take you, Messina?) then dropping the car there (and paying extra fees), only to then fly back to Rome/Naples for the flight home. Do I have that right?
If you want to see Sicily, fly straight to Sicily. If you really want to see Sorrento then stay there and explore the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, Naples, et al. Ten days is not much time in the end, and you can take better advantage of it by narrowing your focus.
Many car rentals specifically prohibit using a ferry. One-way drop fees can be high in some cases.
I assumed you already had an idea of how to spend the ten days in Sicily, so what is missing could help determine the extra three days--I think that would be a better use of your time. I have not been to Sicily yet, but every corner of the island has some appeal. Many call it a "two week minimum" kind of destination, but even that would leave some things out.
If you were going to Sorrento for the scenery/relaxation, then maybe swap for some of the small islands off Sicily? Or, for nature, maybe Zingaro reserve?
Thanks to everyone with your thoughts. May have to make the trip longer than initially planned.
