South Italy - Extra nights post tour input, please!

Naples would have a lot more to offer than Sorrento, so it just depends on what you are interested in doing. If you are more outdoorsy, then you could go back to the Amalfi Coast and hike, but for history/cultural pursuits, Naples for sure! If you seek pure relaxation, then one of the islands (Procida looks so pretty, Ischia for thermal baths?). Sorrento is a good if you want one home base to travel in all directions, but I just don't find it very interesting. The tour covers the main sites of Naples but there are many more--see a Blue Guide for detailed descriptions.

Loved that tour, especially Matera!

We did what you are suggesting -- arrived in Rome a couple of days before the tour started and stayed in Naples a couple of days after. Surprised to find that I really liked Naples and wanted to keep exploring.

We could have stayed a couple of days longer in Sorrento and used some time to go to Capri. Maybe it will be less crowded when you are there.

We did that tour last year (our first RS tour) and it was amazing. We added on nights before the tour, but not at the end. I kind of wish we'd stayed in Naples another day or two so that we could go to Herculaneum. We spent the free day we had in Sorrento on an independent tour of Pompeii, so I might have gone back there as well. I think there are no wrong answers to your question, though. :)

Have you considered spending those days/nights in a non-city, non-tourist place? A place where you can just relax and be immersed in the Italian environment and culture without dealing with crowds, schedules and pressure? I'm not sure it matters the name of the town but it might be a little bit easier if it's on the train and/or bus lines.

We went a couple of days early to explore Rome more and after the tour took the train to Varenna for a few days then flew out of Milan. Varenna/Lake Como was very nice and calming after the chaos of Naples. I loved Matera, too. Have a great time!

When I took this tour in 2023, I went to Rome two days early and stayed two extra days in Naples. I LOVED Naples but it’s not for everyone. I wish I had even more time in Naples.

I took this tour last May and enjoyed an extra day in Naples. Some find Naples too “gritty,” but I loved it! The Grand Hotel Oriente is very well-located for sightseeing and dining.

Because I was flying home on a very early flight from Rome, I took a train from Naples in the late afternoon and spent my last night near FCO.

I did this tour in September 2024 and LOVED it! I went several days before the tour began and stayed an extra night in Naples at the end, totally worth it! I used my extra day to go to the top of Mount Vesuvius which was slightly terrifying but a lot of fun. It really depends on what you're interested in - have to think about if there's anywhere else you'd rather spend extra time other than Naples. I hope you have the best time!!

Some other ideas: Napoli Centrale to Caserta is just 30minutes by train. Look up Reggia di Caserta; it’s gorgeous! I will spend another night there soon & like to stay at a small B&B adjacent to the palace.

From Caserta, you’re a 3-hr train down to the Puglia region. If you want to add an extra week, there’s so much more to see in this region farther south of the brief stop at Alberobello during your tour. But, I wouldn’t drop down into this region if you’re only thinking about a few days.

We added an extra day in Naples and loved it. The group of us that added an extra day went to a concert that night at Church of Gesu Nuovo which was an easy walk from the hotel and across from Church of Santa Chiara. During the day we went to the cloisters of Santa Chiara, which didn’t get a lot of love from the RS guide book but we really enjoyed. There was so much to see that we were glad we had booked extra time.