Greetings,
We are staying in Positano (March 19th to 23rd) and want to visit Capri. Must we ferry from Sorrento, or Naples? Is Capri a good choice for a day or half day at that time of year? Does it make sense to see Pompeii on the same day? Looks like Paestum is a different direction, a different day, but are there other good destinations near Paestum? Thank you.
There is a ferry that leaves from Positano...you buy tickets right by the dock. We didn't stay a whole day, left at 9 and back by 3. I don't think you can do that and Pompeii the same day...just way too much. Where are you at before Pompeii and where are you going afterwards?
Waterman, I'm quite sure the ferries don't run to/from Positano until later in the spring (earliest April 1.) They do run from Sorrento to Capri all year as long as the seas aren't too rough so check schedules on one or both of these websites as your trip dates become closer:
https://www.capribooking.com/en/ferry-schedule?path_id=14
http://www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule?from=sorrento&to=capri
No, I wouldn't recommend trying to do Pompeii and Capri on the same day, and a fair amount of businesses in Capri may still be closed for the season in March...although day-tripping crowds should be lighter than during high season.
A day trip to Capri and then Pompeii would not work. You have a twenty minute train ride from Sorrento to Pompeii. You'd have a ferry round trip. Both locations deserve enough time to explore them.
Paestum IS the destination. There is a great archeological site, a very good small museum, mozzarella farms, and a beach (too early for swimming, though).
Lulu, Kathy, Suki, Zoe,
Thank you for your responses. Useful stuff. We'll be in Positano (with a rental car) for 5 days. We would now visit Capri and Pompeii separately in consideration of comments offered. Paestrum a different day.
Waterman7
The trouble with going to Paestum from Positano is that it's a long drive. The ferries aren't running at that time of year, so you either drive along the coastal road eastward, or west and then north through Sorrento to the tunnels, to get to the highway. Use viamichelin.com to see driving routes and optimistic driving times.
Michelin says 2 hours going on the coastal road, but that's if you are going at the maximum. That's only for veteran drivers who know the road and are crazy Italians. If you leave early in the morning, you may have the rising sun in your eyes. You won't want to pass on the road between Positano and Salerno (where you pick up the highway) and you may get stuck in several places waiting for someone to park or pull out, or just a bus stopped for passengers.
From Paestum to Pompeii is mostly (all?) highway. From Pompeii to Positano is a much easier drive, good road (mostly through tunnels) to Sorrento, then a wider (though still 2-lane, no shoulders) from Sorrento to Positano.
Chani,
We are staying in Positano four nights. From the Michelin Road Atlas, I see that Paestum is far from Positano, especially in light of your commentary. Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi and Positano itself may be plenty to explore without including Paestrum.
Thank you for your thoughts.
