Suggestions for itinerary to Rome + Naples + Pompeii + Amalfi Coast? UPDATED

Just a few quick thoughts; I have no useful experience on the Amali Coast.

• The Capella Sansevero, housing The Veiled Christ sculpture, is extremely close to the MANN. Tickets for the chapel sell out in advance even in March, so if you want to see it, you should get a ticket well ahead of time. You can buy online.

• Herculaneum is very close to Naples. It would be more efficient to see it while you're staying in Naples rather than backtracking from Sorrento.

• Oplontis is very close to Pompeii; I'd try to see it the same day rather than traveling back to it from Sorrento, but I am not sure how practical that will be for you, timewise. I realize this would probably mean leaving your luggage in storage at Pompeii while you hop over to Oplontis.

• When I went to Paestum a few winters ago, the museum closed before the archaeological park itself. Check museum schedules at all those sites so you don't miss something you want to see.

• With your target sightseeing list, I'm not sure Sorrento is the best base. You aren't going to Capri and are planning on a bunch of places on the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento isn't on the Amalfi Coast. Recent visitors report major issues with the buses in the area.

• I wouldn't want to spend my last night in Salerno with a flight out of Rome. What time does your flight depart?

• You're going to be in Campania long enough that you might benefit from the Campania ArteCard, which covers entries to all the ancient sites and some places in Naples. The card comes in different flavors, at different prices. Transportation in the area is relatively inexpensive; don't over-value the transportation benefits provided with one or more of the cards (but not all of them). https://www.campaniartecard.it/?lang=en. It's easiest to buy the card from inside the app; it's not worth your time to try to find a place where it can be purchased in person. Make a careful note of any numbers (confirmation and/or pass numbers) appearing during the purchase transaction. That will get you entry to covered sites if the Wi-Fi doesn't cooperate and you can't get the app to open.

A car on the AC will only make things worse - just put that thought out of your head. Since you said you're not shopping or beach people I don't know what else is really left on the AC. I was in Salerno for a longer stay at the very end of season and finally gave up and took the ferry over and the I think the AC is best seen from the ocean but even late season seemed too overrun and there is little to see aside from shops. Amalfi still has traces of the old town - there is a store for fishing supplies and scattered fruit stands but I also counted 4 gelato shops in a row in the main Amalfi square. I would like to do the hikes, however given the views.

And I'm sure you know but the hierarchy of quality gelato is:
If the pistacchio (and there will be pistacchio) is green it's artificial - walk out. The more the gelato is fluffed up for display - or worse has things stuck in it - the less serious they are. The best places cover tops of the gelato containers when they are not scooping.

I'm getting the idea you might like gelato, but... the best sfogliatelle in the world is 5 minutes from the Naples train station. Antico Forno delle Sfogliatelle Calde Fratelli Attanasio Vico at Ferrovia 1/2/3/4. Walk aover, show up, grab a number right away and wait your turn. So worth it.

Salerno has a long, major pedestrian shopping street Corso Vittorio Emanuele which ends running into old town with a bunch of restaurants, bars and cafes. Staying anywhere along this street gives easy access to the old town, the train station (you will use often) and the ferry if you want to do the Amalfi Coast thing as well while you are there.

Since you mentioned WW2 - Salerno was the Allied landing point in Italy and while I haven't been I've heard good things about the WW2 museum Museo dello Sbarco e Salerno Capitale in Salerno. Also don't miss the Cathedral - especially the basement - and the local street arts alleys of the old town.

Paestum is amazing - hopefully the second floor of the museum - the Roman part - is open now. If The Diver isn't on display ask to see it. When I was there in 2024 it was open to tour groups only but the guard let us back there so we were alone - except for the watchful security guard - with the tomb.

Enjoy, sounds like a great trip,
=Tod

Ravello needs more time than you are alloting for it. It has a small, but lovely cathedral. In addition, there are two beautiful villas with gardens to visit. The views over the sea are dazzling. I would put it way ahead of Positano (ugh, all high end shops and really unattractive beach), Maiori, Minori, and Atrani. Even if all the AC places you mention were worth visiting, you couldn’t possibly visit them all in 2 days.

Keep in mind that getting around the AC can be cumbersome and time consuming. Investigate and plan that part ahead. For example, we attended an evening concert in Ravello. The local travel agent, who sold us the tickets, advised us that there would be a crowd afterwards trying to get taxis back down to Amalfi and that we should pre-book. She was right, and we were happy that we took her advice. All of this was a very long time ago (20 years?) so I can’t make specific recommendations, but I’d think your hotel or a local travel agent could help out.
I hope your flight home is not on the same day as your departure from the AC. Too much can go wrong! Go the day before!

Your trip sounds wonderful! Another vote for more time in Ravello and also suggest checking out Capri. I stayed in Sorrento and did a private day tour to Capri with a small group and it was fabulous. Happy travels!

Of all my travels, Salerno and the Amalfi Coast remains my favorite. (Andalusia a close second). We love B&B's or small hotels, though we were 3 on that trip and often Air B&B. We avoid crowds, not often possible, and love history.

So glad you are going to Salerno, do not miss the Minerva Garden and go down onto Crypt of St. Matteo.
I would not recommend driving to the coast from Sorrento, someone will suffer motion sickness! My personal opinion is the Positano and Amalfi are shopping meccas and terribly crowded. You must stay on the coast to appreciate it. We stayed in Atrani and could easily walk into Amalfi for transportation needs (Amalfi is the hub). We spent some time trying to find the walking tunnel to Atrani and was fascinated at the transportation activity in the square, an absolute complete dance. Wonderful restaurant in Atrani, Taverna Apostoli .
We hiked up to and down from Ravello, a wonderful day, Villa Cimbroni has incredible views. Most people take the bus to Ravello, we passed one group using the stairs up to Ravello and never saw a person hiking down.

We took the bus to Bomerano (I was on the verge of motion sickness), starting point for Path of Gods.
The Path of Gods is heavily traveled and rocks are shiny slippery. I travel light and made the decision not to pack hiking shoes, I slipped twice, but it remains a memorable day. Young people zipped by me in sandals, one women in heels! I would not call it crowded, just busy and in no way did it impact the hike, At the end of the path there is a lovely restaurant in Nocelle, reward yourself!
Note: Do not buy a rt ticket for bus as there are 2 services and they do not honor each other tickets.
I did the food tour in Sorrento and it was great.

Finally, I must plug for a visit to Capri. Our splurge was 2 nights at a lovely B&B, B&B Bettola Del Re , The trick is to avoid Capri town and go straight up to Anacapri. Ride the chair lift to the top and take in the most spectacular view! I did have to walk thru Capri Town to hike to Tiberius's Villa, it was a mob scene.

Happy travels, I'm jealous!

Salerno: one full day and two partial days do not look like enough for all on your list. On arrival day, get there early, store bags, and head to Paestum. The next day, take ferry to Amalfi or Minori and hike between them, return to Salerno by ferry or bus. Path of lemons is probably more realistic than Path of the gods.

Thank you for these fabulous ideas/information/suggestions!

You are generous folks. More feedback is always welcome.