We know you can take day trips over to one or the other, but we want to know of those who have been to these areas, where you would stay? This is our first time to Italy and will be our 3rd stop. Please help as we have researched for about 3 months at every location we want to go. None of our friends or family have been over to the areas, so anyone who has would be SOOO helpful.
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
It would depend on the type of travel you intend to do. Are you using public transport ONLY, stay in Sorrento. If you plan to rent a car, then stay along the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is a great transportation hub where it is easy to get around to everyplace. The Amalfi Coast you will have to drive, take a taxi, a bus, or a ferry to get around... and even that may not be so easy depending on the time of year or the weather.
Sorrento is more touristy, lots of hotels and great restaurants around. The towns along the Amalfi coast have fewer hotels and restaurants, but are more "quaint" even though they are also well known among tourists. Sorrento has almost no beach to speak of, the little I found could just about be carried away in a plastic bucket and is very disappointing. If beaches are important to you, there are some along the Amalfi coast... although they are pebble beaches and not sand.
Posted by
11 posts
I would recommend that you stay in Sorrento. As the other post stated it is an excellent hub with great B&Bs or hotels, restaurants are excellent. You can easily catch a ferry or a tour for a day trip to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. I would add Capri to your list. Try aldolimos.com
Posted by
49 posts
You can't go wrong either place! You don't need a rental car in Sorrento, but it would be useful if you stay in one of the smaller coastal villages.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
I prefer the Amalfi Coast, I have stayed in both but always return to Amalfi. Pompeii is easier to get to from Sorrento, but there is luggage storage onsite if you want to stop there on the way to the Amalfi Coast.
Posted by
Paris
9548 posts
For me, I prefer staying in Positano (and we used only public transport - a combination of the bus and ferries, depending on where we were going, as well as the Circumvesuviana to return to Naples from Sorrento at the end of our stay). Sorrento is a bigger town, and to me it's less charming. However, it does have better access if you're planning on visiting Pompeii.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
15795 posts
For a first-timer, I'd say Sorrento as it's just easier to get in and out of than some other locations. It would help to know what time of year you're planning your trip? Bus may be your only option between certain locations during the months the boats don't run or can't dock because of bad weather, and service between Amalfi and Sorrento is pretty limited to begin with. Taking the bus isn't a problem but worth the mention as it cuts down your amount of transport options. Sorrento has that added advantage of train service to Naples, Herculaneum and Pompeii, and boat service to Capri all year long.