First time in Italy (won't go back since we want to see other countries), I am having trouble figuring out how to get to these other villages from Salerno our dates available to tour are 10/7-10/12 in Salerno. We want to see Capri, Pompeii, Almafi, Ravello and Salerno. Don't think we have time to see anything else. We are on a budget . I am booking day tours on Viator I guess. I have used them in the past. Sorry Rick Steves, you are too expensive for us. We are closer to Molo Manfredi port.
Posted by
4 posts
To get to other towns along the coast, I suggest taking a ferry boat. The travel is pleasant and avoids the winding, scary roads of the Amalfi coast. there should be a boat to Capri from there as well. I believe there is a train to Pompei, but I'm not sure if it goes from Salerno.
Posted by
Gettysburg PA
6561 posts
Consider DIY for the places you want to visit
There is really no need for tours for any of them (except maybe Pompeii)
Do a search here for many posts in how to see AC towns
For Pompeii I’d consider getting a guide
Mondo Guides are dependable and very affordable
www.sharedtours.com
Or
DIY with Rick Steves free audio guide
Do not miss Paestum
An easy train ride from Salerno
Magnificent very well preserved Greek temples
Viator is a third party vendor that doesn’t actually operate any tours
Some of your questions were answered here:
https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/tours/salerno-day-trips
Posted by
Atlanta, GA, USA
789 posts
I don't think that Via Mercanti (when it is named as that) crosses Via Roma, are you saying you are just WAY far down away from the station on the way out of town on that end?....I stayed before closer to the commercial port too, EASY walk to get the ferry to Capri....
There is a SLOW (like an hour or so) regionale train to Pompei, yet the station is the farther away one from the ruins that may need about a 15-20 min walk.
Amalfi is probably best served by ferry from the tourist/smaller port, but depending on when you are staying, a weekly regional transit ticket may come in handy to get to the station and port if you are THAT far down Via Mercanti, as it's probably a 20-25 min walk to the station. There are almost always buses going both ways on Via Roma to take you towards the tourist port and station if you don't want to walk. If you are doing any other cultural sites, I THINK there is a Campania ArteCard that covers visits to many sites as well as transportation on buses and trains in the region included.
Ravello is reached by a bus that starts in Amalfi and goes up the mountain.
Viator doesn't run any tours, they are a reseller, so if you DO find that you want to do one, dig into the details of it and book with the actual tour operator. Rick Steves' doesn't even run any day tours (That I know of) so the price difference will obviously be significant because they are different products.
A visit to Pompeii will be augmented with a tour guide, but other things are easily done on your own.
Salerno has the Duomo (and don't miss the crypt!), a few museums, and even the castle on the hill is fun! I would say that you COULD combine a wander about Salerno with a visit to Paestum (I normally leave around 9am and get back around 2 or so after eating lunch there, so you would definitely have a few hours to wander in Salerno) where they have some of the most well preserved Greek Temples outside of the Acropolis where you can actually walk inside them!
Posted by
Miami
329 posts
I am booking day tours on Viator I guess.
I wouldn't do tours, it's easy to do it on your own.
- to Capri you can take the ferry
- to Amalfi you can take the bus or ferry
- to Ravello, from Amalfi you take the bus