Travel to Rome, Amalfi Coast and Tuscany itinerary

We spent 2 weeks in Sorrento in April and there is no fast way to get to Positano and the closest train is a slow commuter train to Sorreno and then a boat or vehicle to Positano, or train to Salerno and then boat/car to Positano. There is a train from Salerno that may also stop in Florence. But as far as Positano goes, it takes time to get there.

Give yourself most of a day to get to/from Positano from Florence.

11-12 day itinerary

How many nights in Italy?

Do you plan to fly into Rome and out of Florence?

Getting from Rome to Positano will eat up a significant portion of a day, as will the move from Positano to Florence/Tuscany region.

And is this trip reasonable given the geography of these locations?

Given the locations you have chosen and the order of travel you will be spending a disproportionate amount of time 'en route', vs. 'being there'.

It is logistically possible to do it, but I question how enjoyable it would be.
In my view you have chosen the least efficient order to see/go to your chosen locations

Thank you both! We have not booked anything yet so are considering different options. We are planning 11-12 days and we are ok to fly into one airport but fly home from another if it makes sense, Other than Positano, what other beachy town would you recommend?

When in “early spring”?
Things don’t really open up on Amalfi Coast til closer to mid April. Weather is iffy then and water is cold. Easter is 3/31 so you could avoid that week.
Positano is not really a “beachy” town. The beach is tiny and pebbly. It is a very steep town with thousands of steps and stairs.

There are direct fast trains from Salerno to Florence- about 4 hours- you would take ferry (if running) from Positano- change ferry in Amalfi then to Salerno. Train station is close to ferry port. Other option is bus- slow- or a private driver.
You’ll likely want to get going so a fast train in the am might mean you need to stay in Salerno night before.

Rome needs 4 nights
Positano needs 4 nights- since it’s a trek to get to and from
Florence needs 3 nights-takes half the day to get there
Tuscany town - most will need a car- 3 nights

There’s 14 nights right there- I think you’ll need to add a few nights if these are places you want to see.
Count your trip in NIGHTS- you'll get a better picture of how itinerary flows.
A 2 night stay means you have 1.5 days. Every time you change location you lose a half a day,

If you can fly IN to Rome

Rome 4 nights
Train to Florence 2 nights minimum
Pick up car- Tuscany town 3 nights
Return car in Florence
Train to Salerno then to Positano 4 nights
Naples 1 night
Fly Out of Naples

You will need to stay in Naples the night before your flight so that’s 14 nights.

Have you poked around Trenitalia to see your train options- use same day of week in the next few weeks to get an idea of train schedules.

Be sure to use the Italian station names
Roma Termini
Firenze SM Novella
Napoli Centrale
Salerno

Have you been to Italy before?
Amalfi Coast usually best saved for a 2nd or 3rd trip- it's a great area but transportation there is a pain

Wow thank you Christine H! No we have never been to Italy! I am wondering if I need scale my trip down to Rome and Florence ( Tuscany ) only with maybe a day trip to somewhere closer but on the coast. All very helpful!!! This is a learning process and a lot of education for me so I greatly appreciate all the helpful tips and info!

With 12 nights you could do:

Venice 3 - there is a beach here if you must (Lido)
Florence 3 plus 1 night for every day trip- lots of easy ones by train
Rome 4

That's a pretty perfect trip for a first timer.
Flying IN to Venice is easier than flying out Venice and it's a perfect place to get over jet lag- magical.
Love love love Rome but it is a bit intense for a first entry to Italy.

I guess from Florence you could day trip to Cinque Terre- not sure how weather would be- or you could just go there from Venice for 2 nights then Florence 3.

I think you need to do a bit of reading about "the coast" in Italy.

A day trip with a guided tour to AC/Pompeii is possible.brutal but doable

Search the forum-there are many discussions on if and how to do it
5 nights in Rome then if you day trip

wondering if I need scale my trip down to Rome and Florence ( Tuscany ) only with maybe a day trip to somewhere closer but on the coast

Good thought.

Beaches like you find in Florida and S. Calif. are not what is typical in Italy. Not sure what sort of 'beachy' experience you are looking for.

You could limit yourself to Rome and Florence/Tuscany and if the weather is good go to Cinque Terre as a day trip. For weather 'early Spring' can be a roll of the dice.

If you’re flying in and out of Rome you can take a direct (no transfers) train from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) to the Naples central station at 9:38a (2h): https://www.trenitalia.com/en.html.
The problem with Positano in early spring is ferries may not run daily from Naples to Positano and if they do a transfer is required. You could take the Circumvesuviana regional train that departs on the lower level of Naples central train station to Sorrento and then a bus to Positano but you must pack light: https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/campania-express-train-schedule.
Sorrento is an easier base than Positano. The next day take an early morning bus to Positano and enjoy the town. This bus gets crowded so the earlier you board the better. For the best view sit on the right facing the driver (passenger side).
There is a direct train from the Naples Centrale (central) station to the Florence S.M. Novella station (3h 15m). Florence alone deserves three nights and if you add a day trip to Siena which you should make it four. To get to Siena take a direct bus (1h 15m) that will drop you off outside the old town. You also need to reserve tickets for the Uffizi Gallery in Florence two-months out to guarantee a reservation.
With that said Rome also deserves three nights and if you visit Vatican City make it four.