traveling in southern Italy

First question is, when are you planning on doing this? You can do it by bus but I don't recommend it. If it is within your budget I suggest hiring a car and driver. I did this this same trip a few times in the past and I'm doing it again next April. I have an excellent driver who I will recommend who actually lives in Sorrento. He does exactly what you are wanting to do, for this is how he makes his living. He also takes you off the beaten path where buses can't go, you'll experience the real Italy, not the tourist traps. If your interested email me directly and I will instruct you on how to get in touch with him.

Greg

Judy, why wouldn't you want to drive in Italy, especially in rural areas? Two months ago my wife and I picked up a car in Rome, drove to Positano on the Amalfi Coast, then on to Sicily, where we spent 8 days exploring the island. It was no problem whatsoever, and reasonably priced. If you are not going to drive, there are also trains, at least to Sorrento, then on to Sicily.

Judy,

From what we saw in Positano and Amalfi, driving (and more importantly parking) could be a nightmare. Use the train to Sorrento and buses and ferries around to Positano, Amalfi and Capri.

Then consider renting a car for southern Italy.

I would suggest that you might want to fly into Naples and then visit the Amalfi Coast. After this, you might want to fly from Naples to Sicily. I believe that there is also an overnight ferry from Naples to Sicily, but don't know about this. There is also the train which you could probably pick up in Salerno, but it would be a long ride.

Bus travel is fairly reliable in Southern Italy (where train service is NOT)! The problem is that you must use many different local bus companies to reach some destinations...so...yes...can be done...but, you should look into where you want to base yourself along your route and then research how to get there. From Naples, it is easy to go along the coast to Salerno -Salerno is a fairly major spot for bus routes and you can catch one to most places in the South from there. Southern Italy is farily large though ;-) so you will have to narrow it down a bit. I'm very fammiliar with inland Campania and the borders of Puglia and Basilicata - so let me know if you need to head that direction!

to answer one of your questions. It is very easy to take the overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo Sicily.

Book it in advance of your departure from the US to make sure you get the dates/cabin you want.

once in Sicily, I can only tell you that we did a bike tour, so no cars, trains/buses for us there.

We based in Sorrento for our holiday, and did most of our sightseeing via the ferry system. We did guided tour of Pompeii and Vesuvio by bus, but took the ferry to Amalfi, then hiked it to Ravello.

The roads in Sicily are really remote, and easy to drive, riding our bike there was a breeze. If you really want to see Sicily, I think you are better off renting a car on the island.