Best Southern Italy Side Trip from Rome?

Posted by mrsenia (USA) on 03/13/25 08:24 PM

I'm going to Rome in late November with my husband and teenaged son. We will be in Italy for 10 days, so I was initially planning on spending about 3 days on the Amalfi Coast to visit Amalfi, Positano, and maybe Pompeii. But I have been reading about how the area shuts down to tourists by early November. I like the idea of the Amalfi Coast being quiet and less crowded, but the forums I've been reading seem to suggest avoiding the area altogether as there's nothing to do. Now, I'm thinking about going to Palermo instead, but I know very little about the place. Could someone give me insights about Palermo? Or do you all think sticking to Amalfi Coast for a side trip is a better idea? If not Amalfi or Palermo, what's a good area in southern Italy would be a good place to spend 3 days in? I'm particularly interested in visiting southern Italy as I've already been to the north and the Tuscany area.

Thank you in advance :)

Posted by valadelphia

03/13/25 08:50 PM

5880 posts

I would not fly to Palermo but just a short train trip away is Naples, offering the best of both ideas--a dynamic city with historic interest, with the option to visit the Amalfi coast if there is a nice sunny day. Pompeii in November would be a dream--fewer people and less intense sun.

Posted by hiredman

San Diego, California, USA

03/13/25 08:53 PM

1486 posts

Hello mrsenia, and welcome to the forum,

What are you looking for in a "side trip"? Because you can't get much further apart than the teeming city of Palermo and the Amalfi Coast as destinations.

Palermo is a flight or an 11 hour ferry ride so I think it is a poor choice for 3 days since travel will occupy too much of that time.

If Palermo interests you then why not Naples? Also a teeming city and an easy fast train ride from Rome.
Salerno is the next stop on the train ride and offers ferries (although a very diminished times in the off season) and buses to the Amalfi coast so you could visit there and see what the AC is like in off season for a day trip. It also offers good access to Naples, Pompeii and Paestum if those interest you.

If you provide some more guidance on what you're looking for in a 3 day destination I'm sure others will have other suggestions,
=Tod

Posted by celeste

North Georgia, USA

03/14/25 02:21 PM

1351 posts

There is plenty to do in the general area of the Amalfi coast that will not be shut down. Maybe this will interest you: We will be in Italy in November and we are staying in Salerno for three nights, then in Naples for three nights. We are going to take a trip from Salerno to Pasteum one day by rental car (pick up and return the same day, we are driving because we want to see more than just the archeological site), then visit Amalfi town, Ravello, etc., with a private driver who will also transfer us from Salerno to Naples. We have been to Naples on prior trips but are traveling with family members who have not been, and we are happy to return just for the pizza. :-) We may also visit Pompeii from Naples, but it depends on weather and how tired we are at that point. We have been before. Lots of other things to do in/around both Salerno and Naples, and both of these cities are easily accessed by train.