In late September 2016, after a bicycling tour in Umbria we are traveling to the Amalfi coast and staying in Sorrento. We will likely travel by train from Orvieto to Rome to Naples to get to Amalfi. Since Sorrento hotels are so expensive we are considering staying near Pompei for one night between Orvieto and Sorrento. We can then visit Pompeii & Herculaneum or perhaps Mt Vesuvius. We'd love suggestions/feedback on this itinerary as well as suggestions of what town to stay in for the one night. Thank you!
Posted by
Wyckoff, NJ, USA
8079 posts
It's not quibbling to say that Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast. It's in the same general tourist zone as Pompeii. One reason for staying in Sorrento (and not on the Amalfi Coast ... ) is the excellent transit available in Sorrento. If you look at Street View on Google Maps you might see that Porta Marina entrance to Pompeii is not an ideal place to pick a hotel. It's so easy to get to and from Sorrento that you should spare yourself the room change and find a room in Sorrento.
Everyone has to take their fifth choice in Sorrento because they don't book early enough. Bit the bullet. Many people sleep a night in Naples because it is so historic and connects just as well to Sorrento and Pompeii. But some people find Naples too gritty and urban - don't stay there without research.
Posted by
Minnesota 🎒
16752 posts
Tim is right that Sorrento is so close to Pompei that it makes sense to stay there both nights versus to split them up. But I also understand your budget issue, and trying to do Herculaneum and Pompeii en route to Sorrento on the same day might be a lot, IMHO. It definitely would be a lot if wanting to do Vesuvius as well.
While I haven't stayed in the town of Pompei myself, some people do, and there are three entrances to the scavi: Porta Marina, Piazza Esedra and Piazza Anfiteatro. The Piazza Anfiteatro entrance is more convenient to some of the local hotels, and you would take a different line of the Circumvesuviana from Naples than people going to Sorrento if staying near this entrance. Ercolano is not on this line but then, you could always take a cab from the usual S. Villa Misteri stop to hotels near Piazza Anfiteatro.
Were you thinking about doing Herculaneum (and maybe Vesuvius) on the way to Pompei, staying in Pompei, and then doing the scavi in the morning before heading down to Sorrento?
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Tim - Thank you. I agree we waited too long to book our Sorrento hotel. We will look at extending our stay one night. Beth
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Kathy - Thank you for the info. Yes - if we visit Mt Vesuvius we would visit on the second day.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area
5697 posts
In Sorrento this April we stayed at Sorrento Flats -- can't remember the exact cost, but I'm frugal so it was probably under $150 per night (including breakfast and "happy hour" snacks and wine in the evening) We visited Pompeii one day, Herculaneum the next on a Campania dell Arte card which includes train and bus transportation as well as entry fees.
Posted by
81 posts
There are several nice hostels in Sorrento. Or consider staying in Naples for a night, at a hotel. Transportation is easy to Ercolano & Pompeii from Naples via the Circumvesuviana line (same stop for Mt V public bus to the rim). I wouldn't stay in Pompeii unless you plan to camp (several choices). If you stay in Sorrento it is just a 30 min local train ride to Pompeii Scavi. Naples to Sorrento is about 90min and easy to do twice in a day (great view of the bay and Mt V). In any case, Pompeii and Ercolano are better after making a stop at the National Antiquities Museum in Naples first. There are hardly any signs and no explanations at the archaeological sites.
Also, it is possible to do Ercolano and Pompeii in one day or the Mt V rim and Pompeii in one day but not all three.
Having done this exact itinerary on my last trip I am staying in Sorrento this time. Naples was too gritty for a solo female traveler. If you will still have your bikes I REALLY recommend Sorrento. Theft is a very good possibility in Naples.
My itinerary using Sorrento as home base:
Rome with day Naples, local train to Sorrento at 7:30pm
Sorrento/Paestum
Positano/Amalfi/Ravello
Capri day trip
Pompeii then on to Rome for flight home
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Must take issue with Mandy... on a couple of points:
Pompei (city) has several nice hotels in all price ranges, no need to camp there.
As a solo female traveler, I have been to Napoli many, many, many times and have never felt unsafe. I wonder if Mandy has actually stayed there or is just speaking from a very brief visit?
My point to the OP is, you have gotten several pieces of good advice, your plan looks good, you can reach your destinations by spending one night in Nspoli or Sorrento on your way to the Amalfi Coast.
Posted by
OP
4 posts
Thank you everyone. We decided to stay one more night in Sorrento. Beth