We are cruising in Italy in November. One of our ports for a day is Naples. Never having been to Italy at all, I have been studying a map of the Naples area. We definitely want to spend an adequate amount of time in Pompeii to see the ruins which I hear are so wonderful. The other thing we are most interested in is the drive along the Amalfi coast. Here is where my question comes in: From looking at a map, it looks as though the Amalfi coast runs from Naples going by Sorrento and then going by Positano and ending up at Salerno. Is that right? Some things I have read seem to say that the drive from Positano out to Salerno is the best part of the coastal drive ??? I'm not sure how to phrase this, but would the drive from Naples down the coast to Positano and then back up towards Pompeii after which we would go back to ship in Naples be long enough to see this beautiful coastal drive or is the most scenic part from Positano over to Salerno? This will probably be ouronly opportunity to ever get to this part of the world and we just don't want to miss anything.
Thanks.
Posted by
Portlandia
3313 posts
Do you expect to pick up a rental car in Naples? This would be one of the more difficult places to drive - both in Naples, which is crazy, and the Amalfi road which is narrow, twisty and extremely congested.
The Amalfi Coast is really the coastline from Sorrento to Salerno and includes Positano and Amalfi. I think it is best done by private driver (if you have the bucks) or by bus. To get the bus you need to get to the Naples train station and catch a commuter train to Sorrento. Or take a ferry from the Naples port, but you'll miss the road. Which many people think is a good thing...
Posted by
OP
Columbus, Ohio, USA
35 posts
Hi Doug. Thanks for your response. We will not be driving at all. Our ship docks at Naples about 7:00 a.m. and then leaves at 7:00 p.m. that same day. That is our timeframe. As I previously said, we want to have an adequate amount of time in Pompeii to properly see it. The only other thing we really, really want to do is see the best of the Almalfi coast drive and maybe, if we have time. squeeze in a visit to the museum in Naples that houses all the items took from Pompeii. Do you think doing these three things in the one day we have there is at all reasonable? If so, how do you think would be the best way to accomplish it? Thanks again.
Posted by
Columbus, OH, USA
2026 posts
Doing all 3 seems to me unreasonable in your time frame; or at best, I'd be scared to try it. We spent an entire day at Pompeii, and I know we are big on this type of thing, but I can't imagine seeing Pompeii in less than 4 hours minimum. From Pompeii the train to Sorrento is about 30 to 45 minutes, I think. We only saw the coast from Naples to Sorrento from the train, but am guessing it wouldn't be the highlight of a coastal drive. Sorrento is lovely by itself. From there you could take the bus or driver or ferry (if they run in Nov) to Positano/Amalfi and then back, but it would be a lot of travel in that timeframe and I (bona fide chicken) would not attempt it. While the Museum in Naples may have the best objects from Pompeii, the real experience is walking the ruins...there is no lack of "objets d'art" anywhere in any Italian museum...so you may consider dropping the museum if indeed to get to Pompeii. Though a ship may dock at a given time, you may wait for clearance to get off and be delayed (or not). Factor in all the time moving from ship to museum to train to ruins to coast and back and I would worry that you might spend the night in Naples (best scenario: Pizza capital of Italy). Maybe plan Pompeii and Sorrento, then see what time allows for coastal excursions from Sorrento, and the stretch from Sorrento to Positano/Amalfi is renowned, but it still sounds like a lot to me. Good luck! And Greetings from German Village!
Posted by
Dallas, TX, USA
1170 posts
I would have to agree with other posters. Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast drive are a bit much for one day. Pompeii really requires about 4 hours to do it justice, and I would suggest a guide so that you know what you are looking at. If you want to do the Amalfi Coast road, you should hire a driver for the day. While it looks like a fairly short distance "as the crow flies", the road bends and twists like no other road I have ever been on. I drove it last year and had no trouble, but it does take quite a long while. You have to factor in traffic, etc... and whoever is driving doesn't get to see anything because their eyes are glued like laser beams to the road ahead. It does take ones undivided attention. A driver would take you south along the coast probably as far as Amalfi and more than likely bring you back over the mountains. You wouldn't want to drive in Naples anyway. My neighbor in Dallas lives permanently in Italy and says that she and her husband always have a driver when in Naples. The traffic is chaotic.
Posted by
OP
Columbus, Ohio, USA
35 posts
Thanks very much for all the input I have received. We decided to take your good advice and have hired a driver & car for the day when we arrive in Naples. We will drive the coastal drive to Amalfi and then head back in the afternoon to Pompeii. We are very excited about all the wonderful sights we will see.
Posted by
Boston
1 posts
We are using Salvatore Lucibello of http://DriveAmalfi.com who was recommended by our TA