Hi, My husband and I are trying to decide if it's worth it to hit the Amalfi Coast on our trip in early October. We currently have tentative plans to stay in Sorrento for two nights and one full day. We'd spend the first day in Paestum, as I'm a huge history geek and it's really the big draw for us. It would be a huge waste to go all that way and not see the coast. However, we'd have to get to Rome the next day and we want to hit Pompeii en route. Is it feasible to get up early, take the bus to Positano, take a boat back to Sorrento (or maybe Naples), train to Pompeii, and be in Rome in time for dinner? Ahh, the American vacation schedule... they're never long enough.
Posted by
Texan in CA
4407 posts
I'd say pick one - and the clear choice for the history geek is Pompeii. And it's in the correct direction of travel; always a bonus ;-) Don't forget - Sorrento is ON the coast, too... Maybe we'll bump into each other!
Posted by
Luxembourg
69 posts
We once did the Sorrento Amalfi and Pompeii area, but I doubt that you can do all the above in one day and still make it for dinner in Rome. Amalfi coast is beautiful, and not to be missed! We stayed in Sorrento, took a public bus in the morning to Amalfi (make sure to get on the bus at the Sorrento train station and grab a seat on the right hand side of the aisle), walked around, had lunch and went back again along the beautiful coastline again to Sorrento in the afternoon. Not a long drive, takes perhaps about 45 mins to 1 hour ca. (if I recall correctly). From Sorrento, you need to continue on the Circumvesuviana train (perhaps another 45 mins) towards Napoli which makes a stop in Pompeii. So if you want to spend some adequate time touring Pompeii as well, say two hours, and continue your onwards journey, with some luck you'll be in Napoli by dinner time - perhaps for a good Napoli pizza:-). Now, from here to Rome, it's about 2 hours by train. So, I'd rather believe you'll be there for a goodnight drink. and how about luggage? Do you only have trolleys or willl you have to bring along your suitcase? Either, it will slow down your journey - Also, Amalfi is steep, located on a cliff side with lots of stairs! Have fun and enjoy one of the most spectacular places in Europe! We have very good memories from here.
Posted by
Dunwoody, Georgia
338 posts
I think that's a little ambitious to try to see the coast and Pompeii and get to Rome in a day. I suggest that you could visit Positano in a half day. Take an early bus and eat breakfast in one of the places by the beach, then wander the streets and visit the shops in the morning. The coast between it and Sorrento is spectacular, so be sure you sit on the correct side of the bus. Doing that would leave the afternoon and early evening to take the trains to Rome via Naples. If you're a history buff, you'll want more than a half day in Pompeii. Its a sprawling ruin. You can spend an entire day there and not see everything. If you find that you have some spare time after Positano you could always stash your luggage in a locker and try to see the Naples Archaeology Museum. It has most of the good loot from Pompeii and that you could see in a hurried hour or two.
Posted by
Bromley, Kent,, UK
1829 posts
"take a boat back to Sorrento (or maybe Naples)" I think you may find that difficult because: 1. the Metro del Mare consortium coastal service wll not run this year (spending cuts because it is heavily subsidised). There will probably be some cobbled together service provided by individual companies in the peak months eg July and August, and, 2. The MdM services, when they ran, start shutting down in October, often after the first week.