megpat

Hello everyone,

We are planning to take an early morning train from Rome to naples, and then plan to stay in sorrento (or amalfi) for three nights. On the 4th day, we will be going back to Naples to take a flight back. Our flight leaves from naples around 6:30 pm.

We won't have time for naples this time but do want to visit Pompeii on our way to sorrento or on the last day. From what I can tell - if we leave sorrento in the morning around 9am, we will have enough time to visit pompeii (put bags at bag storage) and take a train to naples from there by 2:30pm. Is there any reasons why we shouldn't consider that?

If time permits, we would also like to visit Capri one day. Please send your tips for optimizing our 3 1/2 short days in that area.

thanks!
Meghna

Blueeyedcod

It may be more convenient for you to stay in Sorrento as it has excellent transport links to both Pompeii (via train) and Capri (fast ferry service). You can also take water transport to Positano if you travel in season (April to end October).
I see no issues with your Pompeii plans. The trains run every half hour so factor that in to your departure time. If your flight departs at 6.30pm you need to be at the airport by 4.30pm. The train takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour. If you make good connections you can do this easily. Circumvesuviana timetable is here:

http://www.eavsrl.it/web/sites/defau...oviario/Cy.pdf

You'll see there is a fast train that leaves Pompeii at 2.23 and arrives at Napoli Garibaldi at 2.46. I presume you will be taking a taxi to the airport? There are fixed taxi fares from Napoli Centrale to the airport - it is 16 euro - you need to ask for this fare BEFORE you get in the cab. If you print this tariff card and show it to the driver, this will assist with language barriers. Cabs carry this card in the driver's seat pocket by law but just in case, having it handy will help.

http://www.napoliunplugged.com/wp-co..._inglese-2.pdf

kja

With so little time, you might simply want to say in Naples! As you note, you don't have time for both Naples AND the Amalfi Coast, so why not make the most of the VERY limited time you do have in the area? JMO.

Blueeyedcod

Kja has a point - with just three days it makes more sense to stay in Naples and do your one day to Capri and a Pompeii visit from there.

Naples is beautiful and has some gorgeous hotels down on the waterfront - or alternatively the vibrant historic centre also has its share of exceptional hotels and B&Bs. Naples is also cheaper than Sorrento as it is less of a 'resort town'. You can get a B&B for as low as 50 euro per night. A couple of my favourites are here:

http://www.partenoperelais.it/en/
http://www.palazzodecumani.com/en/index

and a great B&B
http://www.orsini46.it/index_en.html

kja

"Naples is beautiful and has some gorgeous hotels down on the waterfront" --

True enough!

And Naples also has some astounding museums, glorious churches, fascinating old streets and by-ways, magnificent plazas, ancient fortifications, and spectacular views. WELL worth several days, IMHO. Depending on your interests, you might even consider deferring all of your day trips until next time....

isabel

Not that I don't agree that Naples is an interesting city with some beautiful sites, and a very worthwhile place to visit - it is NOT the same experience as going to the "Amalfi Coast". Some people on this forum point out that even Sorrento is not technically ON the Amalfi Coast (it's on the Bay of Naples side of the Sorrentine peninsula as opposed to the Bay of Salerno side). Naples is a large city, and it's a pretty 'gritty' one at that. A totally different experience than basing in Sorrento. On three trips in the last few years to that area I've spoken with quite a few people who stayed in Naples either part or all of their time in the region and were not happy with the decision.

For that amount of time Sorrento really makes the most sense. Your plans for Pompei on the last day would work fine. That would leave you with three days. From Sorrento you can take a ferry to Capri for a day trip. Another day you can easily do a day trip to Amalfi and Positano. If the boats are running that's a wonderful way to go, but the bus ride is a 'three star site' itself (unless you get terribly motion sick). If you felt the few hours on the last day would not be enough in Pompeii, or if you wanted to also do Herculaneum, or even a short trip into Napels itself, then you could do that as a day trip from Sorrento as well, leaving the last day for a more leisurely morning in Sorrento.

Here's my photos of the Amalfi Coast, Capri and Naples - http://www.pbase.com/annforcier/ital...aples__pompeii

kja

"For that amount of time Sorrento really makes the most sense." Maybe -- maybe not! I would think it really depends the travelers' interests, isabel.

WWK

I think Naples would be an excellent base for what you want to do. The waterfront is almost totally carless these days and has gorgeous views of an ancient castle. You'll feel miles away from the grittiest sections of the city. Plus you're going to be touring other areas/cities anyway.

Pompeii is less than a half hour by cab. Capri as you know, is a day trip.

We stayed at HOTEL EXCELSIOR, which had an incredible rooftop sundeck/bar with expansive views of the waterfront.

Blueeyedcod

Isabel - yes - this is the dilemma. Sorrento and Naples are equidistant from Pompeii and both have good transport links to Capri.

I think as kja says - it depends on the type of traveller you are and what you like to do.

Sorrento appeals to package tourists and those seeking sun and shopping. There are no sights at all in Sorrento (except the church).

Naples, being a 3000 year old city, with a population of one million and a history that involves ancient myth and legend (Virgil's Aeneid, Homer's Odyssey, the underworld of Roman gods), ruled at various times by the Spanish, the Austrians and the French - Napoleon's brother was at one time 'king of Naples' - so as you can imagine comparing it to Sorrento is like comparing New York City to Hyannis Port (as pretty as Hyannis Port is..)

Anyway - Megpat - am sure you know which type of experience you seek

megpat

After getting votes from the kids (yes, we asked our 9 and 5 year old kids ) for the last three days of the trip, we decided on sorrento/amalfi area. They want to experience the "cool" bus ride on amalfi coast, ride a ferry to capri, do one or two short hikes and visit pompeii.

With only three nights - we figured that there will be another time for naples.

Thanks for confirming that it is indeed possible to visit pompeii on our way back from sorrento to naples. Blueeyedcod - thanks for the schedule and taxi fare information.

Day 1: Leave Rome early morning. Spend day in Sorrento.
Day 2: Day trip to Capri
Day 3: Day trip to Positano, Amalfi (one way bus, other way ferry)
Day 4: Naples airport via Pompeii

We are all set for day 4, and day trip to capri. Please let me know if there are any suggestions for improving day 1 and 3.

thanks,
m

ekc

With the limited ferry schedule between Amalfi/Positano and Sorrento, I would suggest catching a fairly early bus from Sorrento. Depending on the time of year you are traveling, you may miss getting seats on the first bus leaving Sorrento (as it gets filled up very quickly) and will have to wait for the next bus. Once you get to Positano, you may find it is easier to get to Amalfi via ferry. Traffic on the road can be an absolute crawl during high season.

isabel

Yes, knowing what time of year would let us help you more. The boats don't run at all some of the time, and even 'in season' (July) there are only a couple each way each day so you have to know the schedule and plan. But taking an early bus to Amalfi and then the bus back has worked for me. I have taken the 8:30 bus from Sorrento both in March and July and by arriving at the bus stop shortly after 8 we have gotten not only seats, but window seats on the right side. I found the buses back later in the day to be just as crowded in March as I did in July.

As for Sorrento, I especially like the park overlooking the Bay of Naples, the cloister of the church just off that park, and the fishing village part of town (Marina Grande). I personally am a big fan of Sorrento and I have never taken a package tour and absolutely hate cruise ships and tour groups. I will say that I think Sorrento in the middle of the day in summer can get terribly crowded but you are planning day trips so you will be away from town mid day anyway. Unfortunately the center of Positano mid day can be just as bad, but it's still worth going to.

The comparison of Naples to Sorrento vs NYC to Hyanis is pretty good.

megpat

We will be there in late June. I have read in several threads that ferries and buses get very crowded so we will plan wisely. I also read that evening buses returning from amalfi to sorrento are so packed that they often don't stop at positano. With that in mind, we will stop at Positano first before going to Amalfi.

May be we will take a bus from Sorrento to Positano, ferry from Positano to Amalfi, and then bus back from Amalfi to Sorrento. In any case, we will try to start as early as possible.

ekc

The buses can get VERY crowded. The ferries can get crowded, but they rarely sell out and I believe they only sell as many tickets as there are seats.

MarySteveChicago

So much great info. Thanks for the train links Blueyedcod. Isabel your photos are amazing. I too love photographing passageways. Where did you stay on Amalfi? And did you really hike all those stairs?!
Mary