A day after arriving in Naples to where?
Mar 30th, 2012, 10:54 AM
#1
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A day after arriving in Naples to where?
We are arriving into Naples (from a cruise) and would like to attempt the following on our one day there:
Early morning: Train to Pompeii for a few hours there. Train to Sorrento for lunch (and we don't need three courses plus wine!). Hydrofoil to Capri. Hyrdrofoil back to Naples. Basically 10 hours.
This is for a fit mom plus 5 teens/young adults so pace can be pretty fast. Is this dangerous to try? Don't want to miss the ship! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Early morning: Train to Pompeii for a few hours there. Train to Sorrento for lunch (and we don't need three courses plus wine!). Hydrofoil to Capri. Hyrdrofoil back to Naples. Basically 10 hours.
This is for a fit mom plus 5 teens/young adults so pace can be pretty fast. Is this dangerous to try? Don't want to miss the ship! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Mar 30th, 2012, 11:07 AM
#2
You need to go to Capri first and book a ferry or hydrofoil ticket to Capri and on to Sorrento. Then if you have time, stop in Pompeii as you are working your way back to the ship. Ferries/hydrofoils run less often than the train between Sorrento/Pompeii/Naples. Check to see where your port is Naples and then for the departure for hydrofoils/ferries.
What time of year are you going?
What time of year are you going?
Mar 30th, 2012, 12:01 PM
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Pompeii is no doubt your top priority for the kids at least so I'd do it first and then skip a stop in rather ordinary Sorrento and lunch in Capri or even prepare a picnic there to dine with a view - anyway to save time and I assume the Blue Grotto is your top priority in Capri - take boats there right from the main port and back but note that the grotto can always be off-limits due to high tides so keep that in mind - yes ferries and hydrofoils - much much faster than ferries that also take cars - do not run thrice or more hourly but do run in tourist season often enough for you to easily return to Naples from Capri in time and there may well be service to a dock near where you cruise ship is docked (but may not as well).
Apr 2nd, 2012, 06:28 AM
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Even if you don't need a lunch with 3 courses in Sorrento, that is what a restaurant in Sorrento serves. That is what an Italian meal is -- 3 courses.
IF you don't want to go to a restaurant, you can find a bar that serves toasted sandwiches or some place that sells pizza by the slice to go. But if you are thinking of sitting down at a table and ordering food from a menu, you are expected to order a full meal and you will have a hard time getting service that is "eat-on-the-run". For that, go to a bar/caffe or pizza shop.
IF you don't want to go to a restaurant, you can find a bar that serves toasted sandwiches or some place that sells pizza by the slice to go. But if you are thinking of sitting down at a table and ordering food from a menu, you are expected to order a full meal and you will have a hard time getting service that is "eat-on-the-run". For that, go to a bar/caffe or pizza shop.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 07:52 AM
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Well I agree, go to Capri first, it would be easy to spend the whole day there depending on what you want to do. Here is number one rule about European travel, esp. Italy - your actual travel time will take longer, sometimes much longer, than you think it will - for example one time I spent over 45 minutes waiting for a bus in Anacapri that threw my whole schedule off as I then missed the ferry I had planned to take. So go first to Capri as your return options are more limited from there than Pompeii.
From Capri you can return to either Naples or Sorrento then go on to Pompeii - really there is no big reason to see Sorrento so it is probably best just to return to Naples and train on to Pompeii from there. If you go to Capri you will get an idea of the beauty of the area - the vegetation, cliffs, beaurtiful sea etc. - Sorrento itself has few if any sights - but alot of places to taste limoncello!
If it were me, with 10 hours, I would choose(either Capri OR Pompeii / maybe Sorrento) just because otherwise you are cramming alot into one day and as I said earlier, often it takes more time to get around than you think it will. I can't enjoy myself if I am running too close to making the ship but maybe you don't get as anxious as I do! If I want to really cram in alot, I do a tour - ships's excursion or private tour and then I don't have to worry about maximizing travel connections. Does your ship offer a tour that does all this - that would give you an indication as how doable it actually is.
From Capri you can return to either Naples or Sorrento then go on to Pompeii - really there is no big reason to see Sorrento so it is probably best just to return to Naples and train on to Pompeii from there. If you go to Capri you will get an idea of the beauty of the area - the vegetation, cliffs, beaurtiful sea etc. - Sorrento itself has few if any sights - but alot of places to taste limoncello!
If it were me, with 10 hours, I would choose(either Capri OR Pompeii / maybe Sorrento) just because otherwise you are cramming alot into one day and as I said earlier, often it takes more time to get around than you think it will. I can't enjoy myself if I am running too close to making the ship but maybe you don't get as anxious as I do! If I want to really cram in alot, I do a tour - ships's excursion or private tour and then I don't have to worry about maximizing travel connections. Does your ship offer a tour that does all this - that would give you an indication as how doable it actually is.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 09:04 AM
#9
>>>Pompeii is no doubt your top priority for the kids at least so I'd do it first <<<
I disagree. If you start getting short on time, I would rather be trying to get back to the ship from Pompeii where there are frequent taxis and trains (every 30 minutes) than from Capri.
>>>>From Capri you can return to either Naples or Sorrento then go on to Pompeii - really there is no big reason to see Sorrento so it is probably best just to return to Naples and train on to Pompeii from there.<<<
The schedules show more frequent ferries from Capri to Sorrento than Capri to Naples. Train travel times for Sorrento/Pompeii and Napoli/Pompeii are the same. You would have to get from the port to the train station at both.
I disagree. If you start getting short on time, I would rather be trying to get back to the ship from Pompeii where there are frequent taxis and trains (every 30 minutes) than from Capri.
>>>>From Capri you can return to either Naples or Sorrento then go on to Pompeii - really there is no big reason to see Sorrento so it is probably best just to return to Naples and train on to Pompeii from there.<<<
The schedules show more frequent ferries from Capri to Sorrento than Capri to Naples. Train travel times for Sorrento/Pompeii and Napoli/Pompeii are the same. You would have to get from the port to the train station at both.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 09:09 AM
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Taking the little bus hugging the cliffside (just barely) to the top of the isle and then walking down the stairs to catch the little boats for the blue grotto was quite the exciting time for us with our teen boys. Capri will take a bit longer than you may expect...you might not get on the boat you wish to take you back at a particular time, so I would definitely go there first. Once you are back you may have time for Pompeii. If not, perhaps go to the museum in Naples that has some casts and relics from there...
Apr 2nd, 2012, 09:32 AM
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treble - good suggestion about the museum in Naples - after all if you go to Pompeii you will hear alot of "the original is in the museum in Naples". Of course Pompeii and the museum are quite different as you do not get the scope of the ancient city in the museum but it does have alot of very nice mosiacs (and also the some of the erotica)so with limited time it is an option.
Apr 2nd, 2012, 02:14 PM
#12
I agree with suec. I would do one or the other. A group of 6 people isn't always as easy to keep moving along as you might think. There will be countless distractions, and you don't want of them to be the clock.
What time exactly do you need to be back to re-board the cruise ship?
You could spend a lovely day on Capri, exploring on foot and town mini-bus. Take the chair lift from Anacapri to the top of Mt. Solaro. See the Blue Grotto. Explore the ruins of Villa Jovis.
Or spend several hours at Pompeii with a guide. (FYI, Pompeii opens at 8:30 a.m. in late May.) This place is just fascinating. Then take the commuter train to Naples and see the Pompeii artifacts at the archeology museum and/or spend some time seeing other sights.
In either case, I'd have dinner in Naples.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...est-pizza-town
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_4617.html
FWIW, I'd pick Pompeii. But, whatever you choose, have a plan in case of rain.
What time exactly do you need to be back to re-board the cruise ship?
You could spend a lovely day on Capri, exploring on foot and town mini-bus. Take the chair lift from Anacapri to the top of Mt. Solaro. See the Blue Grotto. Explore the ruins of Villa Jovis.
Or spend several hours at Pompeii with a guide. (FYI, Pompeii opens at 8:30 a.m. in late May.) This place is just fascinating. Then take the commuter train to Naples and see the Pompeii artifacts at the archeology museum and/or spend some time seeing other sights.
In either case, I'd have dinner in Naples.
http://www.travelandleisure.com/arti...est-pizza-town
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_4617.html
FWIW, I'd pick Pompeii. But, whatever you choose, have a plan in case of rain.
