swagman

Hi we will be in the Amalfi Coast, based in Positano for 4 nights in late June. We will be coming from 3 nights in Capri and at this early stage, our tentative itinerary is as follows:-

Day 1 - arrive from Capri, settle in and explore Positano

Day 2 - full day private tour to Pompeii and Vesuvio

Day 3 - visit Sorrento, ferry or bus (?), private tour or self tour? 1/2 day or full day?

Day 4 - visit Amalfi and Ravello, private tour, 3/4 day

Day 5 - depart

Comments and feedback are much appreciated.

s

kja

I trust you realize that you don't need private tours to visit these places? That you can visit them on your own with a good guidebook or two? Of course, if you prefer private tours, go for it!

Re: day 3 -- I, personally, would visit Salerno and Paestum rather than Sorrento. YMMV.

Blueeyedcod

I just think it's a huge shame to stay in Positano and yet leave it every day for other places. Positano is beautiful and meant to be savoured.
Can you see Pompeii/Vesuvius on your way to Capri? (presuming you land/arrive in Naples - store luggage either at Pompeii or train station and visit - then head to Capri). Otherwise - can you see Pompeii/Vesuvius on your departure day? It appears a huge waste of time to backtrack to these places when you'll pass nearby inbound and outbound.
The next day you leave again for Sorrento, which - to me - is similar to Positano but without the pizzazz - as in it is a resort town but lacks the drama and beauty of Positano. What did you want to see there? I would just stay in Positano.
Day 4 - you can easily do this without private tour. Use a ferry to Amalfi and then a bus to Ravello.

traveller1959

>>full day private tour to Pompeii and Vesuvio<<

Be aware that you want to combine to strenuous activities. The ruins of Pompeii require a lot of walking and to the crater of Vesuvius it is another ascent. If you are a trained walker/hiker it won't be a big problem but if not it might be a little much.

BTW, for Vesuvius you do not need a guide at all. You just drive up to the parking lot and walk to the crater and peep down, that's it.

IMO, you do not need a guide for Pompeii either unless you want someone giving additional explanations and telling stories.

Also, there is no need for a private tour to Ravello and Amalfi. From Capri, you can take the boat along the coast. Amalfi is very compact. The cathedral is outstanding and the market is nice and this is already most of the town. A little west of Amalfi you find the Emerald Grotto which is worth a visit.

swagman

Thank you all.

kja, we are considering using a private tour operator only due to the fact we are travelling with a young child and instead of using the bus service, which I have read is unreliable and crowded, we will have a private car with added flexibility.

Blueeyedcod, we are heading to Capri straight from Rome plus given the need to store baggages and time constraints, we will have to do Pompeii separately.

We chose to base in Positano instead of Sorrento purely for the reasons you mentioned - too much pizzazz 'but lacks the drama and beauty'. If you think it is preferable to spend more time in Positano, then it is not vital we visit Sorrento.

traveller1959, my son wants to see Pompeii as he has studied it at school, Vesuvio has only been suggested by the private tour operator I have been liaising with. The tour will include a lunch on the slope of Vesuvio or a nearby winery.

Advice for Amalfi and Ravello taken on board. How does one get from Amalfi to the Emerald Grotto?

s

WWK

pls excuse typing with broken wrist. you'd be better off going straight from Capri to Sorrento where you can either arrange private pickup or take the local train to Pompeii. There are guides available at the entrance for a fee.

You could then take your private pickup to Positano or take local train back to Sorrento and bus to Positano, but with young child along, might want to stick with private transfer.

Vesuvius is miserable by late morning in the summer months. And really not worth it if it means giving up another day in beautiful Positano. Take your child to Fornillo Beach and hang out with the other families there. Much more leisurely and relaxing use of time!

Agree w/ others re: no real need of private tour in Capri, but if you still want it, we recently used Whales di Wendy based at the port and thought they were wonderful for a 1/2 exploration of the island.

AJPeabody

If the kid wants Pompeii, then he will love Herculaneum. Do that instead of Vesuvius.

Sorrento is a tourist nbase, not a destination. How about a visit to the Archeological Museum in Naples and a pizza?

traveller1959

We visited the Grotta dello Smeraldo by rental car. From Amalfi, you can go there by boat, probably by bus, you can hike (2 hours), but the best way is probably a few-minute taxi drive for a few Euros.

Vesuvius yes or no: It is one of the world's smaller volcanoes, certainly MUCH smaller than Etna or Hawaii or Tenerife. But it is historically significant and very easy to visit. When we were there, there was a little smoke coming out of the crater. You must decide if it is worth the hour or so it takes to go there. Herculaneum is, of course, spectacular. And the museum in Napoli has all the artifacts which have been dug out from Pompeii and Herculaneum.

ekc

You will not arrive in Positano until late afternoon on Day 1, so you really don't have any time for exploring and enjoying Positano. Since the ferry from Capri to Positano isn't until late, you would be better off seeing Pompeii on your way to Positano (via Sorrento) on Day 1.

If you don't want to spend Day 3 enjoying Positano, seeing Paestum would be much better than seeing Sorrento IMO.

No need for a private tour of Amalfi and Ravello. Very easy to do on your own via ferry/bus.

swagman

Thanks again for all your input.

ekc, thanks for the heads up on the Capri-Positano ferry. I just checked the schedule, there is only one trip and it is quite late in the afternoon. There are much earlier ferries to Sorrento or Naples.

I have also taken on board to do Pompeii and Herculaneum (instead of Vesuvio) enroute to Positano. Hence the revised itinerary looks like this,

Day 1 - Capri to Sorrento, private tour to Pompeii and Herculaneum and transfer to Positano

Day 2 - Positano, perhaps half day to Sorrento by ferry

Day 3 - self guided tour to Amalfi and Ravello

Day 4 - stay in Positano or revisit some of the above

Day 5 - depart


s

Blueeyedcod

Your ferry options Positano to Sorrento are: 1 x service at 12.00 and 1 x service at 4.00pm.
Return options are 1 x service at 10.30am and 1 x service at 2.00pm.

The trip takes 50 minutes. So if you want to use water transport there and back you have all of about an hour in Sorrento. If you want to use the buses you will be spending your precious time crammed in a hot, sweaty, swaying tin can that takes an hour.

What is it you want to see/do in Sorrento? I would seriously examine your motives for visiting this town, especially when you are alreayd in a jewel of a place - and could spend your time in other ways - like taking the bus to Montepertuso/Nocelle and hopping off for lunch at La Tagliata and having a lunch you will never, ever forget.

swagman

Blueeyedcod, you are a wealth of knowledge and thank you for sharing.

I am still reading up on the various towns so there is nothing specific yet in terms of Sorrento. Given all the positive feedback I have received regarding Positano, I won't be surprised we will spend the majority of our time there, chilling. Just spending time at Fornillo beach is very appealing.

Has anyone been to Da Adolfo Beach? Apparently there is a nice restaurant there.

s

WWK

Don't believe the hype about Da Adolfo. UGH. The food was only OK, the beach was gross. It took over an hour to get the "free" taxi ride back to town. Never again.

There are much better restaurants in and around town. As mentioned above, LA TAGLIATA in Montepertuso is fabulous. Swoon-worthy. Some of the restaurants in Montepertuso used to offer free roundtrip transportation for guests staying in Positano. Not sure if they still do, but check at your front desk.

We also lovelovelove LO GUARACINO, which is on the flower-strewn seaside path to Fornillo Beach, right-hand side, about 1/2 mile from the start of the path at the town dock. It has wonderful handmade pizzas, pastas, and a seaview that stretches to the horizon.

Also very nice on VIA PASITEA ( about halfway between town and beach) IL CAPITANO, and SARCENO D'ORO.

cruiseluv

Heading to Positano in Sept , bookmarking. By the way, I visited Sorrento for a few hours as well as Positano a few years ago and agree with comments above about Sorrento vs Positano.

ambo

Capri to Sorrento, private tour to Pompeii and Herculaneum and transfer to Positano is far far too much in one day. Pompei is exhausting. On a hot day, you'll be so worn you won't even be able to see all of it. Just go to Sorrento for the night. Then ferry to Amalfi, which is a much nicer town than Positano. It is also the ideal base being between Ravello and Positano with easy connection to both. I also would especially avoid Positano with children since the place is nothing but a big stairway. Children won't be able to handle it well.

ekc

I enjoy Da Adolfo (be sure to reserve and get there early) and love several of the dishes. The boat driver doubles as a waiter during the lunch hours, so there is a delay in the boat service back to Positano.

However, the other establishment on Laurito Beach is also lovely and less crowded. Hotel Le Sirene has similar boat service, very good food and is less crowded (still make a reservation). In fact, it is one of my favorite places for dinner in Positano also. A magical spot after all of the sunbathers have left. We spent one day at Da Adolfo, caught the boat back to Positano about 5:00, freshened up at our apartment, had aperitivo at the Buca di Bacco bar on the beach, then caught the boat to Hotel Le Sirene and had dinner. Reservations are a must, so they know when to send the boat.

I will second the vote for Lo Guaracino - a gem tucked away on the path to Fornillo Beach. And several Positano regulars I know swear by the pizza at Saraceno D'Oro.

Blueeyedcod

<I also would especially avoid Positano with children since the place is nothing but a big stairway. Children won't be able to handle it well>

This is indeed unfortunate advice (someone forgot to tell the kids who live there!). It's not all stairs - the road is serpentine so if you want to take the extra time, just follow the road as it winds down to the piazza. While you're walking down Via Pasitea (as part of this road is called) you'll pass Positano's high school nestled into the hillside, complete with playground and basketball court. Further up the hill is the primary school - with its big, colourful playground/ gym/ climbing equipment. I hope you get to see the school bus doing its route along Via Pasitea, it is indeed a sight to see as it trundles along, brushing up against pavement restaurant tables - well so it seems!

Anyway, the OP didn't mention children but anyone reading this or bookmarking who does- don't fear. Positano is fine for kids - it is the over 65's and creaky knees I would worry about

Restaurants - I am a huge fan of Saraceno D'Oro - it is on the Fornillo side high up on Via Pasitea. If you have dinner there, after dinner keep walking up the hill a little way and you'll come to a bend in the road full of nativity scenes and candles. It's like a little grotto and is very beautiful. I also love the beach bar Il Pupetto on Fornillo Beach - they make a cocktail there called a 'Garibaldi' and I would happily return to Positano for this drink alone.

ekc

Blueeyed, thanks for the tip about the nativity! I love it when I stumble upon them and am always on the lookout. There is a great one in Raito if you are ever down the coast!

swagman

Is there only one boat service to and from Da Adolfo, departing Positano at 10am returning 4pm? If I wanted to go there just for say 2-3 hours for lunch, would it be possible to get a private boat on the beach?

ekc

there is only one boat that is run by Da Adolfo. It starts running around 10 and continues until around noon. Then it starts up again at 4 and runs until everyone leaves.

Once I forgot about the boat timing and needed to get back to Pos for a cooking class at 3 and Sergio just had me hop on a private water taxi that someone had hired to take them back to Pos. So if you don't want to depend on the Da Adolfo boat to get back to Pos, you could pre-arrange for a water taxi to pick you up.

I believe the boat schedule for Hotel Le Sirene is a bit more flexible.