tribi

Hello everyone, I'm making plans to visit Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast at the end of September and begining of October, we will fly to Rome and from there we will need transportation to Sorrento. Since we don't want to drive, can you tell us how to get around, we will be staying 7 days around the area so how should we devide the days and where should we stay overnight. We want to visit Positano, Capri, Amalfi Coast. Is 7 days enough????


Thank you very much

nytraveler

7 days is plenty. the area is small and Positano and Amalfi are reallylarge villages. Sorrento is a larger town 0 but still not that big. Sightseeing is limited - do you plan on doing hiking in the hills or??

Capri is reached by ferry or hydrofoil.

Other town are linked by bus along the coast road -a nd some by ferries - but you need to check schedules for each month - and be aware that they don;t run after early evening.

hazel1

I'm baffled by the comment above that sightseeing is limited. Depending how far afield you want ot go, there is plenty to see and do in a week. I would certainly consider touring Pompeii, which is quite fascinating and even more so if you also daytrip to Naples and see the Pompeiian treasures in the Archaeological Museum there (and, of course, grab some world-famous pizza in Naples while you're there). Too many people try to rush everything there is to see in a whirlwind tour of the AC in 2-3 days - I think seven days sounds much better.

tribi

thank you so much for your replies, I don't think we will do any hiking however if there is time to visit Naples I would like that very much and also Pompeii I just wasn't sure if I had time. Should I stay a few days in Positano?

jelopez33

Tribi:
We were there in september 2009,te weather was excellent and we enjoyed the stay inmensely.You can read my complete report by clicking on my name and selecting the trip report.
Please,have in mind that you can easily spend 7 days, and by no means miss Pompeii,Capri,Ravello.
Hace a nice trip and let us know!!!

mamcalice

We were there the end of September and early October, 2010 and found it a great time to visit. We took the train from Rome to Naples and the Circumvesuviana from there to Sorrento. We were there 6 days and had time to visit Pompeii (Circumvesuviana from Sorrento to Pompeii Scavi), Naples, and the Amalfi Coast (Bus). We stayed in Sorrento for 3 days then went to Capri (ferry from Sorrento) for 3 days. We liked Capri best and enjoyed being there after the day-trippers had left the island. There is plenty to do. We walked, hiked visited Anacapri, lounged around the pool and tried our best to visit the Blue Grotto but it was closed each day of our stay even though the weather was spectacular.

ekscrunchy

That is a great time of year to visit and I think that a week is a very good amount of time to get a good feel for the coast and perhaps add Paestum and Pompeii. You are also in a good season for beach time and the beaches in that area, while predominently rocky rather than sandy, are magnificent. Think sheltered coves edged by sheer cliffs dropping into clear water.

There are scads of threads here discussing the best place to base yourself, with the towns of Amalfi and Positano perhaps the most popular. I suggest a search for those, and other threads, to get an idea of your options. Perhaps you could add a night or two in Naples at the beginning or end of your stay.

Do you plan to fly to Naples? If not, where will you begin your trip. What is your hotel budget? A personal favorite hotel, in a moderate price range of 130 to 150 euro per night, is this one, but there are many, many options:

http://www.hotelfloridiana.it/

You also might add a night or two on Capri. Or on the island of Ischia. Both are accessible by ferry.

A_Brit_In_Ischia

I'd strongly recommend first deciding what and where you want to visit, and only then picking out one or more places to stay - and perhaps some of the photos here will help with that process?

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

The peninsula isn't huge, however its geography does mean that the SITA buses take, for instance, 100 minutes to get from Amalfi to Sorrento - even though, on the map, they're only 20km / 12 miles apart... And that's probably not how you'd want to repeatedly start and end daytrips away to Pompei, Naples etc?

Although high time it was updated (so do cross-check their times, prices etc!), for lots more about the towns and villages along both the Sorrento side and the Amalfi Coast, you may like to download the very useful 'Travel Directory' from the official tourism website, here...
http://www.costiera.it/weben/index.htm

(That's a big file, 170 pages, so be patient - it gets there in the end!)

And, for some idea of the climate at that time of year (generally lovely, with - sooner or later - a few short-lived but dramatic thunderstorms), you may like to try these photos - taken over the years on and around our home on the island of Ischia...

Sept: http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/pics_sept

Oct: http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recoct

Peter

PS Most of the journey from Rome is very simple - it's a pleasant and interesting train ride down to Naples... the rest will depend on your choice of destination!

Lifeman

You'll find a hire car makes getting around so much easier. If you want to centre on Positano, then Pompeii is an easy drive, as is Amalfi etc. You'll avoid sitting on a bus forever which will waste good sightseeing time. (Yes I know that you can look through bus windows!)

I too don't understand the comment that "Sightseeing is limited". You will be on one of the most scenic coastal regions in the world!

At the end of September most of Europe's school children will be back at school after the summer holidays and you'll find getting around so much easier, another good reason to hire a car.

If you don't want to drive, then base yourself in Sorrento and do the coast on the bus as a day trip(s). You'll be able to catch the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii Scavi to see the ruins, from the station in Sorrento.

Ann1

End of September beginning of October everything is still open. Yes it can be good beach weather but don't be disappointed if you can't go into the water. It can be very warm and beautiful but it can also be quite chilly. Be prepared for both.

Also don't leave our Ercolano (Herculaneum) (easy by train) and if you're good a walking up steep sandy hills, take the bus up to Vesuvius.

tribi

Thank you all so much for your advice and opinions, this will surely help me plan my trip.
I think I'm going to devide my 7 nights and stay in Sorrento and also in Positano.
Can you also give me your opinion on accomodations.

sun_sea

Hi Tribi...

well as a local I would suggest as follows (my personal opinion):

Sorrento:

- hotel europa palace (ups central and sea view rooms ask for the suite if u want to be spoilt ---4 star upscale)

- on budget b&b magnolia ---ups family run, really cosy and central


Positano (Paradise ON EARTH but very expensive)

- on budget but if u want to feel welcomed as a family member a b&b run by same family who runs saraceno d'oro restaurant www.saracendodoro.it , contact them to have details

- splurge - le SYRENUSE .,,TOP TOP TOP


hope those might bring some helps.

sun_sea

Ah on bottom note ...from Sorrento to Positano is ONLY 20 minutes ish by car or bus (bear in mind in case of tight budget) ;-).....

Mikenmass

First off hello and first post!

My wife and I are going to be staying in Sant'Agnello in late April for 5 nights. My question is about the transfers I've pre-booked to and from Naples airport. We have a 12:00 departure and the transfer service is picking us up at our hotel at 9:00. Is this plenty of time to make the flight?

Thanks!

mike

ira

Hi trib,

You might find my trip report useful. It will answer many of your questions.

Ira’s Trip Report (Italy 2003)
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...2&tid=34451044

Enjoy your visit.