Ost_Wongtirawit

I am planning a trip in italy (in next April) and have a day and a half in Sorrento. Perhaps one entire day for Amalfi Coast and the rest for Sorrento itself.

Is it possible to arrange for a day trip from Sorrento arond Amalfi Coast. I would like to visit Positano, Amalfi, and Paestum. Ravello and Salerno is optional, if time allows.

I plan to take a morning bus (heard it can be early as 6.30) from Sorrento to Positano. Stroll in the city for about 1 hr.
Then take another bus to Amalfi and spend time here 1-2 hrs.
Proceding with 2 buses: Amalfi-Salerno and Salerno-Paestum (without visiting Salerno). 2-3 hours in Paestum would be enough.
And a bus returning to Salerno and a ferry ride back to Positano.
Maybe some more walk around the town and dinner before catching a bus back to Sorrento.

It would be a long day, but I do think it is possible (since I and my companion are around 20 and it is just the second day of the trip).

Thank you for your responses

Jean

It may not all work as seamlessly as you describe. Definitely check the various bus and ferry timetables. I wouldn't stop at Positano twice, and I probably wouldn't try to go to Paestum in the same day.

SusanP

I agree that it's a very ambitious day. I would also agree that you should probably skip Paestum. Not because it's not worth seeing, but it's just too much for a day.

Also, taking the ferry back to Positano and then thinking you can take the bus back to Sorrento, realize that the ferry will drop you off at the dock, at the BOTTOM of Positano and the bus will leave from the TOP of Positano. You'd really have to know the ferry and bus times and whether they coordinate, and allowing enough time to walk from the ferry up to the bus...not a short walk!

SusanP

I also should have mentioned that you just might be able to do that whole itinerary with a private driver, if your budget allows for that. Do a search here for some recommendations on drivers.

julia1

Yes, possible. But why? You will miss so much - just to say you did it?

zeppole

It used to be that for many travelers, driving the Amalfi Drive was the point of going to the Amalfi. There are sea views in many places in the world, but the nothing like the engineering feat of the spectacular coastal drive. I'm perpetually puzzled by the idea you'll "miss so much" -- what? Shopping? -- if you simply take the drive and see the views. And since Paestum is really the only sight of world class historical importance on your itinerary, it would be the one thing I wouldn't skip.

Were it me, I would take the train to Salerno and see Paestum as soon as it opens and then work my way back up the coast. I would probably take a look at the Duomo in the Amalfi as well. I understand that the riding the bus in the dark can be particularly nauseating, so I might just head back once the sun is down on an empty stomach and eat dinner in Sorrento.

travelfan1

I was just on the Amalfi Coast this past April and for what it's worth I think it's too much. At that time of year you can't count on the ferries - they weren't running several of the days we were there.

zeppole

Sorry for my typo: I meant to type "see the Duomo in the town of Amalfi"

Ann1

When we were in San Gimignano one year we met a British family. We mentioned we were going to Siena that afternoon. They said..."Oh, you Americans, you try to put too much into one day instead of enjoying each place." I don't know what country you are from, but even though I have been to San Gim and Siena many times, they had a point.

bobthenavigator

Far too much. See Positano and Amalfi and then go up to the best single location on that coast---Ravello. It deserves your time.

GAC

Realistically, it's too much in one day, particularly using public transportation. Also, in April, the small ferry boats between Salerno/Amalfi/Positano (operated by Cooperativa Sant'Andrea) might not be running if sea conditions are rough, so don't count 100% on this mode of transportation. Remember too that a round-trip bus ride from Sorrento to Salerno and back takes six hours (not counting the connection time in Amalfi). The side-trip by bus to Ravello from Amalfi will take an absolute minimum of 90 minutes.

Here is something I might consider doing:

1. Take the very first morning SITA bus (6:30 a.m.) from Sorrento to Amalfi (90 minutes)

2. Spend 60 minutes visiting Amalfi and its stupendous cathedral.

3. At 9:00 a.m., continue to Salerno by SITA bus (75 minutes).

4. Take the hourly CSTP bus to Paestum (you will probably have missed the last regionale train of the morning) (71 minutes). You'll arrive in Paestum just before 12 noon.

5. Spend at least two hours in Paestum (archeological area and museum)

6. Take an afternoon regionale train to Naples (95 minutes)

7. Take the Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento (65 minutes).

Here is an alternative itinerary:

1. Sorrento (6:30 a.m.) to Amalfi (8:00 a.m.) by SITA bus

2. Amalfi (8:05 a.m.) to Salerno (9:20 a.m.) by SITA bus

3. RUN 250 yards from bus stop to train station!!!

4. Salerno (9:27 a.m.) to Paestum (9:59 a.m.) by Trenitalia regionale train

5. Four hours in Paestum

6. Paestum (14:06) to Salerno (14:41) by Trenitalia regionale train

7. Salerno (15:30) to Amalfi (16:45) by SITA bus

8. 45 minutes in Amalfi to see Cathedral

9. Amalfi (17:30) to Sorrento (19:10) by SITA bus

The foregoing trips can be done Monday through Saturday. On Sundays, you need to check the schedules very carefully, since not all buses will be running.


BEST TRANSPORTATION TICKET TO USE: UNICO CAMPANIA 3T tourist ticket (20 Euros for 3 consecutive days): valid on SITA buses, CSTP buses, Trenitalia regionale trains, Circumvesuviana trains, and much more; OR OR the 3-day "Tutta la Regione" Campania Arte Card (27 Euros), which gives you free entry to Paestum and one other site, plus the same benefits as the UNICO CAMPANIA 3T tourist ticket. The ferry boats are NOT covered by these tickets.

www.sitabus.it
www.cstp.it
www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.vesuviana.it
www.unicocampania.it
www.artecard.it
www.coopsantandrea.it (ferry from Salerno/Amalfi/Positano)

ekscrunchy

My two cents are that you can do this, provided the transport connection work. GAC gives great advice and I agree, too, with Zeppole.

I would certainly not try to include Ravello; the views are not that much better than those you will see on the coastal drive and it is far out of your way.

I think you can get a brief overview of Paestum in 2-3 hours...



The Duomo in Salerno is notable but leave it for the next trip.

Is there any way that you can extend your time in the area by a day or two?

Dayle

The first thing that jumps out to me is, why are you staying in Sorrento anyway? Personally, I much prefer the Amalfi Coast towns and wouldn't want to spend a whole day in Sorrento at the expense of the other towns.

Paestum is wonderful. I did it as a day trip with public trans from Praiano and it took me all day. 2.5 hours down and 2.5 hours back. Early bus never showed, so had to add a hour's wait until the next one. On the way back, I didn't know I couldn't buy a train ticket at the Paestum station and had to backtrack to the town to buy one at the bar. Add another hour.....you have to know some of these things will happen.

GAC

It goes without saying that you could decide to spend the entire day along the Amalfi Coast and relegate Paestum to another trip (even though I personally rate Paestum very much deserving of a visit).

If that's the case, you could very easily visit, in addition to Amalfi, also Ravello and Positano, all using the hourly SITA buses. Bear in mind that finding a seat on the SITA bus for the return trip from Positano to Sorrento might be a challenge at certain times of the day, even in April.

In terms of transportation, you would need to purchase the 24-hour UNICO COSTIERA ticket (7.20 Euros), which allows unlimited bus travel from Sorrento to Salerno, including Amalfi/Ravello. The UNICO CAMPANIA 3T tourist ticket described above would also work.

Remember, too, that if you take the ferry boat between Amalfi and Positano, you pay extra, as the ferry is not covered by any of the full-day bus tickets.

thansen

Not if you want to experience the places you visit.

Naughty5

Hi there- I need some guidance. We are staying in Sorrento from April 4th-7th with another family and we want to do the Sorrento-Positano-Amalfie-Revello tour. I have explored a private tour option with a driver, but we are also wondering if it is possible to take a cab to each location and walk around at our leisure. There will be 7 in our party. Are there cabs that will take us to each of these cities and how many cabs will we need and what will it cost? Thanks in advance for your assistance. PS- I have asked the hotel about this option and they haven't replied yet

ekscrunchy

Taxis might prove more costly than having a private driver with a van. As I recall, we paid 75 euro for a taxi from Sorrento to Praiano alone. You will be able to find taxis, but again, you might be best off price-wise with a driver if you do not want to take public transport.