Making the Most of Your Time

Making the Most of Your Time

In Campania, there are three primary travel experiences: Naples, with its restless exuberance; the resorts (Capri, Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast), dedicated to leisure and indulgence; and the archaeological sights (Pompeii, Herculaneum, Paestum), where the ancient world is frozen in time. Each is wonderful in its own way. If you have a week, you can get a good taste of all three, but with less time, you're better off choosing between them rather than stretching yourself thin.

Pompeii is the simplest to plan for: it's a day trip. To get a feel for Naples, you should give it a couple of days at a minimum. The train station makes a harsh first impression, but the city grows on you as you take in the sights and interact with the locals.

That said, many people bypass Naples and head right for the resorts. These places are all about relaxing—you'll miss the point if you're in a rush. Sorrento isn't as spectacular as Positano or Capri, but it's a good base because of its central location.