mary3683

Our ship docks in Naples on May 7. We have 12 hours and we want to see it ALL!! No, seriously, we want to see Sorrento, Positano, maybe Amalfi, maybe Pompeii. Should we (two couples -- men good drivers, have driven in England, France, London, Germany, etc.) rent a car and drive ourselves? If so, are there suggestions so we can maximize our time? We want a memorable relaxed experience. Help!

HuisClos

What time does your ship dock?

If the ship docks early and there's no train strike, as much as you want to see everything in the area (who wouldn't!), you could probably get in Pompeii and Sorrento by train.

crdtny

At Xmas our ship docked at Naples. Five of us paid about 40 euros each for a round trip by taxi to Sorrento, Pompeii, Herkulaneum and back to the ship. Plenty of time at each place.The driver left us alone and arranged a meeting place.
Herkulaneum is better than Pompeii.
Lots of taxi's waiting for passengers just do a deal.

bobthenavigator

Hire a tour guide driver not just a taxi driver. Expect to pay about 35E/hour. I would do a loop to include Pompeii, Ravello, and Positano. That will also take you thru Amalfi and Sorrento but I would not stop. Look at Tourofitaly.com and Renato Cuomo and Francesco Marrapese.

kybourbon

Hop a ferry or hydrofoil to Sorrento (you really don't have time for Amalfi/Positano), visit Sorrento, take the local commuter train (Circumvesuviana)that runs between Sorrento and Naples to either Pompeii or Herculaneum. Ferry will be about 15€ and train about 3€. From Pompeii/Herculaneum, take the Circumvesuviana back to Naples and catch either the tram, alibus or taxi back to the port (it's not far).

Taxi fees are set for Naples and the coast. Page 2 of this link has the prices in English.
http://www.portal.gesac.it/portal/pa...E_TAXI-agg.pdf

delvino

Bob has it spot on. We based in Sorrento and spent over 12 hours visiting the Amalfi Coast and Paestum. If your coming from Naples, its even more driving and less time. It will cost, but it is well worth being ported around while you can enjoy the views of the coastline. Don't do this yourselves.

Surfergirl

Another suggestion, if weather permits, is take the hydrofoil or ferry from Naples to Capri for the day.

Jean

First of all, I'd try to get precise timing from your cruise company. It may be telling you the ship is in port from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm (for example), but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll have 12 hours on the ground.

I agree with bobthenavigator, if you can afford it, but bear in mind that the driving alone will take up at least 3 hours of your precious time. Add too many stops or encounter any traffic problems, and it won't be a "relaxed experience."

If perchance it's raining, skip Pompeii/Herculaneum.

zeppole

Part of your problem is that you are imagining (and even being told) that the Amalfi coast is something that it isn't.

The drive IS the destination. It is one of the most famous roads in Italy.

The Amalfi drive is a scenic drive along cliffs. It goes through Amalfi and Positano. You might want to get out and stretch your legs, but it's not like the towns are destinations unless you are taking a honeymoon there. And you've only got a day there.

If somebody in your party would love to drive the road, rent a car. If everybody would like to look out the window, hire a driver. I had a great experience with a local family-run limousine company, Benvenuto Limousines. The family has been living there for generations. They can also take you to Pompeii if you like, or Sorrento, or anyplace you want to go.

http://www.benvenutolimos.com/

But get rid of this frantic idea of "DOING' it all. All you do is drive the road and look at the scenery and stop as often as you like. Stop in Positano and have a nice long lunch. That's what Italian DO in the Amalfi. They relax and eat and enjoy the scene.

Jean

I agree the drive and accompanying scenery are unique and amazing, but I wouldn't say one or two of the towns couldn't/shouldn't be destinations in themselves.

For example, if you're Catholic and/or a student of the Bible, you would probably appreciate a visit to the Duomo in Amalfi which was built to house the relics of Apostle Andrew. His relics are contained in the beautiful crypt, and relics of other saints are displayed in one of the Duomo's chapels. The Duomo's exterior reflects an Arab influence, the bronze doors are from Constantinople, and elements of the adjoining Cloisters are in a Moorish style. All in all, a very interesting church and worth a visit. We also took a self-guided walking tour of Amalfi that focused on its history of being one of Europe's first paper-making centers.

You're also going to want to have a nice lunch (preferably overlooking the sea) of local products like freshly-caught seafood, locally-made mozzarella, fresh tomatoes, citrus-based sorbetti and creams, limoncello, chocolate-dipped lemon peel... Oh my, the food! Several years ago, we had an amazing lunch on the terrace at the Hotel Le Sirenuse in Positano. I'm not a fan of Positano, but I'd go back to re-experience that lunch.

Suzy_Q

I would take the ferry/hydrofoil from Naples to Capri. Spend about two hours exploring the island and take another ferry to Sorrento. Hire a driver to pick you up at the Sorrento port to drive you to Positano and Ravello. There is not much to see in Sorrento, IMO. Also save your time and skip Amalfi. It's small, touristy with not much to see (besides the Church), also IMO. I would rather spend the time in Positano and exploring Ravello, which for me was the highlight of my trip on the Amalfi Coast. It is just beautiful.

zeppole

Please don't misunderstand me. I'm not saying that if you stop in a town, you won't find anything of interest. Or that a little bit of reading about the towns -- like, if you like Italian gardens, maybe you want another 30 minutes on a twisting road to see one.

But people really are getting the wrong idea about "what's to see" in the Amalfi as a mega-tourist destination. I see it in post after post. I didn't even bother to post in a recent one where somebody said they had just booked themselves for 5 days into the Amalfi -- but now was suddenly confronted with "what do I DO there?????""

The Amalfi coast is a great break from sightseeing. It's a place to finally slow down and smell the lemons. Sure if you are interested in Gore Vidal, Catholic history or antique paper mills, there is something to DO and SEE. But people who spend a huge amount of time and money to get themselves into a nice room on the Amalfi with a terrace with a drop-dead view, and then set the alarm for 7am so they can go wait on line for a bus to take them to the next town -- where they sit at a terrace cafe with a drop-dead view and then get on another bus to go up a hill and pictures on a terrace with a drop dead view -- get the point?

With 12 hours on the Amalfi, if you want to DO everything the Amalfi has to offer, get yourself a nice terrace with a drop dead view and have a great long lunch. Smell the lemons, Feel the sunshine and the breeze. Stare into a blue infinity. Go home and say you DID the Amalfi.

ira

Hi M3,

May I suggest:

Cab from Naples Dock to Naples Centrale Train Station
Train to Salerno
Take SITA Bus from Salerno train station to Sorrento via Amalfi.
Take Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento to Naples.

You change buses at Amalfi.

Your route takes you along the Amalfi Coast Road.
You pass through Positano.

You can get off the bus at either town.

SITA bus schedules are at http://tinyurl.com/ybe6xk

Enjoy your visit.

HuisClos

I wouldn't consider a drive as a "destination" as much as something to experience, like the Pacific Coast Hwy in California or the Oregon coast line. Personally, I'd prefer to see the Amalfi coast via the water on a boat tour. Again, destinations such as Positano are to do what people who visit want to do, whether it be to visit churches, navigate the stairs, find a magical photo spot, check out the pottery scene, or just sit and watch the world go by. That's what visitors do when they reach destinations.

lowcountrycarol

Zeppole, you have the best advice. Why do so many travelers
need to "do it all" to get what they think will be a great travel experience. The word "experience" here is the key.