4 days in Italy - How would you spend it? Only two cities...
 

I will be flying into Italy on the afternoon of September the 16th after spending a few nights in Amsterdam. This trip will involve more hopping around than we typically do as we do want to experience the best parts of Italy that we can in 4 full days.

I am currently toying with the idea of flying into Napes. Pompei sounds amazing to me - and I'm also considering touring some of the cities around Amalfi on scooters. We can handle motorcycles, etc.

We are most interested in finding epic, authentic restaurants, coffee, some history and a good amount of exploration. Amalfi has been highly recommended, but currently I'm more interesting in touring the area than hanging out in a crowd of tourists. We arrive Monday, Late Friday we fly to Paris for 2 nights then home.

So...If you had 4 days would you prioritize Amalfi? My wife works too much and has a REALLY hard time traveling... so this could be our only trip to Italy.
Friends have told me they much preferred the Amalfi area to Cinque Terre. I've also toyed with with the idea of a quick stop in one other City. Opinions on Rome are split but it's a good stop on the way to Paris. History isn't the biggest draw for this trip - so I'm currently maybe steering away from considering Florence.

With all that said -- I would consider ANY city is Italy. If there are epic train routes to consider, I think we'd enjoy making that part of my trip.

Please feel free to share your most favorite city / experience. I need to book stuff in the next 2-3 days! Much appreciated! Of course links or references to other threads are also greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

I don't want to sound harsh, but your wife - and you - is going to need another vacation after the whirlwind you have layed out here. Lots of airports and time in transit..

Ok, but to answer your question, if the Amalfi Coast is really where you want to spend your time, it is also where a LOT of people want to spend their time, especially in September. So, if that is an absolute must, see what is available for lodging before you set things in stone.

If by 4 days, do you mean 5 nights? Or is it 4 nights? Which would only give you 3 days of sightseeing. And some rushed ones at that.

Potentially, an alternative might be Sorrento. It is not on the AC. You can tour Pompeii from there and ferry to the Amalfi Coast villages. Naples also has lots to see and do and you could, if you really want as an alternative to the AC, maybe spend a day either on Ischia or Capri both can be via ferry to either Naples or Sorrento.

I am not sure if scooters would be an option. It is something to look into, but the AC has put into place limits on non locals traveling on Amalfi Coast Drive the past summer or two and I believe this is in place for 2024. I do not know if scooters are part of this and would be something you'd have to confirm.

Yeah, I think I am probably packing too much. We typically do not do that. I am definitely trying to squeeze in a lot of stuff, but I will think this over. Thank you for all of the advice. Much appreciated!!

I do have four full days. I think I’m going to cram Rome into one day. So that should give me three nights / 2.5 days in the Sorrento / Amalfi area. One whirlwind day in Rome and 2 nights in Paris.

Of course, I could consider skipping Rome Would you?

Welcome to Fodors

"I think I’m going to cram Rome into one day"

I'l just ask what would you expect to see/do in Rome in just one day? That is not a great idea.

4 days is not a 'trip to Italy'. it is a quick visit to one destination in Italy. If it was me I'd either: 1) fly into Naples and stay in Sorrento -- or 2) what I'd REALLY do is fly into Venice and fly from there to Paris. (or even forget Italy and spend the time in Paris)

A day tour in Rome. Maybe better than no visit to Rome. :)

But yeah - I asked for feedback and will consider all of it. Thanks for the thoughts!

This is not my trip, it's yours.

I LOVE Rome. Would go back in a heartbeat. But to cram such a large, ancient ciry into one day, it breaks my heart. But so does the thought of rushing from point to point. One day would not be enough for me. Maybe for you, but not me. Btw, there is a Pompeii alternative near Rome, Ostia Antica.

Instead of cramming, cut it. By moving so much, you will wind up spending your entire vacation in an airport terminal or train station. And find you have seen very little outside of those transit spaces.

How many days on the ground is your trip total? Have you been to Paris and Amsterdam before?

If you guys work as much as you say you have, slow it down. Less is more, especially when one is already stressed.

I've been to Europe a few times - Have only taken the wife once. Last time we had a longer, chill vacation.
We've both been to Amsterdam, but the trip will start there.

Maybe I have to choose between Sorrento and Rome. I welcome the direct opinions and advice. :)

Keep in mind that if you're going to do two destinations, you don't really have four full days. You lose at least half a day every time you move by the time you check out of a hotel, get to the airport or train station, the actual travel time, getting to the new hotel, checking in at the new hotel. It all takes more time than you think.
I love Rome, but do either Amalfi or Rome (and as mentioned, do Ostia Antica from Rome instead of Pompeii).

It sounds like the two of you have not been to Paris --- Do Paris . . . JUST Paris. As it is you have just 2 nights there, which will give you ONE day for seeing Paris.

Trying to fit in travel from Amsterdam to Naples + the AC or Sorrento + Rome + Paris into 6 nights will involve in aggregate more than 2 full days just in transit. So almost 1/3 of your time.

You seem to be conflating "experiencing" a lot of places with simply being in them, no matter how briefly. Maybe you and your wife just want to tick boxes, but if you want to do more than that, then please take to heart what others have already noted. Seriously, your plans won't involve "experiencing" places unless you have time to, well, experience them. (Duh.)

And as others have noted, without reservations at this late date, you might not be able to do any of the things you've listed as options.

If you have four full days, you could -- if willing to proceed at a breakneck speed -- see a bit of Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast. And I do mean A BIT. Sorrento would probably be your best bet -- if you can get lodging there at this late date -- or you could spend a a night or two in Naples and your other nights in whichever AC location actually has availability. I'm someone who IS willing to travel at a very hard, fast pace -- but I would not (and did not) try to pack all of these places into four days, nor could I have done so even if I had wanted to do so except by skipping most of what drew me to the area in the first place. Please, think about what it is you want to do and experience if you decide to go to any of these places.

Also: If flying to Paris, won't you need to be in Naples the night before your flight?

Rome in one day? What a sad idea. Especially because trying to cram that in would limit your already overly ambitious options for Naples / the Amalfi Coast. Honestly, I think it would be better to skip Rome than never visit it -- or to skip Naples and the Amalfi Coast instead. But that's your dilemma, isn't it? If you can ONLY visit ONE place in Italy, is it Rome (for which four full days would, at least, be reasonable) OR would it be a very crammed, skip-some-things visit to Naples and the Amalfi Coast?

Just for future reference: Cities in Italy are not fungible. Each is unique!

Only two nights in Paris? I can't imagine finding that satisfying. Have you asked your wife what, exactly, she wants to do while there? Have you ensured that you can actually meet those aspirations? Seriously -- plot things out on a calendar and engage in some serious discussions about what you both want from this trip. Think about what it would mean if this actually is your last trip to Europe. If you've already done that, forgive me -- and consider how to convey those decisions in your posts.

"Less is more." - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Thanks for the replies.

4 days and nights is just for Italy. I can pare things down. That's why I asked for feedback. :)

I don't think I'd want to spend them all in Rome... but I don't want to miss it entirely. :)
I'll mull this all over and simplify a bit.

There is no way I would go to Rome for les than 4 nights and even that is far too short.

There is even less chance I would try to see two Italian cities in four days....

It will be very hot, remember.

Maybe go to Naples and hire a driver for a full day tour of the Amalfi area.
But yikes, jam packed and hot in mid September.

I'd stay in Paris rather than fly all the say to Italy for a scant four days. Sounds like a real first-timers mistake to me..sorry to sound harsh.

With only one night you will be missing Rome pretty much entirely. You may have some unrealistic ideas about how long things take. :( Plus 2 nights in Paris nets you one day. Basically from the time you leave Amsterdam until you hit CDG you will be on the move with very little time in any one place - Your OP mentioned 'good amount of exploration' - when are you factoring in exploration time?

I do not want to beat a dead horse or make it seem like I am piling on...

What are your goals for each of the places you are intending to go? You really have mentioned very little: scooters on the AC and Pompeii. Besides those, what are your and your wife's interests and absolutes?

Are you wanting to go IN or ON places, or just see them from the outside?

For Rome: there is a huge difference between walking by the Colosseum vs. going inside it, add the Forum to that list as well. Same with St. Peters. Same if you also want to Sistine Chapel, which can only be viewed if you have booked the Vatican Museums. For Paris: there is a big difference between seeing the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe than going ON them. And of course, if you want to tackle biggies such as Musee d'Orsay and the Louvre.

All of these things take time to visit. It requires advanced planning. And, if, for example, you want to actually visit St. Peters, the Vatican Museums and the Colosseum all in one day (I mean going inside) - while it *can* be done, it is still a rushed, crowded day. Same with packing in Paris. Granted, the top of Arc de Triomphe is not on many lists, but it does give one hell of a view of the Eiffel Tower, for example. Though the best view in Paris is on the worst building in Paris, Montparnasse Tower, but I digress.

With SO many people holding off their trips to Paris for later in the summer and into the fall because of the Olympics, you have to figure that it will be a madhouse. September in general is still very much high season for these areas, in the best of circumstances. More so for Paris this year, I anticipate.

If I was choosing between Amalfi Coast and Rome, I'd choose AC, actually I'd stay in Sorrento. If you can find availability somewhere nice I'd grab it. From Sorrento you can easily reach small villages along the coast, islands, Naples, Pompeii. I'm not suggesting you visit all these places though, I'd pick maybe two, and spend some time soaking up the views and relax for a bit.

I agree with everyone else. If you have never been to Paris spend your extra days there. If you want to go to Italy skip the day in Paris. Go to Rome or Sorrento but not both.Also driving a moped on the Amalfi coast sounds like fun just like in the movies but driving in Italy is different and trying to sight see while driving the Amalfi is dangerous. Do make sure your health insurance has good overseas coverage.

Looking at logistics:
Direct flights from Amsterdam to Naples are approximately 2hrs and 20 min. You likely need to plan at least 1/2 hour departing hotel and getting to airport, an hour for check-in and security, boarding, etc. then approximately an hour and a half (or more) from Naples airport to hotel in Sorrento which, as others suggested, could be a good choice. That makes total travel time of roughly 5&1/2 hours. There are few direct flights and you sure do not want to waste time with layovers, so you will need to book that soon. Most are early morning. If you do not depart Amsterdam early, afternoon flights will put you into Sorrento just in time for dinner, making Monday a travel day, not a day being anywhere for sightseeing.

Your plan (as it reads now) is:
Depart Amsterdam, the afternoon of Monday, September 16, (probably to Naples.)
Depart for Paris, late afternoon of Friday, September 20, from Naples (or possibly Rome).
This is Tues, Wed, Thur, (only 3 full days with an evening on Monday and a bit of the day on Fri),
so not 4 full days.
Sorrento to Naples to Paris or Rome to Paris will be about the same, so Friday will be another day that is travel heavy. If you added the time from Sorrento to Rome you lose another 1/2 day for travel.

Options:
Skip Rome, do only the AC (many options for the AC) and Paris
Skip the AC, do Rome and add a day to Paris
Paris and day trips.

one suggestion. Plan on Pompeii early Thursday morning (storing luggage at the entrance), go on to Paris Thursday afternoon. That gives you 2 full days on the AC, one morning at Pompeii and an extra evening and day in Paris.

Thanks for the thoughtful response.

When I created this thread I wanted to provide enough info to get useful feedback (and it has) but nothing was locked down.
I very much appreciate the constructive comments and useful details that many have provided. I asked for feedback and have been open to all of it. :)

I extended my trip by 3 more days. I have 9 nights. The first is Monday and yeah - it's definitely a full travel day. I think I'm actually going to book a nice Airbnb in Prianno and make that my base. 4 nights in AC, 1 or 2 in Rome (I'm perfectly fine with a whirlwind trip in Rome) and the train to Rome makes sense. Then I'll have 3 nights in Paris. Yup - shorter than some would even consider but the wife and I are ok with a bit more of a frenetic pace for this trip.

I'm going to be working on locking down flights and longer stays ASAP and I look forward to getting into more details in AC, Rome and Paris. I've been to Paris a couple times but the wife hasn't. Eiffel at night and a day trip to Versailles are the current top considerations....

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. It has been incredibly helpful.