Amalfi Coast and Transportation Help Needed
Apr 24th, 2013, 12:52 PM
#1
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Amalfi Coast and Transportation Help Needed
My daughter and I will be spending one night in Sorrento. We will have seen Pompeii on the way there. We have most of one day (a Sunday in early June) to see some of the Amalfi Coast. We have to be in Rome by that night. I realize we won't be able to see it all, but was thinking of a combination of bus and ferry or hydrofoil. I can find the bus schedule online, but am having difficulty finding or making sense of the boat schedules online. We were wanting to go to Positano, but am open to other suggestions. I would appreciate any itinerary and transportation help. Also, we will be taking a train from Naples to Rome, but what is the best way to get to Naples-the Circumvesuviana or boat. I wish we had more time to spend in this area, but this is all that worked with the rest of our trip. Thanks.
Apr 24th, 2013, 01:10 PM
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The train to Naples Cenrale would be much cheaper - just a few euros and would put your in Naples main train station - by boat you have to go a few miles from the dock to the train station.
Look at www.trenitalia.com for schedules and fares Naples to Rome but not from Sorrento to Naples as the CircumVesuviana train is not a part of Trenitalia but a commuter railway run by local authorities I think- just buy that ticket in Sorrento but you may want to pre-book Naples to Rome not because trains sell out but because you can get nifty discounts by booking weeks early. For lots of great info on Italian trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
As for the Amalfi I think Amalfi the town itself and Ravello (sp?) perched high above it are absolute gems - so is Positano.
Look at www.trenitalia.com for schedules and fares Naples to Rome but not from Sorrento to Naples as the CircumVesuviana train is not a part of Trenitalia but a commuter railway run by local authorities I think- just buy that ticket in Sorrento but you may want to pre-book Naples to Rome not because trains sell out but because you can get nifty discounts by booking weeks early. For lots of great info on Italian trains I always spotlight these IMO fantastic sites - www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.
As for the Amalfi I think Amalfi the town itself and Ravello (sp?) perched high above it are absolute gems - so is Positano.
Apr 24th, 2013, 01:28 PM
#3
There's a couple things you can do, but here's what I would recommend.
Take the ferry from Sorrento to Salerno (you can stop in either Positano or Amalfi for a few hours if you choose), then take the train from Salerno straight into Rome.
That way you won't have to back-track, and believe me, the ferry along the coast is so beautiful -- the weather should be great, and you'll sort of feel like you're on an aging yacht. I mean, it's not terribly fancy, but you're going to be looking at the coastline and the christal water, and enjoying the sun!
Here's a link to all of the transport:
http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi...s_ferries.html
Take the ferry from Sorrento to Salerno (you can stop in either Positano or Amalfi for a few hours if you choose), then take the train from Salerno straight into Rome.
That way you won't have to back-track, and believe me, the ferry along the coast is so beautiful -- the weather should be great, and you'll sort of feel like you're on an aging yacht. I mean, it's not terribly fancy, but you're going to be looking at the coastline and the christal water, and enjoying the sun!
Here's a link to all of the transport:
http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi...s_ferries.html
Apr 24th, 2013, 01:36 PM
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It boils down to:
Private Car: You hire car and driver.
Train from Naples: From railway station Naples Centrale in Garibaldi Plaza from where the trains of the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento is reached. The trains of the Circumvesuviana take around 60 minutes to cover the distance Naples - Sorrento and the cost of the ticket it is of around 3.eu. It takes about 70- 75 minutes to reach Sorrento.
By Ferry Hydrofoil: Sorrento can also be reached easily by sea, with the hydrofoils that connect the Dock Beverello (Naples, in front of the MAschi Angioino Castle). It takes 30 minutes to reach Sorrento. From the port Sorrento with yellow bus, you can arrive in the center of Sorrento. www.alilauro.it - www.metrodelmare.com
are boat sites.
By Bus from Sorrento: Sita Bus all day fare is appx 5e, this site has bus and ferry links so you can match bus, ferry time frames. http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi...s_ferries.html
By Bus From Rome and it does a Return to Rome: Marozzi bus from Tiburtina square in Rome, travels directed towards Sorrento. www.marozzivt.it
The issue may be what is you plan for your cases etc. if your stopping at Pompeii along the way as well as the next day while touring.
Private Car: You hire car and driver.
Train from Naples: From railway station Naples Centrale in Garibaldi Plaza from where the trains of the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento is reached. The trains of the Circumvesuviana take around 60 minutes to cover the distance Naples - Sorrento and the cost of the ticket it is of around 3.eu. It takes about 70- 75 minutes to reach Sorrento.
By Ferry Hydrofoil: Sorrento can also be reached easily by sea, with the hydrofoils that connect the Dock Beverello (Naples, in front of the MAschi Angioino Castle). It takes 30 minutes to reach Sorrento. From the port Sorrento with yellow bus, you can arrive in the center of Sorrento. www.alilauro.it - www.metrodelmare.com
are boat sites.
By Bus from Sorrento: Sita Bus all day fare is appx 5e, this site has bus and ferry links so you can match bus, ferry time frames. http://www.amalficoastweb.com/amalfi...s_ferries.html
By Bus From Rome and it does a Return to Rome: Marozzi bus from Tiburtina square in Rome, travels directed towards Sorrento. www.marozzivt.it
The issue may be what is you plan for your cases etc. if your stopping at Pompeii along the way as well as the next day while touring.
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:15 PM
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Of course, a driver to drive you to the AC and then back to Naples, where you can store your luggage in the trunk is the best bet.
I don't know that the boat from Sorrento to Positano will be running on a Sunday in early June (seems it only runs on certain days at that time of year and Sunday isn't one of them). Assuming you don't want to haul your luggage all over the AC, you could train to Naples in the early morning, sotre your luggage at the train station, take the direct train from Naples to Salerno, then catch the ferry to Amalfi, stroll around Amalfi and have lunch, then ferry to Positano, stroll around for a couple of hours, then catch the SITA bus to Sorrento, where you could train to Naples, pick up your luggage and catch the train to Rome.
To cover all that ground will be a long and exhausting day.
I don't know that the boat from Sorrento to Positano will be running on a Sunday in early June (seems it only runs on certain days at that time of year and Sunday isn't one of them). Assuming you don't want to haul your luggage all over the AC, you could train to Naples in the early morning, sotre your luggage at the train station, take the direct train from Naples to Salerno, then catch the ferry to Amalfi, stroll around Amalfi and have lunch, then ferry to Positano, stroll around for a couple of hours, then catch the SITA bus to Sorrento, where you could train to Naples, pick up your luggage and catch the train to Rome.
To cover all that ground will be a long and exhausting day.
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:32 PM
#6
Private driver recommended to me by folks on this forum -
http://www.francescomarrapese.com/
http://www.francescomarrapese.com/
Apr 24th, 2013, 03:57 PM
#7
You should reconsider your schedule and visit Pompeii on your way to Rome (free luggage storage at the entrance). Replace your Pompeii visit the day before with your trip down the coast. Ferries don't run often (can be gaps between service of several hours depending on port) like the buses (about hourly).
I can't imagine trying to drag luggage on bus/train/ferry while sightseeing. If you got off the bus or ferry at Positano you would have to drag your luggage around which would be impossible with all the stairs.
If you are coming from Rome to spend one night in Sorrento, you could take the fast train (AV) from Rome to Salerno (see if there is one that doesn't require a change in Naples). From Salerno you could take the bus to Amalfi and then on to Positano/Sorrento. It would let you see the coastline, but not really visit (luggage!). You could probably take your luggage with you to a restaurant on the piazza in front of the Duomo and have lunch (it's a fairly flat, short walk across the road from the bus). Perhaps take turns sitting with the luggage while the other person looked at the Duomo.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...uomo_Italy.JPG
I can't imagine trying to drag luggage on bus/train/ferry while sightseeing. If you got off the bus or ferry at Positano you would have to drag your luggage around which would be impossible with all the stairs.
If you are coming from Rome to spend one night in Sorrento, you could take the fast train (AV) from Rome to Salerno (see if there is one that doesn't require a change in Naples). From Salerno you could take the bus to Amalfi and then on to Positano/Sorrento. It would let you see the coastline, but not really visit (luggage!). You could probably take your luggage with you to a restaurant on the piazza in front of the Duomo and have lunch (it's a fairly flat, short walk across the road from the bus). Perhaps take turns sitting with the luggage while the other person looked at the Duomo.
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi...uomo_Italy.JPG
Apr 24th, 2013, 04:28 PM
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We just came back, and words cannot describe the beauty of the area. The idea to take the ferry to Salerno and to enjoy the ride might be the best. We used all of the modes of transport, and they were all wonderful and very easy to use. Your big problem is time. You will regret racing through any of these beautiful places. Perhaps you could take the bus to positano and the ferry back.to sorrento then you could get right on the ferry to Naples , but with luggage? Whatever you do, go slow and enjoy!
Apr 25th, 2013, 12:20 PM
#10
I agree with kybourbon. Reverse the order and do Pompeii last on the way to Rome.
I also like the idea of going to Salerno, stopping in Amalfi for lunch, and getting views of the coast on the way to Sorrento. There's a train departing Roma Termini at 7:39a that arrives Salerno at 10:30a.
I also like the idea of going to Salerno, stopping in Amalfi for lunch, and getting views of the coast on the way to Sorrento. There's a train departing Roma Termini at 7:39a that arrives Salerno at 10:30a.
May 18th, 2013, 08:43 PM
#11
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Thanks for all your help. I have decided to hire a private driver for the day. He will pick us up in Sorrento and take us to Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and drive us to the train station in Naples. Seems like the best option, especially with luggage.
