We are going to the Amalfi Coast for the first time for four nights. The current plan is to fly into Naples, rent a car (just driving to the hotel and parking), spend a day and a night in Naples, then drive to Pompeii the following day, then on to Positano for three nights (then Up to Tuscany).

I am a little concerned about the Amalfi Coast road. Please note that I enjoy driving, and I was actually looking forward to the drive, but some of the descriptions I have heard strongly suggest that the road is "treacherous" and one would have to be crazy to drive it....and that it has "500 foot drops with no guard rails at all". I do like the independence and freedom a car gives you, and I was also looking forward to driving to Ravello, and around the coast in general. (Even though I love to drive, I did have quite a harrowing drive in a large BMW from Como to Bellagio; and while there was no cliff to drive off of, the two-way road seemed to be 1.5 car-widths wide, yet somehow the laws of physics were defied, and I made it to Bellagio without a scratch - but it was extremely unpleasant).

Is it stupid/ unecessary to rent a car? Is the road really that scary and/or dangerous? I assume private car hire is expensive (Naples-Pompeii-Positano, Positano-Ravello)?

Thank you in advance for the help.

I guess that the answer has to do with your degree of concern about the drive and the type of driving you normally do.
We did the Amalfi Coast drive some years ago in a Mercedes station wagon with no problems. Yes, it is more challenging than an interstate. But it is also a remarkable scenic opportunity. I wouldn't miss it.

By the way, we loved Positano. Have a great trip.

>- the road is "treacherous" and one would have to be crazy to drive it....and that it has "500 foot drops with no guard rails at all".

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong!!!

No, it is not stupid to rent a car.
Yes, get a compact size car.
Enjoy your independence!

Hi FS - Unless you are going in high season ... if you enjoy driving, go for it.

It's narrow in places with inches to spare passing oncoming traffic - but it's not scary if you are a confident driver.

I'd second Tuck's suggestion - get a compact car. It's definitely not a road for a BMW ...

Steve

But get a car after your stay in Naples, not before.

HI F,

>..just driving to the hotel and parking

You are planning to drive in Naples???!!!

>drive to Pompeii the following day, then on to Positano for three nights

Where will you park the car?

The AC road is not "treacherous". It ha guard rails. The problem is that you have to be alert for oncoming buses and know where to stop to let them by.

Since most of the drivers on the road don't know it well, there are lots of tie ups.

Also, the driver doesn't get to see much of the scenery.

I suggest that you take the train from Naples to Salerno and the ferry to Positano. You can also take the SITA bus from Salerno, via Amalfi.

You could also take the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento and the SITA bus to Positano.

A limo from Naples to Positano will be about 110E.

Wait until you are leaving the AC and pick up your car in Sorrento or Salerno to drive to Tuscany.

Enjoy your visit.

>- Also, the driver doesn't get to see much of the scenery. -<

I did all the driving back and forth and I got to see LOTS of scenery. Not only that, there are many pull-offs for photo ops, etc.

Fishkis:

In researching for an upcoming trip I was surprised to find a number of AC hotels offering free parking; others offered parking for a daily fee. I am also debating whether or not to rent a car during my visit next spring, so I am interested in the responses generated by your question...

It depends entirely on the season. In high season, the road is too crowded to really enjoy the drive, otherwise go for it. The road is narrow, hilly and winding but there are no unguarded shear drops. As the driver you will see plenty to enjoy and there are places to pull off the road to enjoy the view and take pictures. Driving the AC has a definite WOW factor. If you are in high season though, listen to Ira.

Driving in Naples is not fun at all and you need to keep super-alert, particularly for the mopeds and scooters and remember that traffic laws seem to be just suggestions for the other drivers. Having said that, I have driven in Naples several times by necessity and came away unscathed. It is more than just "big city driving."

What would be your opinion on a visit in Mid-April as far as the feasibility of driving?

Hi Eks - Mid-April is fine IMO so long as it's not over Easter (- which would be as bad as July/August).

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Hi ek,

Mid-April is early.

It will be easier to find parking places.

I don't think that you are allowed to drive into Positano without authorization.

Ira - Authorisation from whom??

Nobody's ever been stopped from driving there to my knowledge ...

Steve

Hi Steve,

I somehow "remembered" that little non-fact and thought I would throw it out for confirmation.

Thanks for the correction.

Thanks, Steve. Easter is in March next year. I would have liked to go the week of April 20-27, but Friday, April 25 is Liberation Day and I am afraid that this will mean a holiday "bridge" weekend with added crowds in the area and possible closings of sights in Naples. (I will end up in Naples for a few days after the coast). For this reason I have tentatively settled on the week prior. It would appear that it is too early to book hotels, as I have received no responses to the e-mails I sent out weeks ago!
Many thanks, yet again, for all of your valuable help.

Me, I'd choose to go everywhere by boat rather than mess with a car, gas, parking, traffic, etc. (And if you try to get the same gorgeous view of the coast from the bay by car, you'll REALLY have a problem.)

We've done the AC twice, once by SITA bus, once driving a rent car. The SITA bus trip was by far the scariest -- over-crowded SRO, top-heavy, dangerous IMO. We drove a mid-size car, slowly to take in the fabulous scenery and carefully to avoid oncoming drivers taking curves on the inside. Both methods have their plusses and minuses. We prefer driving. As for Naples, we didn't care for that city at all. Suggest you base elsewhere and take the train into Naples to see the museum, then escape.

OTOH we spent a week in Naples last year, loved it and will go back.

April is one of the times we have driven the AC and it was delightful. Not too crazy about Naples though. Have you considered a visit to Herculaneum - in some ways it is more interesting than Pompeii - more of a ghost-town feel to it.

> As for Naples, we didn't care for that city at all. <

I liked it very much.