Amalfi Coast detailed itinerary--your comments invited
Jul 16th, 2011, 10:37 AM
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Amalfi Coast detailed itinerary--your comments invited
hi there,
my wife and I are planning a honeymoon on the amalfi coast late july/early august and come up with the following, we'd like as many fodorites to comment and offer suggestions. Also, we'd appreciate your responses to some of the questions that we have.
so here goes..
Day 1: Arrive in Sorrento from Rome late afternoon, spend the evening in Sorrento
Day 2: We visit pompeii/vesuvius--can this take a whole day, what else can we do, if we cut short our time at pompeii? come back to sorrento in the evening
Day 3: visit capri- we plan to visit the green grotto, faro beach, the faraglionis, and the marina grande -are these all doable in one day?
Day 4: should we visit ischia or are there any cute smaller towns near sorrento that we could possibly visit (they shouldnt be touristy at all)
Day 5: we transfer to amalfi town--can we go and back to ravello in about half a day? or may be cetara or atrani are better options?
Day 6: Postiano- the spaggia grande beach, path of gods??, belvdere dello schiacrone, any other suggestions?
Day 7: Minori and transfer to venice in the evening
We'd like to make this as romantic and fun as possible, we'd like a combination of touristy, must-sees and offbeat places, we want to soak in as much of the place as possible!...so feel free to throw in your suggestions!
my wife and I are planning a honeymoon on the amalfi coast late july/early august and come up with the following, we'd like as many fodorites to comment and offer suggestions. Also, we'd appreciate your responses to some of the questions that we have.
so here goes..
Day 1: Arrive in Sorrento from Rome late afternoon, spend the evening in Sorrento
Day 2: We visit pompeii/vesuvius--can this take a whole day, what else can we do, if we cut short our time at pompeii? come back to sorrento in the evening
Day 3: visit capri- we plan to visit the green grotto, faro beach, the faraglionis, and the marina grande -are these all doable in one day?
Day 4: should we visit ischia or are there any cute smaller towns near sorrento that we could possibly visit (they shouldnt be touristy at all)
Day 5: we transfer to amalfi town--can we go and back to ravello in about half a day? or may be cetara or atrani are better options?
Day 6: Postiano- the spaggia grande beach, path of gods??, belvdere dello schiacrone, any other suggestions?
Day 7: Minori and transfer to venice in the evening
We'd like to make this as romantic and fun as possible, we'd like a combination of touristy, must-sees and offbeat places, we want to soak in as much of the place as possible!...so feel free to throw in your suggestions!
Jul 16th, 2011, 12:08 PM
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Day 2 - yes, visiting pompeii and vesuvius can take a whole day. Plus, be aware of the heat - take lots of water and a hat. You will likely be wiped out by the heat, so take any time you have in the afternoon to rest in your hotel room A/C.
Day 4 - yes, visit Ischia. From everything I have read it has very few tourists and is lovely.
Day 5 - yes Ravello is doable in 1/2 day, or less. You could also walk to Atrani. Cetara has some wonderful restaurants and is where I would have lunch or dinner.
Day 7 - are you taking an overnight train to Venice? It is a LONG ride and will take you most of the day!
Day 4 - yes, visit Ischia. From everything I have read it has very few tourists and is lovely.
Day 5 - yes Ravello is doable in 1/2 day, or less. You could also walk to Atrani. Cetara has some wonderful restaurants and is where I would have lunch or dinner.
Day 7 - are you taking an overnight train to Venice? It is a LONG ride and will take you most of the day!
Jul 16th, 2011, 12:17 PM
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So is that 4 nights in Sorrento and 3 in amalfi?
Personally I would not do Capri and Ischia... seems like too much go go go for a honeymoon.
And I also think staying overnight on Capri is wonderful. You are really missing out if you only do a daytrip. It is sooo romantic and glamorous after dark.
My revision would look like this.
Day 1: Rome to Naples to Capri. Overnight Capri
Day 2: Explore Capri. Overnight Capri
Day 3: Ferry to Amalfi - o/n amalfi (or Positano)
Day 4: Explore Amalfi coast - Positano, Minori- o/n amalfi
Day 5: Explore Amalfi Coast - Ravello - o/n amalfi
Day 6: Transfer one night to Sorrento or Naples area to do Pompeii and Vesuvius or if you stayed in Positano as your base on the coast instead of Amalfi, you could daytrip to Pompeii).
Day 7: Depart for Venice.
Personally I would not do Capri and Ischia... seems like too much go go go for a honeymoon.
And I also think staying overnight on Capri is wonderful. You are really missing out if you only do a daytrip. It is sooo romantic and glamorous after dark.
My revision would look like this.
Day 1: Rome to Naples to Capri. Overnight Capri
Day 2: Explore Capri. Overnight Capri
Day 3: Ferry to Amalfi - o/n amalfi (or Positano)
Day 4: Explore Amalfi coast - Positano, Minori- o/n amalfi
Day 5: Explore Amalfi Coast - Ravello - o/n amalfi
Day 6: Transfer one night to Sorrento or Naples area to do Pompeii and Vesuvius or if you stayed in Positano as your base on the coast instead of Amalfi, you could daytrip to Pompeii).
Day 7: Depart for Venice.
Jul 16th, 2011, 12:28 PM
#4
I wouldn't say Ischia has very few tourists in mid-summer, but that shouldn't deter you from going there.
You need to take water when you walk the Path of the Gods or other trails in the area. Start off as early in the day as possible.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-the-mills.cfm
You need to take water when you walk the Path of the Gods or other trails in the area. Start off as early in the day as possible.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-the-mills.cfm
Jul 16th, 2011, 12:31 PM
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I agree with a couple of nights on Capri. We liked it a lot more than Positano which can easily be seen by day-trip from Sorrento. Sorrento is nice and a very good base as all of your destinations can be reached from there.
Jul 16th, 2011, 02:26 PM
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If you have an interest in local food, you should include Cetara, which has the feel of what I imagine the other coastal towns once had, before the tourist deluge. That should fulfill your wish for a town off the tourist track, with the added benefit of being one of the eating meccas of the region. It is almost the polar opposite of Ravello, which is lovely but is very manicured and very much on the tourist trail. I found Ravello to be a bit devoid of local life which does not mean that it is anything less than gorgeous, however. You will not beat the views from Ravello.
Can you transfer to Amalfi a day earlier so you can have more time with Amalfi as your base?
I think you have too much on your plate to include Ischia. That island deserves a more in-depth visit than you will be able to give it with only part of one day.
Can you transfer to Amalfi a day earlier so you can have more time with Amalfi as your base?
I think you have too much on your plate to include Ischia. That island deserves a more in-depth visit than you will be able to give it with only part of one day.
Jul 16th, 2011, 10:08 PM
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This is Ischia....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia
...and how some parts of it look in July...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recjul
Busy by then but - thank heavens - almost exclusively with Italians....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/122604639
... so it would perhaps be a pleasant respite from the British hordes in Sorrento?
A day is hardly enough - but that was how we began, though we did end up moving here soon afterwards!
If you do have any difficulty finding accomodation "ashore", perhaps try looking on....
http://www.ischialastminute.it/
No idea what they're like as we don't use them, but you should at least be able to spot those places that still have vacancies?
Peter
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia
...and how some parts of it look in July...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/recjul
Busy by then but - thank heavens - almost exclusively with Italians....
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/122604639
... so it would perhaps be a pleasant respite from the British hordes in Sorrento?
A day is hardly enough - but that was how we began, though we did end up moving here soon afterwards!
If you do have any difficulty finding accomodation "ashore", perhaps try looking on....
http://www.ischialastminute.it/
No idea what they're like as we don't use them, but you should at least be able to spot those places that still have vacancies?
Peter
Jul 17th, 2011, 01:05 AM
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For the romance....Try to sloooowwwww down a bit. I'm exhausted just reading your plans, let alone doing them.
Don't underestimate time it takes for transfers, waiting for trains, the effecgt of heat and hills on the body, etc.
For us, half a day was enough at Pompeii. We came back to Sorrento and crashed (walking and sun) til the cooler eveing.
I would keep Sorrento as your base, leaving just one other place to stay (Capri perhaps). Sorrento is lovely-far nicer than i'd expected. Loved the evening passegiata on the pedestrians-only streets., the church open late at night, the park terrace onthe edge of the cliff overlooking the water, the view from the Foreigners Club (open to all) the flowers, the citrus trees. I'd expected it to be a tourist filled nightmare. Tourists yes(and I am one!!)....but absolutely lovely!! After "day tripping" to Amalfi and Positano, we were glad we'd chosen Sorrento as a base.
The hordes of tourists at the beach end of beautiful Positano..yuck. I'm American,; I love AMericans, but there were the loud cell-phone talk-while-you -walk folks i was glad to have escaped from for a bit...'til Positano!
It was very easy (and inexpensive) to get to Amalfi and Positano (on the way back) by bus from Sorrento. If you take the bus, and are even a little prone to carsickness, take meclizine first!! Some poor bloke in the bus was retching ...while his wife , untouched by motion sickness, calmly examined a map!!
In Sorrento for cheap yummy eats, go to Bar Rita on Via Corso. It's a sort of bakery delicatessen with assorted food...mostly one euro each (eg for a big cheese-filled rice ball, fired mozzarella, meatballs, etc)...either eat there or takeaway. Great "local" atmosphere and terrific and patient staff.
Have a fantastic trip and honeymoon!!!!
Don't underestimate time it takes for transfers, waiting for trains, the effecgt of heat and hills on the body, etc.
For us, half a day was enough at Pompeii. We came back to Sorrento and crashed (walking and sun) til the cooler eveing.
I would keep Sorrento as your base, leaving just one other place to stay (Capri perhaps). Sorrento is lovely-far nicer than i'd expected. Loved the evening passegiata on the pedestrians-only streets., the church open late at night, the park terrace onthe edge of the cliff overlooking the water, the view from the Foreigners Club (open to all) the flowers, the citrus trees. I'd expected it to be a tourist filled nightmare. Tourists yes(and I am one!!)....but absolutely lovely!! After "day tripping" to Amalfi and Positano, we were glad we'd chosen Sorrento as a base.
The hordes of tourists at the beach end of beautiful Positano..yuck. I'm American,; I love AMericans, but there were the loud cell-phone talk-while-you -walk folks i was glad to have escaped from for a bit...'til Positano!
It was very easy (and inexpensive) to get to Amalfi and Positano (on the way back) by bus from Sorrento. If you take the bus, and are even a little prone to carsickness, take meclizine first!! Some poor bloke in the bus was retching ...while his wife , untouched by motion sickness, calmly examined a map!!
In Sorrento for cheap yummy eats, go to Bar Rita on Via Corso. It's a sort of bakery delicatessen with assorted food...mostly one euro each (eg for a big cheese-filled rice ball, fired mozzarella, meatballs, etc)...either eat there or takeaway. Great "local" atmosphere and terrific and patient staff.
Have a fantastic trip and honeymoon!!!!
