sesoot

Hi,

I have a very short stay in Italy landing Saturday evening in Bologna and Leaving Thursday Noon from Turin. I really like to see Amalfi Coast that is my priority so can anyone please advise the most efficient way to that with my far away airport landing and departures?

I was thinking of renting a car from Bologna and driving all the way to Amalfi coast, stay there for 2 nights and then drive back towards Turin with a one night stop over in a city in between maybe somewhere nice in Tuscany?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks.

Sassafrass

When? Dates?
Where are you coming from?
Can you change flights to land or depart from Naples or Rome? Even if it cost to do it, it would save money on travel, and be so much easier.

Forget the car. Train is faster, about the same cost and you will see more.

Someone else may have a better idea, but I see 2 possibilities.

1 option
Saturday, land in evening in Bologna. Get train, about 1/2 hour plus time getting out of airport and to station, directly on to Florence. You should still have time for dinner. Night in Florence.
Sunday, tour Florence, Duomo, Ponte Vecchio bridge, etc. for a few hours. Lovely even walking around. Depart around 2:00 by fast train to Naples and on to Sorrento on Circumvesuviana train. Arrive about 7:00. Dinner and walk.
Monday, ferry (or bus) down the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi. Ferry or Bus back to Sorrento.
Tuesday, tour Capri, Positano, Pompeii or other place on coast. Your choice.
Wednesday morning, take train, bus or driver to Naples Airport. Get a non-stop, little over an hour, flight to Turin. Afternoon for Turin.
Thursday, depart.

2nd option
Saturday, landing evening, dinner and night in Bologna, great food in Bologna!
Sunday, early (fastest train possible) train to Naples and Circumvesuviana train on to Sorrento - roughly 5 hours. Arrive early afternoon to hotel. Walk around Sorrento. You could also go via Florence and stop for two or three hours, arriving late to Sorrento.
Monday, tour Amalfi by ferry or bus down to Amalfi. Return to Sorrento by ferry or bus.
Tuesday? Capri?, Positano?, Pompeii? Other place of interest? Your choice
Wednesday, train, bus or driver to Naples airport. Non-stop flight (a little over an hour) to Turin
Thursday, depart Turin

TDudette

Hi, sesoot,

Since our visits to Italy, high speed trains are now in Italy:

https://www.italiarail.com/italian-high-speed-trains

Would someone please weigh in about them?

Based on extensive Italy travel by regular train only, I'd suggest taking a train to Naples and hiring a driver there. OR, weather and ferry schedules permitting, take a taxi once you are in Naples to the ferry station. OR bite the bullet and drive yourself! OR, once in Naples, take the commuter train (Circumvesuviana) to Sorrento, stay there and either rent a car or driver there.

On the way back to Turin (click my name for my TR: http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ellagio-tr.cfm

It includes Turin and Bologna. DH (RIP) and I loved the food in both cities. You may find plenty to do in Amalfi and both Turin and Bologna.)

My first choice would be to stay a day or 2 in Bologna first, train to Naples and hire an Amalfi driver, train back to Turin and stay there for a day or 2 before returning.

If you really prefer a stop in between, in addition to Florence info about, OR please google Umbria and see some of the amazing hill towns there. Rent a car, then train to Turin.

Please report back about what you do!

Jean

If the Amalfi Coast is your "priority," why are you flying into Bologna and out of Turin?

Some decisions depend on the time you're landing at Bologna, but it's highly unlikely you could get to the AC by any means on the same evening you land in Bologna. So, depending on how late in the evening you land, you need to decide whether you'll fly onwards to Naples, spend the first night in Bologna, or train part-way and spend the night.

Generally, going by train would be faster than driving, but it would limit (somewhat) your options for the one-night stop in Tuscany. Driving after landing, in the dark, for any substantial amount of time is not advised.

But if you do decide to drive, there may be one-way rental surcharge, and you need to book a hotel on the AC that offers parking (which will be expensive).

Sassafrass

As I see it, the OP does not have 4 days because at least 1/2 day will be taken up getting to Sorrento (or Positano) and another 1/2 day used getting from The Amalfi Coast to Turin. That gives 2 full days and 2 half days available for sight seeing.

neckervd

For the way back, take the overnight train Salerno dp 20.06 - Torino PN ar 9.20.

ekc

If you want to see the Amalfi Coast, then stay somewhere actually on the AC - Sorrento is near but not on the AC. Positano and Amalfi make the most sense with your limited time.