Cinque Terre or Amalfi Coast?
 

I'll be travelling to Italy (Rome, Venice, Florence)
and unfortunately have to decide between visiting Cinque Terre or the Amalfi coast (not enough time for both). I really don't know anything about either location. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Nancy, That is tough---depends on who you are.
Do you shop at Eddie Bauer or Talbots??
Do you drive a SUV or a Town car.??
When are you going---are you driving---where is your
ingress and egress---how about your budget???????
Get my point? tell me more and I will try to help.
Both are fantastic, but basically different.
The Amalfi is more upscale, expensive, and exotic.
Cinqueterre is better if you love pure nature and
quaint fishing villages. Do you like eclairs or
fudge brownies more? Both are wonderful.

I'd vote for the Amalfi area in that, in addition to the resort area as the other poster cited, the nearby ruins at Pompeii/Herculaneum, the isle of Capri, as well as the bounty of coastal,scenic towns
make this area a winner over Cinque Terre in terms of variety - sufficed to say. You'll have a much more well-rounded vacation.

Amalfi coast hands down! Capri is also a must. The Sorrento Palace is a great hotel if you need accomodations. I have stayed there and highly recommend it. Ciao e Buona Fortuna.

My wife and I have been to Italy 7 or 8 times, driving and on our bikes, from the Ticino to Sicily, from the Aoelian Islands to the Gargano. I have driven the Amalfi coast 1 time, Sorrento to Paestum and have walked the Cinque Terre 3 times, from Riomaggiore to Monterosso. You must experience the mountains crashing down to the sea, the terraced vineyards, olive groves and small villages. Do the Cinque Terre before it becomes another Amalfi (not that there's anything wrong with the Amalfi). As an aside, my wife and I rode our bikes out of Malpensa airport (after our flight from Dallas) and toured the lake district. We plan to do another bike tour of Italy next year (last year was Austria, this year Germany). We travel on our own, no 'sag wagons' all our worldy possessions in our panniers. I am 60, my wife 51, any suggested tours?