We are traveling to Italy in June, and can't decide which of these areas to visit. We are planning to fly into Rome, then spend 6 days in Tuscany, 2 days in Venice, and then will have 3 1/2 days left. Has anyone visited both Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, and have any recommendations? Thank you so much!

nbbrown,
Done both and with 3.5 days after Venice, Amalfi is a journey. You don't say where you are flying out of but will assume Rome. I would do Cinque Terre, its beautiful. Save Amalfi and other great points of interest in that area for another trip. Happy Holiday and Happy travels.

We've made 3 visits to the Amalfi coast & 1 visit to Cinque Terre. The "thing to do" on the Cinque Terre is hike from village to village. The villages are real cute, but they're not a "resort" thing. There are not many luxurious places to stay there, if that's of any interest to you.

There is probably a larger variety of things to do on the Amalfi Coast. Sunbathing, shopping, historical sites (close to Pompii & Paestum, villas in Ravello), boat trip to Capri, the boardwalk in Positano at night, clubs, etc.

Younger people who don't want to "club", and are on a tight budget, & are more "adventursome" in their accommodation choices, would probably like the Cinque Terre better. If the resort ambience appeals to you more, then the Amalfi Coast would be better. Many people I have communicated with have said that they wished that they had spent fewer days on the Cinque Terre - I presume that they got tired of it within 2 days. We were there for 3 days (our friends traveling with us went to Pisa on one of those days - we stayed on the Cinque Terre & hiked).

Stu Dudley
San Mateo (san Francisco), Ca

I've been to both places and much prefer the Amalfi Coast. But with your current itinerary, Cinque Terre is a much better fit. Otherwise, all you'll be doing is an excessive amount of traveling in a very short time. Are you open to a revised itinerary? If so, you could fly into Venice, out of Rome, and spend six days on the Amalfi Coast instead of in Tuscany. Just a thought...

I tend to agree with the previous poster, visited both this year and enjoyed the Amalfi Coast much more than Cinque Terre. It could be where I stayed in the CT (Vernazza) which was too claustrophobic for me but overall I'd take the AC (spec. Positano) and the plethora of amazing day trips available from there than the CT anyday.

If you want to relax in a (relatively) quiet, peaceful place, then go to the Cinque Terre. If you want a place with more options for day trips, boat excursions, etc. go to the Amalfi Coast. BTW, one doesn't have to hike when in the CT!

Hi nb,

> We are planning to fly into Rome, then spend 6 days in Tuscany...<

Will you be spending any time in Rome?

Thanks, everyone for you help! Yes, we plan to go to Rome and Florence as day trips out of Tuscany. My concern about going to the Amalfi Coast is time. It will take almost a full day to get there from Venice. And then my other concern is getting to Rome to catch our flight on time from the Amalfi Coast (even though it is a late flight). Perhaps if we leave Venice early enough to still have a partial day. Is 3 1/2 days enough time to really enjoy the Amalfi Coast? Thanks!

If I'm understanding you right, you are "doing" Rome as a day trip from Tuscany? If so, then yes, 3.5 days in Amalfi is tons, compared to the shortchanging you are doing Rome.

Thank you, Patrick. I don't believe I said we are "doing" Rome. We are unfamiliar with Italy, and have never been, so thank you for your advice. Perhaps we need to schedule more time in Rome. We have had several people suggest making a central location as a 'base' point and go out from there, thus the Tuscany base camp, so to speak. We are trying to see as much as we can in the short time that we have.

Rome would be very difficult to do as a day trip. Have you considered spending your last 3 1/2 days in Rome? Florence would be an easier day trip.

We really wanted to see some of the Italian coastline while we were there, thus the C.T./A.C. debate. Would two day trips be enough to see Rome? We could also cut the last night off of the Amalfi Coast (or C.T.) and spend it in Rome, giving us our last full day in Rome. My husband and I are really wanting a relaxing romantic time, which the coast sounds more inviting than the bigger cities. But we don't want to go home wishing we had seen something we didn't!!! (I hope this makes sense!)

Since you have never been to Italy, it would be both a disservice to yourselves and to Rome to not spend some time there. As you are flying into Rome, stay there for 3 days, explore the ancient ruins, famous city sites, then head north to Venice for your 2 days. Then down to Tuscany (my suggestions for your 6 days there: make Florence your base and take day trips to Lucca, Siena, San Gimignano, etc.) With your couple extra days left, it is easy to access the Cinque Terre from Tuscany as it is under 2 hours via train from Lucca to Monterosso al mare (in the CT). A day or two in the CT would be sufficient. Then you could head back down to Rome for the remaining 2 days. While there in Rome, you could take a day trip with a tour company or hired car guide and be picked up from your hotel, driven down to Pompeii for the day. Also, you could squeeze Capri into a full day trip as well (from Rome).

It sounds like the Amalfi Coast will have to be saved for another time. It doesn't make much sense to head down there, to have to get back in time for your Rome return flight, as you point out.

Hi nb,

Huitres has a very good suggestion.

I apologize for my short answer before, but I guess I didn't quite get what this trip was all about. Rome IS Italy to me, so it's hard to figure out a trip to Italy without spending some time in Rome.
I agree that Amalfi is best left to another trip (along with visiting Pompei).
And frankly a single night or at most two is plenty for the CT, which to me is all about hiking between the villages. Arrive by noon, do part of the hike that day, spend a night, and maybe do more hiking the next day before going on to Rome. You will have experienced the CT. The Amalfi Coast takes much more. How can you go without visiting Capri, Sorrento, and Positano at least, perhaps more?

Huitres offers a good itinerary (although again, I'd scratch the full day trip to Pompeii and save Capri for when you can spend a magical night or two there).

Thanks, all. My problem is, I am locked into my reservations for the first 6 nights in Tuscany. Other than that, I think I can still change my reservations everywhere else. Now I"m wishing I hadn't made my reservations so early, but some of those places book up fast!

You can still more or less follow the itinerary suggested. Keep the 6 days in Tuscany, then do 1 day in the Cinque Terre and the other 2 1/2 days in Rome at the end. It would be perfect for you to head down there anyway, since that is where you are departing from. Save the Amalfi Coast for another trip - the perfect reason to return!

nbbrown,
Another thing you must consider is what YOU really want to see. Some people really don't have a huge desire for large cities, such as Rome, others of course think its the greatest. I'm on the line with that one but only you can decide and it is your trip! Go and do what is most comfortable for YOU, should you find somewhere you want to spend more time or somewhere you didn't get to well then there's always another trip. Happy travels.

>>>Thanks, all. My problem is, I am locked into my reservations for the first 6 nights in Tuscany<<<

I have often changed reservations in France & Italy. If it's a hotel, drop them an e-mail & see if you can change them. It happens all the time when Europeans travel - but Americans (if that's where you are from) are often a little more reluctant to do so.

If you have rented a villa or private apt., or staying with friends, then that's a slightly different matter.

Stu Dudley

I'm one of those "adventurous/poor" people who prefers CT to Amalfi Coast. But actually I should say preferred, because I haven't been to either area in years. Amalfi, while beautiful, was too resort-y for me. Cinque Terre was verrrry touristy, but we stayed in Corniglia and it cleared out at night.

I also made my first trip to Italy without visiting Rome. It was a great, great trip. But now that I've been to Rome, I have a hard time imagining visiting Italy without spending a few days there at least. It's my favorite city in the world. Not relaxing--exhilarating, life-affirming!