I am trying to decide which coast I'd like to see in Italy. I will go to Pompeii no matter what, but if the Amalfi is better than Cinque Terre, then I will make it a longer trip.

Which one is more beautiful--CT or AC? Which one is more charming?

Also, is Naples worth a look if I choose the Amalfi? Thank you so much .

I think the Amalfi Coast is more beautiful. And I love Naples, but you will hear different opinions on Naples. I love it and think it is definitely worth a visit.

amy--thanks for replying. What do you love about Naples. I will admit it looks nice to me, but I keep on reading about the crime there...

The big question, of course, is does Naples have the best pizza in Italy and any recommendations on where to find it?

I am a bit partial to Naples because my husband was born there. We live in Tuscany now, but we love to go back and visit Naples.

OK, I just asked my husband and he said to go to "Da Michele" near the station. He said it is not the best pizza in Naples, it is the best pizza in the WORLD! Funny, he hasn't ever taken ME there! But we are always at his grandparent's house and busy with family when we are there. They would be offended if chose to eat dinner out, rather than with the family.

Before I moved to Italy and met my husband, I traveled to Naples alone as a tourist. I was followed by several men wanting to have coffee or dinner with me. They were harmless, but you need to be strong when you tell them NO thank you! Otherwise I felt safe in the tourist areas of Naples.

One area that I would not recommend walking in is the Latin Quarter. It looks so charming from the main road and I always want to meander the streets there, but I can't even get my husband to walk the streets in that area.

Just watch yourself there a bit more than you would in the other cities of Italy. My husband swears that most of the crime there is caused by the Camorra (the mafia of Naples), so you should be ok unless the Camorra is after you for some reason!

Thanks so much for the pizza suggestion...As far as I know, I have not yet upset the mafia .

Where in Tuscany do you live? I will be in Italy for 3 weeks, so I plan to get a little Tuscany time in, too.

>Which one is more beautiful--CT or AC? Which one is more charming?<

Having spent a week at each, we enjoyed the CT more. That's not to say it's more beautiful or charming. The CT towns are closer together and hiking (and/or taking the boat) from one to the other was a lot of fun. We did not use the car there; on the AC we did. Spending a couple of nights on car-free Capri was the highlight of out AC stay.

Since you're committed to Pompeii, the AC seems to be the natural choice. That was another highlight of our week there, as was Mt Vesuvio.

Thanks TuckH. I plan to stay a week in Rome, so it is possible for me to just do a day trip to Pompeii.

And I have heard CT is absolutely amazing, but I am having a hard time finding a hotel in one of the actual towns. And I don't really want to go there if I can't stay in the towns. Ct is also a bit out of the way...But it was my best friend's favorite place in Italy and Rick Steves says you have to go there...aahhh! There are too many fantastic places to see in Italy.

Capri--yes, I've heard it's also fantastic. I would definitely take a trip to Capri to check it out. I am also obsessed with climbing Mt. Vesuvius! I'm glad to hear that both things are worthwhile.

I'm going to have to flip a coin or something...I'm sure I can;t go wrong either way. I was just curious as to what people preferred.

We live in Pistoia, about 15 miles northwest of Florence, about 25 miles east of Lucca.

It's nice you have 3 weeks to travel...but don't spread yourself too thin. Try to determine the top must-sees, which seem to be Rome and Pompeii after reading your other posts. Maybe you can stick to that region on this trip and do the north (venice) on another. I could easily fill 3 weeks with Rome, Pompeii, Naples, Amalfi Coast/Capri, and possibly Florence & southern tuscany.

Thanks. Yes. I know. I have too many places I want to go to. I just don't know when I'll get to go back to Italy! It's been over 10 years since my last and only trip to Europe. I've been placating myself with continental US trips ever since...no real complaints,aside from how many times can you go to New Orleans or san Francisco before you get sick of them--actually never! Great cities I just need to save the money and make the time to get myself over the ocean .

On that note, would it be possible to do a complete southern Italy tour in 3 weeks--I'm dying to go to Sicily. I could do Rome, Amalfi, and maybe a cheap flight to Palermo from Rome or Naples.

Thanks for your help. I know I will adore Italy no matter what...

When are you going? Just wondering because weather can make a difference in where and when you go to some places in Italy.

It's going to be crazy hot--August.

I haven't been to the Amalfi, but we have just returned from Europe and were on the Cinque Terre in mid January - it was just beautiful - no crowds, just a handful of tourists. The day was perfect - 16 deg C, sunny skies, not a breath of wind, perfect, my husband was walking around in a tee shirt - not bad for middle of winter in Italy. The villages were gorgeous. We walked between first and second villages only, which was a very pleasant walk. Got a third of the way between the second and third villages only to find the track closed due to a landside, so we had to hop on the train. My favourite village was Monterosso - loved the beach there and the water was so warm couldn't believe it - if I had my swimming gear, I honestly would have been in.

I would definitely vote for Cinque Terre. My friends and I stayed in one of the villages and hiked between them all. The Amalfi coast was okay, but as I am an active person, the hiking combined with sightseeing/shopping in CT was definitely a better choice. If you go to Naples, be extremely careful. They do have the most talented pickpockets in the world (am speaking from experience).

We did both last July. We couldn't do justice to the Cinque Terra because my brother-in-law was not well but the two days that we were there made us want to return .
The Amalfi Coast is a must. You can stay in Sorrento (I like the Continental Hotel) do daytrips to all the Amalfi towns, Capri, Naples etc.
Read up on both places because you can do a hiking tour in both if you are into that.
I'll be there in April with two grandughters, can't wait.
Good luck,
Mike C.

Wow...August huh? August is both good and bad. Hotels/accomodations along the coast or in the countryside/hills in August are very expensive, but maybe that's not an issue for you. (It is for me unfortunately.)

In the cities (Rome, Florence, Venice), you will find good rates on hotels, but some restaurants and shops will be closed for the month of August. In little Pistoia where I live, it is difficult to even find a bar or tabacchi that is open in August...everything is closed!

Everything will be open along the coasts and the Amalfi Coast will be full throttle and jammed with people. But the weather should be nice. However the last 2 summers here, July has been the hottest sunniest month. The past 2 Augusts have been cloudy rainy and a bit cool.

If money isn't an issue for you, maybe August would be a good time to spend a week in Rome, a week in Amalfi (w/Pompeii and Capri), and a week in Sicily. Hotels in Rome should be decently priced, but Amalfi and Sicily will be pricey.

And then save Florence/Tuscany, Cinque Terre, and Venice for a spring or autumn trip.

In August, I would want to be near the sea as much as I could to cool off. For serious hiking like in the Cinque Terre, I would go when it is not so hot. I think relaxing be the sea in August in Amalfi, Capri, and Sicily sounds nice...if you don't mind the crowds.

Just a thought...

Hi T,

>I will go to Pompeii no matter what, but if the Amalfi is better than Cinque Terre, then I will make it a longer trip. <

They are both worth seeing, but if you are going to Pompeii I suggest that you stay on the AC.

See the Naples/AC part of my trip report for ideas on what to do.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34451044

Enjoy your visit.

i haven't read the replies to your post, but I'll say, and this is merely my opinion, but I prefer the CT over Amalfi. To me, the AC has too much of a tourist feel to it, whereas the CT (at least when I was last there 5 years ago) had more of a natural, organic feel to it. Plus, I think it was far and away more breathtaking, but I KNOW people say the same about the AC. Naples, to me, was a little dirty and a little spooky. (I don't mind big cities, and I can handle poverty and crime, but Naples was, well, spooky,) This is JUST MY OPINION.

CT is now crazy with tourists too. August will be a mad house in every single CT town. We were also there in October. The weekdays were ok, but the weekends were "August-like".

JackOneill is right about it feeling natural there, if you can escape the crowds. Jack--are you from Santa Cruz by any chance?

ChristyCruz: No, I'm not from Santa Cruz. Although, I wish I were there now.