Driving on Amalfi Coast
 

Is it completely crazy to drive along the Amalfi Coast? We'll be picking up a car in Sorrento in about 2 weeks and driving to Puglia (Alberobello). Are there any guard rails? Is it just one false move and you're over a cliff?

The drive is not scary at all - and there is a thick stone wall between you and the drop into the sea exept in the center of the towns.

The issue is the amount of traffic on a single narrow road (there are many places where 2 trucks or buses cannot pass - and one has to back up to a wide spot).

The biggest danger is irritation if you're there in the middle of tourist season and you end up doing 10 mph, then having to wait 20 or 30 minutes while a bus backs up so traffic can pass in both directions.

We have done it in May several times and it was both fun and not at all scary. In August - I would travel by ferry insted to avoid a huge waste of time.

The drive is spectacular!

I had no problem driving along the Amalfi Coast. The speeds were relatively slow. IMO its scarier drivng the coast Highway in California.

The biggest problem is in the small towns when you encounter a bus on a narrow street. Just pull way over to the side...and let the bus go around you.

Hi G,

The only problems with driving the AC road are (a) the driver doesn't get to see much scenery except when traffic comes to a halt and (b) the traffic, especially the tour buses, which causes gridlock.

((I))

Or losing a sideview mirror.

In about 2 weeks? Not at all! The roads should be fine and the view spectacular. If you are not used to a manual shift however, the AC is not the place to learn.

the most wonderful drive I have ever taken, so worth it. The only time I closed my eyes on this trip was the bus ride up the mountain in Anacapri.

jelane - lol I understand. There is that spot going to Anacapri where they pass the statue of the Virgin Mary. The locals make a sign of the cross and the tourst look so worried not knowing why they did that. There is a very scary section. Amalfi is a breeze compared to that.

Hi,
Use Pepe (I'm not sure if I am spelling his name correctly) was great. He took a lot of personal interest in helping us with information along the amalfi coast for us and really went out of his way to help my wife with her trip there. He is an excellent professional driver and we felt very comfortable and safe with him. Pepe, (again not sure of spelling) was also great. Very professional and very caring.www.sorrentotopcar.com

July78 advertising here as well.

We will be renting an automatic. I think it'll be worth the extra expense.

if you regularly drive a shift car...i'd go with a manual shift because it will be easier to control the car on curvy roads