Samson18

We are going to be in Italy for about 10 days in April, starting with a few days in Rome. We'll travel a couple of days in the south, then take a bus along the Amalfi Coast starting in Sorrento, where we will have spent the night.
Next we want to get to Florence. What's the best way? Do we have to take trains to Naples, then Rome, then Florence? do we have to return to Sorrento or can we get transportation from Amalfi or Salerno?

dutyfree

Personally,trains are the easiest way to get around Italy. There is alot of service between Rome-Florence;Rome-Naples,etc.Termini station in Rome is quite efficient with purchasing your tickets from either a machine or an agent.Just keep an eye on your luggage and purse as in all train stations there are some interesting characters?

bobthenavigator

Where do you arrive and depart---you may want to start in Florence and end in Rome. And, is it really 10 day in Italy?

Jean

FYI, Sorrento to Salerno by bus will take over 3 hours. If you have your luggage with you, then you won't experience any of the coastal towns beyond what you can see out the bus windows. Salerno to Florence by train adds more than 4 hours, and the total journey is probably close to 8 hours or one full day. The ferry from Sorrento to Salerno might save an hour and would be more enjoyable IMO (if the weather's nice).

I would drop either the Amalfi Coast or Florence from your 10-day trip.

Some links to transportation info... Ferry, bus, train and metro between Sorrento and Naples.

http://www.metrodelmare.com/english

http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campan...A/QUADROXV.pdf

http://www.ferroviedellostato.it/homepage_en.html

http://www.vesuviana.it/web/en

Samson18

Hm...a lot to think about. We arrive in Rome & depart from Venice, & we are IN Italy actually 8 days, + 2 in transit. I've heard SUCH GREAT things about the Amalfi Coast that I'm reluctant to drop it. We plan to just spend part/most of a day in Florence (mostly to see David), then go on to Venice. We will have 2 days & nights in Rome, 2 doing Pompeii-Sorrento-Naples-Capri area, then hope to take a morning bus (with our luggage) along Amalfi Coast, then on to Florence. I don't think the ferries are running yet then (about April 11 or 12). We'll have 3 nights in Venice, + 1 at airport with VERY early a.m. departure on a Sunday.
any other votes regarding skippihg Amalfi Coast?

phillyboy

Hi Samson - If I understand you correctly, you want to "do" Rome - Amalfi - Florence - Venice in 10 days? That's 3 fairly long travel days, within your 10, right off the top. Or are you saying you plan to go from Amalfi to Florence, "spend part/most of a day" there, and then onto Venice the same day? That's outright impossible.

My own preference would be to limit the trip to either (A)Rome - Florence or (B) Rome - Venice. If that's not what you want, choose 3 of your potential locations, at most. I'm on board with leaving Amalfi for next time.

hazel1

Check the Trenitalia website for train schedules - the trip from Salerno to Firenze is anywhere from 4 to 6-1/2 hours, so even if you were to make the 11:30 AM train after taking a 3 hr bus ride from Sorrento, you'd arrive at 3:50 PM. Dash across town to see David, then back to the train station and go onto Venice (another 2 hrs) that evening? Sounds like a horrible day to me.

bobthenavigator

Your call---I would save the AC for when you have more time to enjoy. In only 8 days even 3 destinations will be tough to do, and the AC is not easy to access.