Hi Fodorites,
I would love to hear your suggestions for our itinerary. We have booked seven nights in Sorrento at the start of our trip and four nights in Rome at the end. What to do with the middle four days? We have travelled to Italy before--five years ago we spent three weeks there which included Rome, Venice, Tuscany and Cinque Terre. Capri or Ishia would seem the obvious choice for the middle four days, but do you have any other suggestions? We like to spend our time balanced between cities/museums/historical sites and countryside views and relaxing, and of course at least one of us likes shopping. I'm looking forward to your thoughts. Dana

From a Sorrento base:

Take a bus and or boat along the dramatic Amalfi Coast to dreamy seaside towns like Amalfi and perched above it Ravello - the bus ride is dramatic and dirt cheap

Pompeii

Ercolo - not as famous as Pompeii but in its way impressive

Climbing Mt Vesuvious - apparently some mini-buses to near the top from Pompeii or you can climb the whole way from near Ercolo

Capri and Ischia IMO are tremendous

and Naples should not be neglected - just filth in many areas but also one of Europe's most old-worldish towns - the type you do not come across any more.

And Caserta - a lavish palace that can be easily be reached by train

I would definitely put more days in Sorrento as what is near there IMO is finer than anything else between Sorrento/Naples and Rome.

From a Sorrento base:

Take a bus and or boat along the dramatic Amalfi Coast to dreamy seaside towns like Amalfi and perched above it Ravello - the bus ride is dramatic and dirt cheap

Pompeii

Ercolo - not as famous as Pompeii but in its way impressive

Climbing Mt Vesuvious - apparently some mini-buses to near the top from Pompeii or you can climb the whole way from near Ercolo

Capri and Ischia IMO are tremendous

and Naples should not be neglected - just filth in many areas but also one of Europe's most old-worldish towns - the type you do not come across any more.

And Caserta - a lavish palace that can be easily be reached by train

I would definitely put more days in Sorrento as what is near there IMO is finer than anything else between Sorrento/Naples and Rome.

sorry about duplication but it were not any fault of mine but a not so unusual Fodors screw up!

Capri is wonderful. We stayed for 3 nights in September and were so glad we did - it is so much more enjoyable after the daytrippers have departed in the afternoon. We stayed in Capri town but really enjoyed Anacapri as well. In fact, we preferred Capri to the Amalfi Coast!

I would book the four days on Ischia.

Thanks for your replies. PalenQ, we do intend to see Herculaneum, National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Pompei, Vesuvius, Paestum and Amalfi Coast towns in day trips during our seven days in Sorrento. Sounds like you think seven days is just not enough time for all that. Any one else have a comment on that?

I know there are lots of comments on other threads discussing Ischia versus Capri. It's a tough choice. I am drawn to the hot springs of Ischia. Would any of your recommendations be different if I mentioned that during those four days is our 25th wedding anniversary? Also, wondering if there's some other option to consider.

What time of year is your trip?

I'd be tempted to just go to Rome for your extra 4 days. Good shopping there. Or did you see a lot of Rome previously?

Hi Mimar. That is something I was considering. We spent five days in Rome on our last trip, and we have four days planned for this trip, but I know we could easily spend extra enjoyable days there.

No great surprise, perhaps, that I'd say come to Ischia...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/allaboutischia

And for some of the other nearby places you might visit, try a look here...
http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/tele

Peter

No great surprise, but I agree with Peter. Ischia seems like a great choice!

Don't forget Paestum on the AC?

Is Paestum on the Amalfi Coast? Does the Amalfi go south from Salerno? Just curious.

Paestum is a very long day trip from Sorrento. Too long for me.

dana - as Paestum's on your list, this will show where it is and - I trust - give you some idea of likely travel times....

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/image/132567370

The temples are magnificent, and well worth the effort, but it isn't the easiest of journeys from Sorrento - even by car!

You'll find most of options explained somewhere in the course of these two discussions from last year...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop..._Campania.html

Peter