Lake Como or Amalfi Coast - Italy?
 

My friend and I are debating about whether to add Lake Como to our trip, or the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento, Positano, etc.). Our itinerary is: Venice 3-nights; Florence 3-nights; Rome 3-nights. Our trip is two weeks. We haven't met anyone who has travelled to both and can advise us.

Thanks!
JillS

Well, I've been to both, but I may not be able to help you without more info... What time of year is your trip? The mid-lake area of Lake Como is a seasonal destination (spring to fall). Where do you arrive/depart? How would either destination fit into your itinerary? Have you been to Italy before or is this a first-time trip? If this is your first visit, I'd stick with just three cities (Venice, Florence, Rome) in two weeks. You can do day trips from all three and could certainly spend more than four days in Rome.

But if you want to add a fourth destination... I love Lake Como. It's beautiful and easy to get around the lake by ferry. However, the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coast have more to see and do. Naples, Pompei, Herculaneum, Vesuvius and Capri in addition to the coastal towns. Also beautiful and easy to get around by ferry, train and bus.

topping for jill

hi, I wasn't to lake Como (only the town itself), but I was in lake Maggiore for a week and in Sorrento for a week. if you go in spring the lakes are blooming and beautiful.
but as Jean said, on the Amalfi you have much more to do.
if you base yourself in Sorrento, you have the best public transportation, and can get easily everywhere.
still it isn't an ideal winter destination.

I loved Lake Como but my friends swear by the Amalfi Coast. We found Varenna very relaxing and just lovely. I'd let your flight and times decide. If you are travelling N to S as indicated, Amalfi makes more sense. If it's July or Aug, I'd try to stay further North!

I would agree that it definitely depends on the time of year you are going, but would also recommend that a trip to the Amalfi coast is a separate holiday in itself; I would save it for another year so that you could give it all your focus and energy, otherwise you will be too wiped out to enjoy it fully. Lake Como would probably be more relaxing at the end of your city tours.

Also consider where you will be flying out of. If you are departing for your home from Rome airport, you will have about an 7-8 hour or longer journey by train (with several transfers) to get from Como back down to Rome. Amalfi would be about 3 hours from Rome.

If you can get an open jaw ticket to fly into Rome and out of Milan, then Como is doable, as the train trip from Como to Milan is about an hour.

I would agree with the above posters that Amalfi offers more to see and do and I find the coastal just slightly more beautiful than the lakes. It?s a tough choice in any event, and you can always go back and see one at another time.

I too would be curious what time of year. But for three or four days (what you have left) I'd do Lake Como (specifically Bellagio or Varenna, and not the Amalfi Coast which has far too much to do to even begin in three days.

I haven't been to Lake Como, but I have been to the Amalfi coast. It depends when you're planning on going. We went to Positano, Capri, Rome, and Florence in the summer. We did 3 days in Positano, 4 days in Capri, 3 days in Rome, and 2 days in Florence. We originally were not planning to go to Florence, but we were somewhat disappointed with Rome and took the train last minute to Florence. Absolutely loved Florence, Capri, & Positano. My votes for the Amalfi coast in the summer time.

Thanks for the replies! We are going in mid-May. We are going north to south, flying into Venice and out of Rome. However, if we do Lake Como first, we would fly into Milan, and out of Rome. Someone recommended that Lake Como was a good first stop because it was relaxing and you can recover from jet lag. Then others just raved about the Amalfi coast, which brought on the dilemma.

Thanks!

Jill S.

Go the Amalfi!!!
We were really sorry that we booked only 3 nights; we could've stay there a least 2 more nights!

OK, based on a trip in mid-May, I would give the edge to Amalfi as May tends to be rainy in Como. Temps will be a few degrees warmer in Amalfi in May (but still only in the mid to upper 60s F, although you could get the odd heat wave in either). Finally, it will not be crowded in Amalfi in May, which is a reason to go, as the summer months are very crowded. Como gets crowed in the summer too, but with the ferries, etc you don't notice it as much as when you are trying to drive down the Amalfi coast in a traffic jam. . .

If you do the Amalfi coast last (which makes sense in terms of the least backtracking), would try to get a flight out of Naples if possible so you don't have to go back to Rome. I think it is also nice to end the trip with the most relaxing bit before you head back to the daily grind. Also, you will be pumped up at the beginning of a trip, so when you first arrive and therefore ready to get out and see a place like Venice.