Naples & Amalfi - Advice on Itinerary
 

My boyfriend and I are flying into Naples for 6 days at the end of May. There's an itinerary that we'd like to do, but I'm worried we're trying to fit too much into it. Should we just ditch Capri and spend one extra day on the Coast instead? Or maybe stay one extra day in Naples and go to Procida?

Advice welcome!!
Thank you

Tues a.m. - arrive in Naples
Wedn - Naples
Thurs - Capri for the day, night in Naples
Fri - Drive to Pompei or Ercolano and onto Praiano (base for Amalfi Coast)
Sat - Sun - Drive to various towns around the coast
Mon - Morning on coast, drive back to Naples for afternoon flight

It looks feasible to me.

A lot of people and guidebooks recommend against daytripping to Capri, but I don't see a way of fitting nights in Capri. Anyway, better something than nothing. For me, Monte Solaro in Anacapri was a highlight, as well as walking from Capri town Villa Jovis. If I were able to add an extra day, like you say you could do for Naples, I wouldn't use it to visit Procida. I was glad to visit Procida a few years ago, and while it has an authentic feel, I wouldn't put it as a priority.

I'd just focus on a couple of things per day in order to enjoy the week.

This is just my humble opinion, but I think it looks feasible.

Enjoy!

Daniel

The cordial atmosphere at the 4-star Hotel Delfino awaits you on the Sorrento Peninsula. www.hoteldelfino.com

In May my wife and I had a wonderful suite overlooking Capri
here www.otel.com $80/nt. Have been to Capri before not a fan too touristic in the short time you have might head for Sorrento. Pompeii perhaps way easier cheaper and prettier than Capri for me.

Good luck!

Why don't you go directly to Capri and spend your first night there?

Put all your Napoli nights at the end. It will actually make for a more relaxing stay because you won't have worry that last morning about traffic jams or rain getting to the airport.

So:

Tues a.m. - arrive in Naples, ferry to Capri, spend night.
Weds - Capri
Thurs - Ferry to Positano or Amalfi, bus to Praiano
Fri - See other towns on coast
Sat - Head to Naples in time to visit archeology museum
Sun -- Pompei
Mon - morning visit Capella San Severo and the cloisters of Santa Chiara, leave for afternoon flight

On Saturday, you could also go to Naples via Pompei, storing your luggage at the entrance to Pompei.

I agree with Zeppole's suggested itinerary. Spending a couple of days on Capri is so much better than a day trip. We loved Capri - in fact, preferred it to the Amalfi Coast. Anacapri and Mt. Solaro are hightlights and, if you are lucky, the sea will be calm enough for you to visit the Blue Grotto.

Happy travels.

I am curious about QwoVadis' constant shilling for this particular hotel.

Did the OP ask for help securing a hotel on the Sorrento peninsula? No!

Chances are slim to none that he or she will secure the rate claimed by QV in any case.

Most people find it impossible to avoid Capri but these may give you an idea of what Procida's like...

http://www.pbase.com/isolaverde/procida1

I see you've said "drive"... which might be interesting, especially if you're here over Whitsun?

Peter

Since you didn't list Capri as an overnight, I would head to Praiano when you arrive for your first three nights and put all of Naples at the end.

Thanks for all the advice, we'll definitely start with the Coast first and then figure out how to spend the rest of the days... Capri or no Capri, that is the question!

Peter - do you mean 'interesting' as in it's not really a good idea? Think it will be too busy on the roads?

We loved Capri too but stayed away from Capri town, but it was the nighttime memories i remember....we ate some delicious food there each night and really liked AnaCapri, I would also say have an other night stay rather than a day trip.

Have a conderful trip, our trip to AC, Capri and Naples is one of our fondest holiday memories :-)

Naples is fun too, we got the ferry there from Capri in the morning and did the underground historic tour, had wonderful pizza for lunch, waiters grumpy shouting in Italian while trying to carry 3/4 pizzas on their arms-but its all part of the Italian vibe. We walked around the little lanes, looking up at miles and miles of washing lines hanging between walls, (sounds naff but i mean it in a good way) drank what is supposedly the best coffee in Italy (perhaps europe then?) in a little coffee place where you grab a ticket and get in line (we didn't and got quickly told the procedure!! in Italian!) and then had a feast on food at night , veal in a yummy tomato sauce and so so many more dishes all for 30 euros for 2!!! and 3 euro a litre wine (it was honestly actually quite good!!)!!!

Its worth noting that, naples is excellent value all round. The B&B we stayed in was amazing value run by a lovely young lady-we joked she was a mafia wife as we couldn't understand how the place could be run so cheaply!

Also late night, all little bars/cafes are full of delicious cream filled cannoli- so so yummy to enjoy while walking back to your hotel/B&B.

If you go to naples, you should buy the mixed herb packs for pasta (ametricna mix etc etc), we got like 7 for 10 euros, now we see them in the likes of Carluccio restaurants here in london and they are £4 each!!!

One day and one night in naples we felt perfect...the very center is buzzy and cool and the food is yummy, but as you move away it becomes quite grotty (dont be put off by the area immediatey by the ferry-it gets nicer dont worry!) and the shine of the atmosphere/ uniqueness i expect would ware off if you stayed any longer than 2 nights...but i am quite prepared to be told i'm wrong.

A weid thing about naples....there were wedding dress shops everywhere!!!

For what it's worth really prefered Ischia over Capri and regretted not going to Procida after catching a glimpse on the ferry to Napoli, specially if you are going just for the day!!!

I personally would not want to have a car for your trip - the Amalfi Coast road can be kinda scary, both in terms of traffic as well as the curves and cliffs. And I would NEVER want to drive in Naples - that is just the absolute most chaotic traffic scene I have ever witnessed. And parking can be very difficult in both locales. I'd recommend using the SITA bus or the ferries for touring the AC and the train to go to Pompeii.

oh yes, no way would we drive that road, i was stood up on a mini bus with no view of road....only a view of blue sea!!! was honestly praying to get there asap.....scary!

By late May, and around the Whitsun/Pentecost public holidays especially, things are getting busy in this part of the world - in hotels, for the buses and on the roads!

"Too busy" may be a personal thing but, if going directly to the AC, you might use other transport... and decide about having a rental car delivered once you've seen the conditions - both geographical and traffic-wise?

Nothing worse than committing to several days' hire for a vehicle you then don't use, particularly if it's also notching up parking fees!

That way, if deciding to have a night on Capri, you'd be free of it before moving there - and afterwards could cross directly over to Naples?

You'll find a nice introduction to all three of the islands in the Bay here...

http://www.com-tur.com/cms/images/st...%20INGLESE.pdf

And, for your time in the city, the tourism people publish a very good, bimonthly magazine - 'Qui Napoli' - that offers lots of useful information, usually more current than any guidebook. I guess it's given away in hotels and at their "Infopoints" but in several years have yet to find one! Instead we use the PDF version, available for download from...

http://www.inaples.it/eng/quinapoli.htm

The latest edition covered November and December but hopefully they'll start again in Spring...

Peter