I find myself captivated by the idea of Praiano and am wondering if this would be good alternative to Sorrento. I'd like a convenient base for enjoying the coast and day trips to Capri and Pompeii. We would stay here 4 days total, so two days would be devoted to taking it easy and exploring the countryside. This is our planned down time since we will also have 4 days each in Venice, Florence and Rome. Appreciate any input.

zennie,

I love Praiano and have stayed there on both my Amalfi Coast visits. The reasons I love it are that it's a real town, not specifically geared towards tourist hoards. A handful of restaurants and hotels, no shopping to speak of.
It's the opposite of Positano and Sorrento.

If you want to visit Pompeii from Praiano, you must take the SITA bus to one of the Circumvesuviana (local train) stops, either Sorrento or another one (can't remember the name) and take the CV to Pompeii Scavi. When we did this, it took us about 2 hours one way in March. If you are going during tourist season, it might take longer due to full/no show SITA buses.

Going from Praiano to Capri will require a ride on the Orange bus to Positano and a boat ride to Capri. Have your hotel reserve the earliest boat in advance for you or you will be left waiting for the mid-day boat, significantly shortening your "day trip"! It will take you about 2 hours to get to Capri one way.

Sorrento provides more frequent transportation to both your day trip destinations. I've passed through Sorrento several times, never stayed, never would want to. Far too many tourists and it's not really on the Amalfi Coast. Nice views of the Bay of Naples and Vesuvius though.

If you can see Pompeii on the way to/from Praiano leaving your luggage at the train station, or if you can afford to hire a private driver to take you directly to Pompeii, I would still stay the entire time in Praiano.

If not, maybe stay in Sorrento.

Hi Z,

Sorrento is more convenient to Pompei Scavi.

Praiano is a great place to just chill.

To get to Capri from Praiano, take the Orabge bus to the Positano docks and take the ferry.

You won't enjoy the coast any better than from Praiano. especially in the evening when everyone turns out to watch the traffic jams.

We've never stayed in Praiano so I can't make a comparison, but we have stayed in Sorrento several times and love it there. The only days I remember having "tourist hoards" was when a ship was in port. They make them so huge now, debarkation of passengers comprises a town of its own!

We stay in the old part of the city, preferably at a hotel on the Bay of Naples. We like the nearby restaurants, the walk into Piazza Tasso, the main square, and find everything very convenient and lovely.

SITA buses leave from across the street from the Circumvesuviana train station. The trains travel from Sorrento to Naples, with stops at both Pompeii Scavi and Ercolano (Herculaneum). Both the train station and marina for ferries to Capri and other places are easy walking distance from where we like to stay.

I'm sure you would be happy in either place, but didn't want to leave you thinking Sorrento wasn't a good option. It's one of our favorite places in Italy.

By bus to Praiano to the railway station of Circumvesuviana, rather than Sorrento, they exist also Piano di Sorrento and Meta di Sorrento.

Vincenzo

We've ended all of our trips to Italy in Praiano. It's a small village and a great place to relax and avoid the crowds of Positano and Sorrento.
The views of the coast and sea are as fantastic as anywhere else and the pace is slower.
We've done trips to Pompeii by bus/CV, and we've also taken a water taxi to Amalfi.
Mostly we want to relax and catch our breath after running around Italy. I think you'd love it.

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Grazie Vincenzo!

You are probably the kind poster who gave that information before, but I could not remember the name of the other stations.

Ciao

Thanks everyone for the detailed replies. I'm glad to hear that it's convenient to access transportaion from Positrano. How long would you estimate the Praiano to Positano bus trip takes ? Also, is there any beach access here? I am planning on making reservations at Le Sirene.

zennie,

The bus between Praiano and Positano would take about 15 minutes. Be prepared for the fact that full buses won't stop and you may need to wait for the next one. June - Sept.

It's over 400 stairs down to the Praiano "beach", which is actually a small, rocky cove with fishing boats.

Thanks Dayle,Ira, Giovanna, 2italy and Vinzenzo,

We will be there in May so perhaps the bus won't pass us by; if it does, we'll be forewarned. The cove and the 400 steps sound like a lovely and invigorating challenge to whet the appetite for more delicious food. Our reservations are made and we are raring to go! Now if I could only decide on a Rome hotel...