Donna82

Hi all, I am flying into Naples mid August and will probably stay in or around Sorrento purely as a base, if we went to Amalfi, then up to Revello on a day trip, would we have time for dinner and to enjoy the views and get back to Sorrento in the evening using public transport?
I understand the hydrofoils should be in use in August and would be better than the cramped buses at this time of year but what time do they run until?
I am dying to see the views from Ravello, can you recomend somewhere to eat there with a view?

I know there's a cafe at the gardens at Villa Cimbrone but can you have dinner in the hotel itself if not a resident?
thanks All!

stevewith

Hi,

First, if you don't mind the correction, it is spelled Ravello.

Even if the buses aren't cramped, the road is EXTREMELY twisting. A great many people feel nauseous taking the buses in broad daylight on an empty stomach. After a full dinner, probably with wine, you could be really really sorry you attempted it, especially if you felt you couldn't get off the bus to recover a bit and then catch a later one because you were on the last one.

Better plan would be to take the hydrofoil from Naples to Amalfi and head up to Ravello for lunch. There are lots of places with views, most of them pricey, but my choice would be Da Salvatore. However, whatever you pick, you MUST make a reservation in August.

Then consider walking down the hill to the coast line. See Amalfi town, take a bus or taxi (expensive) or boat ride to Positano. Have a gelato in Positano and maybe stay to see the sunset if you are not easily prone to motion sickness. Then head back to Sorrento for a pizza.

Personally, I would need to be on the bus or boat back while it was still daylight. If there was a hydrofoil available at night, that would be best for me, but I dont know the August schedules.

Donna82

thank you & I think my spelling is due to my excitement
Do you think Sorrento is the best base to see Amalfi/Ravello and a day trip to Pompei?
The town of Sorrento is not calling to me but it seems to make the most sense as a base?

mamcalice

Sorrento is the most central base if you are going to do day trips to Pompeii, Capri, etc. We were there in late September and the buses from Amalfi to Sorrento were jammed even then. What about lunch in Ravello? That would give you more options for the return trip to Sorrento.

kybourbon

No, you can't take a hydrofoil or ferry after dinner as they won't be running. The latest will be around 7pm and dinner hour starts around 7:30 or 8:00.

Micheline

We were also there in September and the buses were so jammed many people who had been waiting a long time could not get on. This was in Amalfi. After Ravello we enjoyed lunch on the water in Amalfi.
There is nothing like waking up in the morning to breakfast on a terrace in Positano but if you are also going to Pompei than Sorrento is the better base.

jamikins

I may have missed it - but how many days do you have? Perhaps you could stay in Naples for 2 nights and see Pompeii and the archeology museum before heading to Positano or somewhere on the Amalfi Coast for the remaining time?

uncjat

We really enjoyed staying in Sorrento. Much of the town is only moderately interesting, but we stayed at a really nice hotel/apartment, Magi House in the old part of the town. We stayed in a studio apartment that was very modern, great a/c, really nice. Loved going to the rooftop deck after dinner with a glass of limoncello. The Magi house is a short walk to the ferry terminal. Although the ferries are more expensive they're infinitely more comfortable than the crowded busses to get to Amalfi or Positano, as well as Capri and Naples. We had truly wonderful dining experiences at Marina Grande in Sorrento. This is the old, slow waterfront in Sorrento. It's an easy walk down and a good way to burn off some calories on the uphill walk after dinner. There are two great places in Marina Grande. The most fun is a family run trattoria-- Sant'anna da Emilia. You eat outside on the water with great views of Naples. The spaghetti vongole is great, house wine good, staff very nice. There is another place, Delfino's or something that probably has better food, that is a little fancier but still on the water. The service is a little slow there, but, heck, your sitting outside looking at the water and enjoying a nice bottle of wine. Anyway, I hope to allay your concerns about Sorrento.

bardo1

There are not a lot of "view" options in Ravello.

Villa Cimbrone and (oddly) the bus stop are the only two "view" spots that come to mind. So, if your set on dining with a view in Ravello, then contact Villa Cimbrone and ask.

Otherwise, go for a meal elsewhere.

I also agree that a lunch make more sense - arrive in the morning and sight see for a few hours, have a great lunch somewhere and then spend a few more hours touring before heading back to Sorrento for an 8:00 pm (the earliest option) or 9:00 pm dinner (calculate beforehand how long getting back will take depending on mode of travel).

stevewith

There are PLENTY of view options in Ravello for lunch and dinner.

In summer, you can look at a spectacular view while you eat by going to either Villa Maria, or Da Salvatore, or the restaurant Al Ristoro del Moro, or the restaurant at the Parsifal Hotel, or the restaurant at Palazzo Avino (formerly Palazzo Sasso), or Villa Cimbrone. For a town the size of Ravello, that is a heck of a lot of view options.

Donna82

Jamikins - I have 8 nights total flyIng into Naples and out of Rome, will split time prob 5 nights Sorrento/Amalfi and 3 in Rome, and I think I'll take advice and aim for lunch in Ravello rather than dinner!

Still considering the option of one night in Naples to see Pompeii then around to Amalfi then from there onto Rome, better make my mind up soon!

Donna82

Steve great options for dining in Ravello, thanks.
Have almost settled on staying near Sorrento, would you all suggest 2 days trips to see Amalfi Coast?
One day for Positano/Pranino?
One for Amalfi/Ravello?
I think I might be happy enough to see Positano from the water, it sounds very overpriced to use beach and very busy?
Which town has the best access to a beach/ sea?
Grateful for any thoughts on this?

stevewith

I suggest you start a new thread. In an earlier post, I outlined how I would spend the day, but I have never been in the Amalfi at a time of year that was nice for swimming, nor have stayed in Sorrento and used it as a base for day trips, so my suggested day above might not work for you.

So start a new thread asking specifically about places to swim and concerns about Positano (it has fans and detractors).

Include in your new thread your travel dates, because nice places to swim and their cost vary during the season.

Another spelling correction: Praiano

Ncz

Has anyone stayed in Grand Hotel Capodimonte? Thoughts?

Ncz

Sorry, I commented on the wrong thread

Donna82

Just to say thank you for all the info on here, back from our trip and Ravello was the highlight. Villa Cimbrone and the view from the terrace were amazing. After wandering down to the 'Terrace of infinity' we took a seat in the garden of 'Il Balcone di Lucile' it was the most relaxing part of the day, drinks and snacks with amazing scenery! I would definitely recommend the trip up. It is hard to get there and many people on the bus complained (It was almost an hour late picking up in Amalfi and was very hot and crowded)but I think if you go to the Amalfi Coast in August then you should be aware of the crowds and the cliff edges
Villa Cimbrone was like an Oasis of calm after the trip up You can't enter the hotel itself when just viewing the gardens, next time maybe we can stay a night! The bus trip back to Amalfi and then on to Sorrento was very long, I would definitely say take the boat back (we just missed it).