Rome - Amalfi Coast logistics
 

After a few days in Rome, I'm thinking of renting an auto in Rome and drive down to the Amalfi Coast, day trip to Capri etc....allowing us to have our own schedule. Any thoughts / advice on renting an auto vs. buses / trains?

You do not want a car. Train to Naples--ferry to Capri---ferry to Positano or Sorrento--back to Naples via Pompeii. You will need at least 3 days for that loop--5 is better.

Hi,

We did that trip last year and we were thinking of renting a car in Naples. But we did not and after we were happy that we didn't. The road is not easy to drive unless you are not used to this type of roads. The road is EXTREMELY narrow at some parts with lots of hair pin bends and you have to navigate past meeting traffic. At some parts traffic can't meet so they have to use road pilots. There are plenty of buses doing the trip between Amalfi and Sorrento. Buses are very crowded, though. Try to use the ferries as much as possible. Between Sorrento and Naples there is a train which also calls at Pompeii.

I haven't driven in Italy, but food for thought on your planned drive -- the person driving never gets to see the scenery except for a quick glance. Since I am always the designated driver, and I love to drive windy roads, but also knowing my many trips along the Highway 1 on California allowed everyone but me to see the sights, that this plan would not work for ME. Might work for you, if so, sounds like fun.

When I planned the Rome - Amalfi Coast, we backdoored it, since it was summer and hot, and I didn't think it would be all that fun taking the bus along the Amalfi Coast. Instead, we took the train from Rome to Salerno, then the ferry from Salerno to Positano. Seeing the sights from the water looking up was terrific! From Positano, we took the ferry to Capri, spent two nights there, they took the hydrofoil back to Sorrento, then the train back to Rome from Naples.

It worked perfectly for us, but again, just a suggestion.

A car is both unnecessary as well as a liability for many, especially during the summer. Here are the schedules of interest to you:

www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.sitabus.it
www.coopsantandrea.it
www.metrodelmare.com
www.vesuviana.it
http://www.lauroweb.com/alicost.htm
www.capri.net

Have done a similar trip by car twice (but we were keeping the car for a couple of weeks afterward fora road trip). We found it easy (but you have to make sure your hotel has parking - most don;t), convenient and fun to be able to explore as we wanted. And driving the Amalfi coast road is fun - lots of great views and cute towns to stop in. (But do also see it from the water by ferry.)

Caveat - both times it was end May/beginning June and the mobs had not yet arrived. I might not do this in July or august.