What's the easiest way to get from the Amalfi Coast to Palermo. I understand that a ferry is involved. Just don't know how hard the drive would be if we chose to do it on our own or if it's better to hire a driver, take a bus, train? Ferry? Love to hear from anyone that has made this trip. Not sure if we are going from sicily to amalfi or vice versa. It's going to be in the spring. A bit nervous about traveling to Amalfi coast in spring time (off season).

Love any tips from you wise travelers.

My recollection is that the train from Naples to Palermo would take at least 8 hours. The overnight ferry from Naples to Palermo might be the best way, keeping in mind that the price includes the equivalent of one night in a hotel room.

WHERE along the Amalfi Coast would you be departing or arriving? You've got three options:

1. Fly between Naples and Palermo (Alitalia or Air Italy);

2. Take the (daily) overnight car ferry between Naples and Palermo (SNAV or Tirrenia);

3. Take the overnight or daylight car ferry between Salerno and Palermo (very limited schedules with Grimaldi Lines); or

4. Take the daylight or overnight Trenitalia IC train between Salerno and Palermo.

I strongly recommend the first three options.

The SITA bus can get you to the Port in Salerno or the Port in Naples. There are airporter buses to the Naples Airport from both Sorrento and Salerno. The SITA bus can also get you to Sorrento or to Salerno from your Amalfi Coast destination.

www.alitalia.it
www.airitaly.it
www.snav.it
www.tirrenia.it (in bankruptcy)
www.grimaldi-lines.com
www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.sitabus.it
www.curreriviaggi.it (airporter bus Sorrento-Naples Airport)

GAC has given you all of the options. I would fly from naples to Palermo--it is a long way by train. But, where will you be on the coast?

Yes, where will you be on the Amalfi Coast, and what month in spring? We traveled Sicily to Amalfi at the end of April this year (having originally flown from Rome to Catania) with no transportation issues.

FWIW, we *loved* Sicily at that time of year!

Hi andreadee,
GAC gave you the links but I can add that I was staying ofn the AC and took the overnight Ferry from Naples to Palermo via the Aeolian Islands with a small cabin that I used to sleep part of the night while spending the rest on deck with some others passengers to see the full moon and the stars and also the dawn over Stromboli with the eruptions of the volcano. That dawn was an inforgettable experience, as the whole surface of the Sea turned pink to reflect the sunrise and the eruptions of the Volcano in the background.

To start that trip, I took the Ferry from Sorrento to Naples the day of, and spent a few hours in Naples (leaft my bags near the Ferry in a storage place at the parking lot in front of the docks for the duration with no problem) then came back to the port to catch the Ferry.

Of course, flying is quicker!

Where are you traveling in Sicily other than Palermo? I flew from Naples to Catania, because I wanted to visit Taormina, Etna and Ortygia, I rented a car there, and ultimately flew out of Palermo airport (to Rome).

Personally, I would start with Sicily, for reasons of weather. In the early spring, the views on the Amalfi coast can get completely obscured by mist and rain. Later in the Spring (which ends June 22), Sicily can already be getting quite hot when the sun is shining.

If you start with Sicily, and plan to see more than Palermo, you should think about where you want to start in Sicily and where you want to end up so you have the easiest time getting to the Amalfi coast. For instance, it's about a 5.5 hour train ride from Messina (near Taormina) to Salerno. I might prefer that in windy weather in early spring.

booked our flights yesterday....I am very excited! We opted against the Amalfi Coast due to the time of year we are travelling. So many people told us there wouldn't be much to do, some things not open, travelling to Palermo a pain....so we are starting in Venice then Florence...onto rome then flying to Palermo. Any hints would still be greatly appreciated but the tickets are confirmed so there won't be changes. Thank you for all your previous help. Now it's onto hotels, apts, etc. Hoping to find some good info from people around the world that encountered a lovely place to stay, restaurant to eat at, or an activity that my family would love. Hoping to find a casual cooking class (pizza making or pasta making)...or a cool tour. I hear there is a tour of a mozzarella factory. Any hints would be greatly appreciated. Ciao

Here is Sicily in the spring--have fun !

http://www.slowphotos.com/photo/show...y.php?cat=3828

Mozzerella is made in Campania (around Salerno, near the Amalfi coast) and that's IT. I would really advise against any kind of mozerella tour anybody but there.

But I think you are right to eliminate the Amalfi coast from your April trip, and you won't lack for things to do and enjoy elsewhere. Were it me, I would take that cooking class in Sicily, because I would want to learn how to cook like a Sicilian.

There are lots of good websites about Sicily that talk about cooking classes and family activities. You can save a lot of time planning your trip by googling them up.

One more tip: If you think you will want to rent a car in Sicily to tour places other than Palermo, rent it at the airport when you arrive and visit those other places in Sicily, and then return the car BEFORE you see Palermo. You don't want to drive in Palermo. You can easily get to and from the Palermo airport by public transportation.

Have a great time!

Thank you Zeppole. I am excited about Palermo. My family is from there and from Polizzi Generosa about an hour from Palermo in the Madonie Mountains....can't wait! And I too love the sicilian cooking...grew up on it!