Trip from Florence to Positano in 1 day?
 

We are working on an itineray for Italy for next summer, and was wondering how difficult it would be to get from Florence to Positano in 1 day. Our thoughts were to take a train from Florence, but wasn't sure if the connections would work to get to Positano. Should we take the train to Sorrento and rent a car or a bus to Positano? <BR> <BR>Any advice?

Just re-read your post -- you're asking about travel time between the two? (First time I thought it was regarding a daytrip...whoa!) I think it would take a very full day. Unless you plan on driving more, (and how many of you are traveling) the train/bus might be best. We've planned on taking about four/five days to go from Florence to the Amalfi coast, in order to leisurely see some of Tuscany and Umbria on the way.

You could definitely make the trip in 1 day, but I wasn't clear if that SAME day also included the time you wanted to sightsee and if and when you need to return to Florence. If this is an idea for a day trip, then it's not worth it. I have done the trip in reverse, not to sightsee but meet a friend for dinner in Florence, and was willing to lose a lot of time for it. I was staying near Positano, took the train from Sorrento to Naples and then to Rome and then to Florence. I think it was about 7 hours travel and waiting time. To do that 2 days in a row wastes A LOT of time that could be spent enjoying the sights.

Hello Faye, <BR> <BR>Your best option for this is train from Florence to SALERNO. From Salerno there is a bus service to Positano, - you may have to change bus at Amalfi. <BR> <BR>

Just to clear up some confusion.... this isn't a "day trip" to see the sites, but rather our next stop in our itinerary. We plan on making Positano our base for a few days to see the area. <BR>I was wondering what was the quickest way to get there.

Faye, your transportation scheme could be as follows (if the SITA bus time table out from Sorrento hasn't changed): <BR> <BR>a) Leave Florence on the 8:55am Eurostar, arriving in Naples at 12:30pm <BR>b) get down to the Circumvesuviana platform and take the 12:39pm train arriving at 1:47pm in Sorrento <BR>c) get the 2:05pm SITA bus to Amalfi, passing through Positano around 2:40-2:45pm <BR> <BR>If you don't loose the Circumvesuviana train in Naples (or the bus in Sorrento), you should be able to travel between Florence and Positano in about 6 hours. <BR> <BR>If you loose that train you'll have to take the next one, 1/2 hour later. The next bus out from Sorrento would be at 3:15pm (not on Sundays), arriving some 35-40 minutes later in Positano. So, if anything goes wrong, you still should make it from Florence in about 7 hours. <BR> <BR>Paulo

Paulo, thank you very much for the detailed information!! <BR> <BR>What are some thoughts regarding renting a car from Sorrento and driving to Positano? We will be in the area for a few days, and wasn't sure if we would be at a loss without a car.

Faye, I'm not in position to comment on having a car or do without it while in the area. I never spent a night in the Amalfi coast. My experience is staying at a cousin's in Naples and either driving my car around or navigating the bay on their boat. I'm also suspecious because I kind of feel naked without a car. I didn't find it at all difficult driving in the area (even though it may take a long time to get from one point to another due to traffic in summer). <BR> <BR>Now, I don't know if it's a good idea to rent a car in Sorrento on your way south. If you're doing it, why not rent it in Florence? Unless there are traffic problems, the nonstop drive from Florence to Positano would take 5 hours (one doesn't have to go all the way to Sorrento; after you get off in Casttellamari di Stabia to Sorrento, take the shortcut route in Meta, to San Pietro and Positano). If you have a car, besides not having to worry with your luggage once it's thrown in the trunk (and guessing if you're going to make it or not to get the Circumvesuviana train on time) you may take it easy, possibly stopping in Orvieto for a couple of hours. <BR> <BR>My vote, therefore, is: <BR> <BR>"either you take public transportation all the way and after you've checked in you go about renting a car (if you decide you want one) or rent it in Florence and drive south" <BR> <BR>Paulo

I was wondering how safe it is to drive around Positano and the Amalfi Coast. I hear that the roads are frightening? Any thoughts? I am planning to travel from Sienna to Orvieto to Positano in one day.

Frightening? maybe ... dangerous? not, IMO. <BR> <BR>I've only a limited experience driving in the area. A couple of daytrips out from Naples in two different summers. A narrow winding road in the heights with nothing else the "hold" you but a "mere" guardrail may be frightening, specially when you cross with a bus just coming out from a blind curve. One may wonder if there's space for the car and bus. Speeds are so low, though (at least in summer), that I wonder if serious accidents do occur even occasionally. If you're going in summer, I bet that bumper-to-bumper traffic will annoy you way more than winding narrow roads. <BR> <BR>Paulo