Tuscany to Sorrento
 

Hello-

We are trying to figure out the best way to get from Tuscany down to Sorrento. We will have a car in Tuscany (will be staying in Montepulciano) are considering just making our way down to Sorrento by car. It actually seems to be no more expensive and time-consuming to do this than dropping our car back in Florence or somewhere else along the way and then taking a train (seems crazy I know but it checks out...).

The one unanswered question we have is- how insane are we trying to make this drive? I hear that Italian highways can be quite 'fun' to drive on and driving along the coast can be treacherous. I wasn't sure if that was on the way to Sorrento or after you leave Sorrento on to the Amalfi Coast. We were able to handle the twists and the turns on the Road to Hana in Maui and wanted to see how crazy this might be.

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Matt

The schlep factor certainly favors driving. You put your luggage in the car and go. If you trained, you'd first have to drive somewhere to turn in the car (probably Orvieto), then take three trains to reach Sorrento. I haven't done the cost comparison, but have you factored into your calculations the tolls and high cost of gasoline on top of your daily rental rate? In calculating train fares, are you two people or a family?

As far as the "treacherous" description goes, there's nothing scary about your drive from Montepulciano to Sorrento. It's pretty much highway all the way. You won't be driving the Amalfi Coast road which isn't "treacherous" anyway.

It is not a hard drive--90% autostrada and the last part to Sorrrento is a decent road. Do you have a map? Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast.

bob,

the poster doesn't think Sorrento is on the Amalfi coast. He simply wasn't sure whether he would encounter treaherous coast line before reaching Sorrento, or if it was only after Sorrento, on the way to Amalfi, that this occurred.

Hi S,

Have you checked the route at www.viamichelin.com, www.mappy.com and www.maps.google.com?

If I were driving through Tuscany, I would drive to Sorrento.

((I))

What period of the year? It changes everything. If you are on the roads in August. Forget it.

Thanks for all your replies. Some answers:

- Will just be 2 of us
- Will be in late May
- We looked at dropping off in Orvieto and the rental cost was actually MORE than in Sorrento (insane!)
- Checked out the routes and it looked reasonable- however, it did raise another question from me: will we might run into traffic going around Rome or Naples- we will probably be hitting them around 4-6pm on a Friday but it looked like the route takes you pretty far outside of town?

We drove Sorrento to Tuscany in Sept 2007 - its a breeze, highway all the way. No problems at all.

Your last question (re: city traffic)...the Autostrade routes you well out of cities. Italian highways are very efficient, fast and intolerant of road 'amateurs' who don't understand passing lanes, but efficient.

Not to worry--if you are comfortable driving in Tuscany, you'll have no trouble with the drive to Sorrento. The autostrada routes you around Rome (east) and Naples and you will hardly be aware of the passage. Driving back to Florence would be well out of your way. It does take a while however, so be prepared for a good long drive--no "big lunch" before starting!

The Amalfi coast drive everyone talks about is south of Sorrento. Personally, I found it fun and easy to negotiate as long as I wasn't in a hurry- and driving gave us greater flexibility. Enjoy.