Touring the Amalfi Coast is special. There are some simple considerations to make to ensure the trip goes smoothly. Here are the easy steps to help plan a trip to the Amalfi Coast:
Logistics: The closest airport to the Amalfi Coast is Naples. But probably the more common way to get to Naples is to take the high-speed train. From Rome, the train takes about one hour and fifteen minutes. From either the Naples airport or the train station, it is about an hour's car ride to Sorrento, the perfect base for a stay when visiting the Amalfi Coast. There is a train from Naples to Sorrento, but we don't recommend it. The company we like for transportation, including transfers to/from Naples and other tours is Private Tours of Southern Italy.
Hotels: For a top, luxury experience, we highly recommend the Excelsior Vittoria, perched over a cliff on the Bay of Naples. A less pricey, but comfortable option is the Palazzo Jannuzzi. Both hotels are in Sorrento, the perfect base for visiting the Amalfi Coast.
What to See and Do: Here are The Traveling Professor's picks for what to see and do in the Amalfi Coast area:
On the way down from Naples to Sorrento (or vice versa) it's a good idea to stop for a tour of the Pompeii and Herculaneum ruins. We also recommend a lunch stop at the base of Mount Vesuvius at Cantina del Vesuvio. Many of The Traveling Professor's small group tours have visited and enjoy it very much.
Capri: from the port in Sorrento, a lovely day trip is to take the ferry to Capri. Take an inexpensive tour around the island on the Laser Capri. Ride the funicular to the lovely village for a stroll and lunch.
Amalfi Coast Tour: The way to do this is in a private car. We usually start all the way down in Ravello and work our way up through the village of Amalfi for a lunch stop in Positano. The advantage of a private driver is that they are at your service, stopping along the way as you wish. We highly, highly recommend having lunch in Positano at La Tagliata. It is truly special.
When to Travel: In the summer, the Amalfi Coast is hot, crowded, and expensive. Try the off-season which would be late September through October.
Join The Traveling Professor on a small group tour to Italy.