Thread: Amalfi Coast or Sorrento/Capri?

I'm going on a Med cruise next year and one of our ports of calls is Naples. I am trying to decide between a shore excursion that will take us to Pompeii and a drive along the Amalfi Coast, or Pompeii with visits to Sorrento and Capri via hydrofoil.

Has anyone been to either? what are the pros and cons? What would your recommend?

jstducky,

IMO, the Amalfi/Pompeii is the tour to take. I did both of these (actually similar ones) while in the Navy. The Almalfi coast part of the tour is absolutely stunning. You will probably have lunch at one of the restaraunts overlooking the Bay.

Of course there is a lot to say for Capri/Sorrento. Particularly the Blue Grotto (Grotto Azzura). Some people think this is a touris trap, but IMO no more so than other famous areas.

But again given the choices, the Amalfi coast drive would be my preference.

thanks Doc!

I appreciate it.

I keep hearing mixed reviews. Some people say that Capri is a must. We won't have time for the Blue Grotto. And other say that Amalfi is absolutely stunning.

Its such a tough choice. I only wish we had more time. All the reason for a second trip in the future, huh?

Can I ask you what about the Amalfi coast makes you lean towards it?

Sure, but first a little explanation. While in the Navy, I was on an aircraft carrier and as an adjunct duty, I worked with the tours officer. We actually set up the tours as given to us by various tour operators throughout the Med. Although it wasn't exactly payola, the 3 of us (tours officer, myself and another friend) were given a private tour of Pompeii and the Amalfi coast at a greatly reduced rate in a private limo (not in a tour bus).

As I stated in my response, the drive is stunning. Long winding road along the coastline and it is quite mountainous. Sometimes it was like you were almost overhanging a really high cliff. We were treated to luncheon at a 3 or 4 star restaraunt and it was almost impossible to eat, the view was so stunning. We also stopped at some shops along the drive and bought some real nice souveniers.

I guess it is the visual stimulation that makes this a must see for me. The first view of the Bay of Naples while on the tour (at least ours) just took my breath away. Naples itself (at that time at least) was a grimy, filthy port city, but one could only wonder at the splendour of the view from way up on the Amalfi drive.

P.S. if you don't have time for the Blue Grotto, IMO, the only reason to go to Capri is to say you have been on the Isle of Capri.

Hi CFCer

I don't know if you remember my trip last fall, but we spent 2 weeks in Italy and a full week of it was in a Villa on the Amalfi coast. If you want I will link you to my thread I posted at CC after I returned which went into great detail. It is too bad that you have to make the choice between the two as both are tremendous. The Amalfi Coast highway is a nightmare to drive and those charter buses were the bane of my driving experience on the road. In Minori, traffic was stopped for miles because a group of buses were in the narrow streets in opposite direction. As they straightened out the traffic jam, we were on our way to Positano heading west and these buses were heading east. On one side was a granite cliff and on the other a 3 foot high concrete barrier. The corners are absolutely blind, and we had to pull up to the granite cliff with the windows folded in on the side of my rental Renault (actually Magrane) (we were literally almost touching the cliff, which required great effort on my part to get my car there with my passengers and Italians gesturing at me). Then this bus went by on my side so close that I just knew I was going to have a long discussion at the rental car company on the return! Amazingly the bus got by. The drive is spectacular, but if you are at all prone to car sickness take some meds!!! Pompeii or Herculaneum (better for a quick viewing IMHO than Pompeii) are spectacular sites. The best thing about Herculaneum is that the site has most everything that Pompei has but in a smaller place, so you can walk thru it faster. The real treasures are in the National Musuem in Naples. Capri is the equal or better to any of the cities on the Amalfi coast, and the shopping is more Beverly Hills than the other towns. We never made it to Sorrento in our week because the drive to Sorrento was so taxing on the driver. We were close to the mainland in the town of Maori and it was about a 45 minute drive in a car to Positano. I am pretty sure that between Sorrento and Capri you will get a good feel for the Amalfi coast.

So, if I had to make your hard choice, I would choose the hydrofoil and ferries. Since the distances and times are pretty big, if you decide to do this on your own. I would check into the train schedules before you leave to get to your next port of call in case you miss the ship!

You will love the area, Capri is beautiful. Pompeii and Herculaneum are very impressive.

jc

PM me as I probably won't see this again or better yet email me at
xpcdoojk@yahoo.com

see you around!

hm... I guess funnily (is that a word?) enough that was one of the appeals for me was to say that I've been to Capri! I heard that the tram ride to the town provides a great view of the island and the Med. No?

I'm not all that interested in seeing Sorrento. It was more that I wanted to go to Capri.

but your description of Amalfi is just wonderful. However, maybe I should take some Bonine in advance as I tend to get motionsick and driving on winding roads cliffside might not make my stomach too happy!

For me, my only MUST DO for Naples was Pompeii. for me i wouldn't miss that for the world.

Now you've got me leaning towards Amalfi!

Thanks so much Doc, I really appreciate the help!

JC - its been awhile! good to see you on here!

hm... right when I read Doc's review I was leaning towards Amalfi, now I'm back towards Capri!

its so hard to decide.

I love photography and taking pictures of beautiful landscapes, etc. does that help anyone in pointing me in the right direction???

there is a tour that is being offered that is in a small car that will go to positano, but the cost is just so prohibitive.

its really a shame that we have to choose one or the other.

as for Herculaneum, i had thought about that too. but i have decided that i am going to do this trip through the ship, so Herculaneum is all but out unless i want to do just Pompeii and Herculaneum and nothing else.

Choices Choices.....

In fifteen days, I am going to be there!!! We chose to see Pompeii and lunch on the Amalfi Coast...although Herculaneum and Capri were also options. We couldn't do it all with the time we have, and it was hard choosing between them. I chose the Amalfi Coast over Capri because I want to avoid the Rodeo Drive type scene. I want things to be as Italian as possible, and seeing the "beautiful people" shop at very expensive and exclusive shops is something I got enough of when I lived near Rodeo Drive! So I chose the spectacular cliffside scenery with the 5 star lunch. I chose Pompeii over Herculaneum only because I would kick myself if I was that close to Pompeii and didn't see it. From everything I have heard, Herculaneum is actually the better site. But Pompeii is something I have wanted to see all my life...ever since I was a little girl intrigued with history. Now that I am a grown woman intrugued with history I feel like I need to follow that dream!

THL - thats exactly the way I feel about Pompeii. I have heard from others that Herculaneum is better but I've always been fascinated by Pompeii.

You'll have to tell me all about Amalfi when you get back. I want to see pics too!

For me, I'm a 10 minute walk away from Rodeo Drive. Is Capri Town really like that?

Originally Posted by jstducky

THL - thats exactly the way I feel about Pompeii. I have heard from others that Herculaneum is better but I've always been fascinated by Pompeii.

You'll have to tell me all about Amalfi when you get back. I want to see pics too!

For me, I'm a 10 minute walk away from Rodeo Drive. Is Capri Town really like that?

I'll probably swamp the gallery with photos!!