Amalfi Coast/Naples - Must See's

[Anonymous]

We are headed to the Amalfi coast this summer. Flying in and out of Naples. Family trip, kids are 7 and 9. What are your must see's. Any side trips or day trips you'd recommend? Thanks so much for your help.

[Anonymous]

Pompeii!! We were there last month - it was amazing. But it was already hot then, so be prepared for serious heat in the summer.

[Anonymous]

The top spots are well known. My only advice is to get up early and visit places while others are having breakfast and its not too hot. Places like Capri are jammed by noon. We would visit places early, find a nice place for lunch and relax in the afternoon by the pool and then visit some other place in the early evening when the buses were gone and then have a late dinner.

[Anonymous]

Ristorante Da Ciccio Cielo Mare Terra was excellent.

Also recommend strolling around Ravello.
Liked the beach at Praiano.

[Anonymous]

Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Capri.

Stay in Positano and boat to Capri.

I would not spend much time in Naples. Get to the coast!

[Anonymous]

Make sure you get a bus or car that goes down the coastal highway. Sit on the right (if you dare) and gasp at the beauty. Inhale the scent of the oranges and lemons that grow in impossible profusion on the terraced hills above you. This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. (avoid Capri, it's a tourist trap). Early mornings and evenings just after dusk are the best time to be out.

[Anonymous]

I agree Capri is a tourist trap but it's also amazingly beautiful. It's a must to spend the night so you can avoid the crowds before 10/11 and after 4/5. This evening morning and evening hours are heavenly. Worth 1-2 nights.

Positano is or favorite but also at its best in the evening hours or on one of the smaller beaches during the day.

Ravello is heavenly and Amalfi very charming but extra tourist-laden due to the ability of tour buses to access and park. Haven't been to Sorrento but heard it is also nice with charming shops. Pompeii is a must see but I advise arriving as late as 3 or 4. Most tour groups will be winding down and you will still have plenty of daylight and the beginnings of some shade. I would skip Naples. We spent one day and it was too much.

[Anonymous]

Loved Naples and have stayed there a number of times for a few days. It is nitty-gritty but has the best food in Italy and very vibrant urban character and plenty of historic churches and museums to see. It really is unique and a love it or hate it place. Perhaps you'll like it, perhaps you won't. Just be open minded. And remember there's a lot more to Naples than the area by the train station.

Try to stay overnight on Capri. And do swim in the Mediterranean.

Sorrento is just a tourist spot lined with big hotels rather than anything special. IT's a decent base for exploring the Amalfi coast. but the other towns are prettier.

It tends to take a long time to get around the coast because the roads are narrow and winding and often blocked with big tour buses driving ever so slowly.

[Anonymous]

I really enjoyed the Naples Archealogical Museum. Lots of of then ”good” stuff from Pompeii is there, intact murals and some large sculptures from the bathhouses. There’s even a “naughty room” with the stuff found at the Pompeii brothels.

I only had about an hour to walk around due to the timing of our trip (we came in from Rome by train and we’re staying in Sorrento). I had my 3 and 7 year old, too and it kept their interest.

We did Pompeii with a kid-friendly tour guide at Pompeii which I recommend. It made it a lot more intetestinf for all of us...otherwise the charm would have worn off pretty quickly.

If we go to the area again we’d go to the other uncovered city, Herculelaneum.

My kids’ favorite thing about the trip was all the gelato.

[Anonymous]

We also really liked Herculaneum. It’s a good complement to Pompeii.

We stayed in Ravello for a couple of nights which we loved. Truly beautiful views but of course not on the beach.

[Anonymous]

This is kid specific advice:

Climb to the top of Vesuvius.

Don’t be surprised if Pompeii is overwhelming. Just walk around a bit. It’s a lot. Huge and hard to navigate.

There is a secret beach near sorrento. We stayed in a lemon grove near it. It was amazing. Google Regina Giovanna secret beach. If that doesn’t work let me know and I’ll find it for you.

The best part of Capri was the ski lift to top of mt solarno. My kids loved that. There are also walks down to beaches and restaurants which are predominantly accessed by boat. Good gelato in Capri town. Look for the long line.

Riding a bus is pretty but nauseating. Especially for kids. Just be ready for that. It was pretty bad.

There is a blue or emerald grotto.

A somewhat hidden beach called fiordo furore beach. Between positano and Amalfi.

Hike the path of the gods! You must. It takes about 3 hours.

Paestum is the site of Greek ruins with well preserved temples. When we went a few months ago you could climb all over them. It’s amazing. It’s also where they make buffalo mozzarella. You can see the buffalo farms and sample fresh buffalo milk yogurt.

Matera is about 3 hours away from Naples but so, so worth it. We stayed in a cave house that has been inhabited for thousands of years. It’s so not touristy like Amalfi. It’s just delightful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Positano, Ravello, Sorrento, Capri.

Stay in Positano and boat to Capri.

I would not spend much time in Naples. Get to the coast!

Agree with this, and another vote for the Greek ruins at Paestum if you want another day trip idea. (From Positano, you can take the boat ferry to Salerno and then take the train from Salerno to Paestum.)

[Anonymous]

Ischia - way less touristed than Capri and it has hot springs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is kid specific advice:

Climb to the top of Vesuvius.

Don’t be surprised if Pompeii is overwhelming. Just walk around a bit. It’s a lot. Huge and hard to navigate.

There is a secret beach near sorrento. We stayed in a lemon grove near it. It was amazing. Google Regina Giovanna secret beach. If that doesn’t work let me know and I’ll find it for you.

The best part of Capri was the ski lift to top of mt solarno. My kids loved that. There are also walks down to beaches and restaurants which are predominantly accessed by boat. Good gelato in Capri town. Look for the long line.

Riding a bus is pretty but nauseating. Especially for kids. Just be ready for that. It was pretty bad.

There is a blue or emerald grotto.

A somewhat hidden beach called fiordo furore beach. Between positano and Amalfi.

Hike the path of the gods! You must. It takes about 3 hours.

Paestum is the site of Greek ruins with well preserved temples. When we went a few months ago you could climb all over them. It’s amazing. It’s also where they make buffalo mozzarella. You can see the buffalo farms and sample fresh buffalo milk yogurt.

Matera is about 3 hours away from Naples but so, so worth it. We stayed in a cave house that has been inhabited for thousands of years. It’s so not touristy like Amalfi. It’s just delightful.

This is awesome!

We were there in october, but if (when!?) we go back I am following this. My kids will be older and more up for hiking.

[Anonymous]

Get out of Naples as fast as you can. Pompeii is interesting but so hot and touristy. My kids loved the museum at the end with the video that simulated what it was like to be in the quake

Amalfi is not that great—-but a do not miss for your kids is the paper mill in downtown Amalfi

My kids still talk about it two years later. It is not expensive and so interesting and old school.

Make sure you go to Ravello-
That was our favorite town in Amalfi- not easy to get to but oh so beautiful. Go to the gardens—majestic views...we only planned an hour there and should have stayed 3

All the beaches in Amalfi and the surrounding towns are small and stone/rock. My kids hated it —we hired a driver as it is nearly impossible to make the drive.

We rented a boat and went to Ischisia—it was ok...nice to see the coast from the water.

Ischia wasnt that great—pretty crowded.