Anonymous wrote:OP here. This is helpful. I'm flying in on September 8th at 11am or so and flying out early on September 13. I only have the rest of Monday the 8th, plus Tuesday-Friday of that week in Italy. It's a very short trip unfortunately.

Here's my rough itinerary:
Monday afternoon: Trevi, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese Gardens
Tuesday: Vatican, Coliseum, Roman Forum
Wednesday: Train to Florence (day trip)
Thursday: Overnight in Positano?
Friday: Return from Positano?
Saturday: Depart

Maybe squeezing Positano is not worth it given my time constraints...

So you have 4.5 days on the ground. Not sure why you would leave Rome at all- that's the minimum I would stay there as part of a longer trip. Instead of Florence I would do a mini-trip to Ostia Antica or the Via Appia Antica. The rest of the time there is so much to see/do in Rome itself. Should be nice weather also- still hot but probably not overwhelming.

OP here. This is helpful. I'm flying in on September 8th at 11am or so and flying out early on September 13. I only have the rest of Monday the 8th, plus Tuesday-Friday of that week in Italy. It's a very short trip unfortunately.

Here's my rough itinerary:
Monday afternoon: Trevi, Spanish Steps, Villa Borghese Gardens
Tuesday: Vatican, Coliseum, Roman Forum
Wednesday: Train to Florence (day trip)
Thursday: Overnight in Positano?
Friday: Return from Positano?
Saturday: Depart

Maybe squeezing Positano is not worth it given my time constraints...

It depends how much you want to see and be in Rome. I personally love Rome but prefer other places in Italy to Rome. Rome is just another big city and I say this being a city girl and having seen a shitload of cities. The only 3 cities that I could spend more than a wk in include Paris, Tokyo and Manhattan. Vatican adds to Rome sights but otherwise, you have the top sights to see and that's a wrap.

I wouldn't do Italy or any European city for 7 days or less though. I would do 11 days min. European countries are laid out so that train travel works to see multiple sights. It's a different culture than US where you stick to one city at a time. Around the world, people have trains that make moving around easy

So if you only have 7 days, do Rome and take a couple day trips. Go back and plan a longer trip to hit Positano etc. if you can arrange a longer trip this time, hit Positano or consider Ponza or Ischia islands. Positano is truly amazing but you can also hit other towns not as crowded but be aware that Positano is the easiest to hit going that way because it's first up. Or go to Amalfi off season and hit multiple towns there.

Is Positano worthwhile? It really depends on what you like, how many days you have and what floats your boat. Going to Amalfi is about enjoying the water. It's not about beaches but sauntering and ambiance. It's about beauty that's definitive of a Mediterranean coast. It's just beautiful but it's about scenery. So if that floats your boat, yeah, go to Positano but yes you want an overnight stay there and a boat ride to get enough out of it.

Yes to two nights, Positano not Sorrento.

2 nights definitely.

We are about to go to Rome and Positano but no way would we have gone to Positano for 1 night. By the time to take the train down to Naples, then ferry or transfer to Positano, you've lost most of the day. Then you have to trek back the next day. I'd spend 2 nights.

Fwiw, I hate crowds and when we went to the Amalfi coast we didn’t go to sorrento or Capri and we only spent one day and night in Positano, which was by far the most crowded. Otherwise we stayed in Ravello, Conca Dei Marini, Praiano etc. We did a walking tour and for the most part, once you get off the beaten path a bit it is no less beautiful but way, way less crowded. More lemons than people for miles. So there are a lot of places to spend a night or two that aren’t crowded.

I would make it at least two nights staying in Sorrento. On the way to Sorrento visit Pompei. From Sorrento you can take a short boat ride to Capri (go early…first boat) or a car ride to Positano. Sorrento is very walkable, Positano less so.

We spent a week in Rome a couple years ago and there was definitely enough to keep us busy. We did a day trip to Pompeii — would have combined with Naples but my kids were tired. You can do one day driving trips from Rome where they take you to Pompeii and positano but I think it’s a very long day with a lot of drive time. I considered doing train to Pompeii and then car service to positano from there but decided it was more schlep than my family could manage.

A lot of people recommend Ostia antica as a nice day trip from Rome.

I’ve also heard people say Salerno is nice and less crowded than positano and sorrento but doesn’t have the wow factor of positano I guess.

If I was gong to done one other city and add it as an overnight I would do the fast train to Florence. I decided that was too much for my family that needs at least some downtime on a trip. I had basically zero desire for downtime and spent every minute my family was resting wandering the streets of Rome and buying pastry.

Anonymous wrote:Neither are quick to reach from Rome. We're talking about 3-4 hours on transit plus the time involved with getting to the station in Rome and to the hotel and checking in on the other end. I'd do it if it was two nights but just for one night? September is a pretty good time to go to the Amalfi peninsula as it's after the peak tourist season and the heat has calmed down a bit.

If you want a taste of the Mediterranean, have you considered places like Sperlonga, which is a lot closer to Rome?

We were in Positano on Sept a couple of years ago and it was just a sea of people— maybe it’s worse earlier in summer but I wouldn’t expect “shoulder season” crowds.

Neither are quick to reach from Rome. We're talking about 3-4 hours on transit plus the time involved with getting to the station in Rome and to the hotel and checking in on the other end. I'd do it if it was two nights but just for one night? September is a pretty good time to go to the Amalfi peninsula as it's after the peak tourist season and the heat has calmed down a bit.

If you want a taste of the Mediterranean, have you considered places like Sperlonga, which is a lot closer to Rome?

No. Positano is crazy crowded and inconvenie to Rome and it’s really just a town stuck on a hillside— yes it’s pretty but it’s not a mist see day trip destination.

If you want to see an island go to Ponza or even Ischia. If you want to go that far south go see Pompeii. If you want a day trip from Rome see Orvieto or even Florence. Etc.

Are you really just staying put in Rome for a solid week or are you doing day trips elsewhere?

While there is plenty to do in Rome, I think you’ll have more of an adventure if you hop around a bit to see other parts of Italy.

I’ve been to upwards of a dozen places in Rome—including Sorrento. Haven’t been to Positano yet but it is on my list for next summer. From what I’ve read, Positano sounds better than Sorrento.

But yes, definitely make it to the coast—and get on a boat. You need to see the coast from the boat.

I think it depends on why you’re spending a week in Rome. Is it a work trip? Like if you only get one day in that week to do tourist things, stay in Rome. But if you are touristing in Rome all week, yeah maybe it’s worth going on an excursion or two?

Will be in Rome for a week in September. Everyone I've spoken with says I have to see Positano or Sorrento. Is it worth going there (i.e., Positano) for an overnight stay?