My husband and I will be on a cruise in November stopping in Srorrento and the next day in Amalfi..In Sorrento we have decided to take the day there but the next day in Amalfi 9am to 50pm we have hired a car and driver and will go to Ravello for lunch..just wondering if you have suggestions for an itinerary for a day..no churches some shopping and nice towns to walk around in..
Thanks,
Jan

Hi Jan,
Nice to see you here!
We were on the Amalfi Coast last May and went one day from Amalfi up to Ravello (on the bus!). It is simply breath-taking. There are two gorgeous gardens with heart-stopping views. We just peeked in at one but we bought tickets and spent a lot of time in the Villa Cinbrone. It's a bit of a walk over there but it's definitely worth it.

We had a nice lunch (with another wonderful view) at Hotel Maria, which we passed on the way to Villa Cinbrone. (I hope I am spelling that right.)

Ravello is also a nice place to buy ceramic hand-painted egg cups, plates, lemoncello glasses, wine corks etc for gifts etc. I wish I had bought more of them.

You will love Ravello and Amalfi too.

Carol

As you have a driver... you will not have any parking problems at all. If you haven't seen Positano yet your driver could drop you there if you like and pick you back up later at an arranged time. We go there from Sorrento early in the morning and either miss the crowds altogether or are leaving as they are arriving.
Of course, as you want to go to Ravello for lunch, then Brahmama's ideas for the gardens and views sound perfect. So perfect that I would like to do that in October myself. I've had lunch there before but this sounds splendid.
Leslie.

Hi,
Thanks so much for the great info, I think we will do Positano and Ravello..that sounds like fun..and if we pass any other small villages on the way I am sure we will have time to stop and shop..
Jan

Dear Jan,
When the ship is docked in Sorrento, that would be the day to try to include Positano. Positano is lovely and unique.

To go all the way from Sorrento, including Positano and then to Ravello would be very risky. (not far on the map, but a very close, trafficked road albeit wonderful scenery)

When your ship is docked in Amalfi, that would be the time to go up to Ravello.

Anyway, that is how we would do it, after seeing the traffic last May. And it was hotter than we expected. Of course we were also on the very crowded buses, usually standing room only. Since you have a driver it will be much better, BUT, you never know about traffic on the Amalfi Coast road.

And of course, you will be in November, with probably much less traffic!

Carol

I agree completely with Carol. Use your day docked at Sorrento to go to Positano, which is much more picturesque, has fewer package tourists and more interesting boutiques. It will cost you a driver for the day, but you are likely to enjoy it much more than Sorrento.

Use your Amalfi day for Amalfi itself, which has some pretty good shopping as well (including a few designer boutiques) and for Ravello. I also concur with Carol's suggestion of lunch at the Villa Maria; if you can eat outside, the view is splendid. If you are looking for a high-end restaurant, the one at the Palazzo Sasso is reputed to be very good.

Since I have been in Amalfi once..if I wanted to spend the day with the car and driver..can you give me some routes excluding Ravello??
Thanks,
Jan

My teenage daughter and I are travelling in Italy for 2 weeks in mid July, starting in Rome, going to the Amalfi coast and then to Tuscany. We would like to actually stay in Positano or a neighboring town. Any recommendations? I would love air conditioning if possible!

Jan, I hope someone else will come up with a route for you.

My knowledge of the Amalfi Coast is restricted to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. (I did go further down the coast to Salerno and Paestum, but I was with a "churches-and-museums" tour.) I would have liked to spend some time (window-)shopping in Vietri sul Mare, where the ceramics are supposed to be splendid (certainly, some old ones that I saw in a palazzo in Sicily were breathtaking), but I have no personal knowledge of what is available and so cannot really advise.

In November, Capri is far too risky, with far too much possibility of boats being cancelled. And, for all I know, you may dock there for a day anyway.

Hang in there - I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than myself can make good suggestions.

Whatever you decide, enjoy, enjoy! The Amalfi Coast is singularly beautiful.

quote:

Vietri sul Mare

Eloise, where is Vietri Sul Mare that may be a place to go from Amalfi..
You have all been wonderful I am so glad my friend told me about this board!!
Jan

Vietri sul Mare is about 10 miles south of Amalfi.

Here's a Web site about the towns of the Amalfi Coast, including Vietri sul Mare. Perhaps it will give you some ideas.

And here is information about the ceramics of Vietri sul Mare.

I'm glad somebody finally mentioned the November weather to you!

November can of course have many clear days, but having been in the Amalfi in sun, rain and fog, I don't think one can plan around the idea of a lunch in Ravello (especially someplace as expensive as Palazzo Sasso) will be worthwhile at that time of year.

Likewise, Positano is a beautiful place, but it is not at its best in rain and fog. It can look rather forlorn.

In addtion, many shops are closed in November because the weather predictably keeps tourism low.

Ceramics shopping in Vietri Sul Mare doesn't require sunny weather, however. You can get an idea of whether their selection interests you by looking online.

http://www.vietri.com/

Does anything in Naples interest you? With a driver, you could see some fantastic sights.

I don't mean to "rain on your parade," but planning for the Amalfi in November means taking the local climate conditions into account. Given the cost of hiring a driver, you might want to draw up a rainy day alternative plan before committing yourself to the cost of private driver. Or arrange for some kind of cancellation fee.

Thank you all so much for the help and wonderful websites..it has been wonderful..I appreciate all the info..I am going to post one more on question on Italy..