Sorrento Travel Forum

Hi Everyone, I have really enjoyed the forum on Sorrento.
My Question is:
We are arriving in Naples from Crete, at 11.30am mid september, we will be picking up a hire car, I had decided to stay in Positano, I am rethinking this as I am concerned about the steep streets in Positano and where to park the car.
Am I better staying in Sorrento and doing my day trips by car to Positano, Pompeii, Capri etc. Or is the parking not so bad in Positano. Are we wasting valualbe time staying in Positano as sights seem to be closer to Sorrento?
We have 5 days to see the sights on Amalfi coast and drive to Rome for 3 days.

Kindest Regards
Linda

Positano is a great base to explore the Amalfi Coast as well as Capri and Pompeii. Unfortunately parking is a problem indeed; it is hard to find and ridiculously expensive. I recommend you check with your hotel if they have parking available; if they don't, you may consider a different hotel. If you don't have a choice, I would consider staying in Sorrento.

Once in Positano, best option to explore Amalfi Coast is by public transportation (bus or, if not to late in September, shuttle boats). Of course you shall take a boat to Capri. The only destination for which you may want to use the car is Pompeii, but you may also want to check in Positano for some guided tour.

Once in the Amalfi Coast I recommend you allot one full-day to visit Amalfi and Ravello. You can get from Positano to Amalfi by bus or boat and from Amalfi to Ravello by bus. Just like Positano, parking in Amalfi and Ravello is hard to find and ridiculously expensive.

Enjoy your trip!
Giuseppe

We stayed in Positano last April. my question to you: are you a good driver, and do you like to drive?! the narrow winding road, La Strada Nazionale, runs along the Amalfi Coast, from Sorrento to Salerno.
It is literally like a bookshelf: one lane in each direction, but there are some elbows and chokepoints
which shave it down. however, you get scrumptious views-and isn't that why we travel?! you will
enjoy the driving challenge. We paid 20 Euro per day for parking at the Villa Rosa Hotel. On the one
day we did take the Zita (municipal) bus into Sorrento, it didn't show; the next one was 50 minutes later, ruining our connections. also, you must go to Le Tre Sorelle Ristorance on the beach in Positano. Have the linguine w/fresh clams, and feed the owner's dog, Pago!

I think you might be better based in Sorrento, personally (and parking will certainly be easier). You will have easy access to ferries/hydrofoils as well as buses and the Circumvesuviana train (better to use this for Pompeii/Herculaneum/Villa Poppea than try to park, imo). Apart from the parking issue, you'll have to travel the coast road before you start on your journey to anywhere, and this will eat into your time for the reasons given below.

Whilst there are plenty of more difficult roads in the UK, the Amalfi coast road does get very busy and journeys along it can be slow (little chance of overtaking a lorry grinding along). It's not scary as such (imo) but you won't see much of the scenery if you are driving; concentrating on the road will take up your time.

The bus ride from Sorrento to Amalfi is excellent (regular buses from outside Sorrento station) and well worth doing so you can actually see the views (sit on the right going, on the left coming back). I have travelogues of both journeys on my Amalfi page; the bus had to go slowly so often that photos were feasible!

Positano looks lovely (I did not stop there this time) but, for parking and onward travel, you will be better off based in Sorrento imo.

Absolutely agree with Leics (as usual!!). To be honest, I wouldn't bother about a car at all. I would take the train from Naples to Sorrento, and use the bus to explore the Amalfi Coast. And the train to go to Pompeii, Herculaneum, etc. Then the train from Naples to Rome. All much less hassle.

I agree 100% with hawkhead. Lose the car. Too much like hard work in that part of the world.

We have driven the Amalfi Coast roads during peak season and while crowded were hardly unmanageable. For Pompeii, the train is the best bet but for visiting Amalfi and especially breathtaking Ravello the car will save a great deal of time, especially because the SITA bus schedules are etched in jello. The scenery along the way is spectacular and far better appreciated from a car than from a bus seat. Many of the hotels in Positano, including ours, offered parking and strolling the admittedly hilly streets is one of the great features.

For returning the car to Rome, we have dumped the car at the Fiumcino airport and then taken the train system into Rome, either the express to Termini or the local for Tiburtina depending on where your hotel is located. Driving in Rome is infinitely worse than on the Amalfi Coast and the trip up from Sorrento or Positano is almost all wide open autostrada, fast and easy.

There is a trade off.

A car on the Amalfi coast gives to you freedom of moving around. And somewhere to stop just for a quick photo.
But it give you also the hassle about parking (in august I had my trouble to park my motorbike!!!)

Public transportation may be the perfect relax; just seat and look and say wow!
But it implies also the hassle about their schedule (and late).

Mid September may be less crowded but it is still close to high season.

Take note that parking problem is not just about how expensive it is, but how much you are beloved by gods to find one!

Better Positano or Sorrento for daily trip by car?
It depends on your planned trips. Pompeii/Herculaneum/Villa Poppea better from Sorrento. Amalfi, Revello, Praiano... better from Positano.
Capri is a good boat trip from both.

What I would like more? Positano. (and a Vespa scooter)

Ciao e buon viaggio
Marco

Thank you very much for your advice, we have decided to rely on public transport for the Amalfi Coast then drive from Sorrento to Rome only.

Thanks you very much footstool for your advice, we have decided to rely on public transport for the Amalfi Coast then drive from Sorrento to Rome only. And you bet we will try the Pasta at your recommendation. We are true foodies, it is one of the joys of travel isn't it.