Help with Italy itinerary please

[Johnny199r]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I think we'll probably do a day trip by train to the Naples area. My wife and I have been to Pompeii, so I appreciate the note on Herculaneum. Seems more our speed. Lots of ideas so far that will combine well with that also!

The Spanish Quarter of Naples is very cool. I spent a nice evening swimming in the harbour with lots of other locals. I really like that city.

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by Nyah

Rome is totally doable with kids, they'll love it. Although be warned that in the summer it's going to be hot and busy. Like, really busy, packed.

If you're heading far enough south I highly recommend Sorrento! It's a very cool little town and there's a bunch to see and do.

Edit: Like Jimmy S says above, Pompeii is very cool. Block off a long day for it though, there's a lot to see and explore.

Sorrento is really nice to visit but can be expensive to stay in. I went last September and stayed in Vico Equense. It's right on the train line between Naples and Sorrento with stops in Pompeii too. The place we stayed at was a huge villa with an apartment for us and a larger apartment for a family of 4. It had its own pool and a restaurant and was 1/2 of the cost of something similar in any of the larger coastal towns.

link: https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/12742521...oKU3c57U1Y%2Ft

The owner was super chill and actually recognized when I said I was from Calgary because he was good buddies with Alberto Tomba. So random.

[Matty81]

Always nice reading about great places to go in Italy even if the trip changed . Naples, Amalfi, Pompei is a great 4 day spot.

If I had to pick just one area to go to and only 4 days in Italy I'd probably pick Tuscany and wander around between Siena and Florence though, it just has it all while still not feeling stressful or too busy, the food is great, beautiful countryside with lots of pretty towns like san gimignano, two awesome cities with tons of amazing sights to see and you can get to spezia in under 2 hrs if you want to see that coast and dip in the ocean. Venice is the kind of place you want to see once and it is beautiful but I find the level of tourism stifling and never really leave feeling all that relaxed. But at a younger life stage I would have for sure chosen Rome for the culture and nightlife.

Portugal looks cool as well... never been but its high on the list of places to check out!

[SebC]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I think we'll probably do a day trip by train to the Naples area. My wife and I have been to Pompeii, so I appreciate the note on Herculaneum. Seems more our speed. Lots of ideas so far that will combine well with that also!

Naples for me is not a day trip, it's a base for several day trips (Amalfi, Capri, Pompei/Hercalaneum, Vesuvius).

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by bizaro86

I think we'll probably do a day trip by train to the Naples area. My wife and I have been to Pompeii, so I appreciate the note on Herculaneum. Seems more our speed. Lots of ideas so far that will combine well with that also!

Other have suggested Sorrento, which is also a great town for wandering. It is at the end of the same train line that goes from Naples, past Herculaneum and Pompeii, and the on to Sorrento. So definitely give yourselves some time in that area if in that area if you're adding that on.

When we went this past summer, we stayed in a place called Castellammare di Stabia, which is technically part of the Naples metro area, but much cheaper than Sorrento (which is very, very expensive in high season). And on the same train line mentioned above. It was one of those places (like many in Italy) that seems chaotic and annoying at first, but once you're used to it, you start crossing the street like a local.

The region is a bit of a can of worms. You get lured there by the Vesuvius and the archaeological sites, then "we're quite close to Sorrento", then the rest of the Amalfi coast is just around the corner, Capri, and that's not even considering the actual city of Naples, which isn't scary and crime-laden as some older guide books would have you believe. Consider that when setting aside some time - it might be worth an overnight stay or even two or three if you want to dig a bit deeper. Edit: What SebC just said in fewer words!