Our Irish recommendations for visiting the many tourist attractions that the Bay of Naples, Italy has to offer.
Link to video image montage of Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast visit:-
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Isle of Capri Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/UJ4kRyObdvc
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Vesuvius Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/vi7PN1-JPyw
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Pompeii Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/fMHL_yB62KI
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Herculaneum Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/2eWTrZD8gew
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Sorrento Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/9s8VXrqtoJM
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Amalfi Coast by Bus Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/4PuYbgT5LHQ
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Amalfi Coast by Boat Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/XWhdUwmqD7k
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus AnaCapri chair lift Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/B7p_hgEFAqM
Youtube link to the JustRetired50Plus Monte Faito cable car Video:-
To view the video select:- https://youtu.be/YXxKzUO0LVs
A sense of the City of the Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast
The Bay of Naples and the Amalfi coast are incredible regions of Italy to visit and with so many amazing things to see and do, you’ll be spoilt for choice once you arrive. There are lots of things to do across this whole region. It doesn’t matter if you’re visiting for a quick stopover, a long weekend or a few weeks.
Capri is a beautiful island that lies to the south of the Bay of Naples, just a few kilometres from the end of the Sorrento peninsula. Although is a small island of roughly 4 by 2 miles, it still has a lot to offer any visitor.
Naples historically was the largest, most picturesque, highly sought after region in Southern Italy by the Romans. It is packed with countless historical landmarks, museums and churches. It can be loud, dirty and seems to be bursting at the seams with the mass of people living in high density apartments and those visiting this very popular holiday region.
The best time to visit:
Spring ( Mar - May): Beautiful weather and fewer crowds, Avoid Easter and National holidays, Apr 25th and May 1st, respectively.
Summer (Jun - Aug): Peak season, crowded and hottest time of the year.
Autumn (Sept - Nov): Another great time to visit. The weather is mild, but many businesses start to close for the season in November.
Winter (Dec - Feb): It is cold and wet, with choppy seas. Businesses are closed and there are limited ferry services.
Naples
The historic wealth of Naples was used to fund the industrial expansion of northern Italy. As a consequence it has lost its status and glamour while still offering a fascinating collection of museums, churches and architecture. The best frescoes and mosaics of Pompeii and Herculaneum ended up in the Naples Archaeological Museum. Take time to explore Naples (watch out for the vespas). This living medieval city is its own best attraction. This pulse of Italy with its captivating Italian accent, Italian food, history and superb weather for two thirds of the year, has to be seen to be believed, (See Naples and die).
Vesuvius
Vesuvius last erupted in 1944, it has been dormant since then. It originally erupted in 79 AD covering the surrounding towns in ash, which captured them as they were then, only to be excavated to form a timestamp of historic importance today. After completing visits to either or both of Pompeii or Herculaneum, complete your experience by scaling the volcano that made them both famous. Vesuvius now stands 1300m high compared with its original height of 2000m. Shortly after the eruption, the top 700m of Vesuvius was blown sky high and then deposited itself over the area to the south downwind of the volcano itself.
The summit is now accessible via walking, car, bus or taxi. It is a lunar-like landscape, now desolate. It is steep often cold and windy 30 minute hike to the top from the carpark, for a sweeping vista of the Bay of Naples below.
Pompeii
Visitors to Pompeii are given a window back into history of a 2000 years ago and it offers an understanding of what life must have been like back then. An entire city, over an area of 65 hectares, has been uncovered from under 7m of dirt and volcanic ash, for the visitor to explore. It is an archaeologists dream come true. From these ruins they have learned about daily roman life in 79AD.
Herculaneum
Smaller and better preserved under 20m of volcanic dust, Herculaneum is a time capsule of that time at the height of the Roman era of supremacy. It is less crowded than its big sister city, Pompeii. It is a smaller area of relatively intact buildings with surprisingly well preserved detail. Both Herculaneum and Vesuvius are accessible from the town of Ercolano. They are just 500m walking from the train station and a 20 minute bus journey, also from the train station (Ercolano Scavi) carpark, respectively.
Sorrento
Sorrento is well positioned as both a base to stay while visiting the area and as a sight seeing destination itself, just an hour south of Naples. It is built on a cliff between the mountains and the Mediterranean sea. At peak season, tourists can match in size the population of Sorrento at 20,000 people. It can both be used as a gateway to Capri by ferry from its port and as a starting point for your coach journey of the Amalfi coast. Sorrento features an unspoilt old quarter, a spectacular cliff side setting and a lively main shopping street. Everyone seems to speak good English and it is peppered with lemon and olive groves throughout the town.
Amafi Coast
The Amalfi coast offers one of the world’s great bus rides. The coastal journey from Sorrento to Salerno will afford the passenger ample opportunities for Instagram photo classic moments. You cannot but be left with a deep respect for those engineers and builders who build it in the first instance and even more respect for the bus drivers who routinely drive this stretch of road. All the while, the Mediterranean sparkles a mere 500m drop below you.
The Amalfi coast towns are generally pretty but bursting with tourists. They are generally overpriced and congested and all the small towns along the way are a very long hike upwards from tiny beaches. So sit back in the bus and enjoy the ride.
Capri
Capri is a beautiful island that lies in the south if the Naples Bay. It is build on top of a block of limestone rocks. It is known for its crystal clear turquoise waters.
It does attract big crowds. As with all tourist hotspots, it can be expensive to eat there, should you choose to do so. Capri was initially made famous by the roman emperors Tiberius and Augustus using it as their hide away holiday vacation spot. But, today it is colonised during day time hours by tourists looking to see the rich and famous. Prices are commensurate with Milan and Rome haute couture districts. Via Camerelle leads to a path of shops displaying current fashion at its finest, with dreamy window displays and deluxe price tags.
Piazzetta square, a lively shopping hub and a good location to take in the sights, people watch and have a coffee. It can be reached by the funicular from the sea level Marina Grande. Marina Grande is the key transportation hub for visiting the whole island. Its beach is free also.
Its chief attractions are an all island boat tip, the Blue Grotto and its Cable Chair lift from Anacapri to the summit on Monte Solaro. Not recommended for anyone scared of heights. The round trip takes 40 minutes, with amazing views of Naples Bay and Sorrento from the summit. Also in AnaCapri visit Axel Munthe’s Villa San Michele with its fabulous gardens overlooking Ischia Island, he spent his whole life creating them.
Capri is reached by ferry with port connections from Naples and Sorrento.
It is especially popular among celebrities and honeymooners.
When planning a visit to one of the most popular regions in southern Italy, there are a few tips and suggestions that we recommend.
Our observations and tips from our trips to the Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast
The only thing predictable about the Bay of Naples and the Amalfi Coastline is the friendliness of its shopkeepers and the boldness of its motorcycle and car drivers.
The region is blessed with a very good groundwater system allied to this it has volcanic fertile soil, making it one of the garden food production areas for Italy, for particularly: Oranges, Lemons, Kiwi, Olives, Nuts, Grapes, Tomatoes. Tip: If you see the nets covering the top of the orchards then they are protecting the cirrus fruits for the wind and the sun. Alternately, if the nets are on the ground, they are positioned for Olive harvesting.
Keep a bottle of water handy during your trips as there can be a reasonable degree of walking and climbing involved.
There is only one main roadway in and out of Piano Di Sorrento. At peak times there can be long traffic delays on this road. Large tour buses, although skilfully driven, can lead to delays and congestion, particularly on the very many hairpin bend stretches.
When dining out, order the ‘vino della casa’ (house wine) instead of a bottle. It usually comes served by the litre in a lovely carafe.
Italians don’t really do breakfast, they usually have a cornetto (croissant) and an espresso to start their day. Their real food comes at lunchtime. Even in hotels, don’t expect anything more than a ‘continental breakfast’. Italians eat late dinners between 08:00 - 11:00pm.
Italy doesn’t have much of a tipping culture but restaurants will usually add a service charge to your bill.
Museums and restaurants are open throughout the week, albeit Monday is their rest-day, therefore most municipal attractions remain closed. Keep Mondays for shopping and visiting parks.
On the first Sunday of each month, numerous museums and archaeological sites are open to the public for free. This isn’t just restricted to Naples, it applies to all regions in Italy.
Try to buy tickets online, prior to your trip, they work out much cheaper.
Cash is king here. Make sure you carry enough cash with you each day to pay for incidentals like take away pizza or gelato. Even though things are changing, more often than not the smaller establishments will only accept cash.
With every transaction you make, no matter how small the purchase, you’ll be given a small receipt (scontrino or ricevuta in Italian). You might feel inclined to leave it on the counter or throw it straight in the bin. Italy has what is known as the Guardia di Finanza which is basically the finance police. You’ll see them dressed in smart grey suits with a bright yellow strip down their suit leg. You will need the receipts to prove you have paid your tax.
Ice-cream (Gelato) is on sale everywhere. Enjoying an authentic creamy gelato is one of the real pleasures when in Italy. Not all Gelatos are equal, when you find a good one, stick to it.
While you don’t need to be fluent in Italian, knowing a few choice words and phrases will help you in situations outside of your hotel or visiting museums. Italians aren’t known for their mastery of the English language.
Italians invented the coffee culture along with the macchiatto, espresso, and cappuccino. However, there are no ‘cafes’ in Italy, instead there are ‘bars’ and they are pretty much everywhere. When ordering coffee be sure to specify the type you want.
Italians see milk as something you should only have at breakfast. Italians consider it a massive faux pas to order a cappuccino or (caffè) latte with or after lunch or dinner.
Public toilets in Italy are pretty dismal. They don’t have toilet seats and you need to pay 50 cents to use a toilet. Be sure to bring your own tissues and wipes.
Standing at the bar is cheaper, be prepared to pay a higher price to sit at a table.
Pack comfortable shoes (flip flops, sandals and sneakers), light scarves and hats (for sun protection) and UV sunglasses. Opt for lighter and brighter clothing. Shorts are acceptable in most restaurants. However, when visiting churches, the rule is simple: cover knees and shoulders or you’ll be refused entry.
Train travel around the Bay of Naples is easy and inexpensive. During peak times and on weekends the trains can be extremely busy and crowded.
You can drink local spring water. Ancient Romans kept the Eternal City well-hydrated providing the best drinking water to its citizen via its aqueducts. Public ‘nasoni’ fountains scattered throughout the city are absolutely safe to drink, but you might prefer to buy bottled mineral water: frizzante (sparkling) or naturale (still).
When it comes to mosquitoes, the Bay of Naples is comparable to other Mediterranean regions, so take your usual precautions.
In most accommodations in Naples and Capri, it is preferred that you do not throw toilet paper into the toilet. You should use the bin supplied instead.
Be wary of taxi driver potential rip offs. A popular one is to only given you back change of a €20 despite the fact that you paid them €50.
Do not expect to eat great food in the historical centres, remember that you’re paying for the view and not high-quality food.
Italy is no stranger to pickpockets who operate all over the country. They tend to stay around monuments, archaeological sites and popular bus routes. Be wary if anyone tries to distract you for any reason, be suspicious, especially if they are adamantly trying to get your attention.
Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy 2021
We visited the Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy in Sept 2021 for a seven day tour. The climate was warm and sunny and ideal for open air trips and excursions.
In considering a trip to the Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast, we decided to take a guided tour with the Travel Department, with the same guide on-hand throughout the entire holiday.
The tour comprised a seven nights stay in a four star hotel, the Grand Hotel Moon Valley on a half-board basis. All of our daily coach trips began and ended at our hotel.
After our seven nights at the Grand Hotel Moon Valley in Seiano we flew directly back to Dublin from Napoli Airport.
A sense of Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy 2021
The official currency of the Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast is the Euro.
During our trip we were driven by private coach and visited a variety of towns including, Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello, Ercolano, Capri, AnaCapri and optionally Positano, all from our base in Seiano, Vico Equense.
If you get an opportunity during your travels to the Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast do the archaeological tours of ancient Rome, we thoroughly enjoyed our visits to Pompeii, Herculaneum and Mount Vesuvius.
The region is now one of the less wealthy regions in Italy, however, historically it was the chief city of southern Italy. After the formation of the Italian Republic, the historic wealth of Naples was used to fund the industrial expansion of northern Italy. Despite loosing its glamour and status to the north, its inherent charm, amazing scenery and historical attractions, wonderful food and its splendid weather have transformed it into the classic modern tourist destination, that we know today.
Our general experience of the people from Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast was that they are extremely informal, friendly and very warm and welcoming. There is a natural affinity between the Irish and the Italians, that is rarely paralleled anywhere else in the world. They work very hard to attract tourists to the south of the country, which is very different to the more established areas in the north and centre. Bay of Naples & the Amalfi Coast has a lot to offer.
Recommendations for the Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy.
There is a language barrier, if you speak only English. So it lends itself to undertaking a trip using guided tours, however, most of the younger generation speak good English.
In each of the six locations, we visited the local tourist trails and highlights on offer. We also visited some of the local hostelries and these left us with a genuine sense of the excellence of the Southern Italian welcome for tourists. In Italy they drive on the right hand side of the road, if you normally use left hand side of the road driving, you should be ultra careful. With the exception of main roads, the countryside roads can become unexpectedly very narrow. Driving in Southern Italy is not for the faint hearted.
During our stay in Seiano, we took the opportunity to take the train, five stops, to Castellammare Di Stabia train station. From the same railway platform you can get access to the cable car lift (Funivia Faito) up to Vilaggio Monte Faito. Rising up to over 1100m, walking the mountain trail on the top was a welcome diversion from the high density crowds and living conditions below. For both tourists and particularly for locals it is a welcome break to walk forest trails in crystal clear air and just enjoy the peace, tranquility and the views of both Amalfi and the Bay of Naples all at once.
Our must see recommendation for a trip to the Bay of Naples & Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy 2021:-
(1) Our coach trip taking in Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Ravello was spectacular;
(2) Our visit to Vesuvius and its directly affected towns of Pompeii and Herculaneum was quite incredible and very moving.
(3) Our trip to the island of Capri, with AnaCapri’s panoramic views from on-high as well as our boat trip around the island were breathtaking.
As always, the people we met on the tour and our Travel Department guide, Ugo, enriched the whole experience.
“You should travel away from home, to really appreciate the value of what you have at home, on your return.”
“Happiness is found in the journey and rarely in the destination, alone.”
