Sorrento And Amalfi, 12-Hour Day

Sorrento and Amalfi, 12-Hour Day, 12 hours, rated 4.7 across 2,147 traveller reviews.

Overview

This is a full-day trip out of Rome that folds three southern Italian stops into one very long schedule: Pompeii, Sorrento and, depending on the option chosen, Positano, with a scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast in between. City Wonders runs the day with a coach carrying up to 50 travellers, a dedicated English or Spanish-speaking tour leader, and, on options that include Pompeii, an archaeologist guide inside the site. You meet in central Rome at Piazza del Popolo, by the fountain with the lions and the obelisk, and the day ends back near the same square on Viale Giorgio Washington.

Inside Pompeii you get roughly two hours of guided walking. Sorrento is free time, about two hours to shop, eat or wander, with a limoncello tasting on options that include it. Positano, where selected, is another two hours on your own. The road along the coast is a large part of the appeal, and reviewers praise the views, though they also note the day is long, with many hours spent sitting on the bus.

It works best for people based in Rome who want a taste of Pompeii and the coast without arranging trains and buses themselves. It is a poor fit for anyone who dislikes long drives, needs wheelchair access, or wants unhurried time in each place. Travellers who accept the pace tend to rate the guides highly, with several reviews praising tour leaders for keeping the day light and informative even when the schedule slipped.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Meet at Piazza del PopoloMeet at the centre of Piazza del Popolo in Rome, by the large fountain with the lions and the obelisk, near the Flaminio metro stop on Line A. The City Wonders team wears blue and carries flags. The day ends on Viale Giorgio Washington, next to the same square.
2. Coach to PompeiiRound trip from Rome in an air-conditioned coach with high-speed WiFi. Onboard USB charging is not available, so bring a charged power bank.
3. Archaeological Park of PompeiiTwo hours at the site. Admission ticket is included and an archaeologist guide leads the walk on options that include Pompeii.
4. Sorrento free timeTwo hours to explore and shop in Sorrento on your own. A limoncello tasting is included on options that select it.
5. Limoncello di Capri, pass byForty minutes, admission ticket included, passed by as part of the Amalfi Coast drive on the relevant option.
6. Positano free timeTwo hours to explore and shop in Positano. Optional: Positano is not included in the Pompeii and Sorrento option.
7. Return to RomeThe coach returns to Viale Giorgio Washington in Rome, next to Piazza del Popolo, after a total duration of 12 hours.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points come up again and again in the listing and in traveller reviews, and they will shape whether this day works for you.

• Comfortable shoes. Pompeii involves roughly two hours of guided walking and the whole day is long. One reviewer advises comfortable shoes and warns there is plenty of walking.
• Power bank. There is no USB charging on the coach, and the listing recommends a fully charged power bank. A reviewer makes the same point so a phone stays charged for photos.
• Long coach stretches. The itinerary lists 12 hours in total with stops of two hours each, so a large share of the day is spent on the coach. One reviewer describes the day as long, with many hours sitting in the bus.
• Bus seating. One reviewer recommends sitting on the right side of the bus and shuttle for the best views on the coastal legs. Another complained about being stuck in the last row for the return.
• Tight free time. One reviewer felt extremely rushed in Positano, barely having time at the beach before heading back. Plan one priority per stop.
• Traffic and detours. The listing warns the itinerary may be adjusted for events beyond the operator's control. Reviews describe landslides near the Amalfi Coast causing delays and shortened stops, with guides rearranging the day.

Common issues. The honest downsides are the length and the coach time: one reviewer found the many hours sitting in the bus tough going. Stops can be reordered or shortened when the coast road is blocked, and reviews describe landslides causing delays, a skipped Positano visit and, in one case, a last-minute cancellation. Lunch stops draw criticism, with reviewers calling the food poor and rushed. The tour is not wheelchair accessible, infants must sit on laps, and a moderate level of physical fitness is expected. Groups run up to 50 travellers, and one reviewer found the experience touristy and commercial.

Common Questions