Italy - 10 to 14 days (no car) - where?

[philv]

In may or june.

We've been to verona a few times.
This allowed us to take the train to Venice bologna, lake Garda etc.

We were thinking about trying another part of Italy.
Airbnb, no car.

Is basing ourselves in Naples reccomended?
Plenty to see in maples and day trips to other places?


Where else can we centre without a car that has train connections for day trips?

Thanks

[Slow.Patrol]

Sorrento

Train from Naples

Train from Sorrento to Pompeii and Herculaneum

Pompeii is huge. Really needs two full days.

[Gastons_Revenge]

Sicily could be a shout. It supposedly has the best rail network of any Mediterranean island, though I mostly travelled by bus when I visited; if you based yourself in Palermo you could spend 4-5 days exploring the town alone before feeling the need to venture further afield.

[jrock78]

Bologna is well connected. We went to some fantastic small towns nearby - Ferrara/Ravenna/Rimini - also San Marino, Venice, Florence and Parma all nearby on great train connections. And being pistonheads Modena and Imola close too for a visit to the car museums.

[The Leaper]

A few years back, wife and I did this:

1. Flew Gatwick to Bologna.
2. Took the airport shuttle to Ferrara: it's called Ferrara Bus & Fly (booked from UK)
3. Stayed in Ferrara for 4 nights
4. Took the train to Ravenna (all trains booked from UK)
5. Stayed in Ravenna 5 nights.
6. Took the train to Bologna, then taxi to the airport
7. Flew back to Gatwick

Obviously, Bologna can be tacked on to this.

Thoroughly enjoyable. When in Italy we don't like to rush anything, just like to take in the town, atmosphere, culture, food etc.

R.

[The Leaper]

In 2015 we did this:

1. Flew Gatwick to Naples, stayed overnight.
2. Got the train from Naples to Palermo in Sicily. Takes all day, goes on a boat across to Sicily, great experience.
3. Stayed in Palermo 4 nights
3. Got the local train to Agrigento
4. Stayed in Agrigento 3 nights
5. Got the bus to Catania then train to Syracusa. Agrigento to Catania is doable by train but we decided the several connections were too tight.
6. Stayed in Syracusa 4 nights
7. Got the train back to Naples, stayed overnight.
8. Flew back to Gatwick.

Everything was booked and ticketed before we left the UK

This was so enjoyable we have speculated we might repeat it!

BTW OP, Verona is our favorite city in Italy: we have been there 6 times in the past 15 or so years.

R..

[Lotobear]

philv said:

In may or june.

We've been to verona a few times.
This allowed us to take the train to Venice bologna, lake Garda etc.

We were thinking about trying another part of Italy.
Airbnb, no car.

Is basing ourselves in Naples reccomended?
Plenty to see in maples and day trips to other places?


Where else can we centre without a car that has train connections for day trips?

Thanks

Cinque Terre? - no cars anyway, get there from Pisa airport, and a great train service along the Riviera between villages and up to Portofino and Genoa

Lots of Air B&B's (pretty much the only option) and some fantastic walking either on the lower routes or more wild up into the hills if you fancy it and like solitude.

Villages can get busy with americans and chinese but easy to escape from

[ATM]

philv said:

Where else can we centre without a car that has train connections for day trips?

This is easy

Rome

[philv]

The Leaper said:

In 2015 we did this:

1. Flew Gatwick to Naples, stayed overnight.
2. Got the train from Naples to Palermo in Sicily. Takes all day, goes on a boat across to Sicily, great experience.
3. Stayed in Palermo 4 nights
3. Got the local train to Agrigento
4. Stayed in Agrigento 3 nights
5. Got the bus to Catania then train to Syracusa. Agrigento to Catania is doable by train but we decided the several connections were too tight.
6. Stayed in Syracusa 4 nights
7. Got the train back to Naples, stayed overnight.
8. Flew back to Gatwick.

Everything was booked and ticketed before we left the UK

This was so enjoyable we have speculated we might repeat it!

BTW OP, Verona is our favorite city in Italy: we have been there 6 times in the past 15 or so years.

R..

Looks interesting.
I'll have a look at this. Thanks.
Yes, i Think Verona is our go bak to place.
3 times so far.
Sometimes its nice to feel very comfortable in an old favourite.

[philv]

Lotobear said:

Cinque Terre? - no cars anyway, get there from Pisa airport, and a great train service along the Riviera between villages and up to Portofino and Genoa

Lots of Air B&B's (pretty much the only option) and some fantastic walking either on the lower routes or more wild up into the hills if you fancy it and like solitude.

Villages can get busy with americans and chinese but easy to escape from

Thanks.
I have been there.
Lovely place.
But possibly not for 10-14 days.

[The Leaper]

philv said:

Yes, i Think Verona is our go bak to place.
3 times so far.
Sometimes its nice to feel very comfortable in an old favourite.

Wife and I agree with you. Verona is very comfortable, easy to get about, not too big etc.

Also, very easy to get a train for a day out. We've been to Florence, Mantua, Vicenza, & Padua for the day. Easy to get to Venice, Bergamo, Bolzano and Bologna too.

I also think Verona is something of a boom town too, as evidenced by the current expansion of their airport. I hope it does not become overrun by tourists like so many other parts of Italy and Europe.

R.