The Amalfi coast
Discussion
My nearest and dearest has just told me she fancies a drive down to the Amalfi coast next year taking up to a week to get there (didn't ask but I assume with me!).
Anybody any experience of doing this; we prefer quiet roads wherever possible as we try and make the drive part of the holiday. Any guidance much appreciated.
Anybody any experience of doing this; we prefer quiet roads wherever possible as we try and make the drive part of the holiday. Any guidance much appreciated.
Germs said:
My nearest and dearest has just told me she fancies a drive down to the Amalfi coast next year taking up to a week to get there (didn't ask but I assume with me!).
Anybody any experience of doing this; we prefer quiet roads wherever possible as we try and make the drive part of the holiday. Any guidance much appreciated.
Hi, yes, I've just returned form a 16 day 4000mile excursion round Italy in the car (well in July/August) and have also had a few hoildays exclusively on the Amalfi.Anybody any experience of doing this; we prefer quiet roads wherever possible as we try and make the drive part of the holiday. Any guidance much appreciated.
If you prefer quiet roads its not for you. The Amalfi coast is rammed as is Sorrento etc, there's some lovely driving getting down to it but you have to accept its uber busy when you're there. The first time I went our hire car was thy car I saw for two weeks without body damage lol
Went a few years ago - the scenery is stunning but the coastal road linking the towns and villages together is a nightmare to navigate in the summer. It's very narrow in places and has to take buses, coaches and lorries as there's simply no other way. Add the Italian driving style into the mix and it's all fun and games 
I drove to Puglia in May, and spent a lot of time route planning.
First of all I'd say go when the Alpine passes are open. In one direction I'd say go down through Luxembourg, where there are some interesting roads and then into Germany taking in some Autobahns all the way to Austria. Then stay off the motorway and hit some Austrian mountain passes. Absolutely beautiful scenery, great roads, and delicious food. From Austria, descend forever into Northern Italy and try and follow some Mille Miglia routes South. I did the route between Florence and Bologna, and it was absolutely incredible.
On the way back, head up through Switzerland and do as many Alpine passes in Switzerland as you can on your way up North.
First of all I'd say go when the Alpine passes are open. In one direction I'd say go down through Luxembourg, where there are some interesting roads and then into Germany taking in some Autobahns all the way to Austria. Then stay off the motorway and hit some Austrian mountain passes. Absolutely beautiful scenery, great roads, and delicious food. From Austria, descend forever into Northern Italy and try and follow some Mille Miglia routes South. I did the route between Florence and Bologna, and it was absolutely incredible.
On the way back, head up through Switzerland and do as many Alpine passes in Switzerland as you can on your way up North.
Did the Amalfi coast in 2015 in an Alfa Spider. During the day it's rammed - and there are loads of places you have to give way - buses have priority and they take it!
Get up at 5am on a Sunday and join the locals - I followed an Abarth Fiat 500 driven by a local garage owner - had a blast!
Top Gear did a film driving Spiders on the Amalfi coast, but I'm pretty sure they cheated and used a bit of coast road further north - views are just as stunning, but the road is quieter and (IMO) more enjoyable.
Agree with most of the comments above. I took my Cayman down there in June a couple of years ago, only in Amalfi for 3 nights as part of a much bigger trip. Driving there and back was great, but not there.
Getting to the hotel was incredibly nervy, so much so I was just happy to leave it in the hotel carpark for 3 days and travel around on the terrible bus service. When the time came to leave, an old fiat almost went into the back of me when I had to brake to avoid an oncoming bus on my side of the road. Hearing it skid behind me wasn't great. Never again.
I also ended up in some very dodgy areas of Naples when going there due to poor satnav guidance.
Getting to the hotel was incredibly nervy, so much so I was just happy to leave it in the hotel carpark for 3 days and travel around on the terrible bus service. When the time came to leave, an old fiat almost went into the back of me when I had to brake to avoid an oncoming bus on my side of the road. Hearing it skid behind me wasn't great. Never again.
I also ended up in some very dodgy areas of Naples when going there due to poor satnav guidance.
Head a bit further south than Amalfi, not so touristy, just as pretty.
We stayed in Maratea which is absolutely gorgeous and just perfect for days of doing nothing alternated with trips further afield.
Maratea also has a fantastic restaurant with only about 5 tables - or at least it when we went in 2009 - trip worth that restaurant alone.
And it has this (very quiet) road
https://italianculturalcentre.ca/wp-content/upload...
We stayed in Maratea which is absolutely gorgeous and just perfect for days of doing nothing alternated with trips further afield.
Maratea also has a fantastic restaurant with only about 5 tables - or at least it when we went in 2009 - trip worth that restaurant alone.
And it has this (very quiet) road
https://italianculturalcentre.ca/wp-content/upload...
JackReacher said:
I also ended up in some very dodgy areas of Naples when going there due to poor satnav guidance.
I recall the dodgy streets of Naples on my to and from the coast, pretty scary!As everyone seems to say above, the road is pretty bad you'll get no enjoyment from it unfortunately. From memory I think we were in a Fiat Punto and that struggled with the width with the oncoming traffic/buses/coaches.
We used the bus once I'd abandoned the car at the hotel, girl threw up on the bus due to the road and heat.
Germs said:
Thanks for that suggestion, did you stay in Maratea and if so is there anywhere you would recommend? Thanks in advance
Took a bit of finding but it was Villa Cristiana. Via Ogliastro, 18, 85046 Maratea PZ, ItalyI think this is the article where we read about it and booked almost immediately.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/apr/04/mar...
I remember breakfast being....relaxed. When we arrived we suggested breakfast at 9... it happened about 9:30 and lasted to 11.
Then a short drive down to Porto di Maratea for gellato and espresso before a leisurely wander about the place.https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2009/apr/04/maratea-italy-amalfi-hotels-travel?page=2
Did I mention the restaurant? There was one about the size of a typical lounge, 1/3 was the kitchen and the 5 or so tables were around the outside wall. It was in Maratea Storico but I can't remember the name of it sadly.
I know you're talking about driving down but we flew to Naples and hired a car. It's about a 2-3 hour drive from memory (via Vesuvius)
I drove there a in Easter 2017, thinking that it would be significantly quieter than the summer. If it was, then heaven help the summer. Pretty, but quite stressful. Like other posters, I eventually abandoned the car at the hotel and used the bus. I’m well experienced with Southern France and Italian driving but I really didn’t enjoy driving the Amalfi coast.
Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff