In the beginning stages of booking an Italy trip with the wife in 2027. Looking for a few suggestions. Probably will go in Summer or Fall (open to suggestions). We'll be doing ~10 days, split ~5/5 between Rome and the Amalfi Coast. Wife has never been to Rome, but I have and feel good about planning that part of the trip. Never been to the Amalfi Coast. Some questions below:

What city should we stay in at the coast? Sorrento, Naples, Positano, Amalfi, Capri, etc.

Should we do Rome or Amalfi first? I figured Rome will be a lot busier itinerary, so maybe we can unwind in Amalfi after. Also trying to think about this logistically with transportation and flights.

How we should we travel between the two? Train? Rent a car? Dont anticipate needing a car for Rome, but not sure how easy it will be to get around at the coast.

Hotel or Airbnb (either location). I think we would prefer to stay in the Historic Center of Rome, but open to suggestions and have not decided. Just figured this was easiest to walk and sightsee from.

Open to any other suggestions, activities, and tips as well. We're both young and active, so no physical limitations. Bonus points for restaurants, we're both "foodies."

If you are flying in/out of Rome, logistically, it will be easier to do the Amalfi Coast first and end in Rome. Leaving Amalfi is a minimum 2 hour drive to an airport. Closest is Naples, and your options for flights will be more limited.

We've stayed in an Airbnb in Rome and had a great experience. I also helped a friend of mine find a place last summer. Airbnbs are just different in Europe. We had a great location, right near the Pantheon, and I opted for that because hotels were so much more expensive.

I would not rent a car to go to the Amalfi Coast. Driving is a nightmare with the narrow roads and tour buses. Take the train to Naples and hire a driver to take you to/from the train station. Hire a driver if you need to move in between locations once you get there (although public transport and ferries are also good options, depending on where you are going).

Sorrento is a great "home base", but you could stay in Positano or Amalfi, too. I say this because visiting Amalfi, Positano, Capri, Ravello, etc, are all 1/2 day to day trips, but they are all easily accessible to each other.

Great advice above. Later in the summer and the fall the hotel prices are a lot more palatable than peak summer. I would agree with the logistics stated above in terms of trains and drivers.

I would also advocate for going in the Fall. Summer in Rome is just as hot as Texas and if you want to see the city you will do a lot of walking. It was 101 last time I was there in the summer.

In Rome, I opt for guided food tours in Trestevere and guides in the Forum and Coliseum. For the Vatican the only time I suggest a guide is if you want to do one of the "be the first on in the Sistine chapel" or "Vatican after hours" experiences. Otherwise, buy skip the line tickets and enjoy.

Last time we were there we went to a little family owned winery in Frascati and did a pizza making course. One of my fondest memories! The wine they keep in the jugs (table wine) was better than the bottles stuff.

Happy to answer questions or help if you're looking for it!

I disagree with the earlier poster. If you are a confident driver, driving is fine. I've driven up and down Italy and twice all over the Sorrentine peninsula and to Pompeii. Yes, there are some harrowing spots on the Amalfi coast road where I had to back up a bit to let a bus pass, but I never felt worried at all. I wouldn't get too large of a vehicle though.

I'm always a fan of winding up near where I'm flying out of. If that's Rome, then I'd end there. If you can fly into Naples, the airport is next to the highway you take to the Amalfi coast, so renting a car there and getting to the highway is no big deal. I wouldn't recommend driving into Naples though.

I've stayed in Sorrento and Positano. Both are great bases honestly, but staying in Positano was special (and actually on the Amalfi coast, Sorrento is on the Bay of Naples). We stayed just outside the town proper at Le Agavi. They have a private beach below the cliffside hotel with a funicular to take you back and forth. It's also the dock where we caught our boat to visit Capri and see the Blue Grotto (a must do).

If you are into it, take the drive to Pompeii from wherever you stay. Well worth it, but I'm a history buff and you'll get plenty of that in Rome.

Lots of great suggestions here. Sorrento is a great base on the Amafia coast. If you are not working with the travel advisor my contact info is in my bio. I will leave you with some of my personal pics from my time in Italy.

Following as we are looking at Rome and Amalfi next April when it's cooler.

I would concede that, if you're there in the off season, driving might not be as stressful. We were there in the summer, and no way no how would I have driven there. I have driven in other places including other towns in Italy. Our experience in Rome and the Amalfi Coast was just a whole other level.

The thing that gives me pause is, other drivers will hit/scrape your car if you are in their way. We had a driver in Rome that did just that - he hit another car trying to get around it in traffic and just kept driving. Buses will do the same - if you are in their way they will hit you. All the cars there look like they participate in demolition derby. Scratches and dents on every panel. The drivers just don't care - about their car or yours.

My worst nightmare is to rent a car in a foreign country and have some sort of damage happen to it - even if it's just a small scratch. I've read too many horror stories of insurance companies taking you to the cleaners over even minor damage. And I just don't want the stress of having to deal with the claim and a bill when I get home.

I would not stay in Positano. It can get crowded during the day, and accommodations are crazy overpriced. It is 100% worth visiting, though.

Sorrento is nice, and you can get there easy via the train from Naples (Vesuvio line). From Sorrento I'd either park it there and hire a car to get to any of the smaller towns. If you're not staying in Sorrento, I'd recommend Salerno or Amalfi, personally.

Hike the Path of the Gods. It's about a 3-mile coastal hike just east of Positano.

We did an Italy trip in May 2024. Venice-Como-Monterosso-Positano-Rome. Only used the trains and we were fine. VRBOs at all stops - and they were all really nice and reasonable. I wouldn't stay in Capri. You could start in Rome and finish in Rome with Amalfi in between as well. Weather was great at the end of May-early June. I agree on tours for most sites in Rome - however, skip the line ticket does not always really mean you will skip the line because you have to go through security. We moved about every 3-4 days, which isn't for everyone, but we enjoyed it. We liked Como - beautiful/picturesque, but would be the first city we would pass on if we had to do it again. Loved the history/architecture of Rome - it can get crowded. Monterosso was nice - beautiful, and we loved the hike to Vernazza (postcard picture worthy); again it was beautiful. Positano is like being in another world - beautiful. You can experience it in a couple of days. We took the ferry to Capri and went to the Blue Grotto - epic story - almost watched some people get their head/necks cracked trying to get into the grotto due to the waves. Capri was interesting but fell a little shady - Italian mob? And Venice! Seems people really like Venice or don't care for it at all. We really liked it and will visit again on our next trip back to Italy. Have a Great Trip.