TRAVELLIVE 3 - 2018

Mountain on
one side, and
vast sea on
the other
BUi HuyEn Chi
A Hanoian girl, inherited from
her family a passion for travel and
photography. At the moment, Chi
is living and working in southern
France, where she continues to
make trips around the world to
explore all the continents. Chi set
up a travel blog http://cherrytree.
fr/ in 2017 to share her most
memorable travel experiences and
amazing photos.
Time to travel
ñ Amalfi is one of the most popular
destinations in Italy and Europe. Prices
in the summer are often sky-high, and
the streets are crowded. It is best to
visit the coastal town during the low
season from October to May.
Get around
By public transportation
ñ The nearest international airport is
in Naples. Take a bus or taxi from
the airport to Naples Central Station.
Take a train from the Naples Central
Station to either Salerno or Sorrento,
the two big cities of the Amalfi Coast.
Train ticket costs around 5-7 Euros,
and can be purchased at the station.
The train runs every hour.
ñ From the Naples Central Station to
the village of Amalfi (located in the
center of the Amalfi Coast) or to the
village of Agerola (the beginning of
the Path of the Gods) take a SITA bus
which will cost you about 5-7 Euros.
This bus route is much less crowded
than coastal bus routes, and you will
find comfortable seats on it.
ñ You can travel between villages of
the Amalfi Coast by the SITA bus.
Tickets are sold at the tobacco shops
near the bus stops. You can check the
bus schedule on this website: www.
positano.com/en/bus-schedule
ñ Several boats operate daily between
Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento, and Capri.
This is an interesting way to enjoy the
scenery along the coast. Boat tickets
are available for purchase at the port
or can be booked via www.positano.
com/en/ferry-schedule
ñ Pros: No need to find parking.
Bus stations are often located in the
city center, making it convenient
for tourists to visit the villages at a
relatively low cost.
ñ Cons: During peak season, SITA
buses are crowded and all the seats
are full. You need to arrive early to
queue up. The route around the area
is short but winding, and often takes
a lot of time. Standing in the bus may
be uncomfortable. It gets quite hot
on the bus during summer days since
few buses have air conditioners, and
you are not allowed to open the
bus windows. There are not many
buses (operating every 1 or 2 hours
depending on different bus routes).
ñ Hotels at the Amalfi Coast can be
quite expensive compared to other
places in Italy. It is difficult to find
cheap accommodations near the bus
stations during peak season.
Tips
ñ The train from Naples to Sorrento
can also take you to Pompei and
Herculanum. If you want to visit
Naples and those 2 destinations,
you can purchase a Campania Arte
card (a 3 day or 7 day pass are both
available). The 3-day ticket costs euro
21 with free or discounted admission
to many Campania attractions and
free travel on metro and buses within
Naples and on several train lines,
including the Naples - Herculanum
- Pompei - Sorrento. This card can
be purchased at Naples Airport and
at some other locations (check www.
campaniartecard.it/ for more details).
By your own car
- Pros: The coastal route along the
Amalfi Coast is considered one of
the most beautiful coastal routes in
Italy with winding slopes that offer
excellent views of the Mediterranean
Sea. Self-driving allows you more
freedom when traveling, and a lot
more accommodation options.
- Cons: The roads are often narrow
with lots of winding sections and traffic
jams. Locals often travel at high speed
although the speed limit is only 30
km/h. It is difficult to find parking in
the center of Sorrento and around
the surrounding villages of Positano,
Praiano, Amalfi, and Ravello.
What to do in the
Amalfi Coast
ñ Wander in the most beautiful
villages of Italy: Positano, Praiano,
Amalfi, and Ravello. Positano and
Amalfi might look similar to the 5
villages in Cinque Terre, North Italy,
but they have their own charm and
offer you many interesting places to
explore.
ñ Take a stroll on the small streets
and visit many Italian icecream shops,
beautiful pottery shops, and colorful
souvenirs shops on the sides of the
streets.
ñ Watch sunset in one of the world's
most beautiful locations (Sorrento,
Positano).
ñ Take a train from Positano to
Amalfi and view the amazing
coastline.
ñ Go on trekking trails (Sentiero
degli Dei, La Baia di Ieranto). More
information on the trekking trails can
be found at http://www.positano.
com/en/e/footpaths-on-the-amalficoast-trekking
ñ Take a walk in the lush gardens
of ancient villas in Ravello (Villa
Cimbrone, Villa Rufolo)
ñ Enjoy the afternoon view of the
Mediterranean Sea from the balcony
of Italian restaurants and cafäs.
ñ Go on diving boat trips, or visit
Capri Island, Ischia Island, and the
islands of Li Galli.
ñ Go kayaking along the coast, and
find yourself a secluded beach to
enjoy.
ñ Visit the citrus gardens of Sorrento.
Limoncello (lemon liqueur) is a
specialty of the Campania region.
TRAVELLIVE
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