Hi guys

I will be travelling through Italy over Summer 2003 & am planning to visit Cinque Terre and am alsoconsidering the Amalfi Coast . Is it worth spending time at both or should I skip Amalfi and spend my precious time (& money!) elsewhere?

All advice appreciated!

Amelia

I've never heard of Cinque Terre, but the Amalfi coast is definitely worth a visit.

I suggest you base yourself at Sorrento and take a trip down the Amalfi coast from there. It's beautiful - though the winding road along the towering cliffs feels a bit precarious in places! Stop off in the towns of Positano and Amalfi en route, and there is a brilliant restaurant in Ravello (sorry, can't remember the name).

Also easily accessible from Sorrento are the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Mount Vesuvius and the island of Capri - all are worth visiting.

Naples is the nearest airport if you're flying in.

Have a good trip!

Pete

Cinque Terre is fabulous although tourists are starting to discover the region.
There is a fantastic walk between the 5 villages. It is a rather challenging walk which can be done in a day....you do need a good shower afterwards if you undertake the trek during the summer.
The villages are 'very Italian'- they each have their own 'personality' and are worth taking a wander around. The views of the towns that you get from the walk are superb. We took so many photos during our walk!
We stayed in Santa Margerietta and would definitely recommend a trip to Portofino- the playground of the rich on the Italian Riviera.
Although I haven't been to the Amalfi Coast (will do so soon), I have travelled extensively in Europe and would thoroughly recommend Cinque Terre.
Enjoy

I've been to both. It depends on what your interests are. My husband and I just returned from a trip that included Capri and the Amalfi Coast. If you love archeology and ancient ruins, be sure to go to Paestum. It is south of Sorrento on the coast. You can walk around this abandoned 6th c. BC Greek colony. If you go to Pompeii, you really must go to The Archeological Museum in Naples. That is where most of the things have been removed to. You will be disappointed if you do not. Let me know what your interests are and I'd be happy to give you my tips. Stayed at a great hotel in Amalfi - on the coast road and very reasonable.

I am also from Australia and we saw both places in 1999. We loved the Cinque Terre, but the best way is definitely to walk it, the views are fabulous, one minute your at sea level, then you're hundreds of metres up looking down. Just visiting the towns by train is not the same. Because the walk is fairly demanding at times, (we did it and we are average fitness), there are times when you are quite alone on the path, you won't get so many tourists on the track, like you would if bus loads of tourist can get access. The Amalfi coast is beautiful too. Sorrento is nice, Capri is worth a visit, but very touristy, Pompeii is good, but again touristy and they have reconstructed some sites, so parts are not original,Positano is gorgeous, we stayed in a cheap pensione with wonderful views. We were there in Oct, so quieter, summer can apparently be very busy. If you have time, definitely do both.

Both places are worth to be visited. Cinque Terre has just been nominated National Park, in order to preserve its beauty. Also worth to be visited: PORTOFINO, a real little pearl facing the sea.
WHile on the Amalfitan Coast beware of the crazy way of driving of the locals, for the road is very winding and narrow. They know perfectly how to drive on it but for those who dont know it...it can be scary (the mountain wall on one side and the abyss on the other!!!).