Starting in Venice on a vacation/business trip (another post on that coming soon) I found myself at the top of the country and needing to travel to the bottom of the country to Sorrento, my starting point for a Vespa tour on the Amalfi Coast.
Although not off the beaten path, Sorrento is usually an afterthought regarding the cities you’ll want to visit in Italy.
Particularly if you have to choose between the better-known places like Venice, Rome, and Naples, but this is the place I decided on for reasons I’ll get into shortly.
Best Place to Begin Your Vespa Tour on The Amalfi Coast
Sorrento was where I began my journey to knock off another bucket-list excursion – touring the Amalfi Coast on a Vespa. Yes, this is a thing.
I took the bullet train from Venice to Naples which took about 5 hours. I used the Trenitalia app which was easy to use, and not being able to speak much Italian I found that all the ticket clerks spoke perfect English and answered my questions.
Naples was a zoo, an endless sea of cars, motorbikes, and people so I’m glad I hired a driver to get me to my destination.
Sorrento is about an hour from Naples so you’ll need to pick your poison on how you’re going to get there.
There is a train and bus that will get you there, but I heard they were crowded and chaotic (no restrooms on the bus), so I hired a driver. After 5 hours on a train, I just wanted to check in to my hotel and get this show on the road with as little chaos as possible.
There’s also a ferry which is the quickest and cheapest route (about 45 minutes and the same in euros) and this would have been my first choice but my train got into the station late, after the ferry stopped running.
About The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a breathtaking stretch of coastline located in the Campania region of southern Italy. It encompasses 13 coastal towns, with Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello among the most renowned, and is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The coastline is defined by its dramatic cliffs, crystal-clear waters, and lush vegetation. The topography is rugged, with mountains plunging into the sea, creating a unique and visually stunning landscape.
The architecture of the Amalfi Coast is a blend of medieval, baroque, and traditional Italian styles, with pastel-colored buildings that cling precariously to the cliffs.
The road hugs the cliffside allowing you to adore the magnificent view. No need to take my word for it, here’s 10 minutes of my 6-hour tour.
How I Planned a Trip to Tour the Amalfi Coast on a Vespa
Having never been to Italy before, I scoured the internet which took me to some Reddit posts about a guy named Federico, running Vespa tours. Otherwise known as Your Buddy on the Coast.
I reached out to Federico and he responded immediately. He not only answered all my questions but suggested I stay in Sorrento as it would be cheaper than Amalfi.
I also appreciated that his tours could be customized, and I opted for the lengthy 6-hour tour hitting as many towns as I could. The towns turned out to be inconsequential, as this bucket-list tour was all about the views.
Federico was also an excellent tour guide stopping at amazing churches and a walking tour through the quaint town of Positano. Stopping at the Gratta dello Smeraldo (cave of the emeralds) was also a special treat.
While most tourists hit the Blue Gratto on the island of Capri, this grotto was off the beaten path and every bit as cool, without the massive crowds, long waits, and quick in and outs.
I was thinking about a day trip to the Blue Grotto on Capri, but I’m glad I didn’t. The stop at Gratta dello Smeraldo was an unexpected treat.
I was the only one there for a while and we had to wait for more people to show up and fill the small boat (holds about 10).
Federico, in his infinite wisdom and experience, made me wait to get on the boat last. Yep, I had the best seat and views. Being super accommodating, he also texted me his favorite restaurants in Sorrento so I could scout out my 5-day stay accordingly.
Federico picked me up Monday morning at Hotel Villa di Sorrento, where I was staying. Here I paid 190,00 € per night. There were less expensive places nearby but this hotel is located in the heart of Piazza Tasso, the main square of the city. No shortage of great restaurants within walking distance.
My experience at this hotel was nice, the staff was courteous and my room was quiet. Also, extra points for having a friendly dog as part of the staff.
Waiting outside on a school day, I was amazed at how all the parents took their kids to school on motorbikes, sometimes stacked 2 and 3 kids deep on the back or the front of the motorbikes.
In Sorrento, the streets are narrow and crowded, so this is probably the only way to offload the little tikes on time. An interesting and unexpected experience of the Italian culture.
I couldn’t convince any of my business associates to travel to southern Italy for this tour, so I was the only one on this tour. I feel it would have been more fun with friends, but Federico turned out to be great company.
If you’re OK driving a Vespa you can go that route and drive yourself, but I decided to be a passenger and strapped my GoPro onto the best real estate I could find – Federico’s helmet. He was a good sport about that. The ride was safe, the helmet felt good, and the drive was smooth.
Getting back to Naples for my flight back home, I again hired a driver but got a little wiser about it. The drivers on the transportation apps are about 200+ euros, the hotel offered a driver at 150 euros but I found a currency exchange place where I could book a driver for 120 euros. He was on time and provided a courteous hour-long ride to the airport.
Conclusion
With endless greetings of “Buongiorno” to those going about their daily lives along the Amalfi Coast, this was a fantastic excursion while meeting new people and immersing myself in the Italian culture. I enjoyed views of the clear blue sea and the quaint towns built into cliffs, all from the back of a Vespa.
