Pompeii & Amalfi Coast Shore Excursion

This full-day shore excursion from Amalfi combines the scenic drive along the Amalfi Coast with a visit to the ancient Roman city of Pompeii.

After meeting your driver-guide, you have some time to explore Amalfi itself. Local legend holds that the demigod Hercules created the setting as the final resting place for a nymph he loved, though historically the town was established by the Romans in the 5th century AD. Amalfi later became one of Italy's four medieval Maritime Republics, alongside Venice, Genoa, and Pisa, and reached the height of its power and wealth between the 9th and 11th centuries.

From Amalfi, you begin the drive along the Amalfi Coast, which stretches about 50 miles (80km) from the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula to the city of Salerno, hugging cliffs above the sea past fishing villages and cliffside hotels. You drive the most dramatic section of the coastline, between Amalfi and Positano, which can take up to 3 hours depending on traffic. In Positano, one of the most photographed resort towns in the world, narrow streets and stairways lead down through shops and cafes to the beaches below. You have time for lunch on your own here.

In the afternoon, you leave the coast for Pompeii, where you explore the site independently or with an audio guide. Pompeii was a thriving port city and center of commerce and politics until Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, burying it beneath several meters of volcanic ash and pumice within hours. The disaster also filled in part of the bay, leaving the ruins well inland from today's shoreline. Buried for roughly 1,700 years before systematic excavation began, Pompeii is one of the most complete records of daily life in the ancient world, and at the time of the eruption an estimated 2,000 of its 20,000 residents did not escape.

Afterward, you return to Amalfi.

• Mobility: Due to uneven surfaces, steps, and walking distances, this itinerary is not suitable for guests using wheelchairs. Please contact us for alternative sightseeing options, including private driving tours that may better accommodate your needs.