Getting to the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast

How to get to the Amalfi Coast by train, bus, boat, car, and plane

First of all, it helps to understand the lay of the land.

Now get yourself to one of the two main gateways to the Amalfi Coast: Sorrento at the western end, or Salerno to the east.

Tip: If you intend to explore the Amalfi Coast by bus (recommended) or by car (not recommended), start in Sorrento. (If you start in Salerno, you'll be on the wrong side of the road for all the spectacular views.)

The best options

There are many options for getting to and around the Amalfi Coast, but the most popular via public transportation is to take the Circumvesuviana commuter train from Naples to Sorrento, then an Amalfi Coast bus (or a ferry) from Sorrento.

Another good option is to take an escorted day tour or private guide and driver. It costs more, but you can squeeze in way more sightseeing, plus you don't have to worry about the logistics and keeping track of train and bus schedules.

The details

How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples

How to get to Sorrento from Naples

How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento

How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Salerno

How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Capri

How to get to the Amalfi Coast from the Naples (or Rome) airport

Tips & links

Transportation links
How long does the Amalfi Coast take?

Planning your time: Budget at least a day for the Amalfi Coast. Simply to drive the coast without getting out (except to change buses in Amalfi) takes at least five hours—that's three hours touring the coast from Sorrento to Salerno, plus another hour on each end to get to and from those gateway towns.

If you do want to pack it all into a single day—and actually stop and get out in a few towns—it might be best to just book a tour that picks you up at your hotel, gives you time in each of the main Amalfi Coast towns, and returns you to your hotel 6–9 hours later:

  • From Sorrento, group tours start from $40, private drivers from $60, and private tours from $90. » book
  • From Naples, group tours start from $97, private drivers from $55, and private tours from $85. » book

Otherwise, it makes far more sense to spend at least one night on the coast.

If, however, your schedule doesn't have that much leisure time, might I suggest riding the first leg—from Sorrento to Positano to Amalfi—taking a quick spin around Amalfi town, then catching a ferry either back up the coast to Sorrento or over to Capri.

» Amalfi Coast itineraries

Amalfi Coast tours
Other useful links & resources

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Transport
  • Airport transfers (Rome):
  • Bus (total: €28–€30; 5+ hr): Marozzivt.it (bus Sorrento-Roma Tiburtina; €20–€22; 4 hr) + Trenitalia.com (train Tiburtina-airport; €8, 48 min)
  • Private (€65–€120; 3 hr): Viator.com (note: Rome airport or hotel to Sorento or any Amalfi Coast town)
  • Regional rail & access points
  • Circumvesiviana train (Naples-Sorrento): Eavsrl.it
  • Italian rail (Naples-Salerno): Trenitalia.com
  • [The Amalfi Coast itself has no rail service, only bus and boat. Sorrento is the closest train station to the most popular A.C. towns, and the over-the-sea Sorrento-Salerno bus ride is more spectacular than the cliff-hugging Salerno-Sorrento reverse route.]
  • Car resources
  • Emergency service/tow: tel. 803-116
  • Highway agency: Autostrade.it (traffic info, serivce areas, toll calculator, weather)
  • Italian automotive club (~AAA): Aci.it
  • ZTLs: Ztl-italia.blogspot.com (lightly outdated, but handy, links to cities' traffic-free zones)
  • Ferries & hydrofoils
  • Alicost.it (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi; Capri-Positano-Amalfi-Salerno)
  • Travelmar.it (Positano-Amalfi-Salerno; Amalfi-Minori-Maiori)
  • Alilauro.it (connecting Sorrento and Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, or Ischia; also connecting Amalfi, Positano, or Salerno with Capri or Ischia)
  • Gescab.it (connecting Capri with: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Salerno)
  • Coopsantandrea.com (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi-Minori-Maiori-Salerno; Amalfi-Capri)
  • Caremar.it (Sorrento-Capri; Naples-Capri)
  • Private boat transfer (Naples-Sorrento, Naples-Amalfi)
  • Viator.com
  • Transport between Naples train station and Molo Beverello port
  • Bus/tram (€1): Anm.it (Tram 1; bus 151)
  • Taxi (€11): Consorziotaxinapoli.it
  • Private car to docks (€7–€35): Viator.com
  • Private car from docks (€5–€28): Viator.com
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