If you’re trying to understand how to get to the Amalfi Coast, this is the article for you. It’s recommended to get to this wonderful stretch of coast from the south of Italy by car, in this way you can move independently and stop in every typical village that you can meet on the way, but, for those less expert, there are many public transport options to get to Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano and many other villages on the Amalfi Coast, both coming from Rome and Naples.
How to get to the Amalfi Coast: first steps
The closest international airport to the Amalfi Coast is in Naples (Capodichino airport), but many prefer to fly to Rome because it’s cheaper and to connect as well the trip in the eternal city to the one to the Amalfi coast. Even if you come to Amalfi from another Italian city like Florence or Venice, the first stop will be always Rome or Naples (usually by train or by airplane).
So, let’s see in a more detailed way how to get to the Amalfi coast from Rome and from Naples.
How to get to the Amalfi Coast from
Rome
There are two main ways to get to the Amalfi coast from Rome. If you choose to take the train, you can directly go to the Amalfi coast (taking the train for Salerno) and, from there, arrive to your final destination. If you choose to go to Naples and then take another transport from there, read directly the section relative on how to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.
How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Rome by bus
During the summer season (from the beginning of June to the end of September), a bus departs from Tiburtina train station in Rome and goes directly to Sorrentoo, Positano, Praiano or Amalfi. The bus departs at 7 a.m. and arrives at the Amalfi coast between 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. depending on the bus stop you’ve chosen. The one-way ticket price is of 22 €.
How to get to the Amalfi Coast from Rome by train
Train for Naples
Another option is to take a train from Rome to Naples. Both Trenitalia and Italo provide often fast connections of about 1 hour that take you to the Neapolitan city.
Train for Salerno
Alternatively, it’s possible to get directly to the Amalfi coast with a fast train for Salerno (again
with Trenitalia or Italo). Salerno is a good destination if you’re travelling to Amalfi Coast’s southern cities, like Vietri sul Mare, Maiori, Minori or Amalfi.
Get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples
Once you’ve arrived in Naples, there are several transports to get to the Amalfi Coast.
From Naples to Salerno by train
To get to Vietri sul mare, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi or even Salerno itself, it’s possible to take a train directly from Naples to Salerno. The trip lasts less then 40 minutes, and, once you’ve arrived in Salerno, it’s possible to take a SITA bus or a boat transfer for these and other cities on the Amalfi Coast.
From Naples to Sorrento by train
To get to the other side of the peninsula, in the zones of Sorrento, Massa, Lubrese, Nerano and even Positano, the best alternative is to take an internal train, the Circumvesuviana, which departs at Napoli train station (Napoli Centrale). The train takes about an hour to arrive to Sorrento and stops in all the villages that are between the two cities, even Pompei and Ercolano (remember this in case you’d like to visit the popular archaeological excavations). Once you’re in Sorrento, it’s enough to take the SITA bus to get to all of the cities along the coast (Nerano, Massa Lubrense, Positano, Amalfi).
From the Naples airport to Sorrento by bus
Where necessary, to get from the Capodichino airport to the central train station in Naples, it’s possible to take a bus (Alibus). However, from the Neapolitan airport of Capodichino, it exists as well a bus that arrives directly to Sorrento. The trip lasts about an hour and it will take you directly to the Sorrento centre.
From Naples to Sorrento, Positano or Amalfi, by ferry
Another option to get to the Amalfi or Sorrento coast, is the ferry. Every day depart many line ferries that brings tourists, but even students and workers, to the other side of the gulf. From the Naples port (Molo Beverello) it’s possible to take a ferry with Alilauro for Positano or Amalfi making first a stop in Sorrento. The time needed to go through Sorrento is of about 40 minutes.
The price of the one-way ticket is of about 12 euros. It works through the whole year.
Get to the Amalfi Coast by taxi or private transfer
The most expensive option, but the fastest, is a taxi or a private transfer for Amalfi or Positano from Naples. The price is between 120 € and 150 €, one-way. From Naples, the taxis are on a fixed price, based on what’s been decided by the Naples municipality.
Get to the Amalfi coast from Sorrento
Many people think that Sorrento is on the Amalfi coast, but in reality, this is not really true! So, if you choose Sorrento as a base, these transport options are very useful.
Sorrento and the Amalfi coast cities by bus
The SITA buses work every day and almost at every hour from Sorrento to the Amalfi coast, with stops in Positano, Praiano and Amalfi, among other destinations. This would be the best way to get to the Amalfi coast as it’s available during the whole year. The last bus stop from Sorrento is Amalfi; to get to Ravello or other cities in the south of Amalfi it’s necessary to change the bus.
If you want to visit or you’re visiting the Amalfi coast, read our articles about the most important cities of this wonderful stretch of coast like Amalfi, Vietri, Positano.
