Naples to Amalfi Coast: The Ultimate Guide on Getting to the Best Beaches in Italy
- Nathaniel Mellor
- 3 days ago
- 11 min read
Spend this summer in paradise along the Amalfi Coast
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If you're spending some of your summer trip in Naples this year, you might find that you're often sweaty walking around a city that's 99% stone and feeling like you'd do anything for a clean breeze and crystal clear water. Luckily, you're honestly on the doorstep to some of Italy's most beautiful beaches.
Whether you're headed to the coast for a little daytrip to cool down, or if it's the next step on your itinerary, what's the easiest way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast?
Well, that depends, on budget, whether or not you're prone to seasickness, and how much luggage you have. Likewise, I also offer options for those looking to simply get to the Amalfi Coast, and don't mind booking a taxi or renting a car.
So, let's hop in!
If you're staying in Naples and want to get an early start on your trip to the Amalfi Coast, you can check out some of our favorite hotels around the port neighborhood of Naples.
Ferry from Naples to Amalfi Coast
This is possibly the easiest way to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast, depending on how many people you're traveling with and your budget as tickets tend to run about €30 each, one way.
For this article, I use prices from Omio*, looking at a summer date of June 8th. All prices shown are for one adult, one way.
Now, let's jump in and look at some options from Naples to Positano, the first town along the Amalfi Coast if coming from the west.
As you can see from the screenshot, there are various options that all cost roughly the same, but take different amounts of times, mostly due to where it stops first (though some of the ferries are boats that are a little bit slower than you might hope for). Some of the ferries to Positano stop first in Sorrento, and rarely in Capri, before going on to Positano. Likewise, if you weren't thinking about staying in or visiting Positano but instead wanted to check out Amalfi, you can simply stay on the ferry.
As you can see from the screenshot, all you have to do is stay on the ferry to Positano and hop off at Amalfi (farther east) afterwards.
You can also see that, while the ferry on the bottom is the slowest by far (taking 50 minutes to get to Amalfi from Positano instead of 30), this can also work in your favor, if your goal is simply to spend the day on the open water, cool down, and take some incredible photos.
And that's the ferry! It's honestly fairly straightforward, even when it comes to buying tickets. All of the tickets can be purchased online beforehand and you can show the boat people (not a technical term, I'm sure, but there's no way they're called boat conductors, right?) your phone, and on the ferry you go.
Luggage on the ferry from Naples to Amalfi Coast
As for luggage, there are no real limits on what you can bring. Most of the tickets will have something like "one bag per person" or "one suitcase per person" but in reality, it's very loosely enforced. As long as your luggage doesn't get in anyone's way, and you're able to bring it aboard yourself, you should have no issues.
Tips for taking the ferry from Naples to Amalfi Coast
First, in terms of arriving, I highly recommend arriving to the ferry early, especially if you want good seats (on the deck, with the view). The first people tend to line up about half an hour beforehand, and while there's typically plenty of seating in the ferry itself, the more desirable spots on the deck are limited.
Second, if you're sitting on the deck, sunscreen is incredibly important. Very few of the ferries have sun protection on the top decks (plenty inside the ferry since you're inside), so if you plan on sitting up top, seeing the coastline from below, then I highly recommend covering up.
Third, consider bringing water and snacks. Just like any other form of transportation, your destination might be a few hours away, and not all of the ferries have "bars" to buy things. That said, some do have little bars and sell (somewhat affordable) bottles of water, beer, and wine, among little packaged snacks.
Train from Naples to Amalfi Coast
If you're read my article on getting from Rome to Positano then you'll know I mention a train from Naples to Sorrento, and then the bus from Sorrento to Positano.
So, this is technically an option. However, before we jump into it, I do want to first mention that if you are pressed for time, or trying to see the Amalfi Coast in a day, then I wouldn't recommend it. I'd only recommend that route if you're planning on spending the night specifically in Positano or along the western part of the Amalfi Coast. Or, if you're far more interested in the journey to the Amalfi Coast than actually being in the Amalfi Coast (to be fair, it's a beautiful journey).
Train from Naples to Amalfi Coast via Sorrento
Starting in Naples, you can head toward Napoli Centrale to catch either the Circumvesuviana or the Campania Express.
I know what you're asking, so very quickly:
What's the difference between the Circumvesuviana and the Campania Express in Naples?
While both of these trains run from Naples to Sorrento (the end of the line) there are some minor differences.
The Circumvesuviana is better thought of as an extra-urban metro, or a metro that goes outside the city. For a ticket from Naples to Sorrento you're looking at spending €4.60 which is the cheapest option. It's also the only real advantage of the Circumvesuviana over the Campania Express (apart from the authenticity). It has no air conditioning (or, very poor air conditioning if you're lucky to be on a carriage that even has it), no assigned seating, no dedicated space for luggage (not a huge deal as there's usually plenty of space to put it), and it goes to every station between Naples and Sorrento resulting in a longer trip.
The Campania Express, by comparison, is a privately-owned train company that runs a tourist-friendly train between Naples and Sorrento. It costs €15 for a Naples to Sorrento ticket, almost three times as much as the Circumvesuviana. However, the trains are equipped with air conditioning, luggage space, assigned seats, and it only goes to the tourist destinations, meaning the trip from Naples to Sorrento usually only takes half the time. In any case, it's entirely up to you, but if you have a little extra time and you're excited to make memories, I'd highly recommend the Circumvesuviana because it feels like a train in Naples, rather than the Campania Express, which can feel like a nice train anywhere.
So, now that you made it to Sorrento on either the Circumvesuviana or the Campania Express, you're still not on the Amalfi Coast, despite how it might look. In fact, you're on the Sorrentino Coast.
Next is the bus from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast.
From the Sorrento train station, you can catch the only public bus that operates along the Amalfi Coast: the Sita SUD. You will have to purchase tickets before you get on board. The cost of the ticket depends on where you're headed as they're sold on a sliding scale based on distance traveled. Thankfully, they must adhere to the region-implemented pricing, so it's fairly affordable.
For a one-way ticket, Sorrento to Positano (the first stop along the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento) you'll only spend €2.40 per person. To go all the way to Vietri sul Mare (the last town along the Amalfi Coast before you hit Salerno) you'd have to pay €4.00.
So, it's pretty affordable, no? For less than €10 you can go from Naples to anywhere along the Amalfi Coast.
So why don't I recommend this option?
Primarily because of the bus. While it's affordable and reliable, it's often insanely crowded. Likewise, somewhat counterintuitively (or maybe not) it's actually more crowded in the "off season" that in the "on season". Specifically, Sita SUD runs more buses at more frequent intervals in June, July, August, and September.
This means, if you're visiting in April and trying to make use of the "off season" discounts (off season in quotes there because the off season in Italy is quickly disappearing), you might find yourself waiting for over an hour to get on board the bus since so few run, they're first-come, first-served, and there's often a pretty lengthy line.
Likewise, if you're going east of Amalfi (and I highly recommend checking a map before you plan) then you will have to get off the bus and wait in line again for the bus going east. All of the Sita SUD buses, whether east to west, or west to east, transfer in Amalfi, making it a fun little difficulty to navigate.
This all said, if you are staying in Positano and you don't want to take a ferry, then this isn't the worst option in the slightest.
So, what do I recommend instead?
Train from Naples to Amalfi Coast via Salerno
Believe it or not, if your goal is simply to see some part of the Amalfi Coast, I highly recommend the eastern half. (You can check out our article here for a full rundown of the Amalfi Coast.) In my very humble opinion, it feels less crowded compared to Amalfi and the towns out west (Positano being a massive destination). Likewise, the beaches feel a little more hidden and like you might stumble on a little slice of paradise all to yourself, especially around Cetara or Erchie.
So, how do you even get there? The train!
I do also want to call out myself slightly, here. Taking the train from Naples to Salerno will bypass a lot of the coastal beauty (and coastal travesties, in the form of the industrial area) and instead take you inland. That said, once you get to Salerno, things start looking up.
From Naples, you'll need any of the trains down to Salerno. This could be the Regionale, the Intercity, or the high-speed Frecciarossa, though given the relative short distance and the fact it's mostly a giant curve, the Frecciarossa can't actually go that fast. Where the slower Regionale and Intercity take roughly 40 minutes (41, according to the Trenitalia website) the Frecciarossa takes 30 minutes. So, not a huge time difference for a fairly large price difference (roughly €5 for the Regionale versus €20 for the Frecciarossa).
Once you're in Salerno, it's back on the bus!
The Sita SUD picks up right outside the train station. Again, you will need a ticket before boarding, so run over to a nearby tabacchi or edicola before getting on.
Expert Traveler's Tip: If you don't have too much luggage and don't mind a 8-10 minute walk, you can actually get on the Sita SUD bus before it arrives to the Salerno train station. A bus stop called "Vinciprova" is actually the beginning of the line and where the buses start before heading toward Amalfi. If you go there instead, you'll have first dibs on the seats (and luggage space) of the bus before everyone else gets on at Salerno train station.
The first stop along the Amalfi Coast will be in Vietri sul Mare, so if your only goal was to simply visit, then hop off and enjoy the day shopping for ceramics in this beautiful little town.
If swimming is more your speed, consider disembarking at Cetara or Erchie. These are both incredibly small towns, but there are beaches (hidden and not so much) all along them both.
Finally, the bus will reach Amalfi where you can enjoy a delizia al limone or lemon sorbet.
Bus from Naples to Amalfi Coast
As I've mentioned, there's really only one bus from Naples (or, Sorrento) to the Amalfi Coast, and this still holds true, kinda.
Most of the buses that run out to the Amalfi Coast are either tour buses (so, part of a larger tour and tour group) or private transfer buses (typically costing around €90 per person). Likewise, they typically only go to Positano since Amalfi is just a pain to reach (about an hour from Positano) so a lot of other bus companies don't offer options for this.
This is all to say, if you're okay with the larger price tag, you could seek out a private bus company that will pick you up at your hotel and drop you off at Positano two hours later. Companies such as Positano Shuttle offers these services.
Private Car or Taxi from Naples to Amalfi Coast
Similar to the private bus, if you're traveling with a family, or if you're on one of those "price is no object" sort of trips, then you can hire a private car to take you out to the Amalfi Coast.
For most private cars (not taxis) you'll have to request a quote from the company. Most don't have them listed visibly, which can make it harder to compare prices. Likewise, most companies want to know exact times, so if you haven't bought your ticket yet, this can make it even more complicated to figure out just how much you're expecting to pay. That said, it typically runs in the €250-300 range, depending on how big a car you'll need, the amount of people traveling, and how much luggage you're bringing. Of course, it also depends on where your destination is, with some towns costing more than others.
If you prefer a taxi, you can simply ask your hotel to book one for you or use an app like FreeNow. The taxi company has set rates that are advertised on their website, based on which town you're headed to. I've added a relevant screenshot below, but the long and short of it is, if you're headed to the Amalfi Coast, you're looking at spending €150 or so.
While this can be a bit steep, if you're a group of three or four traveling together, it's not a bad deal to spend €50 or €38 to get a taxi from your hotel in Naples to your hotel on the Amalfi Coast, especially if you have luggage.
Travel Tip: If you're planning on taking a taxi from Naples to the Amalfi Coast and you want to take it to your new hotel, specifically (rather than a day trip), double-check with your hotel that it can be reached by car. Some of the hotels along the Amalfi Coast are nearly impossible to reach by car, or require going pretty far down a one-way road requiring the taxi driver to make a loop they'd prefer not to, so it's not uncommon for taxi drivers to drop you near the hotel, but not at all.
Rental Car from Naples to Amalfi Coast
Driving along the Amalfi Coast, wind in your hair, scarf fluttering behind you, it's a vibe (as the kids these days are saying). For the rest of us, in plain-speak, it's a singularly paralleled experience, one that straddles the line between harrowing and pure, unadulterated joy. This is SS163, the Amalfitana for short. (If you're curious, check out our article on whether or not the Amalfi Coast road is dangerous.)
First off, let's talk about the stress part. It is stressful, there's no question. Unless you're going on a really quiet day, it's going to be a madhouse of driving antics.
Second, there are blind turns everywhere and the buses will take them with speed. In this vein, the buses tend to have the right of way, unless you're waved on. So they will slowly push you back (not with the actual bus, but refuse to let you pass, making you reverse down the Amalfi Coast) if you happen to meet a bus at a bottleneck.
Third, parking is just ridiculously expensive. Somewhere north of €10 an hour for most of the parking lots. Likewise, not all hotels offer private car parking, or they have very limited spaces.
Fourth, your car can only be used for half the days. On the Amalfi Coast, there's a system in place to reduce congestiona and pollution. If the license plate on your car ends in an odd number, you can only drive it on odd-numbered days (the 15th, 23rd, etc.). If it ends in an even number, you can only drive it on even-numbered days (2nd, 18th, etc.). This means, if you're renting a car for a few days, or a week, you can only use it for half of that.
That said, you're on the Amalfi Coast, hugging the cliff-face as you take hairpin turn after hairpin turn, driving over the famous bridge in Furore (pictured below), watching the sails as Positano comes into view. It's an unforgettable experience, one that I'd highly recommend if you feel comfortable driving in Italy. There are also plenty of little points to pull off at and take photos, or simply take a few deep breaths if things do get a little tense.
