Getting to The Amalfi Coast, Italy

The charming coast of Amalfi is a preferred travel destination to those looking to experience the south of Italy and arriving to this destination is made easier by the number of choices you'll find. Bus rides starting at $10 and trains from $11. The lovely Amalfi area is well equiped to help their guests move around comfortably as well with different bus lines servicing the whole resort and taxi rides from $5.50. Count on exploring the whole resort in style and ease not to miss out on any of its beauty.

Amalfi Coast Key Information

Part of Unesco's World Heritage sites since 1997, the Amalfi Coast is a succession of small villages from Positano to Vietri sul Mare. Houses perched to the steep mountain on this coast of fishermen's villages give way to elegant beaches joined by the road that contours the coast. It is certainly a postcard view regardless of what direction you're looking in.

The tricky part

There is a limited choice of options that will get you to the Amalfi Coast, most of which will require some sort of combination with a bus or car as there are no train lines that arrive at the area. The only railway station is located in Vietri sul Mare and is connected with Naples and Salerno by the regional light railway company Circumvesuviana. If you're planning to drive there, the road is full of bends, take precautions if you suffer from car sickness. Sit on the left side of the bus to admire the breathtaking view if traveling from Salerno or on the right side if you're taking the bus from Sorrento. Parking in the Amalfi Coast can be difficult and expensive (up to 5€ per hour).

Getting to The Amalfi Coast

Arriving by plane is possible to Naples International Airport (IATA code NAP) with many international airlines servicing direct routes from most European locations. In addition to Italy's flagship airline, Alitalia, other international companies such as Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Swiss, British Airways, Iberia, Turkish Airlines join low cost such as easyJet and RyanAir. This makes it easy to join this location.

The duration of a trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast takes a minimum of four hours so if your plane lands in Rome in the afternoon, consider spending the night there rather than venturing south the same day.

The Amalfi Coast is served by public transportation in the modalities of buses (service provided by a company called SITA). During the summer you will also find ferries and hydrofoils available.

FlixBus offers buses to Sorrento from a wide variety of locations not only in Italy, but also in France and other European countries in the region. If you like to travel by bus, it may take a bit longer than what you want, but it's a great choice if you're traveling on a budget since night trips are available (saving you not only on the fare but also on night stays).

Trains are also available from Rome's Roma Termini railway station to Salerno starting if you're on a really tight budget using the interregional services which stop at every single village between Rome and Salerno making the trip longer but much more cost-effective. There is also an Intercity service which will take one hour less or the more comfortable option on the high speed train which takes about two hours from Rome to Salerno. This train departs Rome every hour and is known for its punctuality. The only railway station is located in Vietri sul Mare and is connected with Naples and Salerno by the regional light railway company Circumvesuviana.

By car, the first city of the Amalfi Coast you'll find coming from the north is Positano. Continuing along the highway 163 you reach Praiano, Amalfi, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, and Vietri sul Mare. It is highly recommended not to arrive by car during the months of July and August as traffic is often blocked. If you're not used to driving on very narrow streets this is also discouraged.

Ferries and hydrofoils are available during the high season (from April to October) departing from Salerno and docking in Positano and Amalfi (and the other way around). You can get them from Concordia Square right in from of the train station.

The Frugal Option

FlixBus offers buses to Sorrento from Rome starting at $11 (10€). To Salerno, buses are available from Naples $4.40 (4€), Rome $7.60 (7€), Florence $16.50 (15€), Bologne, Verona, Milan or Venice for $22 (20€). From France you can depart from Nice $36 (33€), Marseille or even Lyon for $43 (39€).

Trains are available from Rome's Roma Termini railway station to Salerno starting at $11 (10€) if you're on a really tight budget using the interregional services which stop at every single village between Rome and Salerno. For $22 (20€) you can use the Intercity service which will take one hour less than the interregional service. The recommended option for more comfort is the Eurostar Freccia Rossa (TAV) high speed train which takes about two hours from Rome to Salerno with fares starting at $44 (40€). This train departs Rome every hour and is known for its punctuality. It is recommended to purchase your ticket online through TrenItalia to land a good deal if your purchase in advance. At the train station in Salerno you should get to the terminal bus located in via Vinciprova. It's a short 10 minutes walk from the main station and there you'll find the SITA buses running almost every hour to the Amalfi Coast. The fare is $3.75 (3.40€) and tickets can be purchased from the retailers at the station and must be stamped (validated) once you're on board.

The only railway station is located in Vietri sul Mare and is connected with Naples and Salerno by the regional light railway company Circumvesuviana. Service is available every 30 minutes from 6am to 11pm and tickets cost $4 (3.60€). At Sorrento train station you will find the bus stop for SITA (https://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/) headed to all destinations on the Amalfi Coast. Service is available from 6am to 9pm. The company recommends using either Google Maps or the app Moovit to check the times, stops, and routes.

Private Transfer Options

From Naples International Airport, a private ride on a sedan for up to 3 passengers with 3 pieces of luggage costs $190, a private van for 7 passengers with 7 pieces of luggage for $233, or a private bus for 18 passengers and 18 pieces of luggage for $361. All these options can be booked through Mozio offering a variety depending on the number of passengers which makes it convenient particularly if traveling as a group. The driver waits for you with a sign with your name on it for an hour once your plane has landed. Prices are similar if being picked up from Sorrento and a bit cheaper if being picked up from Salerno.

On Demand apps such as Uber are not available on the south of Italy so one must rely on local taxi companies or chauffeured services when in need of a ride in the area.

The Mozio Recommendation

Italy's train network is very well connected and results possibly the best way to reach the Amalfi Coast given that trains reach the area directly eliminating the need for a long shuttle between the airport and your destination.

Moving AROUND The Amalfi Coast

Moving around the secluded Amalfi Coast can be a bit tricky given the different options that exist between the cities. However, getting used to them is not hard and they result in a very convenient way to visit all the best places. Either by bus, train, taxi, or shuttle, you'll find the best way to make the most out of your visit.

The Frugal Option

SITA, the local bus company, services all destinations on the Amalfi Coast. Service is available from 7am to 8:40pm. The company recommends using either Google Maps or the app Moovit to check the times, stops, and routes. Bus tickets can be bought on cigarette stands called "tabaccherie" and must be purchased before boarding as they are not sold on board. The cost of the ticket depends on the validity of it. A 45 minutes ticket costs $2.20 (2€). Travelling from Amalfi, this will get you to Positano, Minori, Maiori, Ravello and Bomerano. A90 minutes ticket costs $3.20 (2.90€). This will get you to all other destinations. There is also a ticket valid for 24 hours for $8.80 (€8) or 3 days for $20 (18€) without limits for usage within a single day.

Are Rideshare & TaxiApps Readily Available In This Resort?

Car Rental Options

Most internationally renowned car rental agencies are available in both Sorrento and Salerno. Hertz, Budget, Avis, and Europcar are joined by local companies. Amalfi offers car rental agencies as well but only local agencies are available. One thing to bear in mind is renting a vehicle is discouraged due to the complexity of driving around the area and finding a parking space. Most visitors have highlighted that the cost of parking took a huge portion of their budget and time. Very narrow roads with high circulation during the summer make driving in the area a task only for very experienced drivers.

On the other hand, renting a Vespa can come as a suitable alternative for moving around with rates starting at $72 (65€) per day. Parking is almost always free for two-wheeled vehicles and spaces are more likely to be available.

Day Trips Around The Amalfi Coast

Capri

The island of Capri is only accesible by boat from Amalfi or Sorrento. From Amalfi, the high speed ferry (which takes 50 minutes to reach the island) costs $27 (24.50€) and departs at 9:50am or 5:55pm. From Sorrento, a high speed ferry that takes 20 minutes to arrive in Capri and rates start at $21.50 (19.50€) per person. There are approximately 35 departures daily. A slow ferry is also available at for $18.55 (16.90€) per person. It is recommended to arrive to the port at least one hour before the departure of the boat. To get to the historic center you can take the public bus service, the funicular, or the small train that connects Marina Grande to Capri in 5 min (departures are approximately every 15 min).

Pompeii

Visiting the ancient village of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius is a great travel plan for spending a day in a place full of history. Something to take into account is the fact that there is an entrance fee (usually $16.50 / 15€) to Pompeii which is not usually included in private tours hired as a package and must be paid on location. Guides can be hired at the entrance to the historical site. While there are many tours that can be hired from agencies and online, if you prefer to visit the site on your own time and pace private and public options are available from Amalfi. A sedan for 3 passengers to take you there and pick you back for the return costs $473 (final price for the round trip), a van for 7 passengers costs $562 (final price for the round trip), or a bus for 18 passengers for $759 (final price for the round trip). Keep in mind that the ruins of Pompeii are located in the modern town of Pompei. The least expensive option from Amalfi is the private tourist bus. The bus fare is $13.20 (12€) each way or $24.16 (22€) for a round trip. The bus departs at 9:25am and 10:25am and returns to Amalfi at 3:15pm and 5:15pm. In Amalfi: the bus stop at the eastern end of Piazza Flavio Gioia, which is next to the docks in Amalfi. In Pompeii: 30 seconds to the main Porta Marina entrance of Pompeii. The bus stop is halfway between the train station and the entrance.

From Sorrento, the direct train called "Circumvesuviana" departing from Sorrento's main train station and arriving at Pompei Scavi - Villa dei Misteri Station (which is 2 minutes walking from the ticket center and entrance to Pompeii). The Circumvesuviana train runs every 30 minutes or so between 7am and 11pm. The train ride takes just 30 minutes and the tickets cost $3.30 (3€) per person per way.