How Easy is Driving Around Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. When people think of the Amalfi Coast, most people think of Positano, Amalfi, and Capri but how easy is it to travel between these cities? We generally don't rent a car in Europe so we have to rely on public transportation. Luckily, the Amalfi Coast is surprisingly easy to travel around! There are a number of ways to travel between cities along the coast.
Word to the Wise: I highly, highly recommend utilizing both the bus and ferry for your travels in the Amalfi Coast. The views are absolutely stunning on both the bus (or car) and ferry. The vantage points are vastly different from one another so both are worth it! Driving the Amalfi Coast is bit daunting at first as the winding roads are narrow and steep. If you get motion sickness, be sure to take your meds before driving along the coast. The spectacular views are more than worth it though!
HOW TO GET TO THE AMALFI COAST
First things first, how do you get to the Amalfi Coast? The closest airport to the Amalfi Coast is Naples. From Naples it's approximately 1 hour to Sorrento and 1 hour and 15 minutes Positano. You can take a train, bus, ferry, or drive. You can also book a private car. It's reasonably priced depending on the number of people you're traveling with. You can also fly into Rome which is roughly 4 hours from Sorrento. From Rome, you can train, bus or drive to the coast!
HOP ON HOP OFF BUS
There is a Hop on Hop off Bus that will take you from Sorrento to Amalfi making stops in Positano and Praiano (upon request) along the way. It's an easy and informative way to travel between these cities. I highly recommend taking the bus at least one way because you're given a headset on the bus with information on the Amalfi Coast throughout the drive. The drive from Sorrento to Amalfi is breathtaking which is another reason I recommend bussing at least one way.
The first bus leaves Sorrento for Positano and Amalfi at 8:50 am. The last bus from Amalfi back to Positano and Sorrento leaves at 7:15. You can find the timetable and full schedule here. Unfortunately, the bus ride is a long one as it will take approximately an hour and a half to go from Sorrento to Amalfi however, the view makes up for it! You must reserve a seat for the bus prior to departure. We reserved our seats about 20 minutes prior to departure and didn't have a problem however, I can imagine these seats fill up during peak season.
Cost: A one way ticket is 10 euro. If you're returning the same day, the ticket is 6 euro.
SITA BUS
The most budget friendly way to travel between cities along the coast is the The SITA (city) Bus. The bus is only 2 euro each way. During the week, the first bus leaves Sorrento at 6:30 am for Amalfi. Here is the full timetable for your reference. It took us less than an hour to travel from Sorrento to Positano and personally, we found it extremely easy to use. The SITA bus is supposed to run later than both the Hop on Hop off Bus and the ferry.
Okay, while this is the cheapest option, I'm going to be honest, I've heard mixed reviews. I've heard a number of stories about the bus being confusing and filling up super fast leaving only standing room. This wasn't our experience at all, but it's something to be aware of. We might not have experienced any issues because we got on the SITA bus at the first stop. My recommendation is to be early to the bus stop and don't be afraid to ask locals for direction to ensure you're at the correct stop!
Cost: 2 euros/ way
FERRY
Alright, now for the best but of course, most expensive route! Taking a ferry is probably the most popular way to travel along the Amalfi Coast. It's easy, quick, relatively affordable, and absolutely spectacular!
There are a few ferry companies that run between Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. It's a pretty direct route making it that much more enjoyable and relaxing.
Taking a ferry is the only way to travel to Capri since it's an island. Ferries run from all major cities including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Naples. Capri is a quick 20-25 minute ferry from Sorrento and Positano. The ferry from Naples is approximately 45 minutes. The times I've listed are generalized as it depends on the ferry company you choose.
We utilized the ferry a number of times throughout our stay and purchased ferry tickets at the port just before departure.
Cost: Ticket prices vary depending on which cities you're traveling between. We found a one way was generally around 15-20 euros.
I was so impressed with how easy it was to travel the Amalfi Coast. All the more reason to add the Amalfi Coast to your bucket list, if it's not already there!
For more on the Amalfi Coast:
- AMALFI COAST VS. CINQUE TERRE
- AMALFI COAST TRAVEL GUIDE
Safe Travels,
Sarah :)
And don't forget to pin this for later!
2 Comments
stapletonholl1956.blogspot.com
Source: https://wanderoffthebeatenpath.com/2019/09/26/traveling-within-the-amalfi-coast/
Love the Amalfi coast and can't wait to go back. Capri is one of those places that are just … amazing. Great helpful info on the transportation, thanks. Do you know when the latest ferry from Capri runs back to main land? I remember I almost missed it lol.
Thank you for reading :) Capri is one of a kind! I can't wait to go back to the Amalfi Coast too, I just love it! It depends on the time of year and the town you are traveling to from Capri. I remember heading back to Sorrento around 7 pm though!