Positano - How to arrive

How to get to Positano

Positano and the Amalfi Coast can be reached by various methods of transport.

By aeroplane one arrives at Naples airport and from here visitors should proceed onwards for the Coast and Positano.

By train one reaches the various railway stations of Naples or that of Salerno, from the North and South of the Amalfi Coast respectively.

By car travellers arriving from both North and South should exit the A3 Motorway at Vietri sul Mare. It is not advisable to drive along the Amalfi Coast during the summer months, and in fact each year new measures are enforced in an attempt to limit traffic, which reaches its highest intensity in the month of August when circulation is extremely difficult.

By boat, during the summer season, there are connections from Naples, Sorrento and Salerno for the destinations along the Amalfi Coast.

Suggestions

Sorrento Silver Star

Transfers, excursions, and tours of Italy's Campania region.

Capri Boats

Boat trips around the island

By Plane

Naples International Airport is located 7 kms from the city center. It is formed by two terminals: terminal 1 for regular airline company flights and terminal 2 for charter flights. The recently enlarged airport has a VIP lounge and function rooms for meetings, conferences or the reception of important guests. On the first floor one finds a shopping center where to buy traditional local fare from the Campagna region, whilst there are various refreshment areas serving Italian and International dishes to satisfy all customers requirements.

From the Airport to Naples

To reach the center of Naples from the airport using public transport one can take the Alibus shuttle service which links the Naples International Airport with the Railway Station of Piazza Garibaldi and the Port of Piazza Municipio; the ticket costs 3 Euro, and is valid for 90 minutes, can be used with other city carriers and can also be purchased onboard. Departures every 3 minutes from 06.30 to 23.30.
There is also the public S3 bus of the ANM (Azienda Napoletana Mobilità) with departures for Piazza Garibaldi (Central Railway Station) every 10 minutes.
In the Piazza Garibaldi one of the principal ANM terminals can be found with buses serving the whole city.
A comfortable alternative is that offered by the CLP, private coaches, which depart approximately every 30 minutes from terminal 1, arrivals side, for Piazza Municipio. Tickets can be purchased directly onboard and the journey time is approximately 40 minutes.

Taxis can be hailed at the exits of the two terminals: make sure to check that they have the county council taxi permit and relative number on display. The price of the journey is established by the taximeter. The journey to the central station takes roughly 15 minutes, for Piazza Miunicipio and Beverello port 20 minutes. Taxis are always available at the airport.
By taxi one can travel direct to Positano and the Amalfi Coast: from the airport to Sorrento the journey takes approximately an hour, for Positano an hour and a half and for Amalfi two hours.

Those looking for a particularly comfortable and exclusive service and are not travelling on a budget can take a private transfer available on a 24 hour a day basis to and from any destination along the Amalfi Coast.

Alternatively, travellers can rent a car at the airport with any of the international car rental companies.

Naples airport is connected to the islands and all nearby cities by helicopter service available for tourist transportation.

By Train

The National Railway Company connects Naples with the principal Italian cities.
There are three railway stations:
Napoli Centrale, in Piazza Garibaldi, served by taxi, bus, underground railway and linked to the Circumvesuviana, the railway line which connects, with regular departures, the city with all of the Vesuvian towns all the way to Sorrento. Trains heading for Salerno also depart from this station.
Mergellina, 30 meters away from the harbour of the same name, served by taxi, underground, railway and bus.
Campi Flegrei, in the Fuorigrotta district, and served by taxi, underground railway and bus.

Some trains continue after Naples as far as Salerno, for connections for all the Northern and Central Italian cities and trains heading southwards to Reggio Calabria. For Positano and the Amalfi Coast it is necessary to proceed by car, bus and, in the summer season only, by boat.

By Car

Positano and the Amalfi Coast can be reached by car from the cities of Northern and Central Italy travelling along the A1 motorway until caserta and, from here, by taking the A2 until getting beyond Naples. Proceed on the A3 until reaching the Vietri sul Mare exit, just before Salerno.
To go to Naples, take the ringroad or “tangenziale” and exit at Fuorigrotta for the Mergellina harbor; exit at Marina for Beverello harbour.

Those arriving from Bari should follow the A14 and A16 as far as Avellino, and here take the E841 and subsequently the A30, linking up to the A3 at Salerno. For Naples they should continue until Pomigliano, take the A2 and exit at Napoli Nord to access the ringroad or "tangenziale".

Those travelling from the direction of Reggio Calabria should take the A3 until the Vietri sul mare exit or, alternatively, continue northwards until meeting the A2 and the sliproad for Napoli Nord and the "tangenziale" or ringroad. The stretch of road Salerno-Reggio Calabria is toll free.

If the destination is Sorrento, from which ever direction drivers come, they will need to leave the A3 motorway exiting at Castellammare di stabia and proceed along the A road.

For information regarding traffic conditions, drivers can contact the ACI, the Italian motorway association or telephone the 24hr toll free number 1518. In addition motorists can tune in to the Iso radio station, throughout Italy at 103.3 FM.

Towards Positano by land

From Naples

From Piazza Municipio a Sita bus (Sita is the company which provides road transportation for the whole Amalfi coast) departs every morning heading for Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi. The same bus returns to Naples from Amalfi at approximately 17,00.
The fastest bus service is that which passes by Pompei and Vietri and proceeds as far as Amalfi, with departures from Piazza Municipio. Tickets can be purchased at newsagents and tobacconists.

From Sorrento

From Sorrento buses leave hourly for Positano and Amalfi, making roughly 15 stops.

From Salerno

From Salerno buses leave hourly for Amalfi and stop in all of the towns.

The Strada Statale 163 (A road)

We strongly advise you not to travel by car on Saturdays and Sundays during the summer period: the traffic on the SS163 is always very intense and parking places extremely limited. In low season and during the week you will have less difficulty travelling but you will need to be aware that there are rush hours coast bound from 9,00 and 12,00 and towards the towns between 17,00 and 19,00.

In addition, the authorities of both Naples and Salerno enforce a number of regulations so as to limit the traffic in the area. The laws change from year to year, and it is well worth obtaining up to date information in one of the tourist offices. Along this road the circulation of coaches longer than 12 meters, campers longer than 8 meters, and cars towing caravans is forbidden in both directions between 7,30 and 24,00hrs. Coaches belonging to private tour operators can travel exclusively in the direction Positano -Vietri sul Mare from 8.30 to 17.00hrs and from 20,30 to 24.00hrs.

Towards Positano by sea… only in high season

From Naples boats transport passengers along the Costiera Amalfitana from two harbors exclusively in high season. For those travelling with large cases, they will need to purchase a ticket for each piece of baggage and present it at the time of embarking.
From Beverello harbour, just steps away from Piazza Municipio, and from Mergellina harbour, 300 meters from the railway station of the same name, hydrofoils belonging to various companies depart regularly.
From Sorrento hydrofoils and ferries belonging to various companies depart regularly.
From Salerno hydrofoils and ferries depart on a daily basis, but only during the high season.

Tickets can be purchased in advance and, some companies also offer the possibility to buy tickets on-line. In any case, even in the busiest periods, maximum waiting time is one hour.
Time tables are subject to seasonal changes and it is always advisable to check departure times with the ferry companies or tourist office before setting off to the harbour.

For those travelling to Positano, private boats can be hired as an alternative to the public hydrofoils.

Car parks

Those intending to reach the Amalfi Coast by sea will be pleased to know that there are a number of attended car parks close to the ports where to leave their cars.
In Naples, at Beverello port there is an open air attended car park or, close by, there is the large covered Interscambio-Autosilo Brin carpark, in via Brin where it is easy to find space and parking is cheaper.
Close to the Mergellina harbour, in Sorrento and Salerno there are also attended car parks.

By Helicopter

From Naples airport, passengers can fly by helicopter to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. The flight lasts 15-20 minutes and a maximum of four passengers can be carried on board per flight. As space is restricted, it is important not to bring excessive baggage.