The nearest airport to Positano and the Amalfi Coast is the Naples Capodichino Airport, located about an hour away. The Pontecagnano airport is located near Salerno, but it is used primarily for private flights. There are no direct buses or trains from the Naples airport to the Amalfi Coast, so you have to reach Sorrento by train or bus first and then continue on to the coast by local bus. Since there are a number of connections, we suggest getting around by private transfer. Many international flights land at the Rome Fiumicino airport, and reaching Positano requires catching a number of connections; we suggest booking a private transfer if you are arriving or leaving via this airport, as well.
The UNESCO-listed Amalfi Coast is located in southern Italy's Campania region, south of Naples. The main transportation hubs for the Amalfi Coast are Naples, Sorrento, and Salerno. The principal forms of public transportation serving the Amalfi Coast are Sita buses and, in the summer, ferries.
For those traveling from the North, the first town you will reach on the Amalfi Coast is Positano. Continuing along the twisting coastal Strada Statale 163 road, you will pass the coastal towns of Praiano, Furore, Amalfi (and Ravello, above), Atrani, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, and Vietri sul Mare. The only railway station on the Amalfi Coast is located in Vietri sul Mare, which is linked with the stations of Naples and Salerno. Unfortunately, there is no direct public transport between Naples and Positano.
The Best Option for a Stress-free Arrival!
With all the different means of transport you'll have to take and the various connections you'll need to make, getting to the Amalfi Coast can be a complicated business!
A quick and convenient private transfer directly from the airport to your hotel is the best way to arrive hassle-free, especially for those taking a long flight or transporting luggage.
Many private transfers between Naples and the Amalfi Coast also offer the option of stopping to visit the ruins of Pompeii and/or Herculaneum to explore the crater on top of Mt. Vesuvius. Your driver will wait with the car and your luggage while you tour Pompeii, and then you will set off for your final destination once you finish your visit.
If there are four or more of you traveling together, the cost of a private car transfer will be only slightly higher than that of traveling by public transport, but with the considerable advantage of kicking off your Amalfi Coast vacation in the most stress-free way possible!
One of the first details of your visit is figuring out where to fly into for the Amalfi Coast. There is no Amalfi Coast airport; the nearest airport to the Amalfi Coast is the Naples Capodichino Airport, located about 60 km (37 miles) to the north.
Though Naples Capodichino is the closest airport to the Amalfi Coast, it’s not your only option to fly to the Amalfi Coast. Depending upon where you are departing from, you may find that the best airport for the Amalfi Coast is Rome Fiumicino, which connects with more cities. If you’re flying into Rome, consider that it will take you about four hours to reach the Amalfi Coast by public transportation (train + bus).
Staying in Sorrento or Positano? As for the Amalfi Coast in general, there is no Sorrento or Positano airport. The closest airport to Positano is the Naples Capodichino airport, and the same is true for Sorrento.
- Airports near Positano, Italy:’Naples Capodichino (63 km/40 miles); Rome Fiumicino (300 km/185 miles)
- Airports near Sorrento, Italy: Naples Capodichino (50 km/31 miles); Rome Fiumicino (290 km/180 miles)
If your plane lands in Naples Capodichino International Airport, you will need to travel first to the town of Sorrento to reach the Amalfi Coast.
How to get from Napoli to Amalfi: you have two options:
- By Curreri bus to Sorrento, which can be boarded directly outside Terminal 1 at the Naples airport. Tickets cost about EUR 10 and can be purchased directly from the driver.
- By Alibus bus to the center of Naples, which leaves from outside Terminal 1 and transports passengers to Napoli Centrale (Naples Central) Trenitalia railway station in Piazza Garibaldi. Tickets cost about EUR 5 and can be purchased online or directly from the driver. Once at the station, follow the signs for the Circumvesuviana train, the local train located beneath the main station. From here you can catch trains which will take you to Sorrento in about an hour.
Useful websites for the airport, buses, and taxis:
Once you arrive at the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento, you will need to take the Sita bus which runs between the Sorrentine peninsula and the Amalfi Coast.
Sit on the right-hand side of the bus to get the best view!
From Sorrento, the bus takes roughly 45 minutes to reach Positano and 60 minutes to reach Amalfi. If you need to go beyond Amalfi or to Ravello, you'll have to change buses here. The road is a series of stomach-churning curves: take all the precautions necessary if you suffer from car sickness.
To reach Amalfi and the other towns further south along Italy's Amalfi Coast, follow the same directions regarding getting to Sorrento above and then continue by bus to Amalfi and beyond. Otherwise, take the train further south to Salerno and from there continue on by bus or ferry back up the coast.
Another option is to take the autobus Sita bus to Vietri Sul Mare and Amalfi, accessing the Amalfi Coast from the south rather than the north. In this case, the bus's final destination is the Varco Immacolatella in the port of Naples.
The Varco Immacolatella is difficult to reach by public transport: with the Alibus you will need to get off at Piazza Municipio and then walk for quite a long stretch of road or struggle to get on to one of the city's crowded trams (an experience best avoided, especially if you have lots of luggage).
The best option by far is to take a taxi from the airport, asking the driver to apply the fixed rate (about €20) to the port. Make sure you clearly specify Varco Immacolatella, otherwise the driver will leave you at Molo Beverello.
Bus tickets can be purchased at the ticket office next to the bus stand and cost about EUR 4.
If you are traveling to Positano, consider the location of your hotel with care before deciding to arrive by sea. From the pier adjacent to the beach, you will have to climb a significant number of stairs to reach the upper part of town and walking is the only option. There are luggage porters at the pier for your bags.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast from Salerno
During the summer months, there are convenient ferry routes departing from Salerno and stopping in Positano and Amalfi (and vice versa if you are planning a day trip). Salerno has two piers: Molo Concordia opposite the train station, which is perfectly located for those traveling by train; and Molo Manfredi, a few kilometers away. Routes usually run from 1 April to 31 October. Other ferry routes for Amalfi and Positano depart from Sorrento.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento
Other ferry routes for Amalfi and Positano depart from Sorrento and generally run from May to October.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast from Capri
Ferry routes between Capri, Positano, and Amalfi run from the beginning of April to mid-October when most tourists take day trips. In April and May, there are generally two routes that depart each afternoon/evening from Capri to Positano and two routes departing each morning from Positano to Capri. In June, July, and August, additional morning routes depart from Capri to the Amalfi Coast and vice versa. You can see updated ferry schedules for the current season here:
Ferry Schedules from Capri to Positano and Amalfi
We recommend booking your ferry tickets online in advance, particularly if you are traveling on the weekend or during the busy months of July and August, as the Italian ferries are quite small and can get crowded. You can also purchase tickets directly at the port ticket office a day or two in advance. One piece of carry-on luggage is included in the price of a ticket; for larger bags or suitcases, you must pay a supplement (around EUR 2/bag). Vehicles are not allowed on board. During the winter (from the end of October through March), to reach Positano from Capri you must take the ferry to Sorrento and then connect to a local bus headed to the Amalfi Coast. Ferries between Capri and Sorrento run all year round.
Ferry Schedules from Capri to Sorrento
How to get to Capri
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast from Ischia
You can reach the Amalfi Coast directly from Ischia via ferry from mid-April through September, when ferries depart from Ischia and stop at Capri, Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno. It takes about three hours to complete the entire route from Ischia to Salerno.
Ferry Schedules from Ischia to Positano and Amalfi
How to Get to Ischia
If you're traveling by car, a piece of advice: be careful!
During the months of July and August and on public holidays, the road hugging the Amalfi Coast can be extremely busy and spending hours stuck in a traffic jam under the Mediterranean sun is not much fun, no matter how breathtaking as the scenery might be from your car window,
On the other hand, driving along the sinuous curves of the Amalfi Coast is an experience no driver should miss: it is not by chance that dozens of car companies have filmed advertisements here.
The times to avoid if you're traveling by car:
In the summer:
From Naples in the direction of the Amalfi Coast: Saturday and Sunday mornings and the entire month of August.
From the Amalfi Coast in the direction of Naples: late Saturday and Sunday afternoons and the entire month of August.
In the winter:
Although the road is generally clear, you should take care on sunny Sunday mornings when the SS163 is often invaded by motorcycles from throughout the Campania region!
Driving on Italy's Amalfi Coast
Many people ask whether it's a good idea to drive on the Amalfi Coast.
The narrow coastal road is comprised of a series of hairpin bends directly above the sea, and you can expect to regularly come across large tourist coaches which, at the curves, can create difficulties.
On the other hand, the best way to explore the Amalfi Coast is by car, allowing you to stop off when and as many times as you choose to enjoy the views. If you are not used to driving on narrow roads, your best option is to use the public bus service or, if your budget allows it, a private car service with a driver.
A Stop En Route
If you are driving to or from the Amalfi Coast, stop to stretch your legs at Sorrento Excellence, a combination shop, bar, and limoncello workshop located along the scenic highway 145. Here, you can take a free tour of the open limoncello workshop and enjoy a sample, as well as shop for artisan and local souvenirs.
Below we’ll share all the information you need about how to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, but first let’s answer the question “how far is Rome from the Amalfi Coast?”
If you're flying into Rome, travel from Rome to the Amalfi Coast will take at least four hours from the time you land or your train arrives. And that’s only if you make all your connections.
If your flight lands in the afternoon, you might want to consider spending a night in Rome or Naples and continuing your journey to the Amalfi Coast the next day given the distance from Rome to the Amalfi Coast.
Keep in mind that there is no train from Rome to the Amalfi Coast. Rome to Amalfi train trips include a change in Naples to take the local Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento and then the local bus. The opposite is true for trips from Amalfi to Rome via train.
- How to get from Florence to Positano: there are direct trains from Florence to Naples or high-speed trains from Florence to Rome Termini train station, where you’ll have to transfer to a train to Naples. From there, follow the directions above.
- How to get from Florence to Amalfi: there are direct trains to Naples or high-speed trains that stop at the Rome Termini train station. Transfer to a train for Naples and then follow the directions above.
From the Rome Fiumicino Airport
From the airport, take the Leonardo Express shuttle train to the city's main Roma Termini railway station. From here you can catch a high-speed train to Naples. Given how far is the Amalfi Coast from Rome, you may want to consider spending a night in Rome or Naples if you land in the afternoon or evening.
Train tickets from Rome to Naples can be purchased in the station (at the ticket office or from the automatic dispensers) or online. Significant discounts are often available for customers buying their tickets in advance online.
Book your train from Rome to Naples
Please be aware that special offer tickets are often non-refundable. We recommend opting for tickets that can be changed or refunded in case of flight delays.
From the Rome Fiumicino airport you can also take a direct bus to Piazza Garibaldi in Naples
Book the Rome Fiumicino - Naples bus
Once you arrive at the Napoli Centrale railway station, follow the signs to the Circumvesuviana (the regional train located beneath the main railway station), and from here take the train to Sorrento. You'll reach Sorrento in about an hour.
Train Sorrento - Naples Schedule
Outside the Sorrento railway station, you'll find the stop for the Sita bus headed to Positano-Amalfi or to Sant'Agata-Nerano.
All the information you need to reach the Amalfi Coast from Rome
An Alternative Option: Continue on to Salerno
The Freccia Rossa high-speed train goes as far as Salerno. You can get off there and take the bus to Amalfi or one of the ferries to Amalfi and Positano. The Molo Concordia pier is located directly opposite the train station in Salerno, so is the easiest to reach. The Molo Manfredi pier is located a few kilometers from the station, so you will need to hire a taxi.
Book online the train to Salerno
From the Rome Ciampino Airport
Once you arrive at Rome Ciampino, take the bus to the Roma Termini train station and follow the directions above.
Bus Connections from the Rome Tiburtina Train Station
Another option is to travel to the Rome Tiburtina train station (on the Metropolitana subway blue line) and from there take one of the Autolinee Marozzi buses which connect Rome with Amalfi and Sorrento.
For Amalfi: there is a single route departing at 7am and arriving at noon.
For Sorrento: there are two routes, one which departs at 7am and one which departs at 3pm.
Trains to change, buses to catch, connections you can't afford to miss... by now, you'll probably have realized that getting to the Amalfi Coast, especially if you are landing in Rome, is not exactly the simplest of journeys.
By far the best way to avoid unnecessary travel stress is to book a private transfer from the airport to your hotel.
If there are four or more of you traveling together, the cost of the service is likely to be only marginally higher than that of all the train and bus tickets you'll need to buy to get to the Amalfi Coast using public transport. A private transfer can be a surprisingly economical option for your family or group.
Private transfers run both ways, of course, so you can also get from the Amalfi Coast to Rome stress-free for your return flight via private transfer. If you’re wondering how to get from Positano to the Naples airport without worrying about missing your flight, a private transfer is the way to go!
