Yes, it’s possible.
A
vacation on the Amalfi Coast is dreamy until you find yourself lugging suitcases up an unexpected 100-step staircase or queueing under the hot sun for a seemingly non-existent bus. With an exhaustingly over-congested main road in summer, traveling up and down the coastline by public or private transport can be nerve-wracking for the unprepared. Here’s everything you need to know about navigating the Amalfi Coast with or without a car.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
If you’re flying, the closest airport to the Amalfi Coast is Naples International Airport. From here, you can get a Curreri shuttle bus to Sorrento, the gateway to the coastline, which takes around 1 hour and a half and costs €10 one way.
If you arrive by train at Napoli Centrale station, you need to walk downstairs to the Piazza Garibaldi station and change onto the Circumvesuviana train for Sorrento, which takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour and 10 minutes.
At Sorrento, you can pick up the SITA bus that travels all the way to Amalfi along the coast road, stopping at towns like Positano and Praiano. This works out as the cheapest way to access the Amalfi Coast.
Alternatively, you can take the Positano Shuttle Bus from Naples airport, Naples railway station, Rome Termini railway station, or Rome’s Ciampino or Fiumicino airports, with prices starting at €28 one way. The service can drop you off and pick you up from hotels and other accommodations in the towns of Positano and Praiano.
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You can also approach the Amalfi Coast from the eastern side. There is a railway station in Salerno and from the nearby bus terminal in Via Vinciprova, there are SITA buses to take you along the coastal highway.
The alternative in both directions is to hire a taxi or private car or ask your hotel for a transfer service to collect you from Naples airport, Naples railway station, or Salerno railway station. Prices generally range from €150 to over €250 depending on your destination. You can also hire a car – see more about driving along the Amalfi Coast below.
How to Travel Around the Amalfi Coast Without a Car
If you’re relying on public transport to move up and down the coastline, you’ll be using SITA company buses. These run from Sorrento to Amalfi along the Strada Statale 163 Amalfitana every day of the week from 6 am until 10 pm, roughly every 30 minutes – always double-check the timetable first as they do not run at the same time each hour. At Amalfi, you can change onto buses to continue down the coastline all the way to Salerno or to destinations up the hillside. All timetables can be found here.
Do not board the bus without a ticket, as you cannot purchase one on board. You need to buy tickets in advance at the train station in Sorrento or at dozens of bars and tabaccheries (tobacconists) all along the coastline, usually very close to a bus stop. Prices start at €1.50 one way, depending on where you are going. There is also a 24-hour pass for €10 – you can check which journeys are included here. The buses usually have storage below for luggage. If you suffer from motion sickness, don’t forget some medicine as the road is very windy.
Passenger ferries also serve the coastline from April to October. There are connections from Sorrento, Salerno, and Naples. They stop at several places along the Amalfi Coast, including Positano, Amalfi, Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, and the islands of Capri and Ischia. Check the full schedule here. Prices depend on the route and can be anything between €5 and €25.
How to Travel Around the Amalfi Coast by Car
Renting a car to get around the Amalfi Coast has many advantages, including being able to reach towns, accommodations, and restaurants that are not serviced directly by buses. However, there are some downsides to be aware of.
During peak periods and the summer months, there are restrictions on non-resident and rental cars (excluding motorbikes or scooters) using the Strada Statale 163 Amalfitana coastal road between Positano and Vietri sul Mare. An alternative license plate system came into force from 10 am to 6 pm over Easter and national holidays in April. In June, July, and October, the regulation will be active every Saturday and Sunday. It will be in place daily for the entire months of August and September.
This means vehicles whose license plates end in an even number are prohibited from driving on even-numbered days, while those ending in an odd number cannot circulate on odd-numbered days. The only exception is for guests of hotel and accommodation facilities who can move freely on the days of arrival and departure.
Be aware that there is limited parking along the Amalfi Coast and it is often expensive. The serpentine coastal highway can be stressful to drive when there are traffic jams or you need to pass a wide coach or truck at narrow points. If you head up to towns in the mountains, be prepared to navigate hairpin bends.