The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most famous destinations. Its sheer coastline, pretty towns and the blue, clear waters of its sea have made it an incredibly attractive place to visit. The area is incredibly photogenic, which has helped make it a trend on social media. Moreover, it has enjoyed significant media coverage, which has contributed to making it a well-known destination for international visitors. For example, the Netflix series Ripley was largely set there, in the beautiful town of Atrani.
The Amalfi Coast is an amazing destination, but it’s not the easiest place to visit. It’s important to be prepared and be aware of practical things like how to get around or how to reach the main towns. This will ensure you know where you should stay and that you can book your trip in confidence. So if you’re thinking of giving it a go, be sure to read through this post to learn all you need to know before visiting the Amalfi Coast.
If you’re planning a trip to Italy, check out my article on the best tips for visiting the country!
Disclaimer: posts may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking on these links, I make a commission at no extra cost to you. Visit my privacy policy for further information.
Where is the Amalfi Coast?
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline nearly 50 km long (~31 miles). It lies on a peninsula between the cities of Naples and Salerno, in the Italian region of Campania. Several other popular destinations are in the vicinity of the Amalfi Coast, such as Pompeii and the Vesuvius volcano. The famous island of Capri is just off the peninsula, and the islands of Ischia and Procida are on the other side of the Gulf of Naples.
Officially, the Amalfi coast spans from the town of Positano to the west and Vietri sul Mare to the east. Other coastal towns dot the coastline, including Amalfi, which the area is named after.
Another town on the peninsula, but not officially in the Amalfi Coast, you should remember is Sorrento. Not only is it a beautiful town that is worth a visit, it’s also an important transport hub. In the next sections, we’ll delve into the local transport system and explain how to navigate it to get to and around the Amalfi Coast.
How to get to the Amalfi Coast
Flying in
The nearest international airport is in Naples. You can fly to Naples from plenty of domestic and international airports. Click here to start searching for the best flights to Naples from wherever you are.
The next step to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples International Airport is to get to the train station. You can take the Alibus shuttle bus from outside the terminal to Piazza Garibaldi. There you’ll find both the central train station (Napoli Centrale) and Piazza Garibaldi station. You can also take coaches to the Amalfi Coast from around the train station.
It now depends on where in the Amalfi Coast you’re heading to, as different locations have better routes. In the next sections we’ll delve into the other modes of transport and where they go, but you should research what the best route to get to where you’re staying is.
Taking the train
If you’re already in Italy, or even in Europe in general, you could also take the train instead of flying into Naples. In fact, both neighbouring large cities to the Amalfi Coast, Naples and Salerno, are linked to the high speed rail network. This means that you can take fast trains from many other Italian cities with Trenitalia, the national rail company, and Italo. And the European continent as a whole has a large train network, both high-speed and not, that can get you to Italy and then to Naples of Salerno.
For context, it takes just over one hour to get to Naples from Rome via high-speed rail. Rome to Salerno talkies a couple of hours. And from Milan in the north of the country it takes 4 and a half hours to reach Naples.
If you’re thinking of taking the train to Naples or Salerno, get your tickets on the Trenitalia or Italo website.
If you’re not in a hurry or want to save some money, you can also take regional trains to both cities. Browse the Trenitalia website to find the times and prices.
Getting to the Amalfi coast from the neighbouring cities
Travelling by car is not recommended for several reasons. First, the roads are narrow, windy, and often against sheer drops. It may be dangerous for inexperienced drivers, and you’ll frequently have to squeeze through tight gaps to let other cars and buses pass. Moreover, there isn’t much parking anywhere on the Amalfi Coast and if you found it, it’d likely be very pricey.
Some people travel to the Amalfi Coast by motorbike. However, the roads can be very dangerous for inexperienced riders.
In general, it’s better to use public transportation or take taxis. There are a variety of transport options, including trains, buses and ferries.
For trains, you can buy tickets at the train stations, online or at tobacco stores, which will have a large T on signs outside. Always remember to validate paper train tickets at the machines anywhere in Italy. If you purchase the tickets online, double check if they need validation.
For buses, you can buy tickets at tobacco stores or at newsagents.
And for ferries, you can book tickets online or at ticket stands in the various towns. A link to the websites of ferry operators is indicated in the sections below.
From Naples
Positano
By train and bus
You first need to take the L1 train from Piazza Garibaldi station to Sorrento, which will take just over one hour.
From Sorrento, take the 5070 bus to Positano. This ride will take about 35 minutes. In total, allow at least a couple of hours to get to Positano.
By ferry
You can also take a direct ferry to Positano from Naples port. The ferry ride takes a couple of hours, and can be a great way to get a taste of the spectacular coastline from the water.
To get to the port from the train stations in Naples, take the Alibus, 002 or 101 buses.
By shared shuttle
The company Daytrip runs shared shuttle services from Naples to Positano. The ride takes almost two hours. You can also add sightseeing stops to your ride, and even upgrade it to a private transfer.
This can be a great option if you’re after a more personalised or direct journey. However, it’s a much more expensive option compared to the local public transport.
Agerola (Pianillo, Bomerano and San Lazzaro)
By bus
You can take the 5081 bus from Naples to Gragnano. The bus stop is located just around the central train station, in via Galileo Ferraris. From Gragnano, take the 5080 to all towns in the Agerola area. The whole journey should take a couple of hours.
By train and bus
You can also take the L1 train from Naples Porta Nolana to Castellamare di Stabia. From there, take the 5080 bus to Agerola. Allow for up to 2 and a half hours for this route.
Amalfi
By ferry
The best way to get to Amalfi from Naples is to take the ferry from the port. The ferry ride takes one hour and 45 minutes.
From Salerno
Amalfi
By bus
The best way to get to Amalfi by bus is from Salerno. As mentioned earlier, you can get to Salerno by train from Naples and many other Italian cities.
Take the 5120 bus from via Vinciprova, near Salerno train station. It should take about one hour and 15 minutes to reach Amalfi.
Positano
By bus
You’d need to take two buses to get from Salerno to Positano. First, take the 5120 from Salerno to Amalfi, as in the above section. From Amalfi, take the 5070 to Positano.
Allow about 2 and a half hours for the whole journey.
By bus and ferry
If you’d like a more scenic journey, you can take the 5120 bus from Salerno to Amalfi and then the ferry from Amalfi to Positano.
How to get around the Amalfi Coast
By bus
Once you’re in the Amalfi Coast or the surrounding area, buses are the main way to get around. They go through most towns and can reach the most famous landmarks. The frequency varies by line, but generally the most frequent they get is once or twice per hour.
The timetables can be viewed online, or at the local bus stops. Bear in mind that they may not always be punctual, especially at intermediate stops. This is mainly due to the challenging traffic and road conditions, which can delay services. Overall, if you’re travelling by bus around the Amalfi Coast you should always allow plenty of time.
Below is a list of the main lines that you should remember when visiting the area.
5120 Amalfi – Maiori – Salerno
This line is useful to travel between Salerno and Amalfi. It goes through all the coastal towns between Salerno and Amalfi. This includes Atrani, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri sul Mare.
5070 Amalfi – Positano – Sorrento
This line travels through the main towns on the Amalfi Coast and beyond. It’s a great way to travel between Positano and Amalfi, and to travel to and from Sorrento. The latter has rail links to Naples via the L1, which you may need to take to travel to or from the airport or train station.
This line also stops at many coastal attractions, such as the Fiordo di Furore (Furore Fiord).
5080 Amalfi – Agerola – Naples
This line will be important to get around if you stay in the Agerola area. Moreover, you can of course use it to travel to Bomerano, which is part of Agerola. The famous Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) starts from Bomerano and will take you through the sheer coastline all the way to Positano.
The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) is the area’s most famous hike and definitely a bucket list for visitors. The 5080 line will be your best way to get to the start of the hike from anywhere in the Amalfi Coast.
By ferry
Ferries run through much of the Amalfi Coast and can be a great way to get around coastal towns. They can cover long distances more quickly than buses, and you can enjoy the views of the spectacular coastline. Ticket prices are also quite inexpensive.
There are many ferry companies operating in the area, but this website does a great job of summarising the services and timetables. You can pre-book tickets on the ferry companies’ websites, which are also linked to here. However, you can also purchase them onsite at ticket stands or offices. They are usually located near the ports and are easy to find. Often you’ll need to collect a ticket there even if you’ve purchased it online.
The main ferries that you’ll wish to take are listed below.
Amalfi – Positano
A great ferry to travel between the two large towns and reach their bus connections to other areas.
Salerno – Amalfi
A quick and scenic connection between Amalfi and the city of Salerno, where a large train station is.
Positano – Sorrento
An efficient way to get from the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento, which has rail links to Naples. In Naples you’ll then find the large train station and the international airport.
With organised tours
Many organised tours operate through the Amalfi Coast and can be a great way to visit the area with comfortable transport, and often with local guides.
Bear in mind though that organised tours will be much more expensive than using the local public transport, which is generally quite cheap.
See below a selection of the best tours of the Amalfi Coast. Otherwise, click here to browse even more available trips.
Where to stay in the Amalfi Coast
While there are plenty of places in and around the Amalfi Coast that are great to stay at, you should consider this carefully when planning your trip. As we saw above, transport links are key to visiting the area with ease. Moreover, the towns are small and don’t always have the facilities you’d want.
While not an exhaustive list, below are three towns that in my opinion are the best places to stay in when visiting the Amalfi Coast. They all have their pros and cons, so you should consider which one fits your needs best.
Whichever location you decide to stay at, find your perfect hotel here!
Amalfi
The town this coastline is named after, Amalfi is definitely a great place to stay when visiting the area. With its stunning town centre, bars, restaurants and beautiful beach, Amalfi is a wonderfully unique location.
It also lies around the centre of the Amalfi coast, and has excellent transport links. You can take buses to towns all over the area from Amalfi. Moreover, if you’re in Amalfi you can take ferries to Positano, Salerno and even Capri. These transport links make it a perfect place to stay and explore the area. Bear in mind that Amalfi is easier to get to from Salerno than Naples, so if you’re staying there you should first head to Salerno by train.
As a downside, Amalfi is definitely one of the priciest places to stay in the area. If you’re visiting on a budget, other locations may be more suitable.
Positano
Another famous town on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is also a great place to stay. Built on sheer cliffs, Positano boasts some of the best views in the area. It also has two beaches, as well as plenty of shops, bars and restaurants.
Like Amalfi, Positano has great transport links that make it an effective base for exploring the Amalfi Coast. You can take buses to pretty much anywhere in the area and beyond. Positano also has a wharf, where you can take ferries to other locations on the coastline, or even to Capri, Naples and Sorrento. In general, it has good links to Naples, the nearest city with an international airport.
Much like Amalfi, the downside of staying in Positano is the high cost. So if you’re on a budget, other places can offer better value.
Agerola
Agerola is a fairly large area comprising three towns: Pianillo, San Lazzaro and Bomerano. It lies on the top of the cliff, so not directly on the sea, above the town of Praiano. The views are spectacular, and there are many bars and restaurants to try out.
Agerola has excellent transport links by bus. You can get there easily from Naples, and you can reach Amalfi directly by bus.
There you’ll also find one of the main attractions of the Amalfi Coast. The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) starts from Bomerano, winding its way along the sheer cliffs and ending up in Positano. This hike offers some truly spectacular views, and is a must for most visitors to the Amalfi Coast.
If you’re into walking, there are also long stairways from San Lazzaro down to the sea. You can get to some famous locations below the town, like the Fiordo di Furore (Furore Fiord) and the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Cave). However, bear in mind that the walk down is long and steep, and there isn’t much shade. Also, I wouldn’t recommend walking all the way back uphill. Instead, you should take a bus back if you walk down from San Lazzaro.
Overall, Agerola is a great place to stay on the Amalfi Coast, and is generally more affordable than other locations.
1 thought on “All You Need To Know Before Visiting The Amalfi Coast”
Comments are closed.