Looking for information on how to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples or from Naples Airport (Napoli, Italy)? In this guide, we list all the best options.
Whether you are visiting the Amalfi Coast from Naples for a day, or are looking for a one-way transfer from the city or from Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) to Positano, Amalfi, or Ravello, you’ll find all the information in this article. Take a look!
TIP: If you have no time to read the entire article and just need a transfer from Naples to Amalfi Coast, this is the best-priced shared transfer and this is one of the best private transfers. For a day trip to the Amalfi Coast, jump straight to the best tours section below.
READ ALSO: Where to Stay in Naples
How to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast – OVERVIEW:
Naples to Amalfi Coast: Map, Driving Distance & Time
Below, you can see the map of the drive from Naples to the Amalfi Coast.
There are four main towns on the Amalfi Coast: Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Depending on where exactly you are going, the driving distance from Naples to the Amalfi Coast is about 60 km (38 miles), and the drive takes about 1.5 hours.
However, if the traffic is busy (and it often is), the drive from Naples to the Amalfi Coast can easily take 2-2.5 hours as well.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE TO READ: Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast (there is a lot to consider!)
How to use this map: Use your computer mouse (or fingers) to zoom in or out. Click on the icons to get more information about each place. Click the arrow on the top left corner for the index. Click the star next to the map’s title to add it to your Google Maps account. To view the saved map on your smartphone or PC, open Google Maps, click the menu and go to ‘Your Places’/’Maps’. If you want to print the map or see it in a bigger window, click on ‘View larger map’ in the top right corner.
Driving from Naples to Amalfi Coast by Car
If you have a car, you can drive from Naples to the Amalfi Coast. The drive is about 60 km (38 miles) and – without traffic – will take you about 1.5 hours. HOWEVER… you may want to read this first!
While the Amalfi Coast can be visited by car, I urge you to think twice before you rent a car for this area. We value independent travel above anything else and rent a car wherever we can, but we really do not advise exploring the Amalfi Coast by car in the high season (May to October).
The rugged Amalfi Coast has one main road that connects all the main towns. This narrow winding road is shared by public buses, tour buses, taxis, cars, motorbikes, and even bikes. The sides of the road closer to towns are usually lined with parked cars, making it even more challenging to drive.
In summer, traffic jams can get really bad, not even to mention that it’s very difficult/impossible to find parking. And if you do find a parking spot, be prepared to pay 6-10 euros per hour depending on the size of your car, or 35-50 euros per night at your accommodation. Locals told us that they try not to touch their cars through the summer.
Furthermore, recently the Amalfi Coast has introduced new rules in order to restrict the traffic between Positano in the west and Vietri sul Mare in the east – basically the entire stretch of the Amalfi Coast.
During the peak hours in the high season, cars can only drive here every other day, depending on their number plate. If your number plate ends with an odd number, you can drive on odd-numbered days, and those with even numbers – on even-numbered dates.
READ ALSO: Amalfi Coast Travel Tips & Tricks for First-Time Visitors
Renting a car
If you decide to rent a car…
Based on our own research and personal experience, we recommend renting your car via a reputable car rental service (e.g. Booking’s car hire service) and taking full insurance. It’s almost inevitable that your car will get at least a few scratches when driving/ parking in this area.
Also, be sure to read all the small letters if renting a car from a local company. We almost got tricked into a seemingly good deal that said ‘full insurance included*’. Except that the small letters at the bottom of the page said ‘*Except in Campania region, where coverage is limited to 50%’.
Our experience: We booked a car through Booking (we have used their car hire service for all our trips for years now), paid full insurance, and were really glad we did when a local bumped into our car in Sorrento or when we saw a scratch on our car after having left it at a spacious car parking in Pompeii.
By the way, we didn’t even come to the Amalfi Coast itself by car. It was meant for exploring the Sorrento – Naples area, and even there, I’d never rent a car again. We spent hours and hours in the traffic every day (and it was at the beginning of April, which is just the start of the shoulder season). It’s just not worth it.
I’d only consider renting a car on the Amalfi Coast if traveling in the low season (October – March, maybe the beginning of April). Otherwise, it might be nice to tour the area with one of those photogenic vintage cars for just a day. A car is ok as a means to experience the scenery, but not ideal for actually getting from one place to another or visiting anywhere (because of parking situation).
For getting to and around the Amalfi Coast, there are much better options than self-driving – see below.
Private or Shared Transfer to Amalfi Coast from Naples (City or International Airport)
If you are staying on the Amalfi Coast for several days and are not renting a car, you’ll need to get from Naples (NAP airport) to your accommodation. By far the best way to do this is by booking a private transfer or a shared transfer. However, price differences can be immense.
Here are some of the best-priced transfer options from Napoli city or Naples airport to the Amalfi Coast (or back)*:
- Shared transfer. This is the best budget option for a transfer from Naples to the Amalfi Coast towns. This is the cheapest shared transfer that I was able to find.
- Private transfer. This is one of the cheapest private transfers between Naples and Amalfi Coast towns.
* Prices/comparisons are correct at the time of the last update.
Our experience: For our recent trip, we booked a private transfer from Naples airport to Positano. I did quite some research and contacted 6 local companies, and we ended up booking this private transfer via GetYourGuide. At that time, the price was 90 euros (!) cheaper than with any of the companies we contacted directly!
The booking process was very straightforward. After we booked, we sent them an email via the booking platform with our flight info, and the driver was waiting for us at the airport when we arrived.
We were with 5 people and luggage, so we booked a minivan. If you are just alone or with 2-3 people, you may find some cheaper options, but the price difference isn’t big since you pay for the car.
In any case, booking online in advance was much cheaper than anything I was quoted by any of the local guides directly.
We afterward used the same company for the transfer from Naples city to the airport. Also there, the price we paid was about 40% less than the transfer our accommodation offered to arrange for us.
Yes, you read this right. Asking locals to arrange the transfers for you might be easier, but you’ll often end up paying a lot more. Naples – Amalfi Coast transfers are really pricey to start with, so it really pays off to do a bit more research and book everything yourself.
How to get to Amalfi Coast from Naples by Train + Bus
If you are traveling from Naples city to the Amalfi Coast, you can also consider taking public transport. It’s definitely the cheapest option but it has a few disadvantages: it takes much longer, you’ll have to carry/ store your luggage, and lots of people also complain about pickpockets. So be alert!
Good to know: There is no direct public transportation from Naples to Amalfi Coast towns. The best options for public transport are:
- From Naples city: by train to Sorrento + bus to Amalfi Coast towns.
- From Naples airport: by shuttle bus (not public transport either) to Sorrento + bus to Amalfi Coast towns.
See here for more details:
To get from Naples city to the Amalfi Coast, it’s best to take a train from Naples train station to Sorrento, and then a public SITA Bus from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast (the bus stops at all the main coastal towns such as Positano, Praiano, and Amalfi town). For the train, you can get the tickets at the station, and for the bus – at any of the Tabacchi shops in Sorrento and Amalfi Coast towns.
Good to know: The train to Sorrento departs from Napoli Porta Nolana train station. During the day, there are trains every 20-30 minutes. Depending on the train, the journey between Naples and Sorrento takes about 70-80 minutes and costs around 6-10 euros. SITA buses between Sorrento and Amalfi Coast also run regularly and you can opt for a one-journey ticket or a day ticket (prices around 2-10 euros).
Keep in mind that the bus between Sorrento and Amalfi Coast is usually crowded and it stops a lot. So be prepared for that too. Also, these buses do not go all the way to Ravello. For that, you’ll need to take yet another bus from Amalfi town to Ravello.
From Naples airport to the Amalfi Coast, you can also take the shuttle bus to Sorrento (which is not a public bus, but a shuttle and has to be booked in advance – see here). The bus from NAP airport to Sorrento takes around 85-90 minutes. Afterward, you take a SITA bus from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast.
Traveling from Naples to Amalfi Coast by Ferry or Boat
If you are traveling in high season, you can also easily get from Naples to Amalfi Coast by boat. This can be a more relaxing option, especially if you are traveling from the city and not from the airport and don’t have any luggage with you. You can opt for a boat tour or a ferry.
Traveling by ferry from Naples to Amalfi Coast isn’t straightforward. Usually, you’ll have to take a ferry to Sorrento first. Also, keep in mind that ferry prices are usually higher than train/ bus.
In summer, there is just one company – Alilauro – operating direct ferries from Molo Beverello harbor in Naples to Positano or to Amalfi. These ferries usually run between mid-May and mid-September and only once or twice a day.
There are more options to get from Naples to Sorrento by ferry, and from Sorrento to Positano or Amalfi, but this can become quite a long trip, with boat changes, delays, etc. It’s not really the best option if you have lots of luggage or if you just want to get from one place to another as soon as possible.
Also, because ferries aren’t cheap and they also won’t drop you off at your accommodation as private transfers do. Depending on where you are staying, it’s definitely something to consider (e.g. the house we rented in Positano sits high on the hill, with hundreds of stairs from the harbor).
Boat tours are the ideal way to explore the Amalfi Coast as a day trip from Naples. It’s by far the best way to make the most of your time. This is one of the best-value Amalfi Coast boat tours from Naples that I was able to find, but you also do part of the journey by bus (or it would take too long).
Below, you can find a bit more information about the best day tours from Naples to the Amalfi Coast – read on!
Day Tours from Naples to Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. So it will come as no surprise that it’s also one of the most popular day trips from Naples. And yes, it’s totally worth it, even if 1 day is all you have to spare.
If you are planning to visit the Amalfi Coast from Naples for one day, I’d forget all the other options and simply book a tour. It’s just so much easier and it allows you to make the most of your short time and see a few of the best places.
That being said, even choosing a tour can be overwhelming. To help you plan, we selected some of the best options below.
Here are some of the best tours from Naples to the Amalfi Coast:
- Most popular group tour. This day tour by bus & (optional) boat is one of the best-value and most popular tours from Naples to Amalfi Coast. It includes all the transport and brings you to ALL the best places (including Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello). Plus, you get an option to do a boat ride as well.
- Best-value tours. This popular tour is the cheapest option to visit the Amalfi Coast (if a boat ride isn’t included), but it doesn’t visit Positano (just a photo stop). This day tour by boat/bus is one of the most complete Amalfi Coast budget tours from Naples. It’s also one of the few tours that include a boat ride and give you the option to visit Ravello (most other tours only visit the towns of Positano and Amalfi).
- Amalfi + Sorrento. If you want to see the two main towns of the Amalfi Coast, but also Sorrento from Naples, then check out this popular tour. So instead of Ravello, with this tour, you visit Sorrento (+Positano and Amalfi towns).
- Small group boat tour. This highly-rated day tour by boat is a great option for those who rather avoid most of the traffic on the Amalfi Coast and also travel in a small group. You visit the two main towns Positano and Amalfi (with about 1.5 hours of free time at each) and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Amalfi Coast from the boat. You can go for a swim too.
- Private shore excursions from Naples. If you are visiting Naples on a cruise, you can opt for a private shore excursion. Here’s a nice tour that brings you to the Amalfi Coast.
- Private Amalfi Coast tours from Naples. There are so many companies/ drivers that offer Amalfi Coast day trips from Naples that choosing one can be overwhelming. Here you can find lots of options, and prices differ quite a lot depending on who you book with, how long the tour is, what kind of car/bus/boat they use, how many people are in your group, etc. So be sure to do some research for your exact travel dates and group size, and pay attention to where the tour starts from – there are just so many options.
Best way to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples
So, this is our guide on all the best transport options to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples.
To summarize:
- If you are traveling with luggage and just need a transfer from the city or Naples airport to your accommodation on the Amalfi Coast, the best option is a private or shared transfer.
- On a really tight budget, opt for a train or a bus to Sorrento, followed by a bus to the Amalfi Coast.
- For a day trip, visit the Amalfi Coast with a tour (private, small-group, or group tour).
Where to Stay
If you would like to stay on the Amalfi Coast for a few days but are not yet sure where exactly, I highly recommend that you read our guide to the best towns to stay on the Amalfi Coast. There is a lot to consider, based on how much time you have, how you travel, and what you plan to see and do. Check it out!
If you are looking for a place to stay in Naples as well, take a look at our guide to the best areas to stay in Naples. Depending on what you plan to see and do in the region, Naples can be a good base for a few days or even an entire trip.
More travel inspiration for Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and Capri
- Naples:
- Best things to do in Naples (all the musts + map)
- One day in Naples (detailed itinerary)
- Best neighborhoods to stay in Naples
- Best day trips & tours from Naples (top sights for first-time visitors)
- Complete Guide to Visiting Mount Vesuvius
- Amalfi Coast:
- Capri:
- Best things to do in Capri
- Best things to do in Anacapri
- Where to stay in Capri
- Capri from Sorrento (travel info + 1-day itinerary)
READ ALSO: Itinerary for Naples, Amalfi Coast, Capri, Pompeii, Vesuvius, and more
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