6 best day trips from Amalfi Coast

Day trips compared

The day trips

35 km · About 30–60 minutes by ferry

1.Capri

The island of Capri, across the water from Positano, has the Faraglioni sea stacks, the Blue Grotto, the Gardens of Augustus and the hilltop village of Anacapri with its chairlift up Monte Solaro. Go early, as day-trip crowds peak at midday.

Getting there

Seasonal ferry from Positano or Amalfi

Best for

Couples, First-timers

45 km · About 1–1.5 hours by bus and train

2.Pompeii

The Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD preserves streets, houses, frescoes and plaster casts of victims across a vast site that needs at least half a day. Start early if you also want to climb to the crater of Vesuvius.

Getting there

SITA bus to Sorrento, then Circumvesuviana train

Best for

Culture, Families, First-timers

65 km · About 1.5 hours by ferry or bus and train

3.Paestum

South of Salerno, Paestum has three superbly preserved Greek Doric temples from the 6th and 5th centuries BC, and its museum displays the painted Tomb of the Diver. The surrounding plain is known for its buffalo mozzarella farms.

Getting there

Ferry or bus to Salerno, then regional train

Best for

Culture, Food lovers, Quiet stays

60 km · About 2 hours by bus and train

4.Naples

Italy's third-largest city offers the National Archaeological Museum, the underground passages of Napoli Sotterranea, the churches of Spaccanapoli and the pizza that made it famous — a high-energy contrast to the coast's villages.

Getting there

Bus to Sorrento or Salerno, then train; seasonal ferries in summer

Best for

Food lovers, Culture

35 km · About 1 hour from Positano by bus

5.Sorrento

Sorrento, on the cliffs of the peninsula's northern side, has an old town of lemon shops and inlaid-wood workshops, Piazza Tasso and views across the Bay of Naples to Vesuvius, and is the coast's rail link to Pompeii and Naples.

Getting there

SITA bus or seasonal ferry

Best for

Families, Shopping

25 km · About 35 minutes by ferry from Amalfi

6.Salerno

The coast's eastern gateway has a long seafront promenade, a cathedral with the crypt of Saint Matthew and the Arechi Castle above the city; from November to January its Luci d'Artista light installations fill the streets.

Getting there

Ferry or SITA bus

Best for

Culture, Budget

Day-trip tips

• Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
• Buy tickets before boarding at tobacconists or newsagents, and sit on the right when travelling from Sorrento towards Amalfi for sea views.
• For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.

Questions travellers ask