Getting around · Amalfi Coast · Italy
Getting around Amalfi Coast
Public transport, passes, airport connections and when a car makes sense.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Donar Reiskoffer, CC BY 3.0
Quick answer
Towns along the coast are linked by the SS163, a narrow, winding cliff road, by SITA buses and, from spring to autumn, by ferries. Within towns you walk, mostly on stairs. Amalfi is the transport hub, with buses to Positano, Ravello and Salerno and ferries along the coast and to Capri. No.
Key facts
- Main way around
- Bus
- Airports
- NAP, QSR
- Need a car?
- No
- Travel pass
- Unico Costiera
Ways to get around
Bus
SITA buses run along the coast road between Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, with branch lines up to Ravello and Agerola; they are inexpensive but crowded in summer, and full buses can pass stops.
Buy tickets before boarding at tobacconists or newsagents, and sit on the right when travelling from Sorrento towards Amalfi for sea views.
Ferry
From roughly April to October, ferries link Salerno, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi and Positano, with connections to Capri and Sorrento; in summer they are often quicker than the road.
Services are cut or cancelled in rough seas; keep a bus or taxi back-up on travel days.
Boat
Private boats and small shared gozzi can be hired in every harbour for coastal tours, swims and trips to beach restaurants.
Walking
Towns are linked by old stairways and footpaths such as the Path of the Gods and the Path of the Lemons; within towns, expect hundreds of steps.
Taxi
Taxis and private drivers are expensive but useful for luggage transfers and late evenings; agree the fare before setting off.
Scooter
Scooter hire is popular, but the coast road is narrow, busy and full of buses; it suits only experienced riders.
Tickets and passes
Unico Costiera
SITA Sud tickets for the coast, sold in timed versions and as a 24-hour pass; worth it if you plan several bus rides in a day.
From the airport
Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main gateway, about 60 km from Positano and Amalfi: allow about 1.5–2 hours by private transfer, or travel by bus or train to Sorrento or Salerno and continue by SITA bus or ferry. Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR), which reopened to scheduled flights in 2024, is about 35 km from Amalfi.
Do you need a car?
No. Parking is scarce and very expensive, the coast road is congested in summer and traffic restrictions for non-residents can apply in peak periods. Use buses, ferries and taxis instead.
Reaching the day trips
| Destination | Travel time | How |
|---|---|---|
| Capri | About 30–60 minutes by ferry | Seasonal ferry from Positano or Amalfi |
| Pompeii | About 1–1.5 hours by bus and train | SITA bus to Sorrento, then Circumvesuviana train |
| Paestum | About 1.5 hours by ferry or bus and train | Ferry or bus to Salerno, then regional train |
| Naples | About 2 hours by bus and train | Bus to Sorrento or Salerno, then train; seasonal ferries in summer |
| Sorrento | About 1 hour from Positano by bus | SITA bus or seasonal ferry |
| Salerno | About 35 minutes by ferry from Amalfi | Ferry or SITA bus |
Questions travellers ask
+Do you need a car in Amalfi Coast?
No. Parking is scarce and very expensive, the coast road is congested in summer and traffic restrictions for non-residents can apply in peak periods. Use buses, ferries and taxis instead.
+How do you get from the airport to Amalfi Coast?
Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main gateway, about 60 km from Positano and Amalfi: allow about 1.5–2 hours by private transfer, or travel by bus or train to Sorrento or Salerno and continue by SITA bus or ferry. Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR), which reopened to scheduled flights in 2024, is about 35 km from Amalfi.
+What is the best way to get around Amalfi Coast?
Bus: SITA buses run along the coast road between Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, with branch lines up to Ravello and Agerola; they are inexpensive but crowded in summer, and full buses can pass stops.