Amalfi Coast / The verdict
Naples to the Amalfi Coast: which way?
Take the direct ferry from Naples' Molo Beverello when it runs: one boat to Positano, no coast road, and route guides call the ferry the scenic pick. When it does not fit, take the train to Salerno and a Travelmar ferry, which runs all year; book a private transfer if you land tired with big suitcases.
By The Real Traveler Experiences team. We earn a commission if you book through our links. It never changes a verdict.
The Amalfi Coast story
Fifty kilometres of cliffs between Sorrento and Salerno make this Italy's most famous shoreline: pastel towns stacked vertically above the water, a corniche road travelers call equal parts spectacular and terrifying, and the anchor trio of Positano, Amalfi and hilltop Ravello, with Sorrento just off the coast as the practical mainland base.
The verdict in 30 seconds
Our pick: Ferry from Naples (Molo Beverello) (runner-up: Train to Salerno, then ferry)
Take the direct ferry from Naples' Molo Beverello when it runs: one boat to Positano, no coast road, and route guides call the ferry the scenic pick. When it does not fit, take the train to Salerno and a Travelmar ferry, which runs all year; book a private transfer if you land tired with big suitcases.
Go if
- You travel between spring and autumn, when ferries from Naples run to Positano
- You are staying in Positano, Amalfi, Minori or Maiori, all of which have ferry piers
- You can carry your own bags down to a pier and up from the dock
Skip if
- You land late or after an overnight flight with large suitcases: book a private transfer
- The sea forecast is rough, since Positano's dock is the first to close
- You are staying in Sorrento or Ravello, which the Sorrento train and the SITA bus serve better
The options
Ferry from Naples (Molo Beverello) Go
Travelers heading to Positano or Amalfi in ferry season who can carry their own bags.
Good
- One boat from central Naples to Positano, with no coast road traffic.
- Route guides call the seasonal ferry the scenic pick.
- The Alibus links the airport with the port, per the airport's bus page.
- Tickets can be bought online ahead of the day.
Watch out
- Only three departures a day on the September to October 2026 Positano Jet timetable, one of them Tuesday to Thursday only.
- At 31 EUR one way it costs more than the train and bus routes.
- Rough seas stop sailings, and Positano's dock is the most exposed, per reports.
- Amalfi needs a change of boat at Positano on Positano Jet.
Train to Salerno, then ferry Go
Travelers staying in Amalfi, Minori, Maiori or Positano who want a year-round sea route.
Good
- Travelmar runs all year, with frequent daily sailings from Salerno on the September 2026 timetable.
- Salerno's Piazza della Concordia pier is next to the train station.
- The train is 5.50 EUR on an Unico Campania single, and the ferry is 12 EUR to Amalfi or 17 EUR to Positano.
- If the sea cancels the boat, the SITA bus from Salerno to Amalfi is 2.80 EUR.
Watch out
- It adds a change of mode in Salerno.
- Positano is 70 minutes by boat from Salerno on the Travelmar timetable.
- One carry-on-size bag rides free on Travelmar; extra bags cost 3 EUR each.
Train or airport bus to Sorrento, then SITA bus It depends
Budget travelers with light bags, and anyone staying in Sorrento.
Good
- The cheapest route: 4.60 EUR on the Circumvesuviana plus 2.40 EUR on the SITA bus to Positano.
- The Curreri bus goes direct from the airport to Sorrento station for 13 EUR.
- Trains and buses run all year, whatever the sea.
Watch out
- News reports describe Circumvesuviana breakdowns and line closures in summer 2026.
- Forum replies warn of pickpockets on the train and packed summer buses from Sorrento.
- There is no guaranteed luggage space on a full SITA bus.
Curreri airport bus to SorrentoSITA Sud bus tickets and timetables
Private transfer It depends
Travelers arriving tired, late or with heavy luggage, and groups that can share the cost.
Good
- Door to door, so no stairs to a pier and no bus queue.
- Taxis and licensed hire cars are exempt from the coast road's plate rule.
- Forum replies recommend it after an overnight flight with luggage.
Watch out
- Each operator sets its own price, and no official fare is published.
- It sits in the same summer traffic on the coast road.
- Travelers call it the expensive option compared with the train, bus and ferry.
See transfer pricespartner site
| Criterion | Ferry from Naples (Molo Beverello) | Train to Salerno, then ferry | Train or airport bus to Sorrento, then SITA bus | Private transfer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fare to Positano | 31 EUR | 5.50 EUR train plus 17 EUR ferry | 4.60 EUR train or 13 EUR airport bus, plus 2.40 EUR bus | Not published |
| Changes | None to Positano | One, at Salerno | One, at Sorrento | None |
| Season | Current timetable 1 September to 31 October 2026 | All year | All year | All year |
| Weather risk | Sailings stop in rough seas | Sailings stop; bus backup from Salerno | Runs in bad weather | Runs in bad weather |
| Luggage | Carry it on and off the boat | One small bag free, 3 EUR per extra item | No luggage hold to count on | Door to door |
| What travelers report | Ferry called the scenic pick | Recommended as a calmer sea route | Cheap, but crowded and pickpocket warnings | Door to door after a long flight |
What it costs
- Positano Jet ferry Naples to Positano, one way (adult): €31 (schedule valid 1 September to 31 October 2026; children 3 to 12 pay 23.50 EUR). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Positano Jet ferry Naples to Amalfi, one way (adult): €32 (change of boat at Positano). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Unico Campania single, Naples to Salerno: €5.50 (band NA6, one ride with one operator). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Travelmar ferry Salerno to Positano, one way (adult): €17 (70 minutes on the timetable; Salerno to Amalfi is 12 EUR and 35 minutes). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Unico Campania single, Naples to Sorrento (Circumvesuviana): €4.60 (band NA5). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- Curreri airport bus, Naples airport to Sorrento, one way: €13 (8 departures a day from the airport's tourist bus parking, 9:00 to 19:30, on the timetable in force from 1 April 2026; under 3 free on a lap). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
- SITA bus single, Sorrento to Positano: €2.40 (Sorrento to Amalfi is 3.40 EUR). Official source, checked Sep 2026.
What travelers report
Based on 13 traveler reports (Jun 2025 to Sep 2026) and the official sources linked on this page. 4 were negative.
What people like
- Route guides call the seasonal ferry the scenic pick for arriving from Naples or Salerno.
- The train and bus route via Sorrento is the cheapest at about 7 EUR.
- A private transfer takes the stress out of arriving with luggage after a long flight.
- The train and bus route via Sorrento is cheap.
What people complain about
- The Circumvesuviana suffers breakdowns and crowding, and travelers are warned about pickpockets.
- Full summer buses from Sorrento leave travelers waiting for the next one.
- Ferries from Naples run a limited schedule and stop in winter and bad weather.
- Private transfers cost far more than public transport.
How to do it right
- From the airport, take the Alibus to the port or the Central Station; the airport's bus page lists both stops.
- In season, book the Naples to Positano ferry ahead and check the last sailing; the September to October 2026 Positano Jet timetable lists 10:45 and 14:05, plus 17:50 on Tuesday to Thursday.
- If no sailing fits, take a regional train to Salerno and walk to the Piazza della Concordia pier for Travelmar ferries to Amalfi and Positano, which run all year.
- On a tight budget, ride the Circumvesuviana or the Curreri airport bus to Sorrento, then the SITA bus, and keep valuables close on the train.
- With heavy luggage, a late landing or a group, book a private transfer to your door.
The trap to avoid
Taking big suitcases on the Circumvesuviana and then the SITA bus in summer. Reports describe crowded trains, full buses at Sorrento and no luggage hold to count on, so pick a ferry or a transfer instead.
What to do instead
Why this verdict
The reports agree that the road is the weak link, so the routes that use the sea come out ahead. Two route guides call the seasonal ferry the scenic pick for arriving from Naples or Salerno, and a video creator who rode the ferry from Sorrento advises buying tickets early because the last boats fill. The direct ferry from Molo Beverello is the simplest of these: one boat, no change, no coast road. It is the pick when a sailing fits your arrival.
Its limits are the timetable and the sea. Positano Jet’s September to October 2026 schedule has three departures from Naples, one of them only on Tuesday to Thursday, and a getting-around guide notes the Naples ferries stop in winter and bad weather. That is why the Salerno route is the runner-up. Travelmar sails from Salerno all year, many times a day, from a pier beside the train station, and when the sea is too rough there is a SITA bus from Salerno to Amalfi.
The route via Sorrento is the cheapest, about 7 EUR by train and bus to Positano, and the airport bus option keeps the cost down. The negatives cluster here too. News reports describe the Circumvesuviana stopping twice in one July day and closing part of the line for two days in August 2026, forum replies warn about pickpockets, and local news reported travelers left at Positano’s bus stop by full buses. With light bags and flexible timing it works; with suitcases in July it is the route most likely to go wrong.
A private transfer is the answer for one situation: landing tired after a long flight with heavy luggage. A first-timers driving guide steers visitors to ferries, transfers and buses over the coast road, and a transfer costs far more than any public option. Transfer cars are exempt from the coast road’s plate rule, so they can reach your hotel on any day.
Timing and tickets
Book the Naples ferry ahead in season and check the last sailing of the day. For the trip back to the airport, the Naples airport site advises leaving the Sorrento coast at least 5 hours before your flight.
Book or check times
Positano Jet timetables and faresNaples airport bus connections (Alibus, Curreri)Travelmar ferry timetableCurreri airport bus to SorrentoSITA Sud bus tickets and timetables
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See transfer pricespartner site
Questions
Is there a direct ferry from Naples to Positano?
Yes, in season. Positano Jet's timetable for 1 September to 31 October 2026 lists departures from Naples at 10:45 and 14:05, plus 17:50 on Tuesday to Thursday, at 31 EUR one way. Its Naples to Amalfi fare is 32 EUR with a change of boat at Positano.
What is the easiest way from Naples airport to Sorrento?
The Curreri bus runs direct from the airport's tourist bus parking to Sorrento station for 13 EUR. The timetable in force from 1 April 2026 lists 8 departures from 9:00 to 19:30 and about 90 minutes to Sorrento. From Sorrento, the SITA bus to Positano costs 2.40 EUR.
Does the Salerno ferry run in winter?
Travelmar says its Amalfi Coast service runs all year. From Salerno's Piazza della Concordia pier, next to the train station, it charges 12 EUR to Amalfi and 17 EUR to Positano. If the sea cancels the boat, the SITA bus from Salerno to Amalfi is 2.80 EUR.
How early should I leave the coast for a flight from Naples?
The Naples airport site advises taking the bus at least 5 hours before your flight when leaving from the Sorrento coast, since high-season traffic can lengthen the trip. Curreri gives the same advice for its airport bus.
How much does a private transfer cost?
Each operator sets its own price, and no official fare is published for the Positano or Amalfi run. Taxis and licensed hire cars (NCC) are exempt from the coast road's alternating plate rule, so a booked transfer can reach your hotel on any day.
Pack for it
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