Naples to the Amalfi Coast is really several journeys sharing the same starting point.
The quickest-looking route on Google Maps is rarely enough to choose well. A traveller heading to a hotel beside Positano beach has a very different best route from someone arriving in Ravello with two suitcases, while Amalfi, Minori and Maiori open up an especially useful approach through Salerno.
In 2026, there are three routes worth understanding first: travel directly from Naples by seasonal ferry, approach the western coast through Sorrento, or approach Amalfi and the eastern coast through Salerno.
Once you choose the right corridor, the rest becomes much easier.
For a daytime arrival in ferry season, Naples can connect directly with Positano and Amalfi from Molo Beverello. For Amalfi, Minori and Maiori, the combination of Naples → Salerno by train → coast by ferry gives you excellent flexibility. For Positano and Praiano, Naples → Sorrento → coast remains an important year-round route. Ravello adds one final climb from Amalfi, which makes luggage and arrival time unusually important.
This guide compares those routes door to door, including Naples Airport connections, ferries, trains, SITA buses, direct shuttles, private transfers and driving.
Quick answer · Naples to Amalfi Coast 2026
What is the best way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast?
Check the direct ferry first for Positano or Amalfi during the operating season. For Amalfi and the eastern coast, Naples to Salerno by train followed by a ferry gives you one of the most flexible public-transport routes. For Ravello, hillside hotels, late arrivals and luggage-heavy trips, a private transfer often gives the easiest door-to-door journey.
| Where you want to go | Best transport option | Things to pay attention to |
|---|---|---|
| Positano | Direct ferry in season | Ferries depend on season, weather and sea conditions. Many hotels still require stairs or an uphill walk from the port. |
| Praiano | Train to Sorrento + SITA bus | Praiano has no main ferry port. Check which bus stop is closest to your accommodation, particularly with luggage. |
| Amalfi | Direct ferry or via Salerno | Compare the direct sailing with train to Salerno + ferry and choose the connection that fits your arrival time best. |
| Ravello | Private transfer | Ravello sits high above the coast and has no ferry port. Public transport requires a final bus or taxi uphill from Amalfi. |
| Minori or Maiori | Train to Salerno + ferry | The ferry is especially convenient in season. At other times, SITA buses from Salerno provide the road connection. |
| Cetara or Vietri | Via Salerno | Salerno is the natural gateway. Continue by ferry, bus or local rail depending on the town and timetable. |
| Several coast towns | Rental car or mixed transport | A car adds flexibility inland, but traffic, parking and seasonal driving restrictions need to be planned in advance. |
Your destination matters more than the transport type. Positano naturally connects through Sorrento or the sea, while Amalfi, Minori, Maiori and the eastern coast often work more smoothly through Salerno.
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Choose the route according to your Amalfi Coast town
The destination matters more than the name of the transport.
“Naples to the Amalfi Coast” sounds like a single journey. In practice, it can end in very different ways: stepping off a ferry almost directly into the centre of Amalfi, winding high above the sea towards Ravello, arriving beneath Positano’s steep cascade of houses, or continuing east to the long, open waterfront of Maiori.
Those last kilometres shape the entire trip. A route that feels effortless for Amalfi can become awkward for Praiano; a ferry that delivers you beautifully to the coast may still leave a substantial climb between the harbour and your hotel.
So rather than choosing between train, bus, ferry or transfer in the abstract, start with the town where you actually want to put down your bags.
Here is how I would approach each one.
Naples to Positano
During ferry season, check the Naples–Positano sea route first.
NLG’s 2026 Naples–Positano timetable includes seasonal sailings from Naples Molo Beverello to Positano. It is a wonderfully natural way to arrive: the long road around the peninsula disappears from the journey, and Positano slowly takes shape from the water before you step ashore directly beneath the town. Some departures involve a connection, so check the individual sailing when booking.
Then comes the detail that matters in Positano: where your hotel sits on the hillside.
Accommodation around Spiaggia Grande and the lower pedestrian centre pairs beautifully with a ferry arrival. Stay near the upper road, and a private transfer begins to make more sense — particularly with several large bags and a staircase-heavy final approach.
For a reliable year-round public-transport route, go overland:
Naples → Sorrento → Positano
Take the EAV Naples–Sorrento railway: official EAV Naples–Sorrento timetable to Sorrento, then continue on SITA line 5070 official SITA 5070 timetable towards Positano. It takes longer than arriving by sea, but it remains the classic all-season public-transport route.
Naples to Praiano
Praiano stretches along the coast between Positano and Amalfi, with hotels, villas and apartments scattered across very different elevations above and below the SS163. Here, the final few hundred metres can matter almost as much as the journey from Naples.
For public transport, the most straightforward western approach is:
Naples → Sorrento → Praiano
Take the EAV railway to Sorrento, then continue towards Praiano on the SITA bus network.
A ferry can still make sense as part of the journey, particularly in summer: travel by sea to Positano or Amalfi, then complete the final stretch by bus, taxi or private transfer.
The crucial detail is your accommodation. Praiano has no single arrival point that works equally well for every hotel. With heavy luggage — or a room tucked well above or below the coastal road — a private transfer can turn an awkward final climb into a much easier arrival.
Naples to Amalfi
Amalfi gives you more good options than almost any other town on the coast.
During the operating season, start by checking the direct ferry from Naples Molo Beverello to Amalfi. NLG publishes several daily departures in 2026, making it possible to leave central Naples and arrive almost directly in the heart of Amalfi.
The alternative I would compare immediately is:
Naples → Salerno by train → Amalfi by ferry
This is one of the most elegant public-transport combinations on the coast. The long mainland stretch happens quickly by rail, then the final leg opens onto the water. Travelmar operates ferries from Salerno’s Molo Concordia, only a short walk from the railway station.
It is also more flexible than building the entire journey around a single Naples departure. Naples–Salerno trains run frequently, and the Salerno connection gives you several opportunities to continue towards Amalfi during the day.
For many travellers, that combination of speed, scenery and timetable flexibility makes Salerno the smartest interchange rather than merely a backup.
Naples to Ravello
Ravello sits high above Amalfi, which means every public-transport journey eventually leaves the water and begins climbing.
In the warmer months, a particularly pleasant route is:
Naples → Salerno → Amalfi → Ravello
Take the train to Salerno, continue along the coast with Travelmar, then make the final ascent from Amalfi to Ravello by SITA bus or taxi.
It is a beautiful journey, but also one with several handovers. With heavy luggage or a hotel arrival at the end of a long travel day, a private transfer from Naples becomes especially appealing: one vehicle, one journey and no final negotiation with Ravello’s steep hillside.
Naples to Minori and Maiori
For Minori and Maiori, look east towards Salerno rather than west towards Sorrento.
During ferry season, the route I would check first is:
Naples → Salerno → Minori or Maiori by ferry
The train covers the long mainland section efficiently, while Travelmar carries you from Salerno into the heart of both towns. The change also feels unusually easy for the Amalfi Coast: the ferry leaves from Molo Concordia, close to Salerno railway station.
This is one of those journeys where the map can look more complicated than the reality. Rail first, sea second, and you arrive directly on the waterfront.
Outside the ferry season, the SITA network provides the road connection along the eastern coast.
Naples to Cetara and Vietri sul Mare
For Cetara and Vietri sul Mare, Salerno is the natural gateway.
Take the train from Naples to Salerno, then continue by Travelmar ferry when services are running or by SITA bus.
Geographically, these towns belong to the Salerno end of the coast. Vietri sits almost on the city’s doorstep, while Cetara is only a little farther west. Routing through Sorrento sends you around the peninsula only to approach the same coastline from the opposite direction.
For these eastern towns, the simplest rule is also the most useful: reach Salerno first, then make the short final connection along the coast.
Direct ferry from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
For Positano and Amalfi, the direct ferry should sit near the top of your comparison during the main travel season.
The key departure point is Naples Molo Beverello, the hydrofoil terminal beside the historic centre. From here, NLG operates seasonal services towards Positano and Amalfi, with schedules shifting as the season progresses.
The appeal goes well beyond the view.
You avoid the SS163 for the main part of the journey, trade traffic for open water and arrive directly beneath the towns themselves. On the right sailing, the transfer becomes part of the trip rather than something to endure between destinations.
There is one important detail to check before booking: the distance from the pier to your hotel.
In Amalfi, much of the historic centre sits close to the harbour. Positano is a different proposition. The town climbs sharply from the beach, and a hotel that looks close on a map may still involve steep lanes, staircases or a substantial uphill walk with luggage.
Before choosing the ferry, check the actual pedestrian route from the port to your accommodation.
For current sailings:
Official NLG Naples → Positano timetable →
Official NLG Naples → Amalfi timetable →
Always search using your exact travel date. Ferry frequencies and operating periods change through the year, and a connection that works beautifully in June may look quite different later in the season.
Naples to the Amalfi Coast via Salerno
For much of the coast, Salerno is the route I would teach a first-time visitor first. It is easy to understand, forgiving if plans shift and especially well suited to the eastern half of the Amalfi Coast.
Frequent trains connect Napoli Centrale with Salerno, and once you arrive, the ferry departure point at Piazza della Concordia is only a short walk from the station.
That creates a beautifully simple sequence:
Naples → Salerno by train → short walk → ferry to the Amalfi Coast
From Salerno, Travelmar serves towns including Vietri, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi and Positano through its coastal network.
For Amalfi, Minori, Maiori and Cetara, this is often the best balance of flexibility, comfort and scenery. The longest part of the journey happens efficiently by rail, while the final stretch unfolds along the coastline by sea.
It also gives you a useful fallback.
If the ferry schedule does not line up neatly with your arrival, the SITA bus network continues along the eastern coast by road, so Salerno still works as a practical interchange rather than a route that depends entirely on one sailing.
For planning:
Naples to the Amalfi Coast via Sorrento
Sorrento is the natural gateway to the western side of the Amalfi Coast, particularly if you are heading for Positano or Praiano.
EAV trains connect Naples with Sorrento along the Circumvesuviana line. From there, the SITA network continues along the coast towards Positano, Praiano and Amalfi.
For Positano and Praiano, that creates one of the coast’s most useful year-round public-transport routes:
Naples → Sorrento → Positano / Praiano
It is not the most glamorous journey, but it is simple, relatively inexpensive and available well beyond the ferry season.
In the warmer months, Sorrento becomes more flexible still. Ferries add another way to continue towards Positano or Amalfi, letting you replace the final road section with a sea crossing when the timetable works in your favour.
For planning:
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Naples Airport to the Amalfi Coast
Naples Airport changes the calculation.
You begin several kilometres away from both Napoli Centrale and Molo Beverello, so every rail or ferry journey starts with an extra transfer into the city. That makes direct road connections more valuable than they may appear when comparing routes on a map.
Naples Airport to Positano
For Positano, I would compare three routes.
A private transfer is the cleanest: airport arrivals hall to hotel door, with no luggage changes in between.
For a cheaper public-transport option, Curreri’s airport shuttle runs directly from Naples Airport to Sorrento. From there, continue towards Positano on the SITA network.
That gives you:
Naples Airport → Sorrento → Positano
It is an especially useful route if you want to avoid travelling into central Naples first.
During ferry season, there is a third possibility: travel from the airport to central Naples, continue to Molo Beverello and take the ferry towards Positano. It can be a wonderful arrival when the schedules align, but the extra city transfer means I would only choose it when the connection feels comfortably timed.
Naples Airport to Amalfi, Minori and Maiori
For the eastern coast, one direct service deserves serious attention.
Pintour operates scheduled buses directly from Naples Capodichino Airport towards the Amalfi Coast, including stops along the eastern side before reaching Amalfi.
For the right flight arrival, this can be remarkably efficient: collect your luggage, board one bus and avoid Napoli Centrale altogether.
If the timetable does not fit, the stronger flexible alternative is:
Airport → Napoli Centrale → Salerno → ferry
There are more stages, but each one moves naturally towards the coast. Once in Salerno, you also gain a wider choice of onward ferry departures towards Amalfi, Minori and Maiori.
Naples Airport to Ravello
Ravello adds one unavoidable complication: the final climb above Amalfi.
With light luggage and a daytime arrival, the public-transport route can work very well:
Naples Airport → Salerno → Amalfi → Ravello
Reach Salerno, continue to Amalfi by ferry when services are running, then take the bus or a taxi uphill.
With full-size suitcases, children or a late arrival, however, a private transfer becomes particularly persuasive here. Ravello is one of those destinations where removing every intermediate change can transform the arrival.
Private transfer from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
On many trips, a private transfer is simply the more comfortable version of public transport.
On the Amalfi Coast, it can solve a different problem altogether.
One vehicle replaces the airport or station transfer, ticket changes, luggage handling and — crucially — the final road journey between the nearest transport hub and your accommodation.
It becomes especially worthwhile for:
- families travelling with children;
- three to six people sharing the fare;
- several large suitcases;
- Ravello and hillside accommodation;
- evening arrivals or early departures;
- hotel-to-hotel transfers;
- hotels far above the ferry pier;
- travellers with limited mobility.
The calculation changes once you compare the entire door-to-door journey rather than the price of a single train or bus ticket.
Public transport can still be the better choice — and often the more enjoyable one. But on this particular coastline, a private transfer earns its premium faster than it does in places where the station, port and hotel all sit on the same flat street.
Driving from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
A rental car makes the most sense when the Amalfi Coast is one chapter of a wider road trip, rather than the entire reason for having a car.
The SS163 is one of Italy’s great coastal drives, curling between cliffs and villages with the sea almost constantly in view. But the freedom comes with its own calculations: traffic, scarce parking and the 2026 alternating licence-plate restrictions all deserve attention before you reach the rental desk.
A car earns its keep particularly well when your itinerary includes:
- Tramonti or inland villages;
- countryside accommodation;
- mountain roads and less accessible viewpoints;
- places beyond the ferry network;
- a longer Campania road trip;
- accommodation with guaranteed parking.
For a stay focused on Positano, Amalfi or other ferry-connected towns, the equation changes. You may drive one of Europe’s most spectacular roads only to leave the car in a garage for the next three days.
In that situation, independence can quietly become an expensive parking arrangement, while ferries and buses do most of the travelling.
Best way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast with luggage
Luggage changes the answer more than most journey planners admit.
A suitcase rolls easily through Napoli Centrale and Salerno station. The final kilometre is where the geography begins to matter.
Positano rises sharply from its harbour. Ravello sits high above Amalfi. In Praiano, a hotel that appears close to the SS163 can still be several flights of steps above or below it. Even a few hundred metres between a ferry pier and your accommodation can become a very different journey with two large suitcases.
With one manageable bag, train-and-ferry combinations remain remarkably easy.
With heavier luggage, I would usually rank the options:
1. Private transfer
2. Train to Salerno + ferry
3. Direct ferry, when your accommodation is conveniently placed near the port
Before booking anything, ask your hotel one deceptively useful question:
“Can a taxi or private driver stop directly at the entrance?”
On the Amalfi Coast, that answer can tell you more than the distance shown on Google Maps.
Cheapest way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
For the lowest fare, rail plus SITA bus is usually the combination to beat.
For Positano and Praiano:
Naples → Sorrento → SITA bus
For Amalfi and much of the eastern coast:
Naples → Salerno → SITA bus
Neither route is particularly glamorous, but both make good use of inexpensive public transport and avoid the cost of a private transfer.
There is, however, a very appealing middle ground.
Use the train for the inexpensive mainland section, then spend a little more on the ferry from Salerno. The price remains reasonable, but the final hour changes completely: instead of following the coast through traffic, you approach it from the water.
Sometimes the best-value journey is not quite the cheapest one.
Fastest way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
There is no single fastest route to the Amalfi Coast because the clock should start at your door in Naples and stop at your hotel on the coast.
A private transfer often wins door to door simply because every interchange disappears. There is no journey to the station, no wait between services and no final search for a bus or taxi.
But a direct ferry can be surprisingly competitive if you are staying in central Naples and your destination is close to the waterfront in Positano or Amalfi. In the right circumstances, walking onto a boat at Molo Beverello can be quicker — and considerably more pleasant — than threading your way around the peninsula by road.
So when comparing routes, ignore the headline journey time for a moment and calculate:
hotel door → hotel door
Add the walk to the station, connection time, luggage handling and the final climb to your accommodation.
On this coast, the fastest-looking route on a timetable is not always the one that gets you to your room first.
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What I would choose for each route
For a daytime journey during ferry season, this is how I would approach it:
Naples → Positano: take the direct ferry when the sailing fits your schedule and your accommodation is reasonably convenient for the port.
Naples → Amalfi: compare the direct ferry with train → Salerno → ferry. Both are excellent; choose the one that gives you the cleaner connection rather than forcing the day around a single departure.
Naples → Ravello: with light luggage, go train → Salerno → ferry to Amalfi → bus or taxi uphill. With several suitcases, a private transfer quickly becomes the more persuasive option.
Naples → Minori or Maiori: train → Salerno → ferry is usually the route I would choose first.
Naples Airport → Positano: use Curreri → Sorrento → SITA for value; choose a private transfer when simplicity matters more than price.
Naples Airport → Amalfi / Minori / Maiori: check the direct Pintour service first, then compare it with the Salerno route if the timetable does not fit your flight.
Late arrival: a private transfer gives you the cleanest same-day journey. The other option is often more appealing than it sounds: spend the first evening in Naples, sleep properly, then leave for the coast after breakfast.
Official Naples to Amalfi Coast transport websites
These are the pages worth checking again close to your travel date, particularly for seasonal ferry schedules, bus changes and departure times.
| Where you are going | Transport to check first | Official links |
|---|---|---|
| Naples → Pompeii | Circumvesuviana train from Naples towards Sorrento. | EAV trains |
| Naples → Sorrento | Circumvesuviana train. Ferries are another seasonal option from central Naples. | EAV trains · NLG ferries |
| Naples → Positano | Direct ferry in season. Otherwise train to Sorrento followed by SITA bus. | NLG ferry · EAV · SITA |
| Naples → Praiano | Train to Sorrento, then SITA bus towards Amalfi. | EAV trains · SITA buses |
| Naples → Amalfi | Compare the direct ferry with train to Salerno followed by ferry. | NLG ferry · Trenitalia · Travelmar |
| Naples → Ravello | Train to Salerno, ferry to Amalfi, then SITA bus or taxi uphill. | Trenitalia · Travelmar · SITA |
| Naples → Minori | Train to Salerno, then ferry during the operating season. SITA is the road alternative. | Trenitalia · Travelmar · SITA |
| Naples → Maiori | Train to Salerno, then ferry during the operating season. SITA is the road alternative. | Trenitalia · Travelmar · SITA |
| Naples → Cetara | Train to Salerno, then ferry or SITA bus along the coast. | Trenitalia · Travelmar · SITA |
| Naples → Vietri sul Mare | Travel through Salerno, then use the short local rail, bus or ferry connection. | Trenitalia · Travelmar · SITA |
| Naples → Salerno | Direct train from Napoli Centrale. | Trenitalia · Italo |
| Naples Airport → Sorrento | Direct Curreri airport shuttle. | Curreri shuttle |
| Naples Airport → Positano | Curreri shuttle to Sorrento, then SITA bus to Positano. | Curreri · SITA |
| Naples Airport → Amalfi | Check the direct Pintour airport bus first. Otherwise travel through Naples and Salerno. | Pintour · Trenitalia · Travelmar |
| Naples Airport → Minori / Maiori | Check Pintour first. The flexible alternative is airport to Naples, train to Salerno, then ferry. | Pintour · Trenitalia · Travelmar |
Ferry services are seasonal. Search using your exact travel date before booking connecting trains, buses or accommodation transfers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast?
During ferry season, check direct Naples ferries first for Positano and Amalfi. For Amalfi and the eastern towns, the combination of train to Salerno + ferry is one of the most flexible public routes. A private transfer makes the most sense for Ravello, heavy luggage or tightly timed arrivals.
Is there a direct ferry from Naples to the Amalfi Coast?
Yes. Seasonal services connect Naples Molo Beverello with Positano and Amalfi. Always search your exact travel date, as departure times and frequency change through the season.
Is there a direct train from Naples to Amalfi?
No. The railway reaches Salerno, not Amalfi. From Salerno, continue by ferry, SITA bus, taxi or private transfer.
Is there a direct train from Naples to Positano?
No. The useful rail route runs Naples → Sorrento, followed by a SITA bus or, in season, a ferry towards Positano.
Should I go from Naples to the Amalfi Coast via Sorrento or Salerno?
As a general rule, use Sorrento for Positano and Praiano, and Salerno for Amalfi, Cetara, Minori and Maiori. Amalfi itself also has seasonal direct ferry connections from Naples.
How do I get from Naples Airport to Positano?
For public transport, take the Curreri airport shuttle to Sorrento, then continue towards Positano by SITA bus. A private transfer gives the simplest door-to-door journey.
Is there a direct bus from Naples Airport to Amalfi?
Yes. Pintour operates scheduled services from Naples Airport towards the eastern Amalfi Coast, including stops in Vietri, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Atrani and Amalfi. Check the timetable for your exact date.
What is the easiest way from Naples to Ravello?
A private transfer gives the easiest hotel arrival. By public transport, a good route is Naples → Salerno → Amalfi → Ravello, using a train, then ferry or bus, followed by the final uphill connection.
What is the cheapest way from Naples to the Amalfi Coast?
Rail plus SITA bus is usually the lowest-cost combination. Travel through Sorrento for Positano and Praiano, and through Salerno for Amalfi and the eastern coast.
Can I do an Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples?
Yes. A seasonal direct ferry or an early train to Salerno followed by a ferry can make the journey surprisingly straightforward. For a day trip, choose one part of the coast rather than trying to collect several towns, and confirm the final return connection before you leave.
The route I would actually choose
There is a simple pattern underneath all of these timetables.
Use the sea when your destination has a convenient port. Use Salerno when the journey points towards Amalfi and the eastern coast. Use Sorrento when it points towards Positano and Praiano. Choose a private transfer when luggage, hotel location or arrival time matters more than saving another connection.
That is the part worth remembering.
Once the gateway matches the town, Naples to the Amalfi Coast stops feeling like a complicated transport puzzle. The route becomes easier to read, the unnecessary changes fall away, and — particularly when the final stretch happens by sea — the journey begins to feel less like a transfer and more like the first part of the trip.
Official Amalfi Coast transport operators
Save these official websites for checking live timetables, fares and tickets close to your travel date.
⛴ Ferries
→ NLG
→ Alicost
→ Alilauro
→ Seremar
🚆 Trains
→ Italo
🚌 Buses & airport shuttles
→ Pintour
Continue planning
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