How to get to Positano from Napoles

Positano is one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy, and there are so many ways to get there from Naples that we have dedicated a post to sharing the best options, tips, and means of transport with you in this post so that you can save time and money with an itinerary tailored to your trip.

Whether you decide to take a boat trip, travel by land, car, train or plane, in this post you will find the available routes, prices, duration and everything you need to know to visit the vertical city of pastel-coloured houses with a single purpose: to enjoy the best things to do in Positano. Let's get started!

You are heading to one of the most beautiful spots on the Amalfi Coast, Positano, in Salerno. What better way to reach a coastal village than by sea?

You can admire the beautiful Campania coastline in all its splendour, and there is nothing like getting a first glimpse of the cobbled streets of Positano, its colourful houses, its breathtaking views and the picture-postcard scenery of the vertical town with its film-like landscapes.

This is a small group excursion that takes you from Naples to Amalfi and from there to Positano via the Gulf of Naples and Salerno, with enough time to explore each town. As you admire the coastal cliffs, you arrive in Amalfi listening to details and anecdotes from your English-speaking guide.

The thousand-year-old bell tower, the Duomo square, the fountain of St. Andrew and the climb to the cathedral are some of the main attractions. Then you have free time to enjoy this enclave on your own, before departing for your final stop: Positano.

Details of interest

• Price: From €100 per person.

• Duration: 8 hours.

• Schedule: Morning.

• What the tour may include: Minivan transport service from your accommodation to the port. Professional guide. Dry snacks. Beverages such as soft drinks, bottled water, beer and limoncello. Boat trip. Snorkelling equipment.

• Means of transport: Minibus and boat.

• Pros: During this excursion, you can visit not one but two destinations on the Amalfi Coast, all with a guide in English. Small groups guarantee more personalised attention.

• Cons: These types of tours usually include the return trip to Naples, so you miss the sunset out at sea. However, in exchange, you can join in any of the activities offered by the vertical city; there are many things to do and see in Positano at night.

• Can I return to Naples using this method of transport? No, because the excursion will have ended in Positano, and the overnight location of the guides and boats may be different.

Are you planning to visit Naples and want to see the surrounding area before arriving in Positano? This road trip will allow you to visit Pompeii and Amalfi before arriving in the vertical city, a memorable route along the Amalfi Coast!

The excursion begins with pick-up at your accommodation to head to Pompeii, where you can visit Campania's most famous archaeological sites at your own pace. In Pompeii, you will feel like you have travelled back in time as you visit the ruins of this city that was buried after the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

There is much to see and do in Pompeii, including the House of the Corinthian Atrium, the labyrinthine Villa di Giulia Felice, the thermopolium, the Stabian Baths, the House of Neptune, gymnasiums, the Amphitheatre, the Temple of Apollo... It is hard not to be captivated by its exquisite mosaics and buildings. At this point, the guide will give you some tips on where to eat during your tour of Pompeii.

The group then moves on to its next destination: Amalfi, a city declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its rugged cliffs and impressive architecture. You will have free time to stroll through its narrow streets and most popular sites, such as the 1200 bell tower and the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Afterwards, you can continue to compare some of the most beautiful sites on the Amalfi Coast with your destination: Positano, a picture-postcard Italian village.

Details of interest

• Price: From £72 per person.

• Duration: 8-9 hours.

• Schedule: Morning.

• What the tour may include: Minivan transport service from your accommodation, the airport or the port. Non-alcoholic drinks. Entrance to Pompeii.

• Means of transport: minivan.

• Pros: This excursion allows you to get straight to the heart of the city, visiting the most popular sites on the Amalfi Coast just before arriving in Positano, a ten out of ten destination. Groups are usually small, ensuring personalised attention.

• Cons: Lunch is not included. This excursion also goes to Sorrento, but as this is the last stop before the group returns to Naples, you would have to do the tour on your own. As a reward, enjoy the sunset in Positano.

• Can I return to Naples using this method of transport? No, because the excursion will have ended in Positano and the transport company does not guarantee a return trip to Naples.

The vertical city of Positano has no direct air connection. The nearest airport is Naples Capodichino International Airport, and there are several options for getting from there to Positano.

At the airport, you can take a bus to Naples train station and continue by train to Sorrento. From Sorrento, you can choose between taking a bus or a boat directly to Positano or, if it is summer, I recommend taking a boat directly from the Beverello pier in Naples.

Another great option isprivate transfers. Someone will be waiting for you at the airport to take you directly to your hotel in Positano. This way, you won't have to worry about figuring out how or when to get from point A to point B. Just sit back and enjoy the ride!

As you can see, there are no planes, but there are plenty of options for getting between the two points on the Amalfi Coast — I'll give you all the details later.

When we go on a trip, we often think about renting a car. Companies such as Locauto, SIXT and Europcar are among the best rated. This option is quick, but in the case of Naples to Positano it can be inconvenient, as most of the Amalfi Coast has one thing in common: a lack of parking. And Positano is no exception.

With that in mind, getting from Naples to Positano is relatively straightforward. Just take the A3 motorway towards Salerno. Then exit at Castellammare di Stabia and continue on the SS 145 towards Castellammare. Next, take the exit for the SS 163 via Meta – Amalfi. The 57-kilometre journey will take approximately an hour and a half.

And if you're wondering , "Can I return to Naples using this method of transport?", the answer is yes. You will drive along the SS163 via Meta – Amalfi and then connect with the SS145. You will arrive in Naples in an hour and a half.

Important information

Bear in mind that this route includes a winding road full of dangerous bends throughout, so if you do not feel comfortable driving on this type of road — often one-way — this option may not be suitable for you. In addition, during peak season weekends and in summer, there can also be heavy traffic, so plan accordingly.

The first thing you should know is that there is no direct route, so if you choose to travel by bus only, you can take one of these routes:

Via Sorrento

You will need to go from Naples to Sorrento and then from Sorrento to Positano.

Firstleg
Take the Curreri bus from Terminal 1 atNaples Capodichino Airport. The ticket price is approximately €10. The journey takes one hour and 20 minutes.

Secondleg
Take the SITA Sud bus next to the Circumvesuviana station. The ticket price is approximately €2. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Via Amalfi

You will need to travel from Naples to Amalfi and then from Amalfi to Positano.

First leg
Take the SITA Sud bus from Varco Immacolatella, 200 metres from the Port of Naples (Molo Immacolatella Vecchia), to Amalfi. The ticket costs approximately €4. The journey takes two hours.

Second leg
At the Amalfi terminal, take the SITA Sud bus to Positano. The ticket costs approximately €2. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Useful information

• Where to buy bus tickets: It is easy to buy bus tickets on the Amalfi Coast. They are sold in tabaccheria (convenience stores), kiosks, bars and cafés in all the towns along the coast. In Sorrento, you will find a ticket office at the Circumvesuviana station, right next to the bus entrance. Important: some buses do not allow tickets to be purchased on board.

• With COSTIERASITA tickets starting at €10, you can travel around Agerola, Amalfi, Atrani, Cetara, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Maiori, Massa Lubrense, Meta di Sorrento, Minori, Positano, Piano di Sorrento, Praiano, Ravello, Salerno, Sant'Agnello, Scala, Sorrento, Tramonti, and Vietri sul Mare, with unlimited travel on SITA Sud buses for 24 hours.

• SITA Sud bus timetable: From 6:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Frequency varies on each route, but buses generally run every 2 hours. Check the timetable here.

• Can I return to Naples using this method of transport? Yes, the routes are usually circular, so you can return to Naples by bus.

If you are going to Positano and would like to arrive by train, I don't have good news: the town does not have a direct railway line. But wait! You can combine different modes of transport to save time. The nearest train stations are Sorrento and Vietri sul Mare. If you don't mind taking a bus or hydrofoil, you can enjoy the journey from a different perspective. What's more, if you want to repeat the route at the end of your visit to Positano, you can return to Naples using this method of transport.

Via Sorrento

First leg

You can take the Circumvesuviana train from the central station or Porta Nolan to Sorrento. The ticket price starts at €3.10 and the journey time is one hour and 10 minutes.

Another option is to take the Campania Express train from the central station or Porta Nolana to Sorrento. The ticket price starts at €8 and the journey takes 50 minutes**.**

Second leg

You can take the SITA SUD bus next to the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento to Positano. The ticket price is approximately €2. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Travel by hydrofoilfrom Sorrento to Positano. Tickets cost approximately €15 and the journey takes 40 minutes.

Via Vietri sul Mare

First leg

Take the regional train to Piazza Garibaldi in Vietri. The ticket price is from €5 and the journey takes one hour and eight minutes.

Second leg

At the port of Vietri sul Mare, take a ferry or hydrofoil to Amalfi, where you can quickly change boats and take a second hydrofoil directly to Positano. The ticket price starts at €6 and the total journey time is one hour and thirty-five minutes.

If you are looking for the best way to get to Positano from Naples, the answer is simple: by boat. Not only will you avoid getting stuck in traffic, but you will also be able to enjoy the wonderful views of the entire Amalfi Coast (especially if you travel in summer). In addition, ** you can return to Naples using this method of transport**, especially during the high season.

There are several public and private lines, with ferries and hydrofoils — also known as Hydrofoil — and even small boats for hire. The cost depends on the company and the type of boat. As for departures, they are usually regular during the high season in summer and on weekends, meaning that you will be able to set sail on a boat every hour. One thing to bear in mind with this type of transport is that there are no direct boats, so you will have to change at some point. As for the routes, there are two main ones:

Via Sorrento

At the port of Naples, Molo Carlo Pisacane, take your hydrofoil or ferry to the Sorrento Cruise Port (Sorrento Terminal Crociere). You can buy a ticket from €18.

The journey time is 45 minutes, but you must keep an eye on your ticket as the transfer can take up to 15 hours in Sorrento. In that case, it's perfect for sightseeing in the area, but not so much if your intention is to get there in the shortest time possible. Once the boat transfer time is up, the second leg of the journey will take place. The boat takes 40 minutes between Sorrento and Positano.

Via Capri

Take your ferry or hydrofoil from the port of Naples, Molo Carlo Pisacane, directly to Capri. You can get a ticket from €20. The journey time is 50 minutes. Similar to the previous case, you will have to change boats. In this case, the boat changes usually take less time, between 15 minutes and 2 hours.

After the waiting time, a boat covers the second leg of this route, from Capri to Positano. The sailing time is 30 minutes.

Boat hire

To travel the Naples-Positano route, you can hire a motorboat, yacht, catamaran or other type of boat to suit your needs. The approximate price per day ranges from €200 to €2,000, depending on the size of the boat and whether or not a skipper is included. You can also hire a boat for half a day, in which case the average cost is €120.

The biggest advantage of boat hire is that you travel privately with a group of up to 20 people, adjusting the time at each stop to your liking, which makes the price convenient.

However, there are some additional details to consider. The price of entry to the ports is additional, as is the price of fuel. Remember to clarify these details before booking your boat. You can check with companies such as Filovent or SamBoat and enjoy la Dolce Vita!