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've dedicated a post to share with you the best options, tips and means of transport in this post to save you time and money with an itinerary to suit your trip.

Whether you decide to take an excursion by boat, connect 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 houses with a single occupation: enjoy the best things to do in Positano. Let's start!

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

You can see the beautiful Campania coast in all its splendour, and there is nothing like a first glimpse of Positano's cobbled streets, its colourful houses, its breathtaking views and the postcard view of the vertical town with its scenery and picture postcards.

This is a small group tour that takes you from Naples to Amalfi and from there to Positano along the Gulf of Naples and Salerno, with plenty of 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.

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

Interesting details

• Price: From 149 € per person.

• Duration: 11 hours.

• Timetable: Morning.

• What the tour may include: Transport service by minivan from the accommodation to the port. Professional guide. Dry snacks. Drinks 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 and all with an English speaking guide. The small groups guarantee a more personalised attention.

• Cons: Usually this type of tour includes the return to Naples, so you miss the sunset offshore. But, in exchange you can join any of the plans offered by the vertical city, there are many things to do and see in Positano at night.

• Can I return to Naples with this method of transport: no, because the excursion will have ended in Positano, the overnight stay of the guides and boats may be different.

Are you planning to visit Naples and want to see the surroundings 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 tour starts with the pick up from your accommodation to go to Pompeii where you can visit at your own pace the most famous archaeological sites of Campania. In Pompeii you will feel a real journey 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 Stabiane baths, the House of Neptune, gymnasiums, the Amphitheatre, the Temple of Apollo... It is hard not to be won over by its exquisite mosaics and buildings. At this point, your 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 UNESCO World Heritage Site for its sheer cliffs and stunning architecture. You will have free time to wander through its narrow streets and popular sites such as the 1200s bell tower and the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle.

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

Interesting details

• Price: From 84 € per person.

• Duration: 8 - 9 hours.

• Schedule: Morning.

• What the tour may include: Shuttle service by minivan from accommodation, airport or port. Non-alcoholic drinks. Entrance fee to Pompeii.

• Means of transport: minivan.

• Pros: This tour allows you to get straight to the action of the city by visiting the most popular sites on the Amalfi Coast, just before you get to Positano, a visit of ten. Groups are usually small which ensures personalised attention.

• Cons: Lunch is not included. This tour also goes to Sorrento, as that is the last leg before the group returns to Naples, you would be left to do the tour on your own. As a reward, enjoy the sunset in Positano.

• Can I return to Naples with this method of transport? No, because the tour will have ended in Positano and the carrier is not guaranteed to return to Naples.

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

From the airport, you can take a bus to Naples train station and continue by train to Sorrento. From Sorrento, you can choose to take a bus or 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. You will have someone waiting for you at the airport who will 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 to connect the two points on the Amalfi Coast - see below for details.

Often, when we embark on a trip, we 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 shortage of parking. Positano is no exception.

With that in mind, getting from Naples to Positano is relatively easy. All you need to do is take the A3 motorway to Salerno. You then exit at Castellammare di Stabia and continue on state road 145 towards Castellammare. Then take the exit to state road 163 via Meta - Amalfi. The journey time of 57 kilometres will be approximately one and a half hours.

And if you are wondering can I return to Naples with this method of transport, of course you can, you will drive on state road 163 via Meta - Amalfi and then connect with SS145. You will arrive in Naples in one and a half hours.

Important information

Please note that this route includes a winding road, full of dangerous curves throughout, so if you are not comfortable driving on this type of road - often one-way - this option may not be suitable for you. Also, during high season weekends and in the summer, traffic can also be heavy, so plan accordingly.

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

Via Sorrento

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

First legTake the Curreri bus from Terminal 1 atNaples - Capodichino Airport. The ticket costs about 10 ¤. The journey takes one hour and 20 minutes.

Second legTake the SITA Sud bus next to the Circumvesuviana station. The ticket costs about 2 euros. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Via Amalfi

You will have to go from Naples to Amalfi and then from Amalfi to Positano.

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

Second legFrom the Amalfi terminal take the SITA Sud bus to Positano. The ticket costs about 2 Euro. 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 cafes in all 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 the purchase of tickets on board.

• With COSTIERASITA tickets from 10€ and you can travel in 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, Vietri sul Mare, unlimited travel on SITA Sud buses for 24 hours.

• Bus timetable to SITA Sud: from 6.30 am to 10 pm. Frequency varies from section to section, but generally leaves every 2 hours. Check the timetables here.

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

If you are going to Positano and you want to get there by train, I don't have good news: the town has no direct train line. But wait! You can do a combination of transport services 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 tour with a different perspective. If at the end of your visit to Positano you want to repeat the route, you can even return to Naples using this method of transport.

Via Sorrento

First section

You can take the Circumvesuviana train from the central station or Porta Nolan to Sorrento. The ticket price is from 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 is from €8 and the journey time is 50 minutes

Second leg

You can board the SITA SUD bus next to the Circumvesuviana station in Sorrento to Positano. The ticket costs about 2 euros. The journey takes 40 minutes.

Sail on board a Hydrofoil fromSorrento to Positano. The ticket costs about 15 € and the trip lasts 40 minutes.

Via Vietri sul Mare

First section

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

Second leg

From the port of Vietri sul Mare take a ferry or hydrofoil to Amalfi, where you change boats quickly and take a second hydrofoil direct to Positano. The ticket price is from €6 and the total travel 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'll be able to enjoy the wonderful views of the entire Amalfi Coast (especially if you're travelling in summer). Moreover, you can return to Naples by this method of transport, especially during the high season.

There are several lines both public and private, with ferries and hydrofoils - also known as Hydrofoil - even small boats for hire. The cost depends on the company and the type of boat. As for departures, they tend to be regular during the high season in summer and at weekends, meaning that every hour you'll get a boat to set sail. In this type of transport the detail to consider is that there are no direct boats, you will have to make a change. As for the routes, there are two main routes:

Via Sorrento

From the port of Naples, Molo Carlo Pisacane, take your hydrofoil or ferry to the cruise port of Sorrento (Sorrento Terminal Crociere). You can get a ticket for a journey from €18.

The journey time is 45 minutes, however, 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 good if your intention is to get there in as little time as possible. Once the time for the boat exchange is over, the second leg of the journey will take place. Between Sorrento and Positano the boat takes 40 minutes.

Via Capri

Take your ferry or hydrofoil from the port of Naples, Molo Carlo Pisacane direct to Capri. You can get a ticket from 20 euros. And the sailing time is 50 minutes. Similar to the previous case, you will have to make a transfer. In this case it usually takes less time to change boats, 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 rental

To do the Naples Positano route you can hire a motorboat, yacht, catamaran or boat to suit all tastes. The approximate price per day ranges from 200 € to 2000 € per day, depending on the size and skipper service or not. You can also rent your boat for half a day, in this case the average cost is 120 €.

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

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