If you are planning a visit to the Amalfi Coast, one of the biggest questions you may have is “what is the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast?”
The answer to this question depends on what time of the year you will be here, what do you plan to do on the Amalfi Coast, and how much money you have to spend.
We have visited the Amalfi Coast twice: July 2014 and October 2022. Between both of these visits, we have used the ferry, ridden the public buses, hired drivers, hired a private boat, and driven the entire length of the Amalfi Coast, from Salerno to Sorrento.
We learned A LOT and have lots of valuable tips, which we share in this guide. And if you have any questions or if you have information to share that would help future readers, let us know in the comment section at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline that runs along the Sorrentine peninsula. There are 13 towns along this coastline plus Salerno and Sorrento, which sit at either end. Some of these towns are located right on the water, like Amalfi and Positano, and others are located higher up on the hills, like Ravello and Praiano.
Amalfi Drive is the main road that travels along the Amalfi Coast. It is 50 km long and runs through most of these towns. There are a few Amalfi Coast towns that are located higher in the mountains, on side roads off of Amalfi Drive, such as Ravello and Tramonti.
At first glance, it may seem that renting a car and driving from town to town is the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast. But unfortunately, that’s not the case. From June through September, the Amalfi Coast is filled with visitors from around the world. These small towns have very limited parking, and the increase in summer traffic creates long traffic jams along Amalfi Drive. You may have better luck winning the lottery than getting a parking space in Amalfi or Positano.
There is now an alternating license plate system for the summer months. We’ll go more into detail about this later in this guide.
To get around the Amalfi Coast, you have a lot of options…car, bus, ferry, small boat tour, private boat, taxi, private driver, and tour. We dive deeper into each of these next.
Amalfi, Italy
How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast
By Rental Car: Driving the Amalfi Coast
If you will be road tripping through Italy, it would only make sense to use your car and drive to the towns you want to visit along the Amalfi Coast. And for those who love scenic drives, you could rent a car just for your time on the Amalfi Coast and use that to get around.
But is it a good idea?
We drove the entire length of Amalfi Drive in October 2022. In our article Driving the Amalfi Coast, we write about our experience and important things to know, before committing yourself to this mode of transportation.
Amalfi Coast Drive
Long sections of the roads are lined with parked cars and scooters, which makes this narrow road even narrower.
May through September
If you have plans to visit the Amalfi Coast from May through September, getting around by rental car could be a nightmare. On weekends and the entire month of August, those with rental cars can only drive Amalfi Drive on odd or even days, depending on their license plate number.
In the summer, it’s also not unusual to have backups stretching several kilometers. Parking is almost nonexistent, so once you get to where you want to be, you could spend a huge amount of time circling for a parking space. Or, you could end up parking several kilometers outside of town, and have a long walk along Amalfi Drive to get into town.
October through April
This is the low season, so if driving the Amalfi Coast is on your bucket list, this is the best time to do it. Even in mid to late October, there was still a fair amount of traffic and we had trouble finding parking. For the best experience (taking weather into account), plan your trip for late October into November or sometime in April. Learn more in our article October on the Amalfi Coast.
Towns You Can Get to By Car
All of the towns on the Amalfi Coast are accessible by car. The trick is finding a parking space once here, even in the off season.
Alternating License Plate System
In 2022, an alternating license plate system was instituted on Amalfi Drive.
Here are the rules:
- These rules apply to rental cars. Cars belonging to locals, taxis, and buses are exempt.
- Rental cars with a license plate ending in an odd number cannot drive Amalfi Drive on odd numbered days. Rental cars with a license plate ending in an even number cannot drive Amalfi Drive on even numbered days.
- The rule is in effect for the entire month of August and from June 15 to September 30 (I have read conflicting information that it is only weekends from June 15 to September 30 and every day from this time period). Some holidays, such as Easter, are also included. I recommend reading this for updated hours and restrictions before you decide to rent a car.
- The alternating license plate system is in effect for the 22 km stretch of road between Positano and Vietri sul Mare.
- In addition to the license plate system, any vehicle that is longer than 10.36 meters (34 feet), including vehicles pulling trailers, are banned from 6:30 am to midnight all year.
From what I have read online, if you will be staying in a hotel on the Amalfi Coast, you can arrive to your hotel on your planned date, even if your license plate does not align with the dates. Let’s face it, you won’t know the number of your license plate until you pick up your rental car, so it’s impossible to plan in advance which days to drive the Amalfi Coast. I recommend confirming this rule with your hotel before your visit.
ALTERNATING LICENSE PLATE SYSTEM FOR SORRENTO COAST ROAD: Beginning in 2023, a similar alternating license plate system was put in effect for Sorrento Coast Road, which is a road that runs in and around Sorrento. It has very similar rules to the Amalfi Coast alternating license plate system, which you can read here.
Advantages of Traveling by Rental Car:
- Freedom to travel on your schedule
- To drive one of the most iconic roads in the world
- To get to towns that are not accessible by boat (Ravello, Praiano, and Tramonti)
Disadvantages of Traveling by Rental Car:
- Traffic jams on Amalfi Drive
- Parking
- Alternating License Plate system
- The possibility of getting into an accident
By Private Driver
If you hire a private driver, you can still travel on your own schedule, but eliminate some of the hassles of a rental car, such as parking. Plus, if you plan to tour Italy by train, a private driver allows you to explore the Amalfi Coast by road, rather than renting a car for a few days.
Hiring a private driver can be expensive. Prices range from €100 to €400, depending on how long you plan to use the driver that day.
We hired our private drivers through our hotel, with the company Positano Limo Service.
Advantages of a Private Driver:
- Freedom to travel on your schedule
- To get to towns that are not accessible by boat (Ravello, Praiano, and Tramonti)
- No need to search for a parking space (let your driver deal with that hassle)
Disadvantages of a Private Driver:
- Expensive
- Traffic jams on Amalfi Drive
Amalfi Drive
By Bus
Traveling by bus is the most economical way to get around the Amalfi Coast. For just €10 per day, you can travel up and down Amalfi Drive.
To travel by bus, you will need some patience. In the summer, lines at the bus stops can be long. And once on the bus, you will be sitting in the same backups as everyone else.
We traveled by bus in 2014 and had a terrible experience. Hopefully things have improved since then, and based on the number of buses we saw on Amalfi Drive, it looks like it has.
In 2014, we started in Sorrento and road the SITA bus to Positano. Once finished in Positano, we waited and waited at the bus stop, and scheduled bus after bus failed to arrive. Eventually, a hop-on hop-off bus arrived, and we bought a ticket, just to get to the next town on our list, Amalfi.
Once finished in Amalfi, the same scenario repeated itself. Several scheduled buses failed to show up. By the time the next bus arrived, there were so many people in line that only a small fraction made it onto the bus.
So, if you plan to travel by bus, have some patience and be prepared for delays. And if you have done this and would like to share your experience to help out future readers, you can do so in the comment section below.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: For the best views, sit on the right side of the bus when traveling from Sorrento towards Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno. Sit on the left side of the bus when traveling from Salerno towards Amalfi, Positano, and Sorrento.
For more information on how to use the bus, click here.
For the SITA bus timetable, click here.
Advantages of Traveling by Bus
- Cheap
- On a bus, you will sit higher than in a car, so your views along the drive are better, since it is easier to look out over the stone wall. I took the header photo for this guide from the bus while riding along Amalfi Drive.
- To get to towns that are not accessible by boat (Ravello, Praiano, and Tramonti)
- No need to search for a parking space
Disadvantages of Traveling by Bus
- Traffic jams on Amalfi Drive
- Buses do not usually arrive on time
- Can be hot and crowded
By Ferry
To avoid the traffic jams on Amalfi Drive and for stunning views of the Amalfi Coast, consider taking the ferry. During the summer months, we highly recommend getting around by ferry, or some sort of boat, to avoid the traffic delays on Amalfi Drive.
It is important to know that not all of the towns on the Amalfi Coast are accessible by boat. If you take the ferry, you will only be able to visit the coastal towns, which includes Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Salerno, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, and Vietri sul Mare.
There are several companies that operate ferries on the Amalfi Coast. They each have different schedules and ports. Here are the links to the companies:
You can also search for ferry routes on FerryHopper.com or TraghettiUp.com, which gives the schedules for the three companies listed above. We are big fans of FerryHopper.com, and use it frequently, not only to book ferries on the Amalfi Coast, but also in Greece and Croatia. This website is very user friendly and will list all of the available ferries for the dates you are looking at, so you don’t have to check multiple websites.
Ferries typically operate from April through October. If you will be traveling outside of this period, look into taking the bus, hiring a driver, or renting a car.
Ticket booths for the ferries in Positano.
Ferries in Positano | Best way to get around the Amalfi Coast
NLG is one of the most popular ferry companies on the Amalfi Coast.
Advantages of Traveling by Ferry
- Avoid the traffic on Amalfi Drive (and get around the Amalfi Coast faster than by bus or car)
- Beautiful views of the Amalfi Coast
- Cheapest way to get around by boat
Disadvantages of Traveling by Ferry
- Cannot get to Ravello, Tramonti, or Praiano
- Not a good option for those prone to seasickness
- Does not operate from mid-November through March
By Private Boat
Traveling by private boat is one of the best ways to get around the Amalfi Coast. Having done everything listed above, I have to say that this is our favorite mode of transportation on the Amalfi Coast. It can be expensive, but it comes with some huge advantages that make it worth it, especially if you are traveling as a small group.
If you are going to splurge on one thing during your trip to Italy, this gets our vote. Relax on a private boat, sip on prosecco, visit small coves and caves that are inaccessible by ferry and difficult or impossible to get to by car or bus, and zip up and down the coastline faster than any car or ferry out there.
Plus, the views are simply amazing.
Atrani
By boat, you can visit places like Fiordo di Furore (the photo above) and sea caves along the coast.
We took a private 8-hour boat cruise from Positano, visiting the Smeraldo Grotto, Fiordo di Furore, Amalfi, Maiori, Minori, Atrani, and Nerano. This 8-hour boat tour with Luxury Boats Positano was one of our most memorable experiences in Italy.
Prices for a full day cruise range from €800 to as high as €3000, depending on the boat and company you choose. If you are traveling as a group of four to six people, splitting the cost of a €800 or €13000 boat is not as crazy as it first seems, especially given the advantages that come with having a private boat.
And if you want the private boat experience, without spending a crazy amount of money, Luxury Boats Positano and other companies have shorter tours. How about a 2-hour sunset cruise along the Amalfi Coast?
Other companies to consider are Lucibello Positano, Sorrento Dream Charter, and Mar Amar.
Advantages of Traveling by Private Boat
- Freedom to travel on your own schedule
- Can easily visit exclusive beaches, restaurants, and coves that are harder to get to by bus, car, or ferry
- For gorgeous views of the Amalfi Coast
- To avoid the traffic on Amalfi Drive (and get around the Amalfi Coast faster than by bus or car)
- To sip on prosecco or a cocktail as you travel along the coast
- For a luxury experience on the Amalfi Coast
Disadvantages of Traveling by Private Boat
- Expensive
- Cannot get to Ravello or Tramonti
- Not a good option for those prone to seasickness
By Small Group Boat Tour
By joining a small boat tour, you get to cruise along the coast without the big price tag that you get with a private boat. There is a long list of boat tours to choose from, some starting in Sorrento, some starting in Positano, and some starting in Amalfi.
When choosing your tour, pay attention to the number of people in the group, the starting point of the tour, and the price. Some group tours can cost several hundred dollars per person, and if you are a group of 4 to 6 people, it might not cost much more to hire a private boat.
Advantages of a Small Group Boat Tour
- Some boat tours include visits to swimming spots or off the beaten path beaches
- For gorgeous views of the Amalfi Coast
- To avoid the traffic on Amalfi Drive
Disadvantages of a Small Group Boat Tour
- Some small group tours can be expensive
- Cannot get to Ravello or Tramonti
- Not a good option for those prone to seasickness
Positano
By Small Group Tour (On Land)
There are also many small group tours of the Amalfi Coast, where you travel by van, car, or bus, visiting the highlights of the coast. These group tours range from just a few people to larger groups, so pay attention to group size while booking your tour.
A group tour is a good option for those who only have one day on the Amalfi Coast and don’t want the hassle of working out transportation, what to see, and where to go. Many of these tours start and end in Sorrento.
This highly rated group tour starts in either Naples or Sorrento and includes both a land tour and short boat cruise on the Amalfi Coast, where you will visit Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. It’s a great option for those with one day on the Amalfi Coast since it covers the main highlights.
It’s also possible to day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Rome, but this is a long day and we don’t recommend it (we think Pompeii and Vesuvius is a better option from Rome). But this tour gets rave reviews and is worth considering, if you really want to see the Amalfi Coast and have limited time.
Advantages of a Small Group Tour
- All transportation is arranged by your tour guide
- Can be an economical way to spend one day on the Amalfi Coast
Disadvantages of a Small Group Tour
- Traffic jams on Amalfi Drive
- Some small group tours include time at places you may not be interested in visiting
- Can be a long day with a lot of time spent in the van/bus/car
By Scooter
Scooters, with their small size, can zip around the traffic jams and it’s a lot easier to find a parking space than it would be if you are traveling by car. However, we only recommend getting around by scooter for those with lots of prior experience. Amalfi Drive is crowded and chaotic, even in the off season, and this is not a good road for newbie drivers.
Advantages of Getting Around by Scooter
- Can pass slower traffic and traffic jams
- Easier to find a parking space
- Can travel on your own schedule
- Cheaper than rental cars and private drivers
- To get to towns that are not accessible by boat (Ravello, Praiano, and Tramonti)
Disadvantages of Getting Around by Scooter
- Can be dangerous
- Will still have to deal with traffic jams
Amalfi Coast
Best Way to Get Around the Amalfi Coast: Our Recommendations
To summarize all of the information above, here are our recommendations for the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast.
For the best overall experience, hire a private boat. It is the most expensive option, but the views are unbeatable, you can explore nooks and crannies that are difficult to get to by other modes of transportation, and this is the fastest way to travel from town to town, so if you want to see and do a lot, a private boat is the way to go.
If you are traveling on a budget, the ferry is our first choice (great views and to avoid the traffic on Amalfi Drive) followed by the public bus.
During the summer months, from June through September, avoid traveling on Amalfi Drive if possible. If you want to visit Ravello or Tramonti, you will have to take the bus, drive, or hire a private driver, but to get everywhere else, take a boat of some sort (ferry, small group boat tour, or private boat).
If you really want to drive the Amalfi Coast, the best time to do it is from mid-October through April.
Tours of the Amalfi Coast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast?
During the summer months, the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast is by boat (ferry, small boat tour, or private boat). The views are beautiful and you can avoid the traffic jams on Amalfi Drive. If you are traveling on a budget, travel by ferry or by bus. From June through September, avoid driving the Amalfi Coast if possible, since traffic jams are frequent, parking is a nightmare, and rental car traffic is limited by the new alternating license plate system.
Is it worth driving the Amalfi Coast?
If you plan to visit Italy between May and September, Amalfi Drive can be a crowded, chaotic road with long backups and major challenges finding a parking space. During this time, it is not worth driving the Amalfi Coast and it is best to get around by ferry or boat. However, if you have long dreamed of making this drive, the best time to do it is from mid-October through the end of April, which is low season on the Amalfi Coast.
How difficult is it to drive the Amalfi Coast?
It doesn’t take any special skills to drive Amalfi Drive. You need a good deal of patience and you need to stay alert, since it is a chaotic drive. If this is something you plan to do, rent a smaller vehicle, which makes it a lot easier to navigate the turns and the tight spaces as you squeeze past buses and other vehicles.
More Information for Your Trip to the Amalfi Coast
AMALFI COAST TOWNS: For an overview of where to go, check out our article 17 Beautiful Towns to Visit on the Amalfi Coast. We also have detailed guides about the Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast and how to visit Positano and Ravello. Learn how to plan your time with our Amalfi Coast Itinerary.
GETTING AROUND: Learn how to travel from Rome to Sorrento, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast and how to visit Pompeii when traveling between Rome and Sorrento. We also have a guide to what it is like to drive the Amalfi Coast.
PATH OF THE GODS: The Path of the Gods is a gorgeous hike on the Amalfi Coast.
SORRENTO & CAPRI: Learn about the best things to do in Sorrento, how to spend 3 days in Sorrento, learn how to plan your day trip to Capri, and find out whether or not the Blue Grotto is worth it.
ITALY ITINERARY: On this 10 day southern Italy itinerary, visit the Amalfi Coast, Castelmezzano, Matera, Alberobello, and more towns in Puglia.
WHERE TO STAY: For recommendations of where to stay, including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, take a look at our Amalfi Coast Hotel Guide.
If you have any questions about the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast, or if you want to share your experience, you can do so in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Italy
ITALY ITINERARY: If you are just beginning to plan your Italy itinerary, take a look at our 10 Days in Italy Itinerary for five different ways to spend 10 days in Italy.
VENICE ITINERARY: If you need suggestions on how to plan your time, take a look at our One Day in Venice Itinerary and Two Days in Venice Itinerary.
FLORENCE & TUSCANY: If this is your first visit to Florence, read our guide to the Best Things to Do in Florence and the best rooftop bars in Florence. If you plan to visit Tuscany, learn how to spend one day in Siena, things to do in Montepulciano, and the best things to do in San Gimignano.
PUGLIA: Read about 15 beautiful places to visit in Puglia and the best things to do in Alberobello. We also have a guide to the best things to do on the Gargano Peninsula and how to spend one day in Vieste.
MILAN & LAKE COMO: Learn how to visit Milan on a day trip or while traveling between the Cinque Terre, Florence and Venice. Lake Como and Bellagio are two more beautiful places in Italy that are great day trip destinations.
We have TONS more information about Italy in our Italy Travel Guide, including Rome, Florence, Tuscany, Venice, the Dolomites, Lake Como, Assisi, Basilicata, and Puglia.
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Comments 31
I am planning to rent a car for a couple of days in the Amalfi coast.
Do you have any suggestions of where to get a rental car is Sorrento?
Author
You would have to do a search for rental cars or the larger companies such as Avis, Hertz, Europcar, etc to see if they have an office in Sorrento. We rented our car at the Rome airport so don’t have firsthand knowledge of renting a car in Sorrento, but you should be able to find something. In the past, we rented a car in Siena and that is a smaller city than Sorrento. Good luck! Cheers, Julie
Hi Julie,
Thank you for the update. On that note how is the drive from Rome? We are planning to take the train from Rome to Naples and a private transfer but renting a car sure sounds like a better idea. Our trip is in the first week of October
Thanks,
Nihar
Author
We were also in the Amalfi Coast in early October. The drive from Rome to Sorrento and Positano is mostly on a highway and very easy to do. If you want a car for the Amalfi Coast (and October is not a bad time to have a car here) then I think it is easier and maybe even cheaper to pick it up and drop if off at the Rome airport. On the Amalfi Coast, we still used a private driver a few times (to get to the trailhead for the Path of the Gods hike and the day we visited the wineries), but it was a convenient way to travel around the towns on our own schedule (in our case, it was also necessary to have the car for Basilicata and Puglia). Cheers, Julie
Myself and two friends are staying in Conca Dei Marini village for two days in May this year and would like to see Pompeii historical site but are having trouble with the tour doesn’t pick up from Conca Dei Marini. So my question is how would you suggest we go about this. Both tours I have looked at either depart from Sorrento or Salerno, so we would have to get to either of these towns from Conca Dei Marini Village. Hope you can advise us. Cheer Wendy
Author
Hello Wendy. You can take a taxi or hire a driver to get you from Conca dei Marini to Sorrento or Salerno. Another option would be to look into the public buses (this would be the cheapest option but also the slowest and the one most likely to not run on time). If it were me, I’d hire a driver in advance. I’d also compare the price of hiring a driver to get me directly to and from Pompeii to the price of getting to and from Sorrento because the price may not be a lot different. We have links to private drivers in this guide. Cheers, Julie
Thank you
I am thinking of renting an electric car and am wondering how accessible charging stations are along the Amalfi Coast. I will be there in May so will there be long waits to use the public ones. I will be driving from Rome and taking a detour inland to see Atina so will need to charge the car at some point.
Author
From our visit in 2022, I don’t recall seeing many charging stations along the Amalfi Coast. I recommend reaching out to the car rental company for recommendations so you know where you can potentially charge the car. Cheers, Julie
Hi Julie,
How easy is it to find taxis in Amalfi and Ravello in mid to late October? We only have two days so I feel bus may take too long. Do we need to hire the taxis in advance or can we just find one as we go? Thanks!
Author
We hired a driver in advance through our hotel (which made getting around easy but was also slightly more expensive than a taxi). We have links for private drivers here, which you could contact for pricing. Our hotel also hired taxis in advance for us, but we only used these for short trips, but many hotels can also do this for you (but you won’t have pricing in advance). In mid-October, last year, the area felt very busy, and we did see taxis quite a bit, so I don’t think you will have any problems hiring them. We are just very type A and like to have things reserved in advance, which is why we used our hotel to help us out with our travel arrangements. I hope this helps! Cheers, Julie
Hi,
Great blog!! We are planning to do the same day trip from Positano to Ravello stopping in Tenuta San Francesco. How far in advance did you book the private driver ? Did you book it when you were in the hotel?
Thanks,
Socorro
Author
Yes, we had our hotel book the driver for us, about 3 to 4 days in advance. Actually, our hotel recommended this experience and we are so glad we did! They also set up our reservation for lunch and wine tasting. By the way, we did this in early to mid-October last year. Cheers, Julie
Thanks for the reply! How much was the driver services for the day?
Thanks,
Soan
Author
I’m not sure what they are for the day but we have links to the driver services where you can get prices for the time you will be in the Amalfi Coast. Cheers, Julie
We will be staying in Naples for 3 nights and we would like to visit Positano, Amalfi and if possible Ravello. Realistically, we have one day to visit these areas. What would you recommend. Ferry, private boat or combination land and boat? Any insight you have would be much appreciated!
Regards,
Kathy
Author
Positano and Amalfi are accessible by land and boat. Ravello is only accessible by car/bus. I think the most efficient way to visit all three in one day is to hire a private driver in Naples for the day to drive you around. It would be nice to travel by boat but it will take awhile from Naples so not a great option in my opinion, since you will also have to take the bus or taxi to Ravello. Cheers, Julie
Thank you for a wonderful blog. We are heading to Italy in November and plan to go south. Are the private boats on the Amalfi coast available the last two weeks of November?
If we stay at an AirBB where would you pick as a central location so we can make day trips and not check in and out of places every few days?
Author
Hello Allana. I’m not sure if the private boat companies are still operating in November but you could reach out to them to get their availability during that time. On the Amalfi Coast, we really liked staying in Positano but another convenient town that is centrally located is Amalfi. Cheers, Julie
Hello
Is it an option to travel Amalfi Coast by ferry & stay in a hotel in the towns that you visit. Would hotels be within walking distance from ferry terminal considering we would have some luggage ( a case each. Other option possibly Taxi / Uber.
We would like to walk the path of the Gods, looking at around 5 to 7 days in this area.
Author
Yes, you can do that. If you want to stay in a town with a ferry port, Positano is your best option followed by Amalfi. Positano is hilly, so if you don’t want to lug your luggage too far, pick a hotel down by the beach. To hike the Path of the Gods, take the bus or use a taxi or private driver to get you to the start of the hike. You can hike all the way to Positano, which is why I recommend Positano as the first choice on where to stay. To help you plan your trip, we have guides on Where to Stay in the Amalfi Coast and an Amalfi Coast Itinerary. For all of our articles about the Amalfi Coast, take a look at our Italy Travel Guide. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Julie
Hi, we are a family of 4 (two teens) staying in Praiano for 3 days at the end of August. Curious if we could take a ferry or boat to avoid the traffic? For example, is there a way to land at the nearest coastal town (positano? other?) and take a taxi a short distance to our hotel? i’m concerned we might be adding too many connections/points of failure. our other option is a private car.
Also, one in Praiano, seems like the bus is a challenging way to travel b/w towns. What taxi or other service is best? we would like to hit the local beaches, positano, and take a boat to capri. Any small group boat trip recommendations are also appreciated.
Regards and Thank You!
Author
Hello Ed. Since Praiano is in the hills above the coast, it can be a little more challenging to get around from here. Positano is going to be the best town to use for the ferry and the day trip to Capri. Even though we had a car last year, sometimes we still used a private driver to get around, since it made things easier (parking could be a challenge even in October). I recommend using a taxi or private driver to get from your hotel to Positano (your hotel should be able to assist with this), and then use the ferry to go to Capri and the other Amalfi Coast towns. We haven’t had good experiences with the bus on the Amalfi Coast. And renting a car isn’t a good idea because of the alternating license plate rule. From Positano, you can take this small group tour to Capri. For more information for things to do in Positano, and other day trip options from Positano, and a private driver to use, take a look at our Things to Do in Positano post. Let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Julie
Julie, thanks so much for your reply – appreciated! We are traveling to Praiano from Naples, which is also our departure point back to Rome. We are considering a private car for the transfer, but the other options are: renting a car for the round trip Naples-Praiano (much less expensive; we would not use the car after arriving due to crowding and license plate issue) or taking a ferry from Naples to the closest shore town to Praiano. Am I insane for considering renting a car? we have included parking at our hotel, and i generally don’t mind driving (plenty of traffic where i live). is taking a ferry from Naples + a taxi from ferry drop off point a viable option? that would avoid traffic and probably be a nicer trip in general, not sure Praiano lends itself well to that.
Author
If having the rental car is cheaper, and your hotel provides free parking the rental car could be worth it to get you to and from Naples to Praiano. It is my understanding that you are allowed to arrive to your hotel on the alternating license plate rule, but this should be double checked with your hotel. You could use the car on the day that aligns with your license plate, but you won’t know this until you pick up your rental car, so that makes things tricky. Also, the driving might not be so bad, it’s finding parking that makes have a rental car a hassle. Alternatively, leave the car parked and plan to use private drivers and ferries to get around. I think taking a ferry from Naples to Positano would use up a lot of time and it would be better to drive or hire a driver. I hope this helps! Cheers, Julie
Julie, just got back from our trip and wanted to thank you for all of your input here and elsewhere on your site. it was super valuable. Addendum – we rented a car in Naples, drove it to Praiano and parked it for the duration. The drive was great, it was extremely economical, the views were amazing, and we loved not being held to a pickup schedule. Re drive, i’m from a big city and not daunted by the madness on the Amalfi roads but it might not be for everyone. We generally took the local buses (MAC, SITA) around with success, but they could be spotty in terms of pickup times. We mixed in taxis when necessary, but this cost may not be for everyone. All in all a great stay. Thanks again!
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Hello Ed. I’m glad you had a great trip! Thanks so much for writing in with your experience! Happy travels to wherever you plan to go next. Cheers, Julie
Hello,
First of all, thank you for your Italy itineraries – they are amazing!
My husband and I will be staying in Sorrento for 4 nights in August, and we are thinking of the following agenda: Day 1-Sorrento, Day 2-Capri, Day 3-Private Boat, Day 4-visit Amalfi Coast town (Positano, Ravello, Amalfi). I am not sure if it makes sense to split the private boat and visiting Amalfi coast towns into 2 separate days. On one hand, boat trip can be relaxing, lazy day of just sailing and drinking prosecco and on the other hand we might as well visit some towns while on the boat? In Positano/Ravello/Amalfi town I would like to see the main sights, walk around and shop, and I just don’t know if paying for 8 hr. boat (which is not cheap) would be wasteful if most of the time is spent on the land vs enjoying the boat. Alternatively, we can dedicate just one day taking multiple ferries to Positano/Ravello/Amalfi town (does it require 3 separate ferries?), but that might end up being costly and not economical. From all the articles I’ve read on your Italy itinerary it was not clear which options did you guys do (I know you did both – private boat and visited Amalfi towns). Any recommendations would be amazing! Travelling by a car is not an option for us, and we would prefer ferries. Thank you!
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Hello Veranika. That’s exciting that you will have 4 days in Sorrento! We did a private boat tour along the Amalfi Coast, starting and ending at Positano, visiting Atrani, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi, Furore, and Nerano. By car or private driver, we visited the other Amalfi Coast towns. Ravello is located up in the hills. To get here, you will ride the ferry to a coastal town like Positano or Amalfi, and then use the bus or taxi to get to Ravello. It will take some time so I don’t recommend visiting Ravello on the day you are paying for a private boat (since a lot of the day will be on land). The private boat tour is great for exactly the reason you list…to relax, drink prosecco, and enjoy the views. I recommend visiting Amalfi from the private boat. Amalfi is quick and easily accessible by boat. Fiordo di Furore, Atrani, and Nerano are great to visit on the private boat. Maiori and Minori aren’t all that exciting and can be skipped, in my opinion.
On another day, travel from Sorrento to Positano by ferry, take a taxi or bus to Ravello, see Ravello, return to Positano, spend the afternoon in Positano, and then return to Sorrento by ferry. Since you can do Amalfi on the private boat, you won’t have to later take the long ferry ride from Sorrento to Amalfi, so this should be a better use of your time.
Let me know if you have any other questions! Cheers, Julie
Julie,
Thank you so much for your reply! Visiting Amalfi while in a private boat tour and dedicating a separate day to Positano/Ravello make me sense! One thing I failed to mentioned is that we are also considering Path of Gods hike (one of the small group tour you recommended). Do you think adding in some time in Positano after the hike (we won’t come back to Sorrento with the transportation from the tour in that case) won’t be too many activities / too tiring? We will skip Ravello in that case. Thank you again!
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Yes, you can definitely add in Positano after the hike. Consider bringing a swimsuit in your back pack and you could go for a swim and cool off. There are a lot of great restaurants down by the water and Positano is a very nice place to go shopping. As for which one is better…Path of the Gods or Ravello, that’s a tough one. The Path of the Gods is a beautiful and worth it if you want to be active. Ravello is very pretty, with great views of the AC from the gardens. Either way, you can’t go wrong. Have a great time on your trip! Cheers, Julie