If you only have a day on the Amalfi Coast, choose two or three stops and decide how you will move between them before you book anything. Amalfi, Positano and Ravello fit a short visit best, and the SITA bus, the ferry and a pre-booked car each reach a different mix of them. A 24-hour COSTIERASITA bus pass costs €10 and covers towns from Sorrento to Salerno, so the bus is the cheapest way to link them.
This guide compares five stops, then the four ways to reach them, with the journey times that decide if a plan holds up in one day. SITA changes its Costiera timetable with the seasons, and ferry service thins out in winter, so check both before you fix an off-season itinerary. Our Amalfi Coast weather in November guide covers what to expect late in the year.
| Stop | How you reach it | Key travel fact | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positano | Ferry or SITA bus from Sorrento | Sorrento to Positano takes 30 to 40 minutes by ferry | A first look at the coast |
| Amalfi | Ferry from Salerno or Positano, SITA bus | Salerno to Amalfi takes 40 to 50 minutes by ferry | The best base for a short visit |
| Ravello | SITA bus or car from Amalfi, no ferry | Amalfi to Ravello takes 15 minutes by car | Villas and quiet, if you can spare the time |
| Sorrento | Circumvesuviana train from Naples | Naples to Sorrento takes about 1 hour 15 minutes by train | Arriving from Naples and a first ferry |
| Salerno and Vietri sul Mare | Train, then ferry or SITA bus | Vietri sul Mare has the only train station on the coast | Arriving by rail from the south |
How We Chose These Stops
We picked stops that a visitor without a car can reach by bus, ferry or both and still have time to look around. The ferry times and taxi fares in this guide are for the journey itself, and the times leave out waiting for a bus or boat.
1. Positano: Best for a Quick Look at the Classic Coast
Positano is the stop most people want, and it is the hardest to fit in without a plan. Sorrento to Positano takes about 30 minutes by bus or car, and 30 to 40 minutes by ferry. From Salerno the ferry takes 50 to 60 minutes.
The trade-off is the return leg. Afternoon buses from Amalfi to Sorrento are often full by the time they reach Positano, so from April to late October the ferry is the better option. Ravello has no ferry at all, so pair Positano with Amalfi if you want a second stop.
2. Amalfi: Best Hub for a Short Visit
Amalfi is the most practical stop on the coast, because bus, ferry and road all meet here. The ferry takes 30 to 40 minutes from Positano and 40 to 50 minutes from Salerno, and boats also run on to Capri in about 45 to 50 minutes.
Amalfi is also where you change for Ravello, 15 minutes up the hill by car, or about €40 by taxi. Allow about an hour in town plus 1 hour 30 minutes for lunch if you want to eat properly.
3. Ravello: Best if You Can Spare the Road Time
Ravello sits above the coast and has no ferry, so you reach it by SITA bus or by road. The COSTIERASITA pass includes Ravello, which makes it a cheap add-on when you are already in Amalfi. A taxi from Positano costs around €150 for one to four passengers, which is why most short visits reach Ravello from Amalfi.
Give it about an hour on foot. If you only have an afternoon and one ferry, skip it and spend the time in Amalfi.
4. Sorrento: Best Gateway and Base
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast road, but it is where many short visits begin. The Circumvesuviana train from Naples takes about 1 hour 15 minutes, and from there you continue by SITA bus or ferry. The COSTIERASITA pass is valid in Sorrento, so one pass can cover the outbound and return bus legs.
Ferries between Sorrento and Positano run roughly April to late October. Outside that window, the bus is the dependable option.
5. Salerno and Vietri sul Mare: Best Arrival Point by Rail
Vietri sul Mare is the only coastal town with a train station, so arriving from the south by rail puts you at the start of the coast. Salerno has the SITA ticket office on Via Vinciprova, open weekdays from 6:45 to 18:45, and ferries leave for Amalfi (40 to 50 minutes) and Positano (50 to 60 minutes).
It suits a visit that is one stop deep, such as Amalfi and back. A multi-stop day from here costs time on the road before it reaches the first village.
Amalfi Coast Transport Options for a Short Visit
Four options cover almost every short visit.
The chart compares boat times and taxi fares for the legs most short visits use.
- SITA bus: the 24-hour COSTIERASITA pass is €10, starts at first validation and is named and non-transferable. Buy it before you board, because tickets cannot be bought on the bus.
- Ferry: Travelmar runs all year, but the main season is April to late October, with fewer and weather-dependent sailings in winter. One carry-on up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm is included in the ticket.
- Taxi: Positano to Amalfi is about €120 for one to four passengers and Positano to Sorrento about €120. Ask for the fixed fare and book through your hotel in high season.
- Chauffeur car: a driver from Naples costs €400 to €500 a day, which falls sharply per person if you fill an 8-seat minibus.
A One-Day Amalfi Coast Plan by Car
A car day from Naples adds up to about 8 hours of driving, walking and lunch, so start early and keep an hour or two spare for traffic:
- Naples to Positano: 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Walk around Positano for about 1 hour.
- Positano to Amalfi: 30 minutes.
- Amalfi: about 1 hour, then lunch for 1 hour 30 minutes.
- Amalfi to Ravello: 15 minutes, then about 1 hour on foot.
- Ravello to Naples: 1 hour 20 minutes.
On public transport the same day is too much. From Naples, stick to one town, and note that the bus from Naples to Amalfi takes about 2 hours each way.
Towns here are built on slopes and stairs, so pack shoes you can walk in all day.
No products found.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Train on the Amalfi Coast?
No train runs along the coast. Vietri sul Mare is the only coastal town with a station, and every other stop is reached by bus, ferry or road.
Can You Buy SITA Bus Tickets on the Bus?
No. Buy the ticket before boarding, at a bar or tobacconist or in the UnicoCampania app, and validate it on the bus or at first use for the COSTIERASITA pass.
Can You Reach Ravello by Ferry?
No. Ravello sits above the coast, so you reach it by SITA bus or by road, usually from Amalfi.
How Long Is the Bus From Naples to Amalfi?
About 2 hours, and longer in heavy traffic. The buses leave from Varco Immacolatella inside Naples port.
