The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful parts of Italy, and it is not a very long journey for travelers staying in Rome. However, the Amalfi roads are famous and winding in places, especially the SS163, the Amalfi Coast road that connects major coastal cities and offers iconic views along the way. This route can be difficult to traverse easily for a non-local.
There are several options for getting to Amalfi from Rome if you don’t want to drive yourself, and it’s such a scenic drive that you may want an experienced guide to drive you so you can enjoy the view. There are private car services that will take you from Rome or Naples to Amalfi. They are convenient and easy, but expect to spend in the neighborhood of € 300 and more to be transported along the coast.
You can also explore the train and ferry routes to the Amalfi Coast. These are some of the best options available.
Trains from Rome to Naples
To get to Amalfi, you will first need to take a Trenitalia or Italo train from Roma Termini, Rome’s main train station, to Napoli Centrale, Naples’s main station. Trains run directly between the two stations from morning until late at night.
At Napoli Centrale, you can board a train to Vietri sul Mare, a station where you can catch local buses to Amalfi and other cities in the Salerno province. Italo offers a direct train from Rome to Naples, then a bus to Sorrento, from where you can catch local buses along the coast.
Which Trenitalia train to catch?
Not all cities in Italy are served by Trenitalia trains, but Rome, Naples and Vietri sul Mare are. Some trains are faster and more expensive than others, so know which one works best for your travel schedule before buying your tickets.
The Frecciargento high-speed train is the most expensive option, but offers first and second class compartments, and has a bar service. The Regionale are local trains on a commuter schedule. They are inexpensive and fairly reliable, but will fill up at peak times. There is generally no first class option on regional trains. When there are first-class carriages, there are generally fewer people, if not much more luxury.
To reach cities on the east coast of Amalfi such as Amalfi, Positano, Praiano and Ravello, continue on a regular train from Naples (see above) and then take a bus from Salerno. During the summer season, ferries leave from Salerno to Amalfi, Minori, and Positano. See TravelMar for ferry schedules.
How to get to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast by car
You may want a car if you are staying in one of the small towns on the Amalfi Coast. To drive from Rome, take the Autostrada A1 (toll road) to Naples, then the Autostrada A3.
To get to Sorrento, exit at Castellammare di Stabia and take SP 145. Follow Via Sorrentina along the coast. To get to Positano, follow the signs for Sorrento, then take the SS 163 (Via Nastro Azzurro) towards Positano. To get to Amalfi or towns near Amalfi, stay on the A3 and exit at Vietri Sul Mare, then take the SS 163, Via Costeira, towards Amalfi.
You can also take the train to Sorrento, then pick up a rental car there. The journey along the Amalfi Coast between Sorrento and Salerno is undoubtedly one of the most impressive in Europe and around the world, but it requires nerves of steel. The narrow path zigzags along the coast for 80km as it clings precariously to cliffs high above the sea, with low or non-existent railings between you and the rocks and sea below. The views are spectacular, but if you’re driving you’ll need to make sure you keep your eyes on the road rather than the landscape.
Ferries to the Amalfi Coast
Between April 1 and mid-September, ferries and hydrofoils run between the ports of Naples, Sorrento, the island of Capri and other cities on the Amalfi Coast. However, note that there are no direct ferries from Naples to Amalfi.
Some ferries operate during other seasons, but they are much less frequent. Check the hydrofoil times on this website (in Italian). And plan to buy your tickets well in advance, especially if you’re traveling during the busy summer months.
