Our top tips for the best Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples
If you are visiting Naples and want to enjoy a day trip to the Amalfi Coast, you're in good company. Positano, Amalfi, and the other villages along the coastline are among the most popular attractions near Naples. Here are our insider tips and advice for spending a day on the Amalfi Coast from Naples.
The most stress-free and flexible option for visiting the Amalfi Coast from Naples in one day is by booking driving tour with a private driver.
A private car service lets you make the most of your time by avoiding the delays and crowds on public transportation and dedicating your day to seeing the top sights along the coast at your own pace.
How Much Does a Private Driving Tour of the Amalfi Coast Cost?
Expect to spend between EUR 400 and EUR 500 for a full day on the Amalfi Coast with a private car service from Naples, which can be a particularly attractive price for those traveling with groups of friends and family (booking a minivan, in this case).
It takes about 90 minutes to reach Positano from Naples, but the route is spectacularly panoramic and offers endless photo pos. Once you've reached Positano, take some time to stroll through the village center and browse the famous boutiques and artisan shops lining the winding lanes.
No day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Naples is complete without a stop in Amalfi (located about 30 minutes from Positano), famous for its spectacular duomo, narrow lanes, and surrounding terraced lemon groves. If you arrive at lunchtime, take a break at one of the restaurants overlooking the sea that serve local specialties like "spaghetti con la colatura di alici di Cetara". After lunch, explore the shop-lined streets, cathedral, and beach. You can also stop in the Amalfi Paper Museum (open daily from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in summer and from Tues - Sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter).
Ravello is the perfect spot to end your day on the Amalfi Coast before heading back to Naples. Scenic, quiet, and with a romantically authentic atmosphere, this cliffside village can be reached in just 15 minutes from Amalfi and is a spectacular location for an afternoon cocktail or dinner overlooking the coastline.
A Slower-Paced Day
If you'd rather slow your pace and dedicate more time to fewer locations, we suggest arranging a day on the Amalfi Coast that takes in just one of the three most famous villages along the coastline. Choose Positano if you are interested in browsing artisan shops, Amalfi if you are an art and architecture buff, or Ravello for a quiet atmosphere with stunning views.
If you don't want the hassle of organizing the logistics of a day trip on your own but also want to avoid the cost of a private driver, join a day tour of the Amalfi Coast with a group. There are a number of tour options that depart from Naples with varying costs and itineraries, from the classic stops at Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello to tours that also include Sorrento or the ruins of Pompeii.
Book a group tour of the Amalfi Coast
How Much Does a Group Amalfi Coast Tour from Naples Cost?
Prices for group tours of the Amalfi Coast from Naples vary depending upon the itinerary and number of participants. Usually, tours last a full day and may or may not include lunch.
If you feel up to the challenge of driving along the Amalfi Coast and want to rent a car for the day from Naples, you can take advantage of maximum flexibility and the option of stopping when and where you choose without having to stick to the schedule of a group tour or coordinate with a private driver.
If you think taking on the coastal roads of Amalfi and Positano may be too much for you, we suggest booking a private driving tour or using public transportation.
Getting from Naples to the Amalfi Coast with public transportation is the cheapest option, but also the most time-consuming. You'll have to change at least a couple of times during the day and the crowds and delays can be stressful in high season. If you only have a day to spend on the coast, we suggest this as a last resort, keeping in mind that you will probably not be able to fit in Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello unless you want to spend most of your day on a public bus.
To explore the Amalfi Coast via public transport, you need set off from Sorrento, where you can connect to a bus along the coastline.
From the Naples Capodichino airport, take the Curreri bus from outside Terminal 1; tickets are EUR 10/person and can be purchased directly on the bus.
Otherwise, take the Alibus airport shuttle to the Napoli Centrale train station (EUR 4/person; tickets available on board) and then connect to the local Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (follow the signs to the lower level of the train station).
The coastline between Sorrento and Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello is covered by the Sita public bus company; it takes about 45 minutes to reach Positano and 60 minutes to reach Amalfi. The route is scenic but there are a number of twists and curves that may be unpleasant for those who suffer from motion sickness. Travel times can also be much longer when there is heavy traffic, generally on the summer weekends and holidays.
Touring the Amalfi Coast by Sea
Another option, available only in the summer, is touring the Amalfi Coast by sea. From Sorrento, there are ferries that depart for both Positano and Amalfi.
If you do decide to explore via public transportation, we suggest stopping in just one or two towns; visit Amalfi in the morning and Positano in the afternoon before heading back to Naples, for example.
No matter how you explore and which itinerary you choose, your day trip to the Amalfi Coast is sure to be a highlight of your trip and will perhaps inspire you to return for a longer visit one day!
Taxi prices from Naples to Amalfi can vary depending on the time of day, the season, the number of passengers and bags or suitcases. During peak season, rates are typically higher due to increased demand. However, a taxi ride from Naples to Amalfi takes about an hour and a half and costs around 120 euros for two people. For an exact quote, it is best to contact a local taxi company.
