Amalfi Coast Tours From Naples (2025): Compare Bus, Train, Boat & Private Transfer

Naples is the natural springboard for a one-day “tour” of the Amalfi Coast. In 2025 you have four practical ways to do it on your own:

1. Public SITA buses that link Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi

2. Fast trains to Sorrento or Salerno, then an easy bus or ferry hop

3. High-speed ferries/hydrofoils that sail straight from Naples or Sorrento

4. Hotel-pickup semi-private coach service for the day

Need ideas for Amalfi Coast tours from Naples 2025? Below you’ll find the latest costs, timetables and pros/cons so you can pick the method that fits your style and budget.

1. Public Bus (SITA Sud) 🚌 — 2025 Routes, Fares & Real-World Feedback

Popular route	Single ticket code	2025 fare	Travel time
Sorrento → Positano	AC2	€ 2.60	~45 min
Positano → Amalfi	AC2	€ 2.60 (same zone as above)	30 min
Amalfi → Ravello	AC1	€ 1.50	20 min uphill
Salerno → Amalfi	AC3	€ 2.80	70 min (scenic coastal road)
Day pass (all coast)	COSTIERASITA 24 h	€ 12.00 unlimited rides

*Seat tip: Right-hand side leaving Sorrento for postcard views; swap sides on the return.

Timetable snapshot First Sorrento → Amalfi bus at 06:30, then every 30–60 min until about 20:40 in high season. 

Pros

• Lowest cost: Naples ▶ Circumvesuviana train ▶ SITA bus = < €20 all-in for a multi-town day.

• Dense network: dozens of departures; easy hop-on/hop-off with the 24-hour pass.
  

Cons

• Crowded & late: summer buses are often standing-room only and can run behind schedule.

• Indirect from Naples: you must train to Sorrento (or Salerno) first.

• Total Naples-to-Amalfi journey can hit 3 h+ including transfers.

• Long queues at Sorrento station after 09:00; start early.

Real traveller voices for Amalfi Coast Tours from Naples (2023–2025)

• “Line at Ravello was chaotic – waited an hour for a late bus. Ferries were easier.” – Reddit user Budinct, Oct 2024 reddit.com

• “Buses were full but doable; skip Positano Sponda stop and board at Chiesa Nuova to beat the crowd.” – Reddit user ozgun1414, Oct 2024

• “Service is appalling… no signage and they can’t cope with passenger numbers.” – TripAdvisor review headline, 2025 tripadvisor.com

• “Wanted the 06:30 out of Sorrento to avoid lines; locals said queues form even before 07:00 in peak months.” – Reddit thread on early buses, Apr 2025

• “Buses were never on schedule during our May trip; we switched to a private transfer for reliability.” – TripAdvisor forum post, 2025

Amalfi Cathedral staircase—iconic stop on Naples-Amalfi day trips.

Quick how-to

• Buy tickets before boarding at tabacchi, news-stands or via the Unico Campania app (paper tickets cost €0.50 more if you must buy from the driver).

• Validate the ticket in the on-board machine.

• Light bags only—large suitcases now need a separate €1–€2 luggage ticket.

Bottom line: SITA buses are the cheapest way to string together Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Salerno, but be ready for queues, standing rides and occasional delays. If time is tight or crowds stress you out, weigh the small price jump for ferries or a driver.

2. High-Speed Ferries & Hydrofoils ⛴️ (2025 fares)

Step	Time-frame	Boat & 2025 fare*	Why it works / What to do
1. Naples → Sorrento	09:00 NLG hydrofoil from Molo Beverello (45 min) — €17.50 (nlg.it)	First Naples–Sorrento sailing of the day; reaches Sorrento around 09:45, before the 11 a.m. tour-bus wave.
2. Sorrento free time	09:45-13:00	—	3 hrs to wander the old town, Marina Grande, and grab an espresso in Piazza Tasso. Lines for the 13:10 boat start 20 min before departure.
3. Sorrento → Positano	13:10 Travelmar ferry (40 min) — €18.00	Mid-day run avoids the heaviest morning crush at Sorrento’s ticket booth.
4. Positano free time	13:50-15:30	—	~1h 40 m in town: stroll Via dei Mulini, beach photos, lemon sorbet. Queue for next boat forms by 15:10.
5. Positano → Amalfi	15:30 Travelmar ferry (25 min) — €10.00	Seats usually available; quick hop lets you reach Amalfi before the last return crowd.
6. Amalfi free time	15:55-17:00	—	1 h + to see St Andrew’s Cathedral, buy limoncello, or grab gelato on the seafront.
7. Amalfi → Naples	17:00 NLG hydrofoil (1 h 55 m) — €31.00	Arrives Beverello ~18:55 — back in time for dinner in Naples.

Total boat cost: €17.50 + €18 + €10 + €31 ≈ €77 pp

*High-season adult web fares; shoulder-season can be €2-€3 less per leg.

Recent traveller feedback on these ferries

• “First hydrofoil at 09:00 was half-full, no stress — by 11:00 the line was crazy.” – Reddit /r/ItalyTravel, Apr 2025 reddit.com

• “Paid €18 Sorrento-Positano; boat clean, took 35 min, but queue started 25 min early.” – Ferryhopper user review, Jun 2024 ferryhopper.com

• “We ditched the bus after one ride — 15:30 Positano→Amalfi ferry was a breeze, great views.” – TripAdvisor forum, May 2025 tripadvisor.com

• “17:00 NLG Amalfi–Naples packed, but seats for everybody; arrived 18:55 as advertised.” – NaplesBayFerry report, Jul 2024 nlg.it

Classic Amalfi Coast cliff-and-sea view near Positano.

Pros

• Longer shore stops than most packaged tours (3 h Sorrento, ~2 h Positano + Amalfi combined).

• Zero road traffic—no stress on the cliff road or SITA queues.

• One-way flow—never backtrack; every ferry moves you forward along the coast.

• Built-in queue buffer—15-30 min at each pier factored in.

• Plan B ready: if the 17:00 Amalfi→Naples sailing cancels, hop Amalfi→Salerno→train (still home by ~20:00).

Cons

• Higher cost than bus: ~€77 pp vs. <€20 pp for train + SITA combo.

• Weather-dependent: rough seas cancel or delay boats, especially in shoulder seasons.

• No Ravello stop—requires road transport; skip if you want hill-top views.

• Luggage limits: big bags cost extra and slow boarding.

• Standing room risk late-day if you don’t pre-book; arrive 30 min early to keep a seat.

Pro tip: use online booking apps (Ferryhopper, NLG, Travelmar) and screenshot QR codes—signal at coastal piers can drop. Buon viaggio!

Capri in a Day: Beat-the-Crowds Itinerary From Naples

Step	When	Boat / Cost*	What to Do & Why It Works
1. Naples → Capri	07 :00 NLG hydrofoil, Molo Beverello → Capri (55 min) — €25.30+ €5 landing fee	First sailing beats the 09 :00 cruise-ship wave, so taxi/bus lines are still short.
2. Marina Grande → Anacapri	08 :05-08 :25	Island bus €2 or shared taxi ~€7 pp	Head uphill before the bottleneck (queues hit 60 min after 10 AM).
3. Anacapri & Monte Solaro	08 :30-10 :15	Chair-lift €14 RT or stroll Via Capodimonte	Sunrise panorama, quiet lanes, espresso in Piazza Vittoria.
4. Optional Blue Grotto detour	10 :20-11 :30	Mini-bus €2 + row-boat entry €18	Go only if sea is calm; skip if the flag shows red (closed) or lines look huge.
5. Lunch + Capri Town stroll	11 :45-14 :00	Bus back to Capri Town (15 min)	Gardens of Augustus, Via Krupp lookout, sandwich on Piazza Umberto I.
6. Beach break at Marina Piccola	14 :10-16 :15	Short bus ride €2	Swim with Faraglioni views or sip a spritz at a beach club.
7. Capri → Naples	16 :35 SNAV/NLG hydrofoil (55 min) — €25.30	Arrive Beverello ~17 :30 — shower and aperitivo by sunset.

*Total transport cost: €25.30 + 5 + 2 + 14 + (2) + 25.30 ≈ €74 pp

(High-season adult web fares; Blue Grotto €18 only if you choose it.)

Hand-painted lemon ceramics in a shop in Capri.

Pro tips

1. Buy ferry tickets online (Ferryhopper/NLG app) and screenshot QR codes.

2. Head straight to the chair-lift on arrival; it opens 09 :00 but queues are tiny pre-10 AM.

3. If the Blue Grotto flag is red, pivot to Villa San Michele (10 min walk) instead.

4. Pack light: large bags cost €2–€3 on the ferry and slow bus boarding.

3. Trains From Naples to the Amalfi-Coast Gateways 🚆 (2025)

Trains don’t reach Positano or Amalfi, but they do get you quickly to the two hubs—Sorrento (north end) and Salerno (south end)—where you can switch to ferries or SITA buses. Here are the main routes, fares, and what real riders say.

Route	2025 ticket	Time	Frequency	Notes
Naples C.le → Sorrento (Circumvesuviana)	€3.60 one-way	65-75 min	2–3 trains / hr (05:41–22:14)	No A/C, no reserved seats; board at Porta Nolana for a better chance at a seat.
Naples C.le → Sorrento (Campania Express)	€15 one-way; €25 RT	50 min (few stops)	4 trains / day (08:22, 11:22, 14:22, 17:22)	Reserved seat, A/C, luggage racks—tourist-friendly upgrade to the local line.
Naples C.le → Salerno (Regionale)	€6–7 one-way	35-45 min	~2 trains / hr, first 05:00	Cheapest link to the south-coast ferries (walk 10 min to Salerno port).
Naples C.le → Salerno (Frecciarossa / Italo)	€12–18 advance fare	26-30 min	1–2 trains / hr	Fastest rail option; reserved seat and big-train comfort.

Connections:

• From Sorrento walk outside the station and board the blue SITA bus to Positano/Amalfi, or hop the Travelmar/NLG ferry (10 min walk to Marina Piccola).

• From Salerno cross the street to Molo Concordia for ferries straight to Amalfi/Positano, or the SITA bus depot under the elevated road.

Lemon gelato in an Amalfi Coast lemon — sweet coastal must-try.

Real traveler feedback

“Rolling stock is decrepit and packed, and pick-pockets work the aisles—be alert.” – TripAdvisor review of Circumvesuviana, Feb 2025 tripadvisor.com

“Campania Express was worth the €15—A/C, seats, no crowds” – TripAdvisor, Jul 2024

“Regionale to Salerno cost €6.60; easy 35-min ride, then straight onto the ferry.” – Reddit /r/ItalyTravel, Jun 2024 reddit.com

“Circumvesuviana fine at 08:00, but by 10 it was standing room only.” – Reddit /r/ItalyTravel early-morning thread, Apr 2025

“Buy Frecciarossa tickets a few days ahead—€13 Napoli-Salerno in 28 min with luggage racks.” – Reddit /r/Napoli, May 2025

Pros

• Reliable in all weather—no sea cancellations, no cliff-road closures.

• Cheap base fares: €3-€7 gets you 50 km of travel.

• High frequency on Circumvesuviana and Regionale lines; no need to pre-book.

• Upgrade path: Campania Express or Frecciarossa give A/C, assigned seats, and space for luggage.

Cons

• Crowding & petty theft: local Circumvesuviana trains often stand-room-only; pick-pockets target tourists.

• No direct coast service: you still need a ferry or SITA bus after arriving in Sorrento/Salerno.

• Limited Campania Express departures (only four daily).

• Platform maze: the Circumvesuviana sits below Napoli Centrale; expect stairs and no lifts.

Quick how-to

• Buy local tickets at station kiosks/tabacchi or use the Unico Campania or Trenitalia app (Circumvesuviana is cash only at many windows).

• Validate paper tickets before boarding Regionale/Circum trains; QR e-tickets don’t need it.

• Watch bags; keep phones zipped away on crowded cars.

• Transfer time: allow ~15 min to walk Sorrento station → ferry dock; ~10 min Salerno station → Molo Concordia.

🚆Choose trains if you want a weather-proof, low-cost way to reach the Amalfi Coast gateways, then switch to a ferry for the scenic finish.

4. Amalfi Coast Semi-Private Day Tour from Naples 🚐 – €95

Key Detail	2025 Info
Price	€95 per person (lunch extra)
Group Size	Maximum 18 travelers
Vehicle & Staff	A/C minibus, pro driver, live guide (EN / IT / ES; FR twice a week)
Route & Free Time	Sorrento (1 h walk + limoncello) → Positano photo stop (10 min) → Positano center (1 h 15 m) → Amalfi (1 h 45 m)
Add-Ons	• Seaside set-menu lunch (veg / gluten-free on request) • 40-min Amalfi boat cruise (extra fee)
Included	Naples hotel/port pickup & drop-off, bottled water, onboard commentary, limoncello tasting
Not Included	Optional activities, personal costs
Not Suited For	Wheelchair users, large luggage, serious mobility limits
Notes	Coast road may close for rockfalls; itinerary will adjust to keep three stops. Cruise passengers must give ship name when booking.

🎟️ Want the coast’s top three towns in one day? Check the dates for the Sorrento–Positano–Amalfi semi-private tour here →

This €95 semi-private tour bundles the Amalfi Coast’s three headline towns into one smooth day: pickup at your Naples hotel, a seat in an A/C minibus, a live guide, and pre-planned stops in Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. You skip bus queues, cruise-ship traffic, and parking stress while gaining extra free time on the ground. Seats sell out fast in peak months—reserve early.

Amalfi Coast day-trip choices from Naples

• SITA bus + train – take the train Naples-Sorrento or Naples-Salerno, then ride the SITA bus to Positano and Amalfi; lowest price for the full coast loop. • High-speed ferry – sail direct from Naples or Sorrento; best Amalfi Coast cliff and sea views without road traffic. • Private transfer – door-to-door car or van from Naples with stops in Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi on your schedule.

Bottom line: for an Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples, the SITA bus + train wins on cost, the high-speed ferry wins on scenery, and a private driver wins on convenience. Pick the fit that matches your time and budget and go.

Sunset boat ride leaving Positano—Amalfi Coast evening magic.