How to Get to Positano (UPDATED 2023)
How to get to Positano can be a bit confusing if it is your first time visiting. There is no Positano airport and therefore no flights to Positano Italy.
The commute into Positano can be long, expensive, and stressful, especially since there are so many sites out there giving people contradicting information. I have personally been to Positano countless times so I’ve made the voyage and know the ins and outs of how to get there.
While I’m going to cover how to get to Positano from every place you might be wondering about below, I do have two routes I especially recommend:
VIA FERRY FROM SALERNO — If you are coming to the area via train, I recommend taking the train to Salerno instead of Naples. From there you can take a ferry from Salerno to Positano. Not only is it one of the cheapest options, but it's also the most beautiful.
VIA PRIVATE DRIVER FROM NAPLES — If you are coming to the area via plane, I recommend arranging a private drive from the Naples Airport to Positano. It will save you a lot of hassle over the other Naples options. Click here for the one I recommend.
Those are the two best ways to get to Positano, in my personal opinion. But let’s go over all of the different ways to get there just in case you think something else sounds better!
Without further ado, here is how to get to Positano from every town or city you might need to get to Positano from:
— How to get to Positano
— Where to stay in Positano
— What to do in Positano
— The best restaurants in Positano
— The best beaches + beach clubs in Positano
For a list of all the different Amalfi Coast boat tours and rentals I recommend (departing from various towns), click here.
For a list of all the Amalfi Coast scooter tours and rentals + car tours I recommend (departing from various towns), click here.
How to Get to Positano
Which Airport For Amalfi Coast?
There is no Amalfi Coast airport or Positano airport and therefore no flights to Amalfi Coast or flights to Positano. The closest airport to Amalfi Coast is in Naples, Italy. The Naples International Airport (NAP), also known as the Capodichino Airport or Napoli Airport, is the main international airport serving Naples. It is around 40 miles from Positano.
A second option when it comes to nearest airport Amalfi Coast is Rome. The Rome Airport, also named Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport (FCO), is a major international airport, much larger than the Naples Airport. Because of this, it’s possible that flying into Rome will be dramatically easier and/or cheaper for you. It is around 180 miles from Positano.
For airports near Positano, you will need to fly into Naples International Airport (NAP) or Rome Fiumicino Airport (FCO).
From there you’ll have a variety of different options on how to get to Positano, depending on where you fly into. Keep reading!
Do You Need to Book Your Amalfi Coast Transportation in Advance?
Yes, you absolutely should book your Amalfi Coast transportation in advance! The Amalfi Coast is very popular, especially during peak months like July and August, so ferries, private transfers, day trip tours, etc. will absolutely sell out.
For everything that is bookable online, I’ve included links below. I highly recommend using those to book your transportation ASAP.
How to Get From Naples to Positano
If you fly into Naples International Airport, the nearest airport to Amalfi Coast, you have a few options on getting from Naples to Positano.
Train From Naples to Positano
One thing you won’t find, however, is a Naples to Positano train. No trains run through the Amalfi Coast, so therefore you will not find a train from Naples to Positano.
BUS NAPLES TO POSITANO
The least expensive option to get from Naples to Positano, but also the longest, is via bus. There is no bus that goes from the Naples airport to Positano directly. Instead, you will need to take a bus to Sorrento, followed by a bus from Sorrento to Positano.
From terminal 1 in the Naples International Airport, the Curreri Viaggi bus awaits you! The bus ride from Naples to Sorrento via Curreri Viaggi is only €10. You can book your bus ticket either online or directly from the bus driver. To buy your ticket, for timetables, and more info, click here to visit their site. The journey from Naples to Sorrento will take about an hour and fifteen minutes.
You could also take a train from Naples to Sorrento, and then a bus from Sorrento to Positano.
From there you will switch to a different bus to get from Sorrento to Positano. This bus is via a totally different company and called the SITA bus. It also costs €10. Unlike the bus from Naples, tickets cannot be purchased on board. You’ll need to buy them when you arrive at the Sorrento train station. The bus from Sorrento to Positano departs starting at 6:30am, with the last daily bus departing at 9:30pm. The journey takes around an hour.
When traveling by bus from Sorrento to Positano, be sure to sit on the right side for the best views of the Mediterranean. From Positano back, do the opposite!
FERRY FROM NAPLES TO POSITANO
Can you take a ferry from Naples to Positano? Yes, sometimes, depending on time of year!
From May through the end of October, you can take a ferry from Naples to Positano. Unfortunately, there are only between two and four ferries traveling from Naples to Positano daily. Because of that, this might not be a great option for you depending on when you arrive in Naples.
The ferry Naples to Positano costs just €20-25. The journey lasts around one hour and 45 minutes. You can find more information and book your ticket by clicking here.
PRIVATE TRANSFER FROM NAPLES TO POSITANO
For how to get from Naples to Positano in the least painful way possible, book a private transfer. The drive between the two takes about an hour.
While it is obviously the most expensive option, time is money and every second on the Amalfi Coast is so, so valuable. Plus when broken down per person, it’s actually quite comparable to other options.
Getting to Positano can be a bit of pain, depending on where you’re coming from, so I most often opt for the private transfer option.
FROM THE NAPLES TRAIN STATION: Click here for the private transfer I recommend.
FROM THE NAPLES AIRPORT: Click here to book the private transfer from Naples to Positano that I recommend.
If those are fully booked, click here for the alternative option I recommend (from either the train station or the airport).
For a good shared transfer option (airport only), click here.
Day Trip From Naples to Positano + the Amalfi Coast
If you are staying in Naples and looking to visit Positano and the Amalfi Coast as a day trip, that’s great! There are many different options for going on an Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples: via boat, via scooter, or via car. And I have recommendations for all of them!
VIA BOAT: I recommend this shared (small group) boat tour.
For a day trip from Naples to Capri via boat, I recommend these:
VIA SCOOTER: I recommend this guided scooter tour
VIA CAR: I recommend these:
How to Get From Rome to Positano
Train From Rome to Positano
As mentioned above, no trains run through Positano, so therefore you will not be able to get from Rome to Positano by train. At least not directly.
You can, however, take a train from Rome to Naples, Sorrento, or Salerno.
The train ride from Rome to Naples is direct, takes 1 hour 12 minutes, and costs $13.07 and up. Click here for more information.
The train ride from Rome to Salerno is most often direct, takes 1.5 hours to 2 hours, and costs $16.79 and up. Click here for more info.
The train ride from Rome to Sorrento requires a train switch in Naples, to a private train company (Circumvesuviana Line). Because of the extra step, I recommend going to Naples or Salerno instead when trying to get to Positano.
Once you arrive in Naples or Salerno, follow the from Naples to Positano directions above or the Salerno to Positano directions below.
The easiest option is to take the train to Naples and then a private transfer from Naples. Click here for the private transfer from Naples that I recommend.
Bus From Rome to Positano
There is no direct public bus from Rome to Positano. You can, however, take a bus from the Rome Airport to Naples. This costs €14.90 and takes around 3 hours. Click here to book your ticket.
Upon arrival, follow the directions above on how to get from Naples to Positano.
Ferry From Rome to Positano
You cannot take a ferry from Rome to Positano! You can, however, take a train from Rome to Naples or Salerno and then take a ferry from there to Positano.
For more information, follow above mentioned steps for “ferry from Naples to Positano” or “ferry from Salerno to Positano”.
Private Transfer From Rome to Positano
The quickest and easiest way to get from Rome to Positano is via private transfer. It can get you from the Rome Airport to Positano in just over 3 hours. Click here to book the private transfer I recommend.
For a much less expensive option, take the train to Naples and then a private transfer from Naples. Click here for the private transfer from Naples that I recommend.
Rome to Positano Day Trip
Staying in Rome and interested in visiting the Amalfi Coast via a day trip? Brilliant! Click here for the one I recommend. It has almost 1,000 great reviews.
If that Rome to Amalfi Coast day trip is sold out, click here for another option I recommend.
A full list of Amalfi Coast day trips from Rome I recommend:
Private tour — this one requires you to take the train from Rome to Naples on your own, then they’ll pick you up at the Naples train station for your private tour (highly recommended)
How to Get From Sorrento to Positano
How to get from Sorrento to Positano also comes with a handful of options:
Bus From Sorrento to Positano
As mentioned above, there is a bus that can take you directly from Sorrento to Positano called the SITA bus. It costs €10. Unlike the bus from Naples, tickets cannot be purchased on board. You’ll need to buy them when you arrive at the Sorrento train station. Tickets are also sold at "tabaccheries" (cigarette shops) and newspaper stands.
As of right now (2023), the bus Sorrento to Positano departs starting at 6:30am. The last bus going from Positano to Sorrento leaves at 6:50pm. The journey takes around an hour.
When traveling by bus from Sorrento to Positano, be sure to sit on the right side for the best views of the Mediterranean. From Positano back, do the opposite!
At the bottom of this post you can find a copy of the current 2023 bus from Sorrento to Positano schedule.
Ferry From Sorrento to Positano
There is a high speed ferry that will take you from Sorrento to Positano via ferry in as little as 20 minutes for only €15! The frequency at which it runs depends on time of year. Check the schedule for ferries from Sorrento to Positano and book your ticket here.
Private Transfer From Sorrento to Positano
The easiest way to get from Sorrento to Positano is via private transfer. To pre-book a private driver from Sorrento to Positano (for only $48!!), click here. For hours later than 8pm (any time of day), click here.
If you have plans to visit Positano, especially at night because the ferries and buses stop fairly early depending on time of year, I highly recommend booking a private transfer in advance. This option is available anytime day or night, every 30 minutes.
It can be very hard to find a taxi in Positano, as it is a small village and taxis are limited, especially late at night. If you do find one and they know you are desperate to get back to Sorrento without any other options, they’ll often price gouge you. Save yourself the stress and book your private transfer in advance! Click here.
Day Trip from Sorrento to Positano (And The Amalfi Coast)
One of the best ways to see the Amalfi Coast is via guided tour, especially if you are coming from Sorrento and wanting to see numerous Amalfi Coast towns. There are many different ways to do so; via boat, via scooter, or via car, and private, shared, or self-guided. Here are all my different recommendations for Amalfi Coast day trips from Sorrento:
VIA BOAT:
To Capri from Sorrento via boat:
VIA SCOOTER:
VIA CAR:
How to Get From Salerno to Positano
My favorite route! If you aren’t familiar with Salerno, it is a town just past the Amalfi Coast. If you’re coming from the north via train, it is usually the stop after Naples.
I find arriving via Salerno to be the least stressful option of them all. The train station is more mellow than Naples so if I want to arrive via ferry, I take the train to Salerno instead of Naples.
Train From Salerno to Positano
Because there is no Amalfi Coast train station, you cannot take a train from Salerno to Positano. You can, however, take a train to Salerno, which is how I always arrive there. Once you arrive, follow the below directions to get from Salerno to Positano!
Ferry From Salerno to Positano
From Salerno to Positano, you can take an absolutely beautiful ferry ride. Arriving in Positano from the water for the first time is one of the most magical experiences you will ever have, which is why this is my favorite route for arrival.
The ferry takes 1 hour and 15 minutes, leaving every hour or two (changes based on time of year). Check the schedule (and book tickets) here to be sure. It makes a stop at Amalfi on the way (good photo opp), they serve drinks and snacks on board and is only €14-15.50!
If you arrive in Salerno via train, you’ll want to leave from Salerno Concordia (a quick walk from the train station) instead of Manfredi. The Travelmar and Positano Jet ferries are the ones that depart from Piazza della Concordia.
Private Transfer from Salerno to Positano
Want to save yourself the hassle and hire a private driver from Salerno to Positano? Click here for the one I recommend.
Day Trip From Salerno to Positano
If you are staying in Salerno and want to book a day trip to the Amalfi Coast, that’s a great decision. There’s a great full day Amalfi Coast boat tour that goes from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast. Drinks included! Click here for the one I recommend.
There are also some other options to see the Amalfi Coast from Salerno. Here are all the ones I recommend:
VIA BOAT:
To Capri from Salerno via boat:
VIA CAR:
How to Get From Florence to Positano
The easiest way to get from Florence to Positano is via train to Naples or Salerno. From there, follow the directions above for how to get from Naples to Positano or how to get from Salerno to Positano.
How to Get From Amalfi to Positano
Amalfi to Positano Ferry
The best and most beautiful way to get from Amalfi to Positano is via ferry. It takes 25 minutes and costs around €10. Click here to check the timetable and book your ticket.
Amalfi to Positano Bus
You can also get from Amalfi to Positano via public bus. As of right now (2023), the first bus from Amalfi to Positano leaves at 6:20am. The last bus from Positano back to Amalfi is at 8pm.
At the bottom of this post you can find a copy of the current 2023 bus from Amalfi to Positano schedule.
Amalfi Coast Tours From Amalfi
If you are staying in Amalfi, there are many different ways that you can see the Amalfi Coast; via boat, via scooter, or via car, and private, shared, or self-guided. Here are all my different recommendations for Amalfi Coast experiences from Amalfi:
VIA BOAT:
To Capri from Amalfi via boat:
VIA SCOOTER:
VIA CAR:
How to Get From Praiano to Positano
Praiano to Positano Bus
The public Amalfi Coast bus is the least expensive way to get from Praiano to Positano. At the bottom of this post you can find a copy of the current 2023 bus from Praiano to Positano schedule.
Amalfi Coast Day Trips from Praiano
If you are staying in Praiano, there are many different ways that you can see the Amalfi Coast; via boat, via scooter, or via car, and private, shared, or self-guided. Here are all my different recommendations for Amalfi Coast day trips and excursions from Praiano:
VIA BOAT:
To Capri from Praiano via boat:
VIA SCOOTER:
Take the bus to Positano and then:
Guided scooter tour (my #1 recommendation)
VIA CAR:
Take the bus to Positano and then:
Private tour (includes Sorrento) or private tour (no Sorrento)
How to Get From Capri to Positano
Ferry Capri to Positano
The ferry from Capri to Positano is high speed, lasts 40 minutes, and currently costs around €21. The ferry times and schedule changes frequently, based on time of year, demand, weather, etc. Click here for current options and to book your ticket.
From Other Towns
FROM MAIORI OR MINORI
Rent your own boat or rent your own boat (Maiori) or rent your own boat
FROM RAVELLO
Private tour via vintage Ape Calessino — so cute! or private tour
TO RENT YOUR OWN BOAT ON THE AMALFI COAST (and self drive) — click here. Only $200! Available from Amalfi, Conca dei Marini, Maiori, Minori, Praiano, Nerano or Sorrento.
For another option, click here. Available from Amalfi, Positano, Praiano, or Maiori.
Bus Sorrento to Positano to Amalfi
Bus Amalfi to Positano to Sorrento
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