Ideally, you'll want to spend at least 4 or 5 days, even a week, exploring the Amalfi Coast. But, if you only have one day at your disposal, how can you make sure you experience the best of the area, without having to part with a fortune or collapsing under the stress of frantic site-seeing?
For example...
...you're on a Mediterranean cruise and your ship drops anchor in Naples: you have circa 8 hours to visit the Amalfi Coast and you decide to do so on your own, rather than join an organized shore excursion. What next?
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Our suggestions if you have just one day to visit the Amalfi Coast.
The easy option: excursion with driver
Book a chauffeur-driven car, and ask to be picked up at Molo Beverello: this is the only way to see Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in the same day.
From Molo Beverello ask to be driven direct to Positano: 1 hour and 30 minutes
On the road between Sorrento and Positano make the occasional stop to take a few photos
Stroll around Positano: 1 hour
From Positano travel to Amalfi: 30 minutes
Visit Amalfi: 1 hour
Have lunch in one of Amalfi's restaurants: 1 hour and 30 minutes
From Amalfi ask to be driven to Ravello: 15 mins
Walk around Ravello: 1 hour
Return journey to Naples: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Total: 6 hours
As you can see, weve left an ample margin (of 2 hours) to allow you to linger a little longer in one of the towns or make the occasional detour.
Estimated costs
A chauffeur driven car from Naples to the Amalfi Coast will cost you between 400 and 500 euro per day.
If there are just two of you, you might like to try to find another couple with whom to share the cost. A lot of transportation companies have 8 seat minibuses and, if you travel with a group of friends, the cost per passenger reduces dramatically!
Amalfi Coast tours led by professional local driver, skippers, and guides
The economy option: traveling by public transport
If you've got a limited budget and decide to travel by public transport, your best bet is to visit just one town on the Amalfi Coast.
The most representative towns on the Amalfi Coast are, without doubt, Positano and Amalfi and they are also the best served by the area's public transport network.
Unfortunately, sea connections between Molo Beverello and the Amalfi Coast have been suspended, leaving travelling over land, by public Sita bus, the only option.
Low cost excursions from Naples to Amalfi
Buses to Amalfi leave from Varco Immacolatella, within Naples' port. With your back to the sea, turn right and after circa 200 meters you'll find the bus terminal.
The journey from Naples to Amalfi takes approximately two hours (more when traffic is intense) and, due to the seemingly infinite hairpin beds, requires a strong stomach.
Low cost excursions from Naples to Positano
If you decide to visit Positano, you have two options.
Head to Naples' central railway station (by tram or taxi), and from here take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, where you can catch a bus to Positano.
From Beverello take a high speed ferry to Sorrento. If you are lucky, you'll arrive in Sorrento in time to board the high speed ferry to Positano (the service operates only in the summer season). If you are unable to catch the boat, you will need to go to Sorrento's railway station (by local bus or taxi), where the main stop for buses heading to Positano is located.
Useful links
Sita bus times
High Speed Ferry times
How to get to the Amalfi Coast
Getting around on the Amalfi Coast