Your Comprehensive Guide to Taking the Ferry to the Amalfi Coast

Vietri Sul Mare, the harbour with ferry. Amalfi Coast, Italy. 2023.© Veronika Pfeiffer

From April 1st, you can reach the stunning Amalfi Coast via ferry. The ferry runs from Salerno to the charming towns along the coast until it reaches Positano.

UPDATE 2024: With Easter coming early this year, the ferries are starting their service sooner too! I’m excited to announce that this year, we can take the ferry along the Amalfi Coast in early spring, starting in March. So you can reach the villages easily and comfortably by boat earlier than usual, beginning March 1st.

Taking the ferry is a relaxing and hassle-free alternative to the infamous bus ride on the Amalfi Drive. Buses can be overcrowded, and the narrow road can be chaotic with crazy traffic, especially during high season, holidays, and weekends.

Here’s your comprehensive guide on how to take the ferry:

Starting from the city of Salerno, the ferry stops at Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, and Amalfi before arriving at Positano.

For ferry routes to the Island of Capri, please visit my other post: How to get to Capri.

Where to Take the Ferry?

Salerno is the main gateway to the Amalfi Coast, and it’s very easy to transfer from the train to the ferry. The ferry terminal is only 600 meters from the central train station, and you can easily walk there in less than 10 minutes.

Where to Buy Tickets?

You can purchase tickets for the ferry in Salerno at the ticket office located at the tourist harbour, or you can reserve them online in advance. The ferries are operated by a company called Travelmar, and they depart from the tourist harbour at Piazza Concordia.

How to Get to the Town of Amalfi by Ferry?

Direct ferries from Salerno to Amalfi: 8:40, 9:40, 10:40, 11:10, 11:40, 14:10, 15:30

The direct ferry from Salerno to Amalfi takes approximately 30 minutes.

Ferries with intermediate stops at Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Minori, and Maiori:

Depart at 13:00, 16:40, and 18:00. Arrive in Amalfi in 60 minutes.

How to Get to Positano by Ferry?

Ferry schedule from Salerno to Positano: 8:40, 9:40, 10:40, 11:10, 11:40, 13:00, 14:10, 15:30, 16:40

The journey takes approximately 70 minutes. The 13:00 and 16:40 ferries require a transfer in Amalfi and take a total of 85 minutes. There is also a direct ferry every day at 8:40 from Molo Manfredi.

How to Get from Amalfi to Maiori by Ferry?

Ferry schedule from Amalfi to Maiori: 9:00, 11:20, 13:00, 14:15, 16:30, 18:00, 19:10

This journey takes approximately 15 minutes.

Maiori, Amalfi Coast, Italy. © Veronika Pfeiffer

Ferry Ticket Prices (as of 2023)

Route Price (euro)
Salerno to Amalfi (or vice versa) 10
Salerno to Positano (1 change) 15
Amalfi to Maiori 5

Should You Take the Ferry or the Bus?

It depends on when you plan to visit. Ferry service is probably more reliable than buses, especially on weekends or during peak hours in high season.

If you suffer from seasickness, taking the ferry may not be the best option. However, if the sea is calm, the ferry can be a smoother alternative to the infamous bus ride along the Amalfi Drive, which can easily cause motion sickness even in the toughest of travellers.

If you’re planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast, you’re probably already dreading the bus ride. I mean, who wants to be squished between sweaty tourists, trying not to fall off the cliffside roads? Tired of the crowds and chaos on the bus to the Amalfi Coast? Hop on a ferry from Salerno and soak in the sea breeze as you sail your way to Positano.

First things first, get yourself to Salerno, the starting point of this journey. The ferry stops at charming towns like Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, and Amalfi before finally docking at the picturesque Positano. So, don’t forget your camera or your sunglasses – this ride is going to be lit!

The boat ride will let you enjoying the stunning views of the coast from a whole new perspective.

In terms of speed, the ferry is generally quicker, especially for direct trips to Positano.

If you plan to travel after 5 pm, taking the bus may be a better option since the ferry service may be limited during the later hours of the day.

Here is a useful link to the website where you can find the most up-to-date schedules and purchase tickets:

https://www.travelmar.it/en/timetable-from-13-january-2024

Routes From Napoli:

The company N.L.G. operates direct ferries from Napoli to Amalfi. These ferries are scheduled every day from May 1 to October 31. Departures are from “Molo Beverello”.

Schedule:

8:35, 10:00, 14:40, 15:35 (as of 2023)

The journey takes a bit less than 2 hours, and the price of the ticket is 27.50 euro to Positano and 28.50 euro to Amalfi.

How to reach Molo Beverello?

A few transportation options:

Metro: The closest Metro station is Municipio, which is located 500 meters from the harbour. It takes approximately 10 minutes to reach the ticket office from there. You can take Metro Line 1 from Piazza Garibaldi if you are coming from the Central Station. The ticket price is 1.20 euro, and the journey takes about 15 minutes (4 stops).

Airport Bus: If you’re arriving at Capodichino Airport, you can take the airport bus called “Alibus.” The bus has the last station at Molo Beverello, so provides a direct link between the airport and the harbour. This is a convenient option if you’re coming from the airport.

It’s advisable to allow extra time to orient yourself and reach the ferry terminal, especially if you’re not familiar with the area.

Routes From Sorrento to Amalfi and / or Positano:

With the company N.L.G., the schedule is: 9:30, 11:00, 15:15

The ticket price is 19 euro, and the journey time to Amalfi varies between 50 minutes to 1:40 minutes.

The ticket between Sorrento and Positano is 17.50 euro, and the journey varies between 20 to 60 minutes. The ferry at 10:00 is the quickest, reaching Positano in just 20 minutes.

Remember to double-check the schedules as they may be subject to change.

Vietri Sul Mare, the harbour with the ferry. Amalfi Coast, Italy. 2023.© Veronika Pfeiffer

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