Rome to Amalfi Coast Day Trip | All You Need to Know 2024

Can You Visit the Amalfi Coast from Rome in One Day?

While it’s certainly possible, but you need to plan it well.

It involves a lot of travelling. But easy to do by fast trains and ferries.

In this post, you will find all the necessary information to plan your day trip.

Ferries are your friend if you want to visit the Amalfi Coast from Rome on a day trip. It’s best to attempt this day trip during the ferry season (April to October). 

During the off-season, your only options are the local buses. So can be complicated to make a day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Rome. During the winter season, it is best to have your private driver arranged from Salerno or join a tour.

Ferries are more reliable than buses on the Amalfi Coast. And offer extended hours in July and August, allowing you to stay until 8 PM on the Amalfi Coast. Then return to Rome by high-speed train. 

In September and October, the last ferry usually departs around 6 PM, so plan accordingly.

How long does it takes to reach the Amalfi Coast from Rome?

1 and half to 2 hours by high-speed train to Salerno, then a 30-minute ferry ride to Amalfi. Positano is about 1 hour by ferry from Salerno.

So, it takes around 2 and half, 3 hours to reach the Amalfi Coast from Rome.

Driving from Rome to Positano is approximately 277 km (about 172 miles). The travel time is around 3 hours and 20 minutes under ideal conditions, without traffic.

The Quickest Way to Reach Amalfi Coast From Rome: 

Take the High-speed train to Salerno. Then change for the ferry.

The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast and return to Rome on the same day is from April to October. When travel is the easiest and quickest thanks to the ferries.

How to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast? Step-by-Step Guide

1. Train from Rome to Salerno

• Departure: Start from Rome Termini Station.
• Train Type: Board a high-speed train to Salerno Centrale.
• Book your tickets in advance to save money, as prices increase closer to departure time.
• Operators:
  • Trenitalia: High-speed trains called Alta Velocità (AV) and Freccia Rossa.
  • Italo: Another high-speed option.
• Booking Websites: trenitalia.com and italotreno.com
• Both companies offer snacks and beverages on board.

Note: Choose a high-speed train for a day trip. Intercity and regional trains are slower and not suitable for this itinerary.

Note 2: Although the Trenitalia website is in english, you must put the name of the cities in Italian. So, for example, Roma not Rome, and Venezia not Venice.

2. Transfer to the Ferry in Salerno

• Once you arrive in Salerno, it’s easy to transfer to the ferry.
• Distance: The pier is a short 500-meter walk from the train station.
• Departure Point: Ferries leave from Piazza Concordia.
• Ferry Tickets: Book your ferry ticket online to save time.

Ferry routes from Salerno to Amalfi and Positano

• Direct Ferries: Operate between Salerno and Amalfi.
• Stops: The ferry stops at charming towns like Vietri Sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, and Minori.
• To Positano:
  • You might need to change ferries in Amalfi.
  • Direct Options: Available during peak season (July and August).

Ferry Companies from Salerno to Amalfi Coast

• Popular Option: Travelmar
• Other Operators: Smaller companies with fewer scheduled boats.

Ticket Purchase:

• Online: Via the ferry company’s website or with our affiliate partner ferryhopper.
• At the Pier: Tickets can also be bought directly at the pier.
• Reserve in advance for weekends and high season.

Last Ferry Departures from the Amalfi Coast to Salerno

• July and August: Around 8 or 9 PM.
• April to June and September to October: Around 5 or 6 PM.

Alternative: Public Bus (Sita Bus)

The public buses of the Amalfi Coast are called Sita Bus. The bus from Salerno to Amalfi stops at the entrance of the Station. If you are short on time, ferries are quicker and better options.

Alternative route Via Napoli and Sorrento:

 If you prefer you can also take a direct bus from Sorrento to Positano. To reach Sorrento, take a high-speed train to Naples. In Naples transfer to the local Circumvesuviana train. Once you’re in Sorrento, you can catch a ferry to Positano or take the Sita bus towards Amalfi via Positano. Please note that this route is longer compared to traveling from Salerno. Not recommended if you only want to do a day trip.

What Can You See in a Day Trip to Amalfi from Rome? 

The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of coastline around 40 miles long. The most popular villages are Amalfi and Positano. But there are many other stunning villages here, like Atrani and Ravello.

If you plan well, you can visit 2-3 villages on a day trip from Rome. Even drive along the whole coastline in a day. But for that, you need your own transport or a private driver.

Considering the travel time, it’s better to pick only one or two towns to explore. If you’re ambitious you can visit Positano and Amalfi or Amalfi and Ravello. Here’s a quick itinerary for both options:

Positano and Amalfi in a day from Rome, Itinerary examples:

Arrive in Salerno and board the ferry to Positano.

1. High-speed train from Rome to Salerno
2. Arrive in Salerno and board the ferry to Positano.
3. Explore Positano, and have lunch in Spaggi Grande. Take a swim or visit the Duomo and the Roman Villa.
4. Return to Amalfi by ferry and visit the Cathedral. Walk around for some souvenir shopping. Have a cake and cafe at the famous patisserie Pansa, just near the Cathedral.
5. Catch the ferry back to Salerno.
6. High-speed train back to Rome.

For Amalfi and Ravello:

1. High-speed train from Rome to Salerno.
2. Board the ferry to Amalfi.
3. Explore Amalfi. 
4. Take a taxi up to Ravello (quicker than the public bus).
5. Explore Ravello, including the stunning Villa Rufolo or / and Cimbrone Gardens.
6. Walk down to Minori and enjoy a Delizia di Limone at the famous pastry shop Sal De Riso. (If you still have time)
7. Return to Salerno by ferry from Minori. Or take a taxi back to the Amalfi pier and transfer to the ferry for Salerno from there.
8. High-speed train back to Rome.

Planning a Day Trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast

Planning a day trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast involves careful coordination of train and ferry schedules. I researched all the train timetables, and ferries schedules to plan out a day trip from Rome to the Amalfi Coast. 

Here’s a detailed and easy-to-follow timeline to help you make the most of your day:

Theoretical Timeline

1. Departing Rome:

• 7:30 AM: Board a high-speed train from Rome to Salerno.
  • Duration: 1 hour 35 minutes
  • Arrival in Salerno: 9:05 AM

2. Ferry to Positano or Amalfi:

• 9:40 AM: Take the ferry from Salerno.
  • To Positano: Arrive at 10:55 AM (travel time: 1 hour 15 minutes)
  • To Amalfi: Arrive at 10:15 AM (travel time: 35 minutes)

*Note: The earliest ferry departs at 8:40 AM, but the earliest trenitalia high-speed train from Rome arrives in Salerno at 9:05 AM. Therefore, the 9:40 AM ferry is the earliest option with the fastest train. You will have ample time to reach the ferry port and grab a quick bite at a bar in Salerno.

**Note: There is an earlier high-speed train available with Italo. This train is scheduled at 6:02 in the morning. It departs from Rome Termini and arrives in Salerno at 8:02. With this train, it is possible to catch the first ferry at 8:40. The travel time with the Italo high-speed train is 2 hours from Rome to Salerno.

3. Exploring Positano:

• 10:55 AM: Arrive in Positano.
  • Time in Positano: Approximately 4 hours and 30 minutes (more if you don’t plan on visiting the town of Amalfi)

4. Ferry from Positano to Amalfi:

• 3:30 PM: Take the ferry from Positano to Amalfi.
  • Arrival in Amalfi: 3:55 PM

5. Exploring Amalfi:

• 3:55 PM: Arrive in Amalfi.
  • Time in Amalfi: Almost 2 hours

If Only Visiting Amalfi:

• If you decide to only visit Amalfi, you could have up to 7 hours, which is sufficient time to:
• Hike the Ferriere Valley and visit the waterfalls
• Enjoy lunch and sightseeing in the charming village of Ravello

6. Returning to Salerno:

• 7:10 PM: Board the last ferry from Amalfi to Salerno.
  • Arrival in Salerno: 7:45 PM at Piazza Concordia

Returning to Rome

Train from Salerno to Rome:

• Last connection with trenitalia I could find:
  • 8:14 PM: Train from Salerno with a change in Caserta.
    • Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes
    • Arrival in Rome: 11:00 PM
• Best and fastest connection:
  • 6:54 PM: Direct high-speed train from Salerno to Rome.
    • Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
    • Arrival in Rome: 8:25 PM
    • For this train, take the 5:45 PM ferry from Amalfi, arriving in Salerno at 6:20 PM.
• Last direct train: with Italo may available at 9:28 PM.
  • This is a direct train that arrives at Rome at 11:30 PM.
    • Duration: 2 hour

Disclaimer: All schedules are correct at the time of research (2024). But, please always check them before your trip, as they are subject to change.

Positano and Pompeii as a Day Trip from Rome

Combining Positano and Pompeii as a day trip from Rome using only public transportation is not advisable and nearly impossible. The best approach is to:

• Join a guided tour
• Book a private tour
• Take a high-speed train to Naples and hire a driver from there

Is it worth visiting the Amalfi Coast on a day trip from Rome?

Visiting the Amalfi Coast as a day trip from Rome involves quite a bit of traveling. But if you really want to see it, and you can only spare 1 day in your itinerary, you may decide to do it anyway.

While it’s possible to do a day trip from Rome to Amalfi, I recommend staying for at least 1 or 2 nights.

Visiting the Amalfi Coast as a day trip might feels rushed. And all the traveling in a single day can be exhausting.

Visiting in the Off-Season:

In the off-season, it takes more time to travel. Since ferries are not running, the only public transport options are the local buses. Consider hiring a private driver for a more flexible and comfortable experience. With your own transport, you can explore additional places like the Furore Fiord or the charming fishing village of Cetara.

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