Salerno: Gateway to the Costa d’Amalfi
Salerno is a medium-sized city in southern Italy with a bit under 150,000 residents.
Salerno isn’t on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s very close to it.
The Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport opened in July 2024.
And with it, Salerno became the main gateway to the Amalfi Coast.
Table of Contest
- Should you stay in Salerno
- What to see in Salerno?
- What to do in Salerno?
- Where to stay in Salerno?
- Day trips from Salerno(Positano, Amalfi, Paestum,..etc)
- Transport in Salerno
- The Airport of Salerno
Should You Choose Salerno as Your Base to Visit Amalfi Coast?
Many tourists choose Salerno as a base to visit the Amalfi Coast. One of the main reason is budget. It’s cheaper and less crowded. Unlike Sorrento, which is full of souvenir shops and tourists, Salerno has a more genuine Italian town feel.
Tourists choose Salerno for several reasons:
- Budget: Salerno is more affordable than the Amalfi Coast.
- Fewer Crowds: It’s less crowded compared to other popular destinations.
- Availability: It’s easier to find last-minute hotel rooms, even in high season.
- Vibe: Salerno feels more authentic, with residents going about their daily lives. Compared to the more tourist-heavy areas like Sorrento.
If your main concern is budget, Salerno is a great choice.
But if you want to experience the Amalfi Coast itself, it’s better to stay on the Amalfi Coast itself.
Although accommodations are more expensive on the Amalfi Coast, daily ferry trips to Amalfi and Positano can also add up. And take precious time from your vacation.
Of course, you can include Salerno in your itinerary and stay for 2-3 days before heading to the Amalfi Coast.
What to See in Salerno?
Salerno Cathedral
The most important monument in Salerno is the Duomo.
The cathedral is dedicated to the patron saint of Salerno, Saint Matthew the Apostle. Don’t miss the impressive byzantine bronze door.
The altar Italian marble inlays with various colors of marble. A style characteristic to classic southern Italy.
Visit the historical center and the characteristic little “vico”s around the Cathedral.
How to Reach It:
The cathedral is a pleasant 20-minute walk from the central station. Walk along the Corso di Salerno. The main street of the city is lined with stores, bars, and restaurants. This street is also pedestrian-only.
Or you can take the metro for one stop from the station. The closest metro stop is: Salerno Duomo-Via Vernieri
Castello Arechi: This can be a great half-day trip. Go up to the Arechi Castle and enjoy the view of the harbour and the bay from. The castle overlooks Salerno. You can take a bus from the city center and then walk up to the castle.
How to reach the Castle?
Take bus number 1 (a smaller public bus) towards the direction of Canalone. Stay on the bus until the end. Bus stop: Del Risorgimento Sichelgaita. From there, follow the steps to reach the castle. From here it’s a 40 minutes hike.
Museums: There are a couple of interesting museums in Salerno.
- Pinacoteca Provinciale Salerno website
- Museo Diocesano San Matteo di Salerno website
- Virtual Museum of Salerno’s Medical School
What to Do in Salerno
Sea Garden Beach Club
When we’re on extended stays on the Amalfi Coast, we often come to Salerno for grocery shopping. We also love to visit this beach club in Salerno. Which is excellent value for money. It’s very affordable. It has two swimming pools and a small pool for children.
When you buy your entry ticket, you will be asked where you want your sun chair: on the beach by the sea or near one of the pools.
To get to the Sea Garden Beach Club:
Bus number 5 from Piazza Concordia. The bus stops right next to the beach club.
The closest metro station is: Salerno Arbostella. From here you have to walk around 10 minutes.
Have a walk at the Lungomare:
Salerno’s promenade is pleasant and easy to walk. Enjoy the sea breeze, watch the sunset over the Amalfi Coast mountains, and eat a fantastic gelato.
Visit the Gardens of Villa Comunale.
Walk around in this park, where you might find interesting events. In spring, there’s the Minerva flower market. And in winter, you can see the famous Luci d’Artista light displays.
Where to stay in Salerno
If your main goal is to visit the Amalfi Coast, stay as close to the ferry port as possible. You’ll find a few mid-range hotels along the 400-meter stretch between the ferry port and the train station.
Otherwise, stay in the historical center. It has great vibe in the evening. You’ll find many places to enjoy an Italian-style aperitivo. And countless little trattorias to eat local specialties.
The more modern areas of Salerno, such as Torrione and Pastena. While they have less touristic interest, these areas are bustling and commercially active.
Where to stay in Salerno?
High End
Hotel Montestella
Four-Star Hotel in the Heart of Salerno
A four-star hotel located right in the heart of Salerno. Close to the train station and the ferry port. Easy to catch the Travelmar ferries heading to the Amalfi Coast. Strategic location.
Check availability here for Hotel Montestella here
Casa Santangelo Suites
Ever dreamed of living in a castle? Then you’ll love this place! This boutique B&B-style hotel has suites with incredible interiors. A blend of Baroque and Rococo elements, and inspiration from Pompeii wall paintings. Situated in the historic center of Salerno, only 400 meters from the Cathedral.
Check availability here for Casa Santangelo Suites here
Mid Range
Novotel Salerno Est Arechi
Located a little outside the center, this 4 star hotel is close to some of the best beaches of Salerno. And has a swimming pool, so perfect for a relaxing stay.
Check availability here for Novotel Est Arechi
Holiday Guesthouse
A hotel in the center of Salerno with breakfast included. You can reach the city center, beach, and bus/train station by walking.
Check availability here for Holiday Guesthouse
Budget
B&B Portarotese
A small B&B in the historic center of Salerno, offering a cozy and budget-friendly stay.
Check availability here for Bnb Portarotese
Moving Around and Transport options
Salerno has a metro line.
It’s not as frequent as traditional metro lines, functioning more like a city train.
It runs daily from 6:50 to 23:50.
The Metro Salerno is a 6 km line with 6 stations. Runs between the Central Station and the Arechi Stadium. Trains run approximately every 30 minutes.
There are many bus lines. You can take most of them from Piazza Concordia. Be aware that some buses seem to operate without a set schedule. For example, I often wait at least an hour for the number 8 bus. Pack some patience.
Visit the Amalfi Coast from Salerno
With a boat tour
The best way to visit the Amalfi Coast from Salerno is with a boat tour. This tour lets you explore Positano and Amalfi, and you will also stop to swim and snorkel along the way
With ferry
Travelmar offers frequent ferries from Salerno with direct connections to Amalfi and Positano. The ferries also stop at other Amalfi Coast towns, including Cetara, Minori, and Maiori.
Some direct ferries to Capri are available too.
To reach Amalfi, it takes 35 minutes and costs €11.50.
To reach Positano, it takes 1 hour and costs €16.50.
To reach Capri, it takes approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes and costs around €32.
Ferries usually run from April 1st to the end of October. The pier is within walking distance from the train station.
By Bus
There is also the public “SITA” bus to reach Amalfi. The bus stop is right in front of the train station.
Around Salerno
Paestum is a perfect day trip from Salerno. This is an archaeological site with some of the best-preserved Greek temples in the world. You can also combine this with a visit to one of the famous mozzarella farms.
Click here to book a private transfer from Salerno to Paestum
Vietri sul Mare is very close to Salerno and the first village on the Amalfi Coast from this side. It is actually connected by train with Salerno, so it’s super easy to reach! This is the capital of ceramics on the Amalfi Coast. Click here to learn more about Vietri Sul Mare.
Cava de’ Tirreni Cava de’ Tirreni is also close to Salerno and only three stops by train. This little town is almost unvisited by tourists. And is an underrated hidden gem at the foot of Monte Lattari. The center has an arched shopping street where you can walk around and enjoy authentic Italian city life.
Cilento
Salerno is also a gateway to the Cilento region. One of Italy’s favorite holiday destinations. The Cilento region has some fantastic beaches.
Almost hourly, there is a train to Sapri. There is almost an hourly train to Sapri. This train stops at places like Pisciotta-Palinuro (where you’ll need to transfer to a bus to reach the seaside). Other seaside towns in Cilento that you can reach by train: Agropoli, Ascea.
To reach Marina di Camerota, transfer to a public bus at the Pisciotta-Palinuro station.
Click here to see our road trip itinerary to visit Cilento
Pompeii
Pompeii is easily reachable from Salerno. The regional metro train that runs between Naples and Salerno. stops at Pompeii. Note that this is different from the regional trains that do not stop between Naples and Salerno. The metro trains to Napoli start from the side platforms at the central station, which are marked with a “T.”
To Reach Napoli
There are frequent train connections between the two cities. The cheapest ones are the regionale trains. You can also take the high-speed train for the fastest journey between the two cities.
Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (IATA: QSR)
To get to Salerno from Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport, you have a few options:
- Public Bus: Linea 8 Bus to/from Salerno and Battipaglia. Ticket: 1,40€ (Stops a bit outside of the Airport)
- Taxi: fixed fare of €50 to the center of Salerno.
- Shuttle Bus: Salerno Airlink You can easily reach Salerno’s railway station from the airport in just 40 minutes with this shuttle bus. The ticket costs €5.
Let’s Keep in Touch!
🌟 Follow us on Instagram for updates and behind the scenes contents: @amalfi_lemonade 💬 Join our Facebook community to connect with us and other travellers. Look for the group with the 🍋’s: Amalfitana Community
This post contains affiliate links.
Follow me on Instagarm for more travel tips and pics!
