Do you have to drive? There are many ferry options for reaching various towns along the Amalfi coast (and the views from the ferries are much better than from the road).

What do you mean by "one day"? Are you on a cruise that docks at Naples for one day (as in 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.)? Are you taking a day trip to the area from somewhere like Rome? Are you spending a night (or two) in the Naples area?

Notwithstanding your answer, I'd likely agree with bardo1's advice but add that there is also bus service between Amalfi and Sorrento and train service between Sorrento and Naples.

Yes, you called it - in Naples on a cruise. The ferry idea is very interesting. Where do we catch it? Will we see Positano?

Hi TT - Your best bet is hydrofoil from Naples to Positano/Amalfi.

There are 2 morning departures from Naples (- Napoli Beverello dock) at:

08.25 (- arr. Positano 09.55) and
09.45 (- arr. Positano 10.50)

Here's the link:
http://www.salernocity.com/comune/trasporti/traghetti/mm3.asp

What time do you have to be back? You could return to Naples via Sorrento, Pompeii, Capri or Salerno - depending on your itinerary for the day.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

P.S. When are you travelling? The above Metro del Mare hydrofoil services run 1 June-6 Sept

Hi, Steve,
How cool to get this! We're going to do it! A couple of questions...

If I'm reading this right, we cannot return via hydrofoil, unless we want to spend 5 minutes there! ha ha Is this right? So, you said we could return via Sorrento, etc, but how? Train? How do we get the schedule? Bus seems very adventurous in Italian. Can you or someone fill in some gaps?

TT - Timetables change during the season. When are you going?

Are you planning spending the day in Positano - or do you want to include somewhere else? Once we know that we can fill in the gaps

Steve

Also be aware that services don't always start on the date the timetable says they will. We travelled between Naples & Positano three years running in June/July and the service always started a week or two late due to dock repairs in Positano.

The great majority of hydrofoils to Sorrento, the Amalfi Coast, Capri & Ischia go from Molo Beverello which is just to the right (looking out to sea) of where the cruise ships dock.

As well as your date, it might if useful if you were to tell us exactly what time you expect to disembark & need to reembark.

If you are not in time for a boat to Positano I suggest you just walk over to Mol Beverello anyway & look to see what boats are leaving soon - there are frequent boats to other places like Capri & Ischia.

But have you been to Naples itself before ? It's a fascinating city with lots to see, we stayed there for a week and want to go back.

Great questions, all. We are going to be getting into Naples at 7 am, off the boat by 8-8:30, usually. We have not been to Naples, so how different is it than Rome, Florence, (we are going to Florence this year, and I've been to Rome before) or Palermo (went last year - not a fan!)? Just curious... Went to Cinque Terre last year, and Positano looks quite like it. Loved it, by the way. Went to Pompeii, and once was enough.

Okay, so they we are - at the dock Mol Beverello. We'll try to take the first hydrofoil to... Amalfi? If that's what we do, how do we get to Positano? Boat? I noted that the train goes from Sorrento back to Naples.

Can you wise travelers/ex-pats help me to craft the perfect day trip, including some schedules? I've got 4 people with me, and want to give them an enjoyable time!

Best to all, and thanks in advance!

Naples has a LOT more churches per square mile than Rome (which I didn't think was possible). The pedstrian only areas in the old center are beautiful. Naples reminded me somewhat of the Campo dei Fiori/Piazza Navona areas of Rome. The Museo Nazionale di Capodimonte is a must. As is the Museo Archeologico Nazionale.

Sorry, that last reference was a typo, it's Molo Beverello not Mol (Molo is just the Italian for dock).

Hm, I'd say Naples is more like Palermo, so maybe it's not for you if you don't like big noisy, lively cities.

Assuming they are running, you should be able to get a hydrofoil direct to Positano. What I'd do is print off the timetables and see what time it is when you get to MB. If you are in time for the hydrofoil to Positano, get that. If not, why not just go to Amalfi instead ? While it doesn't have *quite* the 'wow' factor of Positano on first sight, it's still incredibly beautiful and personally I prefer it as it is more of a 'real' town and not totally devoted to tourism.

I think it would be a more relaxed day if you stick to one town and I prefer a relaxed itinerary myself. However, if you do want to see more, Amalfi is also better for connections to other towns - you could get the hydrofoil there & also visit Ravello by bus or taxi.

If it's still the same as when we were there (we didn't go to Naples or Positano last year) the Metro del Mare service is the only one going to Positano (http://www.metrodelmare.com/)), but the other companies served other places along the coast & the islands.

I'd highly advise you go both ways by sea. The train from Sorrento to Naples is more like the London tube than an intercity train and can be very hot & crowded. You'd also have the added hassle of getting from the Circumvesuviana station back to the docks, which is further than you'd likely want to walk & along busy main roads, so would involve a taxi/tram/bus. Although I loved Naples, I purposely avoided ever having to get a taxi, and the buses are also usually hot & crowded.

Great, great responses. Thank you. Yes, I think I'll do the sea both ways.

How would I find the bus? I remember wanting to visit Ravello...

TT - The hydrofoil from Molo Beverello to Positano/Amalfi are one and the same - as above.

- deps. (1 June-6 Sept):

08.25 (- arr. Positano 09.55) and
09.45 (- arr. Positano 10.50)

For Amalfi arrival times, add 20-30 mins.

You really need to make sure you catch the 08.25, I think.
It's a 500m walk from the cruise ship harbour exit to Molo Beverello dock
(- turn left down the dockside road along the tram lines).

What time do you have to be back on board?
Returning by sea from Positano or Amalfi is late afternoon
(- arr. Naples Bev. 18.55).

If that's too late then you can backtrack to Sorrento from Positano (- by bus or taxi) - and take a hydrofoil/ferry from there.
Or ... return via Salerno

WHEN ARE YOU GOING??
There is currently a 16.25 hydrofoil Sorrento-Naples. (There will be later departures in high season ...)

You can find current bus timetables Amalfi-Ravello on:
http://www.sitabus.it/sitabus/campania/orarioCAMPANIA/QUADROXV.pdf
(A new summer timetable comes into effect on 10 June)

Hope this helps ...

Steve

The busses in Amalfi couldn't be easier to find - they are in the large parking lot right by the Amalfi boat dock and leave for Ravello rather frequently (every 10, 20 , or 30 mintes, depending on time of day). It's the SCALA - RAVELLO - AMALFI line. It's a "fun" bus ride and you be glad you didn't drive once you've ridden it.

Hi Steve. Ah, when I was last there, there just seemed to be 1 separate boat to Positano, with other services calling at various combinations of the other coastal towns. But that was 2 years ago. Last year the only place we went in the region was Ischia.

Hi Caroline - Welcome back

I thought you'd abandoned us. ...

Steve