Solo traveller how to connect with others for car tour Amalfi Coast?

www.viator.com/Naples-tourism/Amalfi-Coast-from-Naples/d508-t697

Good link for tours for you. Was there last May saved a bunch hopping the Circumvesuviana 4 euro to Sorrento and then hopping Sita Bus to Amalfi 2 euros for DIY.

eurocheapo.com/naples good tips

Happy Trails!

Thanks for info. How far can you go and how much would you see from a Sita Bus? Bear in mind I am interested in the view! Can't run around much. I'm not against public transport at all.

hi 2,

Any reason why you can't take the train to Salerno, the ferry to Amalfi, the bus to Sorrento and the train back to Naples?

You can stop at Amalfi and Positano along the way.

Are you planning on more than just a daytrip?

I took a tour with SilverSorrento-a private driver with 4 other women. This divided the cost for the day. I planned exactly the places I wanted to go-Sorrento, Ravallo, Positanio, and Almalfi. I was more than pleased with this service. I was on a cruise shipp getting off doing this,but I made the plans privately. Check them out on Trip Advisor.

<I took a tour with SilverSorrento-a private driver with 4 other women> - Problem is there are no 4 other women. They probably are out there somewhere also looking for someone to share with but who knows who or where they are?

<the train to Salerno, the ferry to Amalfi, the bus to Sorrento and the train back to Naples>
This is interesting. What type of scenery is there Naples to Salerno on the train? I'm into country scenery also. Ferry sounds good. Lunch Amalfi at Ristorante Luna Convento? Emerald Grotto? - like the sound of elevator ride down from the road. Bus to Sorrento and train back to Naples. Is this possible in a day trip? No time to step into Ravello I suspect.
Your thoughts appreciated.

How long are you in Naples? If you can only afford one day for the Amalfi Coast then Ira's plan is best. But you could also take the train (one hour) to Sorrento and then the bus to Amalfi and Positano. I think the scenery is better going in that direction than back to Sorrento so if you want a ferry ride also you could take the bus TO Amalfi and Positano and boat back to Sorrento. You can also take a ferry between Naples and Sorrento as well as the train.

But if you are in Naples for enough time then I would take at least two days, spend the night in Sorrento or Amalfi.

I think I need to keep this as a day trip. My reading is that the plan may be better Naples to Sorrento by train, bus to Positano and Amalfi, Emerald Grotto, ferry to Salerno(assuming I can do a ferry in this direction),then train Salerno to Naples . I like the idea of not backtracking and am hoping for some rural scenery Salerno to Naples. Wonder how many hours this travelling this will take? Having a struggle now looking at train timetables to estimate time eg Napoli to Sorrento.

you might want to go to google the website "Share a shore excursion in Italy" - alot of people coming off of cruises use this for "semi-private" excursions - I think the max would be 8 people and you might need to meet up with them in Naples. My impression of the SITA bus, tho we have not done it oursleves, is that it is often quite crowded.

Shall check out "Share a shore excursion in Italy". Thanks so much for that lead. Hope they will accept a non cruiser.
One way or another it seems I can achieve an excursion. All of the advice I have received has assisted me with planning how many nights to spend in Naples. Thanks all.

Hi 2,

>I think I need to keep this as a day trip.<

It can be easily done.

The Circumvesuviana commuter train leaves Naples from the lower level of the main station. IIRC, you buy your ticket before going downstairs.

The bus from Sorrento leaves from across the street from the train station.
It will drop you at the top of Positano. You can walk down to the waterfront and take the ferry to Amalfi.

Visit Amalfi and take a cab up/down for Ravello. The last ferry for Salerno leaves about 17:45, or you could take the bus to the train terminal in Salerno.

Since you will be going back by the less scenic route, it won't matter if you go back to Naples at night.

Enjoy your visit.

Ferry schedules are at http://www.coopsantandrea.com/it/servizidilinea/servizi.asp

Circumvesuviana rain to Sorrento.

Bus to Positano and then Amalfi (sit on the right side of the bus for the best views!)

Bus from Amalfi to Ravello and then back to Amalfi.

Then, take the public boat from Amalfi to Naples. The views of the coastline from the boat are wonderful (and IMO, better than the views from the bus).

Thanks zoecat, Ahead of your post I had put this together.

Amalfi Coast – Circumvesuviana train Naples to Sorrento. SITA bus to Positano, off for a look, SITA bus, stop for Emerald Grotto boat tour, SITA bus to Amalfi, lunch, SITA bus to Ravello, SITA bus to Amalfi, ferry Amalfi to Positano, SITA bus to Sorrento, ferry Sorrento to Naples (SNAV - SORRENTO-NAPOLI BEV). A nice day out?

Yes, that does sound very nice. If you end up taking the boat from Positano to Naples (a nice ride, may be faster than the train, and beautiful views of the coast), you will need to take a taxi from the boat dock to your hotel in Naples. There are taxis available at the dock.

>>>Amalfi Coast – Circumvesuviana train Naples to Sorrento. SITA bus to Positano, off for a look, SITA bus, stop for Emerald Grotto boat tour, SITA bus to Amalfi, lunch, SITA bus to Ravello, SITA bus to Amalfi, ferry Amalfi to Positano, SITA bus to Sorrento, ferry Sorrento to Naples (SNAV - SORRENTO-NAPOLI BEV). A nice day out?<<<

I hate to burst your bubble, but no, I don't think it will be a nice day out. I also don't think the schedule is the least bit practical. Ferries do not run often. Trying to time your stop in Amalfi to a Positano ferry isn't very practical. Ferries also don't run late even in summer (didn't see when you are visiting?). You would have to cut your day short to catch a ferry from Sorrento.

If you are traveling in high season, sometimes buses are so crowded you can't get on and have to wait for the next one (especially the bus to Ravello).

Are you planning to spend any time in any of these towns or just a drive by? If you are planning to see the towns, you need to factor in some more time. The bus drops you in Positano at the top. You then need to walk down and when you are ready to go, walk back up. It all takes time. Same thing for Sorrento. The bus drops at the train station and you either have to catch another bus, walk or taxi down to the port.

I think I would head for the furthest point first(Salerno by train? hydrofoil?) and work my way back by bus since the buses run much later as does the Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento. Both run until about midnight in summer where ferries won't run much past 7 or maybe 8.

Depending on how many days you are in Naples and what you might be visiting, you might want to get the Campania Arte Card. The 3 day Tutta La Regione (27€) includes transport in Naples (bus/metro/funicolare/Alibus to the airport) and transport along the coast (Sita buses/Circumvesuviana/some trains to Salerno) all the way to Paestum. It also includes admission to two sites and discounts at others after the free admissions are used. Only the 3 day Tutta La Regione includes transport.
http://www.artecard.it/

Hi 20,

The SITA bus stops at the top of Positano, IIRC.

I don't think that the Emerald Grotto is worth bothering with.

Check bus and ferry schedules.

Enjoy your visit.

Thanks all,
I should have said - in Naples May 17 for 3 or 4 nights. It is beginning to sound like I should give up on Amalfi Coast. My intention was to see what I could see from the buses and from a ferry. I was not intending to explore the towns because I am unable to do that. But I now have this picture of myself at isolated bus stops with nothing around them. If it was a nice view I would not mind - simply sit on my stick-seat, admire the view and read a book until a bus comes!
I shall restrict myself to Naples. I researched Naples today and had decided on the 3 day Tutta La Regione. Wishing you all happy travelling Amalfi Coast.

I would not restrict myself to Naples and didn't mean to totally discourage you from going. I just thought you weren't considering the time needed, connections and schedules.

Amalfi bus stop area is flat (by the water) and just across the street is the first little piazza where you can sit and eat while gazing at the church. If you are not able to walk much, you might not want to climb the steps up to the church as they are quite steep, but it would make a nice meal stop.

You could train to Salerno, catch the Sita bus to Amalfi (sit on the left side when departing Salerno). In Amalfi, you can change buses to either Ravello or Positano or see if there is a ferry to Positano available. The ferries and buses are all in the same area in Amalfi which is not the case for Positano or Sorrento. The view from the Positano bus stop is quite nice, but is not a place you would want to hang out because it's a busy road. You can walk a few feet downhill and find a cafe with views also.

Once you are in Naples, you might want to stop in the tourist office and see what Amalfi coast tours are available if you don't want to do the bus connections. There are also lots of tours from Sorrento.

We were on a cruise in Sept and used www.romeinlimo.com for a private tour for 8 of us of Pompeii and the Amalfi coast from Naples. I believe if you contact them they may be able to put you with others wanting to share a tour. They were an excellent company. We also used them for a tour of Rome.

I do have some mobility challenges. This means that I research in depth. I investigate schedules, routes, maps, access to sights and facilities. Bus tours can be a problem "keeping uo with the mob" and the risk that "we will drop you down here and you can explore and we will meet you up the top at such and such a time" - and so they should. Car tours can be a problem also because the majority of the group also may wish to explore to the top (depending on their mobility)- and so they should. So I travel solo at my pace and with careful attention to why I wish to go there (is it worth it), where I can go, how is it best for me to get there and is the item of interest actually accessable for me from the drop off point. You have all given me excellent feedback that has enabled me to make decisions. Thanks to all.

Well maybe you should do a daytrip to Capri - the boats run from Naples to the island fairly frequently. When you get to Capri it is fairly easy to explore by bus (still can be crowded but frequent service) or you could take the funicular to Capri town or a boat trip around the island. IMO Capri is like a mini-Amalfi coast - same topography and lovely landscapes. There are some steep climbs but I think you could explore quite a bit without too many challenges. And the logistics will be easier than trying to do the coast unless you decide to join up with others on a small private tour.

The Hop On Hop Off bus of the City Sightseeing Sorrento tours might work for you. It goes along some of the coast around Sorrento (Massa Lubrense and a few other stops) and would have good views. They also offer an Amalfi/Maori route and Amalfi/Ravello from April to October. I think you might get a discount with the Campania Arte Card.
http://www.sorrento.city-sightseeing.it/eng/percorsi.htm