As autumn and winter rapidly approach, and most of the ferry boats and hydrofoils stop plying the waters between Naples/Salerno and Positano/Amalfi, I thought it might be helpful to give a short recap of the most plausible public transportation options from Rome to Positano and other Amalfi Coast towns, a question which comes up with great regularity on this and other websites:

OPTION 1 (most popular, fastest, and greatest frequency):

1. Trenitalia AV, ES or IC train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale (70/105/120 minutes; 44/34/20.50 Euros in second class).

2. Walk downstairs to the underground Circumvesuviana station

3. Circumvesuviana commuter train to Sorrento (65 minutes; 3.40 Euros, frequency every 30 minutes)

4. SITA bus to Positano (50 minutes; 3.60 Euros; hourly frequency)

OPTION 2 (very limited schedules, but particularly useful for the physically challenged, plus cheapest option):

1. Curreri or Marozzi bus from Roma Tiburtina (not Termini) to Sorrento (3.5 hours and 16 Euros on Curreri bus at 14:00; 4 hours and 17.50 Euros on Marozzi bus at 15:00). NO SERVICE ON SUNDAYS in winter (verify schedules on website).

2. SITA bus to Positano as above.

NOTES:

1. There are frequent Trenitalia connections to/from both Roma Termini (31 minutes; 14 Euros) and Roma Tiburtina (45 minutes; 8 Euros) and Fiumicino Airport. If taking either the Curreri or Marozzi bus, connect at Roma Tiburtina. If taking Trenitalia, connect at Roma Termini.

2. The Metro del Mare hydrofoils between Naples and the Amalfi Coast stop running around October 8, not to resume again until next May or June.

3. The Cooperativa Sant'Andrea ferry boats between Salerno-Concordia Dock and Amalfi/Positano stop running in October, not to resume again until next April.

4. There MAY be a handful of Alicost ships from Salerno-Manfredi Dock to Amalfi/Positano during some of the winter months, but departures from Salerno are in the early morning from the inconveniently located Manfredi Dock (two kilometers west of the Salerno train station), and in any case are always subject to cancellation for bad weather). I would not focus much on Alicost as a viable option unless you're spending the night in Salerno.

5. DISCOUNT BUS TICKETS FOR TRAVEL ALONG AMALFI COAST (Salerno to Sorrento including Ravello):

UNICO COSTIERA 24-hr. ticket: 7.20 Euros
UNICO COSTIERA 3-day ticket: 18 Euros

6. DISCOUNT TICKET FOR BUS/TRAIN TRAVEL THROUGHOUT CAMPANIA REGION (including Amalfi Coast): UNICO CAMPANIA 3-day tourist ticket: 20 Euros (also covers everything covered by the UNICO COSTIERA tickets described above). Covers a multitude of routes, including all Naples/Sorrento/Salerno city buses, Naples subway and funiculars, Trenitalia REGIONALE trains (not the faster trains) throughout Campania, Circumvesuviana trains, Mt. Vesuvius buses, SITA buses throughout Campania, CSTP buses between Sorrento and Paestum, buses on Ischia and Procida, SITA buses along Amalfi Coast. Does NOT cover any ferries or hydrofoils, or buses/funicular on Capri.

7. ARTECARD: If planning to visit museums or archeological sites within the Campania Region, consider purchasing one of the Campania Arte Cards, some of which include free transportation by bus/train.

8. Going to Praiano? Stay on the SITA bus from Sorrento for another 25 minutes to reach Praiano. You could also reach Praiano by connecting in Salerno to the hourly SITA bus to Amalfi (75 minutes; 3.60 Euros), to a second hourly SITA bus to Praiano (25 minutes; 2.40 Euros). The difference in travel times depends largely on what train is taken to Naples or Salerno, plus connection times and travel conditions. Taking the AV train to Naples will result in the fastest (and costliest) trip to Praiano.

9. Going to Amalfi or Ravello? Take a Trenitalia train to Salerno (not Naples), then the hourly SITA bus to Amalfi (75 minutes; 3.60 Euros), then the connecting hourly SITA bus up the hill to Ravello (25 minutes; 2.40 Euros). The SITA bus departs directly in front of the Salerno train station. Buy the bus ticket at the newsstand inside the station. There are AV, ES and IC trains from Rome to Salerno, but most trains in the late morning/early afternoon will be either the ES (150 minutes; 37 Euros) or the IC (180 minutes; 23.50 Euros). The AV trains (120 minutes; 47 Euros) are in the late afternoon/early evening.

10. Going to Cetara, Maiori, Minori or Atrani? Follow the routing to Amalfi via Salerno, per note 9 above.

11. Not discussed here is the option of hiring a private car/driver from either Naples or Salerno. This option is clearly the quickest and most comfortable, but will cost upwards of 80-100 Euros (or even more). Travellers should note the absence of elevators in the Salerno station and the need to haul luggage up steps to reach the main vestibule of the station and exit doors. Travellers should also note the lack of dedicated space on the Circumvesuviana train (a commuter train) for stowing large luggage. The SITA buses have an underfloor luggage hold, but some people with upper arm weakness may have difficulty lifting the doors to this compartment. Sometimes the bus driver will gladly assist (or other passengers).

12. Fares quoted above are believed to be accurate as of the date of this posting, but are not guaranteed to be correct, since they are taken from internet sources which are not always current. Travel times are accurate but not guaranteed to be exact, and are always subject to travel conditions and delays. Also, fares, schedules and routings are subject to change and should be verified prior to start of travel.

www.ferroviedellostato.it
www.marozzivt.it
www.curreriviaggi.it
www.sitabus.it
www.vesuviana.it
www.unicocampania.it
www.artecard.it
www.alicost.com
www.metrodelmare.net
www.coopsantandrea.it