Buses in Amalfi coast town areas
 

I'm still concerned about getting to the towns surrounding Positano. That will be our home base for 5 days, but we want to visit Sorrento and other areas close to Positano. Please give me advise on finding the bus stops and schedules for buses.

Thanks,
Barb.

When are you going? I can't point you to an exact schedule, but it should be easy to find the SITA bus information online. However, if you're going during the summer months, the boats between the AC towns and Sorrento are a much more relaxing and beautiful way to transfer between towns.

We are going next week. I guess I wanted to know if they are safe and easy to get around in. Are they expensive also?

The buses are safe and inexpensive. And this time of year they won;t be as mobbed as in high season so it's likely that you will even get a seat. The road and oncoming traffic is such that they can't go more than about 10 mph. But - I don't know how late at night they run.

If you go to another town for dinner you might have to take a cab back.

We like to eat early. I know that's not the Italian way, but we like to just buy a loaf of bread, some cheese, sausage, and olives, and a bottle of wine and just sit somewhere and eat it. So we will eat later dinners in Positano, so we won't have to travel back there. Just want to sight see during the day.

The busses cannot go into a lot of the villages, you have to walk in and out. Just in case you didn't know.

Actually, there is only one road going along the Amalfi coast and it goes right through every town, so I am puzzled by the above comment. (In Positano there is a smaller shuttle that goes up to the very top.) If you plan to go to Ravello then the bus drops you off "outside" of town but the town is flat and the size of a broom closet so I don't know what you would need to know in advance about walking in and out of town.

If you are staying in Positano you will need to climb stairs, but presumably you know that.

The thing that surprised me most about the bus trips along the Amalfi coast was how nauseous I got. I could not take them directly after eating. So if you plan to go sightseeing in the morning and you are subject to motion sickness, eat very lightly and plan to eat more when you get off the bus. Don't time your day so that you need to take a bus directly after lunch. Give yourself time to walk around and let the lunch settle. Go light on the kinds of food and drink that can upset your stomach on bus riding days. Take some water with you on the bus to sip.

But I hope you don't get motion sickness!

Haven't heard that comment on the sickness. I do get motion sickness, so I will take your advise. Thanks.
Is Ravello worth seeing if it is so small?

Ravello is a beautiful town and was one of my favorites. See the two Villas.

The bus goes above Positano, you have to walk down and back, especially if you want to go to beach. And in Ravello, you have to walk into the town., not far, but for someone with mobility issues it might be an issue. Just wanted the OP to be aware.

I think the bus for Positano leaves you off at the top of town. But there is also another bus stop right in town that seems to be for departing passengers.

Again, I really prefer the boats, and if they're running, I'd highly recommend using them when possible.

Also wanted to mention that some restaurants in Montepertuso (mountain village a short drive from Positano) sometimes offer round trip transportation to guests staying in Positano. You simply tip the driver on the way back. Might be a nice alternative to taking cabs for dinner in other towns.

Our B&B in Positano has a terrace view, so I'm assuming it is high up in Positano. Thank God a driver is picking us up at airport (pricey, but worth it I hope). We don't have mobility issues, so hopefully that will be ok. Need the cardio work out anyway.

One last question. Do you just pay the bus driver, or do we have to get tickets somewhere?

WWK... You mentioned boats. Can you give me a little more details?. We would love taking the boats to the other towns, but didn't know that was an option.

The buses that travel the coast don't go up or down in Positano. They only stop on the road above.

If ferries are running, you make take them in at least one direction and use the bus in return. Ferries don't run often so the times might not work out for round trips.

http://www.coopsantandrea.com/en/ser...ea/servizi.asp

I'm glad someone else mentioned the motion sickness issue with the bus...last spring when we were there over the Easter holiday the buses were PACKED and my husband got deathly ill from the twists and turns of the (very stuffy) bus. If we ever return I would move heaven and earth to hire a driver as many before me have suggested. We were completely unprepared for this aspect of relying on the buses, and it was quite a bummer (beautiful as the coastline and villages are).

Ok, I now understand what DebitNM was saying but since the OP said she is staying in Positano I wasn't sure what towns would pose any problem using the buses for daytrips.

The point of going to Ravello isn't the town but the views and the formal villa gardens, so if you would like more views and particularly like gardens, then you might want to go. It also tends to be a bit quieter than some of the other towns, fewer people. But the actual village is very small.

You need to buy tickets prior to getting on the bus - I know where the ticket place is in Amalfi but not Positano, sorry - but ask around, the natives are helpful and more than used to visitors.

The buses run late (ish) - I've caught buses gone nine from Amalfi back to Sorrento and I'm not sure that was the last.

The suggestion re Ferries is a good one and shouldn't be overlooked. Two caveats however - they're much pricier than the SITA buses and they don't run late at all - it's often only feasable to go one way be ferry and have to make alternative arrangements back.

There is a great deal of antipathy on Fodors to having a (hire) car on the Amalfi coast - and I've not a earthly clue as to why. The first two occasions we visited we had a car and had no issues driving, passing or parking. And being British that meant doing so on the "wrong" side of the road and changing gear with the other hand. Parking is easy - you just have to pay for it - and it gives you the ultimate in flexibility for trips to Ravello, Paestum, Pompeii etc. (This last time we went was the first time in seven years and now with three young boys - and a car, for the number of days we wanted to be out and about was not economical).

I strongly suggest you consider looking at hire cars - the cost of your transfer from Naples will probably pay for at leat half an entire week's hire.

Whatever you decide - have a great trip!

Dr D. :)

Here is the schedule for the ferries: http://www.travelmar.it/downloads/orari_Aprile2014.pdf

And here is the website for the same ferries, which will show the schedule between Positano and Sorrento (very limited): www.coopsantandrea.com

IMO, ferries are the best way to travel between Positano/Amalfi/Salerno. Great scenery and faster than the bus. I get motion sickness and have had no problems with the ferries. Just go down to the dock about 20 minutes before the ferry is set to depart, purchase your ticket and hop on board!

If you are prone to motion sickness, I would not recommend having dinner up in Montepertuso.

Well - 9 isn't very late at all. If one dines from 8 to 10 you might not get to a bus stop until 10:30 or later (sorry - I'm used to transit that runs 24/7 but recognize that very small towns probably won;t have that).

And agree that ferries re probably better than the bus - but they don;t run that often - and one should certain;y be prepared if you get motion sick. Returning from Capri to Sorrento I think the last ferry was not much after 6 pm.

As for the coast road, we had a car - but it was in May.

Here is the current SITA bus schedule for the one you probably want:
http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/publi...pania/5070.pdf

For other schedules for area buses click Orari then Campania here:
http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/#

Very often tickets are sold at a tabacchi (tobacco shop). Look for a "T" sign. But not all tabacchis and could be other places too.

Once you board the bus you should validate your ticket by inserting into the box on board that will time and date stamp it. Then hold on to the ticket in case police come on board to check.