We will be staying in Sorrento and driving along the Amalfi coast . I'm a little scared as I've heard horror stories about the highway on the coast. Should we lose the car and take buses to Positano and Amalfi or is it safe to drive there?

I would leave the driving the the professionals who do it all day every day and know what they are doing. It is not an horror and it is not an highway, but a two lane road hanging over cliffs with the sea waaaaay below. There is a railing and there are alot of busses who will come face to face with you and you will have to maneuver around them, not them around you.

Sure it's narrow and winding....but not a horror show.
SeaUrchin is right about the buses. However, be aware that the ALWAYS toot their horns when approaching around a curse. Hey, they don't want an accident either!
We drove VERY CAREFULLY and did fine!
Just leave yourself plenty of time for some slow driving. The scenery is worth the stress!

We took the SITA bus roundtrip between Sorrento and Amalfi and I found myself wishing we had a car, since then we could've stopped at some points along the way to soak in the fantastic scenery and take photos.

One possible disadvantage of the bus is motion sickness. My poor girlfriend became so affected by the turns and swings of the bus that she had to put her head down and missed most of the scenery. But then she was fairly susceptible to motion sickness. If neither of you are, that probably shouldn't be a problem.

It's certainly not a drive for the faint of heart but it can't be that horrifying as plenty of people drive it.

I am a timid driver (I live in Atlanta and the traffic is horrendous) so when we went to the AC we hired a driver for the day since I had heard the driving was bad and the bus was often crowded. But I actually did not think it would have been as bad to drive there as it is here everyday! as long as you just stayed with the flow of cars and were not in a hurry wanting to get around cars in front of you. The bigger downside to me was where to park!!?? for instance in Positano and I assume in other places as well there seemed to be very limited parking. We rented a car and drove around in the hilltowns in southern Spain and became quite frustrated with finding places to park in the towns. Next time I think we will try to get around the AC mostly by boat and maybe some by the bus unless I make my DH very happy by agreeing to ride on a scooter with him!

I must offer a differing opinion. I loved the drive along the Amalfi Coast as did my three passengers. At no time did any of us feel in danger (of course, we're from California; the state where people shoot at you on the freeway).

All kidding aside, unless you are completely terrified at driving on a two lane highway, I don't see the danger. It's a piece of cake. Just like anywhere, be aware of oncoming cars and busses. It's not like you're hanging two wheels off the edge of the road.

Be brave! Drive the Amalfi and then celebrate it with a glass (or two) of Limoncello (Warning: do not attempt to drive the Amalfi after imbibing Limoncello).

Perhaps it's Freudian, but I meant to say "around a CURVE," not a curse!
I'm glad to see that I'm not alone in downplaying the danger factor.

Well, Howard, I try to toot my horn whenever I approach a curse!!

When you talk to the locals they tell you that most of the accidents are caused by tourists not knowing the road and by not being experienced drivers in the first place (not all of course).

I have been in cars with the local drivers and they come right up on the bumpers of slow tourists and flash their lights and I have felt a little sorry for some of the poor tourists with their scared faces as we pass.

I think if you are a good driver, go for it, but if not......

SeaUrchin, I gotta tell you that your description of Italian drivers on the Amalfi coastline is no different from Italian drivers anywhere!

Ain't it the truth!?

Then don't go to the Yungas in Bolivia!

The roads are just fine - there are always buses on the road that slow the traffic down in any case. It is the parking that scares me. Sometimes there is little point in stopping the car.

My husband and I spent a week in Positano two years ago. Everyone that I spoke with also told me horror stories. My husband thought that it was ridiculous and refused to get a driver. We did not find the driving frightening at all and I was suprised that everyone made such a big deal about it. I am terrified of heights and this did not scare me at all. I found Highway one in California much more frightening.

I have been on that drive many times and I know that it is not that scarey if you are with a good driver.

I have been on it with good and bad drivers and the scare of my life came when the bad driver was hesitant and didn't have a full grasp of stick shift gears. We kept rolling over the lanes and getting honked at and finally my husband jumped out and took over and then I felt confident.

It is a beautiful road and very nice on days when it is not crowded and you can actually look at the scenery.

I am sure you all have mental images of drivers you know where you would not want to be a passanger on any road.

In summary, don't be afraid of the drive and if you are timid about driving then don't do it, there are alot of other ways such as a private driver who will stop along the road whenever you want.

We drove the Amalfi coast road in a 7 seater van in July (busy season) and had no trouble at all. The road is winding and high above the sea providing you with breathtaking views. There are several places to stop along the way to catch your breath, enjoy the views and perhaps let a faster driver get ahead of you. I don't think we would drive this road at night, nor would we consider driving it after having a few glasses of wine with lunch. Otherwise, it is a great experience you do not want to miss and if you are really concerned about driving it yourself then consider hiring someone to do it for you.

Enjoy your trip!

Depending on the time of year the Amalfi coast drive is either a complete hoot or absolute hell.

We have done it in early May - when the traffic was pretty well under control - and enjoyed it tremendously. It is not a difficult drive. Granted the lanes are very narrow with no shoulders and you have the mountain on one side and the cliff down to the sea on the other. But there is a rock wall between you and the cliff. And the road is so twisty that you can;t really get up much speed - especially with trucks and buses coming from the opposite direction.

However, in the middle of the summer when the road is completely clogged I would not recommend driving it at all. It can take hours to get anywhere if two tour buses come face to face on a narrow section and one has to back up a substantial distance. Just take a boat instead.

With apologies to the Hollies ("He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother&quot...

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to the town of
Amalfi
And I'm strong
Strong enough to drive a car
It's ain't scary, it's no bother

Well, I'm a bit of a wuss as far as driving ANYWHERE goes, but my rule of thumb is that I'd rather be behind the wheel than have some insane European be there. Call me a type-A driver/personality. If I'm going to drive the Amalfi Drive, I want to be in charge - I don't want to be in some hired "driver's" limo hurtling along at a speed I'm not comfortable with. Nor do I, God Forbid, want to be on a bus, thank you very much!
It's been years since I took this drive, and I do remember harboring images of Princess Grace, who died on it maybe a year before I last did it, the whole time I was driving, but really, it's not that bad, and YOU can control the pace. Let the insane Italians go right around you - they will anyway. Just maintain your cool and do it. Forget the horror stories - there are plenty or worse drives in Europe. Parking when you get there will be a worse problem. Auguri!

StCirq, I remember hoping that our bus driver hadn't been partying the entire night before.

capo: Exactly!! If I'm in the driver's seat, I can at least control the speed. I would rather die than put my life in the hands of a bus or driver. But that's just me.