What's the best and fastest way to get from Positano to Rome? Is it possible to do it in one day and see anything?

The best may not necessarily be the fastest. One might take a week over this journey, exploring rural Campania along the way, and then once in Lazio hopping over to the Pontine Islands by boat from Formia, returning back to the mainland at Anzio for the final leg into Rome. If time is of the essence, bus from Positano to Sorrento, then CVM train to Napoli Piazza Garibaldi. From then just walk over to Centrale for the hourly AV (ie. high speed) train to Rome. About 3.5 to 4.5 hours in all from Sorrento to Rome.

If you want a trade off between speed and the chance to savour the landscape, I would suggest boat from Positano to Napoli then slow train to Rome. I particularly ike the more inland route from Napoli to Rome (it runs via Cassino, where a change is sometimes necessary). From Napoli to Rome on that slower route takes four hours compared with just 87 minutes on the fast AV line (from which you see very little).

I hope these few thoughts help. Have an excellent journey.
Nicky

PS. More on these sorts of slow journeys at www.hiddeneurope.co.uk

Hi Shirley - If money's no object, helicopter would be best and fastest.

Otherwise the usual suggestions are:

- limo or hydrofoil to Naples, then train to Rome.

- ferry to Salerno, then train to Rome.

- limo Positano-Rome (- € 350 ++)

- bus Positano-Rome


'Is it possible to do it in one day and see anything?'

Yes. What do you want to see?

Steve

I'll be in Positano for 10 days, going from Naples, Sorrento, Amalfi, Ravello and Isle of Capri, but thought I might like to just see what Rome is like and take in some of the cathedrals.

Thanks Steve & Nicky. I think I'd just like to get there in a hurry so I could spend some time in Rome. I didn't necessarily want to spend the night in Rome since I'm paying high dollor for hotels there and won't spend the Euros for helicopter, so I guess the bus or train from Napoli would be best.

I'm confused. Are you saying you want to do Rome as a day-trip from Positano - returning to Positano the same evening?

Steve

Well, that's what I was hoping for, but it may not be possible. If I could get a very early bus or train out of Positano or Naples, I might do it maybe?

There are bus tour companies on the Amalfi Coast which offer Rome as a day-trip (- € 85 approx.)
e.g. Touring Point.

For details see:
http://www.touringpoint.it/excursions-2008.pdf
(Page 23)

That might be your best option.

Hope this helps ...

Steve

Thanks Steve for the website. It's great.
Shirley