Day Trips to Sorrento and Amalfi Coast from Naples

There is much to see and do in Naples and, if you stay more than three days, I recommend exploring the Amalfi Coast. You will see some enchanting landscapes and taste the excellent food of the region.

Sorrento is the largest city on the Amalfi Coast, the perfect starting point to explore the surrounding area and one of the must-do stops for the best tours and excursions from Naples. This article explains you all the options to reach Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast from the capital of Campania.

Guided tours are a good option to see more than one destination in a single day and to make the best use of your time. Usually, the excursions are done in a small bus and pick you up at your hotel or other central location in Naples. You can choose between different types of routes.

Tour with stops in Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi

When booking a tour to Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento from Naples you will have time to see the main attractions of each town and have a drink. In the first destination I recommend Piazza Tasso, a coffee at the Bar del Carmine, the Cloister of San Francesco and Villa Comunale (Via San Francesco).

The second stop is Positano, a village between the sea and the hills that is famous both for its wonderful nature and for the homonymous style of clothing. The walks usually begin in Piazza dei Mulini and is notable for the main church and the typical colorful houses.

The last destination is Amalfi, Italy's first seafaring republic. The fountain of Sant'Andrea and the Cathedral bear witness to its glorious past.

• These excursions have an approximate cost of 140 €.

Excursion to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

This option replaces Sorrento with Ravello, the panoramic balcony of the Amalfi Coast. It is not on the coast but on the heights and is dotted with elegant mansions such as Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo.

Among so many classic buildings stands out the Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium, a concert hall built by the famous Brazilian architect. Every summer it hosts a famous music, film and literature festival.

• These tours last between 7 and 8 hours and cost about 80 €.

One day tour of Pompeii and Amalfi

In this case, before reaching the coast, the bus will take you to the most important archaeological excavations in Europe. The guide will explain the history behind the thermal baths of Stabian, the forum, the Temple of Jupiter and other survivors of the eruption of Vesuvius.

The tour ends near the Duomo of Amalfi, the symbol of the city that has an eclectic style that mixes Romanesque, Baroque and Rococo elements. Admission is free but if you want to visit the Museum and the Cloister of Paradise you will have to pay about 3 €.

• Normally, these excursions last 8 hours and cost about 120 €.
• If you are interested only in visiting Pompeii, I recommend you to visit the article Excursions to Pompeii from Naples.

Tour of the Amalfi Coast by Fiat 500

The ideal choice for those who love old cars. The driver will take you to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Pogerola and Ravello. Pogerola is a fraction of Amalfi located on the heights. From here you can enjoy beautiful views towards the Gulf of Salerno.

The last stage is the Grotta dello Smeraldo, a karst cave partially occupied by the sea. The best time to visit it is around 13:00. At this time the sun's reflections penetrate the cave, making the waters sparkle.

• The cost is somewhat high, more than 300 €, and includes pick-up at the hotel or at a central point in Naples.

In my opinion, the car is a double-edged sword. On the one hand it is a comfortable and scenic option, but on the other hand it is subject to heavy traffic and the availability and price of parking lots, especially if you travel in summer or on holidays.

However, the road is very beautiful as the route runs in the communal territory of charming villages such as Meta, Vico Equense and Sant'Agnello.

The best option to rent a car is at the Napoli-Capodichino airport. You will find the main agencies in the arrivals terminal. In case you want to rent it when you are already in the center, I leave you the article about transfers between the airport and Naples.

Practical information

• Price: taking the A3 highway you will have to pay a toll of about 10 €, to which must be added the petrol and, if necessary, the price of the rental car.
• Travel time: 1 hour, more or less. It can become an hour and a half or more if the traffic is complicated.
• How to get there: take the A3 Napoli - Pompei - Sorrento highway and exit at Castellamare di Stabia. At this point, just follow the signs for Sorrento.

This is one of the most popular options for both comfort and price. The Ferrovia Circumvesuviana - a railway network that covers the metropolitan area of the city - guarantees frequent connections between Naples and Sorrento.

You can catch the train at the stations of Napoli Porta Nolana (Corso Giuseppe Garibaldi) or Napoli Garibaldi which is located below the central station (Stazione Centrale).

Sorrento is the last stop, you can't go wrong. The station is located in Piazza Giovanni Battista de Curtis, a stone's throw from the old town. Passengers boarding without a ticket must purchase one for a surcharge of €5.

Practical information

• Price: between 3 € and 4 €.
• Journeytime: just over 1 hour
• Advantages: you can move easily from the city center.
• Disadvantages: if you travel with a lot of luggage, it might be better to opt for another means of transport. It is a commuter train and therefore does not have a dedicated space for luggage. In addition, it is very crowded at certain times of the day.

Naples and Sorrento are about 25 kilometers apart and two companies guarantee maritime connections: Navigazione Libera del Golfo (NLG) and Alilauro.

In both cases, the ferries depart from the Beverello pier which is located near the Maschio Angioino, the medieval castle built during the reign of Charles of Anjou.

Most of the excursions to Capri depart from Naples from this pier. The area is very central and easy to reach, as just a few meters from the waterfront is the "Municipio" metro stop (line 1).

Practical information

• Price: about 14 € (one way, adults) or 10 € (one way, children)
• Travel time: more or less 45 minutes
• Advantages: it is undoubtedly the most beautiful route

Only one company connects Naples with Sorrento: Curreri Viaggi. Buses depart exclusively from Naples-Capodichino Airport and stop in 7 cities before arriving at Sorrento bus station. It is located in Piazza Giovanni Battista de Curtis, a few meters from the central Piazza Tasso.

If you visit Naples in winter please note that on January 1 and December 25 there are no buses. For more information I recommend you to have a look at the official website.

Practical info

• Price: from 10 €.
• Travel time: more or less 1 hour and 15 minutes
• Advantages: you will not have to go through the city to get to Sorrento.
• Disadvantages: traffic jams are frequent and the trip could take longer.

There are multiple ways to get from Naples to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, all of them with their advantages and disadvantages. If you are still undecided, here is a summary to help you clear your doubts:

Finding a parking space in Sorrento without spending money is not easy. However, you can try your luck on Via Rota or Via Parsano, two streets where you can leave your car for free. You will see that the lines are white and not blue.

If you only find a space on the blue lines, you will have to pay 1 Euro for the first 30 minutes and 2 Euro per hour for longer stops, approximately.

Alternatively, you can opt for one of the following guarded parking spaces:

• Parcheggio Achille Lauro, €2 per hour or a daily rate of €24 (Via Correale).
• Garage Marina Piccola, a perfect choice if you decide to take a ferry to Capri. Check their website for more information on hourly and daily rates. By the way, if you want to visit the island I recommend you to read the post that explains how to get from Naples to Capri (Via Luigi De Maio 60/62).
• Parcheggio Vallone dei Mulini, open 24 hours and with video surveillance. In addition to the prices, on its website you can see the available parking spaces (Via Fuorimura 16).
• Parcheggio Stinga, a space within walking distance of the old town. Again, the hourly rate is 2 € (Via degli Aranci 25).

The scooter

As you know, most tourists choose Sorrento as a base to visit the surrounding area. If you are planning to stay here for a few days, it might be a good choice to rent a scooter.

The orography of the territory and the small roads make the scooter the ideal means of transportation. Fortunately, there are dozens of rental agencies in Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi.

You will always find a place to leave your scooter - the same cannot be said for a car - and you will enjoy roads with beautiful views, such as the SS163 state road that connects Sorrento to the picturesque town of Vietri sul Mare.

The sea cab

Another alternative is the Taxi del Mare, a sea cab service that serves the towns of Sorrento, Positano, Capri, Amalfi, Sorrento, Maiori and Cetara.

The trips are made aboard a yacht with a maximum capacity of 11 passengers. Normally, the ticket also includes the transport of luggage.

It depends on the season. During the summer, the coastal roads fill up with cars and buses. A half-hour trip can easily turn into an hour-long queue. However, if you visit Naples in winter you will not find many traffic jams on the Amalfi Coast.

In this case, the bus is an economical alternative that can be taken into consideration. On the official website of the local transport company you will find all the routes and timetables. Just enter the name of the town of departure in the field "Comune di partenza" and click on the button "Ricerca".

Whether you choose to book an excursion to Capri from Naples or the Amalfi Coast or you are traveling on your own, I recommend wearing comfortable shoes.

The orography of the area is characterized by mountains and the villages of the Amalfi Coast are beautiful but dotted with slopes that are best climbed in sneakers.

If you travel in summer do not forget to wear sunscreen to avoid the effects of the sun.