Naples to Positano: ferry, bus or car

Three ways, one table

The ferry: for summer and calm weather

Only fast hydrofoils and catamarans leave Molo Beverello in central Naples, and these are what people mean by the Positano ferry. The crossing takes 80–90 minutes and a ticket costs €25–35.

Sailings run from roughly April to October; there are none in winter. In rough seas they're cancelled, so if you have a flight or train the same day, have a back-up plan.

The quay in Positano is right on the waterfront, while the town climbs the hillside. From the pier to most hotels you walk uphill through streets and steps, which you'll notice with heavy cases.

The pier is 9 km and about 25 minutes from the airport. We'll take you there for €80 (€105 in a minivan); just put the ferry departure time in your booking. Because of building works, only a few cars at a time are let through to Beverello, so the driver stops at the nearest permitted spot and helps carry your bags.

Train and bus via Sorrento

This is the cheapest route, around €7 a head, and it comes in two parts.

1. The Circumvesuviana train leaves Napoli Garibaldi station for Sorrento. A ticket is about €4 and the ride takes roughly 70 minutes. The carriages have no air conditioning and get packed in season.
2. In Sorrento you change to a SITA bus, which follows the SS163 coast road to Positano in 40–60 minutes for about €2.90.

From the station the whole trip takes 2–3 hours. From the airport you first have to reach Garibaldi, which makes it 2.5–3.5 hours. The views from the bus are wonderful, with the road winding above the sea, but in high season you may not get on at all with a suitcase.

By car: along the SS163 to the hotel door

At the airport your driver waits at the exit from baggage reclaim on the ground floor, holding a sign with your name. Cars with drivers may only park in designated areas, so the car is a few minutes' walk away. You can also be collected from a hotel in Naples.

The driver takes you to the entrance of your Positano hotel. There are no changes, and your luggage travels with you. Local drivers use the SS163 every day and know every bend.

A saloon takes up to 3 people and up to 3 suitcases plus hand luggage. Larger parties are better off in the 8-seat minivan.

In summer the SS163 is restricted for private cars. On summer weekends and in August–September, from 10:00 to 18:00, cars with odd and even number plates are allowed on alternate days. Taxis and cars with drivers are exempt, and in November the scheme doesn't apply at all.

You can break the journey at Pompeii, the excavations 25 km from the airport. A two-hour stop is usually +€40, with the driver waiting at the entrance.

You see the total before booking and it doesn't change afterwards. It covers motorway tolls, luggage and an hour of waiting after your plane lands, and we track the flight by its number. Child seats for any age are free. You pay the driver on the spot, by card or cash, with no prepayment.

If you're heading beyond Positano, here are some reference fares: Amalfi is €120 and 1 h 30 min, Ravello €130 and 1 h 40 min. Sorrento is nearer: €100 and 1 h 10 min.

How the season changes things

April to October: the ferries are running, but the trains and buses are packed. Queuing for the SITA bus with luggage in the heat is hard going.

November to March: no ferries. That leaves train plus bus, or the car. There are fewer people about, and the budget option becomes perfectly comfortable.

Honestly: which option suits whom

• One or two people, little luggage, shoulder season. The €7 train and bus is a fine choice if you're not in a hurry.
• Summer, good weather, light bags. The ferry gives you the view from the sea and doesn't depend on the road. Remember the climb from the quay.
• A family, suitcases, a late arrival or a heatwave. The car saves up to two hours and spares you the changes. With four or more, take the minivan at €160.