How to get fromNaples to Positano

What to expect when visiting Positano

Positano is a scenic beach town in Italy, home to some of the most panoramic views on the Amalfi Coast. What many don’t know is its long history as a holiday resort from as far back as the Roman Empire. Experience its age-old charm in the quiet neighbourhood of Montepertuso, the highest hamlet of Nocelle, and the jaw-dropping Path of the Gods.

The best time to visit Positano is from late April to September, when the weather is sunny and the waters are warm. Sunbathe at Positano’s beaches — like Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo. And take a walking tour to Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta and its majolica-tiled dome, which houses a Byzantine Black Madonna and Child from the 13th century.

4 ways to get from Naples to Positano

The 4 ways to travel the distance of 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Naples to Positano are by: direct minivan (1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes), private transfer (1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes), train (2 hours 10 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes) and ferry (1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 10 minutes). The journey duration ranges between 1 hour 15 minutes to 2 hours 15 minutes and the quickest way is by private transfer. The lowest priced tickets start from €5.60 ($5.90) for the train.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly way to travel from Naples to Positano, you can take an indirect train to Sorrento and continue by bus. While buses are also available for the first leg, there are only 2 departures a day.

Including the transfer time, expect this journey to take up to 3 hours.

There are multiple train departures from Naples to Sorrento daily. Trains are available every 30 minutes from 05:54 to 21:06, so you can leave Naples basically anytime from morning to night!

You can take a Direct or Express Circumvesuviana train that takes 50-70 minutes or a 45-minute Campania Express train. Train prices start from €3.60 ($3.80).

All trains depart from the lower level of Naples Centrale Train Station and you will be dropped off at the Sorrento Train Station in the city centre.

Buses bound for Positano depart from the bus stop just outside the train station in Sorrento.

For this route, your only choice is the SITA Bus. They offer several trips from Sorrento to Positano every day from 06:30 to 19:00. Tickets cost only €2 ($2.10).

Note that the buses on this route are often overcrowded, so you’ll likely have to wait more than an hour for a bus that can still accommodate passengers. You might even have to stand during the entire 1-hour bus ride to Sponda Bus Stop, located 250m to the east of the main beach in Positano.

If you’re not keen on riding the bus for this last leg, you can replace it with a ferry ride or a private transfer!

Ferries are a great way to get around Italy’s Campania Region, where both Naples and Positano are located.

Although there are direct ferries from Naples to Positano, you have the option to divide your journey with a short ferry stop in Sorrento.

When taking the ferry at 09:00 from Naples, you can arrive in Positano by 11:35 at the earliest. Including the transfer, this total journey will last about 2.5 hours. If you wish to explore Sorrento, you can also take a later ferry departing late afternoon or in the evening from Sorrento to Positano.

Alilauro and NLG (Navigazione Libera Del Golfo) operate a few ferry trips from Naples to Sorrento daily and all year round.

Ticket prices start from €19.70 ($21). Travel time can take 35-45m, depending on the ferry.

Naples

High Speed

Sorrento

08:00

0h 45m

08:45

10:00

0h 45m

10:45

16:25

0h 35m

17:00

18:25

0h 35m

19:00

NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo)

€19.70 ($21)

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DirectFerries

€19.70 ($21)

10:00

0h 45m

10:45

18:25

0h 35m

19:00

Check on DirectFerries

• 24/7 customer support

€21 ($23)

08:00

0h 45m

08:45

16:25

0h 35m

17:00

Check on BookAway

With the ferry schedules from Naples to Sorrento and Sorrento to Positano, you’ll either transfer in 25 minutes to the next ferry or wait a few hours for the next ferry bound for Positano.

The ferries to Positano are conveniently departing from the same harbour as where the ferries from Naples arrive.

The fastest ferry that can take you to Positano is Positano Jet with just a 40-minute travel time, while the high-speed ferry of Seremar takes about 1.5 hours. Fares start from €18.90 ($20).

Since there’s not much difference in the ferry fares, we suggest taking the Positano Jet with a shorter travel time. You will be arriving at Positano Ferry Terminal within the city centre.

Port of Sorrento

High Speed

Positano Ferry Terminal

10:10

1h 25m

11:35

12:05

1h 25m

13:30

Seremar

€19.50 ($21)

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• 24/7 customer support

€19.50 ($21)

12:05

1h 25m

13:30

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• 24/7 customer support

€23 ($24)

10:10

1h 25m

11:35

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Other ways to complete the 2nd leg of this journey are via a 1-hour bus or a private transfer. Visit our page for Sorrento to Positano for more details.

While more expensive than public transportation, the direct minivan from Naples to Positano is a fast option.

The ride takes around 1 hour 20 minutes to 1 hour 45 minutes and will get you there directly without the need to transfer. Tickets cost €43 ($46).

There are two minivan companies you can choose from: Enjoy Travelling and DTS Travel Group. For this option, you’ll have to book online beforehand so they’ll know where to pick you up.

Departure and arrival station

Enjoy Travelling minivans depart from Naples Ferry Terminal (Beverello), but you can ask to be picked up from the airport or the train station. Meanwhile, Sorrento Shuttle Express vans depart directly from the airport with an additional pick-up from the train station.

Both vans will drop you off at your hotel in Positano.

Another convenient option is a private transfer, which takes around 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes, including hotel pick-up and drop-off in Naples and Positano. However, this option is the most expensive.

With a private transfer, there’s no need to worry about schedules, terminals, and transfers. If you’re travelling in a group, a private ride may even be cheaper than the minivan when you split the cost.

Although Uber is available in Naples, rates are more or less around the same as the local taxi rates which are €130 ($135) for normal sedan cars.

Much better, book one online with BookAways for rates starting from €150 ($160) for 3 passengers. For a bigger group, you can also book a private minivan from Naples to Positano that can seat 6-8 people.