7 Days on the Amalfi Coast Without a Car: The Complete Public Transit Itinerary

Driving the winding Strada Statale 163 along Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula might look romantic in vintage photographs, but the modern reality involves gridlock, white-knuckle hairpin turns alongside tour buses, and parking charges that routinely surpass €10 per hour—assuming you can find an open stall. For travelers who prefer admiring the Mediterranean cliffs to stressing over oncoming traffic, visiting the region without a car is not merely a viable backup; it is the superior way to experience the coast.

Navigating the Amalfi Coast using public transit requires an understanding of how trains, regional buses, and passenger ferries connect. By splitting your lodging strategically between a coastal hub like Amalfi or Minori and the rail gateway of Sorrento or Salerno, you can avoid luggage hauling across vertical staircases while maintaining effortless access to scenic walking paths, historic villas, and island day trips.

Here is a balanced, field-tested 7-day itinerary designed specifically for foot and transit travelers, including realistic transfer times, ticketing rules, and scenic alternatives.

Transit Foundations: How to Move Along the Coast

Before diving into the daily schedule, master the three transit modes that make a car-free Amalfi trip run smoothly:

1. Passenger Ferries (Your Primary Coastal Highway)

From late March through late October, passenger ferries operated by Travelmar serve as the backbone of coastal transit between Salerno, Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi, and Positano. Ferries cut journey times dramatically—Amalfi to Positano takes just 25 minutes by sea compared to 60 to 90 minutes on a congested bus—and provide uninterrupted panoramic views of the cliffs. Always review seasonal departures via the official Travelmar timetable and keep in mind that rough swells can cause dockings at exposed piers (particularly Positano) to be suspended.

2. SITA Sud Buses (Your Mountain and Shoulder-Season Link)

Where ferries cannot climb—such as the mountain aerie of Ravello or the trailheads in Agerola—the SITA Sud Campania regional bus network steps in. SITA Sud buses also run year-round, serving as the sole public transit option during winter maritime shutdowns. Drivers do not sell tickets onboard. You must purchase tickets at local tabacchi (tobacco shops), newspaper kiosks, or railway stations before boarding. For heavy travel days, the 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket (€10.00) allows unlimited SITA Sud bus travel across coastal municipalities, provided you write your name and date of birth on the ticket and validate it on your first ride.

3. Integrated Rail Connections

Arriving from Rome or Naples is straightforward via high-speed rail to Salerno Centrale. From Salerno, Trenitalia operates an intermodal train-and-ferry booking called the Trenitalia Costiera Link, which lets you purchase a single rail ticket that connects directly with Travelmar ferries at Salerno's Piazza della Concordia dock, located roughly 500 meters on foot from the station platforms.

Itinerary Overview: 7 Days of Scenic Transfers

• Base 1 (Days 1–4): Amalfi Town or Minori (ideal ferry access, fewer vertical stairs with luggage)
• Base 2 (Days 5–7): Sorrento (direct rail connections to Pompeii/Naples and year-round ferries to Capri)

Day 1: Arrival via Salerno and Coastal Check-In

• Morning: Board a high-speed Frecciarossa or Italo train to Salerno Centrale. If you booked via the Trenitalia Costiera Link, exit the station and walk five minutes along the pedestrianized promenade to the Molo Piazza della Concordia pier.
• Afternoon: Board the Travelmar ferry to Amalfi (approximately 35 minutes). Sailing into Amalfi harbour offers an unforgettable first look at the pastel houses stacked against the cliff walls. Check into your accommodation, unpack, and take a gentle orientation stroll through Piazza del Duomo to admire the striped Romanesque-Byzantine facade of the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea.
• Evening: Enjoy a leisurely dinner of fresh scialatielli ai frutti di mare (handmade coastal ribbon pasta with seafood) at a local trattoria, followed by gelato made with sfusato amalfitano lemons.

Day 2: The Vertical Wonders of Positano

• Morning: Catch an early morning Travelmar ferry from Amalfi to Positano (25 minutes). Arriving by sea bypasses the packed coastal highway and delivers you right to Marina Grande. Wander upward through the pedestrian-only lanes lined with bougainvillea, art galleries, and linen boutiques toward the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta.
• Afternoon: Ascend to the quieter upper neighborhood of Montepertuso or relax at Fornillo Beach, accessed via the cliffside coastal pathway from the ferry dock. Fornillo is generally less crowded than Marina Grande.
• Evening: Secure a sunset aperitivo spot overlooking the iconic cliffside cascade of homes before boarding the return ferry to Amalfi. In the event of rough afternoon seas, take the SITA Sud bus back to Amalfi from the Positano Sponda stop (ensure you already have your physical bus ticket stamped or ready).

Day 3: The Heights of Ravello and the Walk Down to Atrani

• Morning: Head to the bus terminus at Flavio Gioia square in Amalfi and board the SITA Sud bus toward Ravello. The bus winds upward through the Dragon Valley in about 30 minutes. Visit Villa Rufolo, famed for its cascading gardens that inspired composer Richard Wagner, offering sweeping views of the Gulf of Salerno.
• Afternoon: Walk 15 minutes along the quiet pedestrian lane to Villa Cimbrone. Wander out to the Terrazza dell'Infinito (Terrace of Infinity), lined with marble busts perched over vertical drop-offs. Instead of taking the bus back down, walk the historic stone pedestrian staircase descending from Ravello through the quiet hamlet of Pontone or directly down into Atrani (about 1,000 steps; wear supportive shoes with good tread).
• Evening: Atrani is the coast's smallest municipality and feels like an authentic fishing village untouched by mass tour groups. Enjoy dinner in Atrani's peaceful main square (Piazza Umberto I) before taking the illuminated 10-minute pedestrian tunnel walk back into Amalfi.

Day 4: Hiking the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)

• Morning: Set an early alarm for the coast's most famous trail. Rather than navigating multiple bus transfers, catch the local morning SITA Sud bus from Amalfi to Bomerano (Agerola), where the trailhead begins. (Alternatively, Travelmar occasionally runs a seasonal trekker shuttle package from the Amalfi pier to Bomerano).
• Midday: Hike the 7-kilometer trail from Bomerano to Nocelle. The path hugs dramatic cliff ledges 500 meters above the sea, passing historic caves and abandoned stone shepherds' huts. Allow 3 to 3.5 hours of steady hiking. Stop for freshly squeezed pomegranate juice in Nocelle.
• Afternoon: From Nocelle, either walk down the 1,700 steps to Positano's Arienzo beach or catch the local Positano Mobilità village minibus down into the town center. From Positano's pier, catch the ferry back to Amalfi to rest your legs.
• Evening: Enjoy a relaxed dinner along the waterfront in Minori or Amalfi to recharge after the hike.

Day 5: Scenic Transit to Sorrento via Minori and Maiori

• Morning: Check out of your Amalfi accommodation. Before heading to your second base, spend a quiet morning taking a 5-minute ferry or 15-minute walk along the Sentiero dei Limoni (Path of the Lemons) from Minori to Maiori. In Minori, stop by a traditional pastry shop for a slice of delizia al limone.
• Midday: Board the western-bound coastal transit toward Sorrento. You can either take the SITA Sud bus directly across the spine of the peninsula via Positano to Sorrento, or take a scenic Travelmar ferry back to Salerno, hopping on a quick Trenitalia regional train around the bay. SITA bus routes from Amalfi to Sorrento take approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes, offering dramatic window views from the left side of the bus.
• Evening: Check into your Sorrento hotel. Sorrento is perched atop tufa cliffs with expansive sunset views across the Bay of Naples toward Mount Vesuvius. Stroll down to Marina Grande, the working fishermen's harbor, for a dinner of gnocchi alla sorrentina.

Day 6: Island Day Trip to Capri

• Morning: Walk down the stairs or take the public lift from Sorrento's Villa Comunale park to the port of Marina Piccola. Board a fast ferry or regular hydrofoil to Capri with Caremar. Check the official Caremar fare and timetable table for regular passenger connections between Sorrento and Marina Grande on Capri (roughly 20–25 minutes).
• Midday: Upon arriving at Marina Grande in Capri, take the island funicular up to the Piazzetta or board a convertible island taxi/minibus up the hairpin bends to Anacapri. In Anacapri, take the single-passenger chairlift to the summit of Monte Solaro for the highest panoramic view of the Faraglioni rock formations.
• Afternoon: Descend to the Gardens of Augustus (Giardini di Augusto) for a classic view overlooking the hairpin curves of Via Krupp. Stroll the quiet pedestrian lanes toward the Faraglioni overlook.
• Evening: Catch an afternoon or early evening Caremar ferry back to Sorrento. Enjoy a relaxed evening walk along Sorrento's bustling Corso Italia.

Day 7: Pompeii Scavi Archaeology and Departure Planning

• Morning: From Sorrento's central railway station, head north toward the ruins of Pompeii. Note that while the air-conditioned Campania Express tourist train operates seasonally, it is officially scheduled for a planned operational suspension starting October 1, 2026. Travelers visiting during suspension periods should board the standard, frequent EAV Circumvesuviana commuter rail line directly to the Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station (approximately 25 minutes from Sorrento).
• Midday: Spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site, discovering preserved Roman villas, thermopolia (ancient snack bars), and the monumental Forum with Vesuvius looming in the background.
• Afternoon: Board the Circumvesuviana train continuing north toward Napoli Piazza Garibaldi / Napoli Centrale (about 35 minutes from Pompeii) for high-speed rail connections across Italy, or return to Sorrento to conclude your vacation with an evening seaside toast.

Essential Public Transit Tips for Foot Travelers

1. Buy Bus Tickets in Batches: SITA Sud drivers cannot sell tickets. When you find an open tobacco shop (tabacchi) or kiosk displaying the black-and-white "T" sign, buy several single journey tickets or a couple of 24-hour COSTIERASITA passes in advance. Store them in a dry pocket of your daypack so you are never stranded when small shops close for the afternoon riposo.
2. Pack Light Luggage: Between ferry gangways, steep stone stairways, and bus luggage compartments, hauling oversized rigid suitcases will quickly sap your energy. Opt for a sturdy travel backpack or a compact 21-inch carry-on roller bag with durable wheels.
3. Monitor the Sea Swells: High winds and strong southerly swells frequently force ferry captains to bypass shallow or exposed jetties like Positano. If you notice whitecaps forming on the water, stop by the ticket kiosks at the dock to verify whether afternoon boats are running or whether you should pivot to the SITA bus.
4. Queue Early at Intermediate Bus Stops: Buses departing originating stations (like Amalfi or Sorrento) board cleanly, but buses passing intermediate stops (like Praiano or Positano Sponda) often arrive at full capacity during peak midday hours. Travel early in the morning or late in the afternoon to secure a seat.

Organize Your Travel Logistics with Confidence

Keeping track of differing ferry departure times, rail connections, bus validation rules, and hotel reservations across multiple coastal towns can easily overwhelm a simple notes app. Suitcase2Go gives travelers a clear, consolidated workspace to organize flights, lodging reservations, and custom daily plans in one unified itinerary. When researching transport schedules or hotel confirmations on your desktop, you can use the Suitcase2Go Chrome extension to choose your target trip and add details with visible-page text and screenshots, ensuring you have every arrival time and confirmation code ready to check before you set off along the cliffs.