With no direct trains or other connections linking the capital of Rome to the beautiful Amalfi Coast, getting between the two popular destinations can be a little bit complicated at first glance.
Despite the approximately 173 miles (278 km) in distance, thankfully there are still plenty of options for visitors including cars, trains, busses, ferries, or a combination of them all. That means that you can easily pick the option to suit your budget, time restraints, and comfort levels.
Here is a quick rundown of all the best options, I will explain them all in more detail throughout the post:
- Drive from Rome to Amalfi Coast
- Train to Naples or Salerno + ferry to Amalfi (summer only)
- Train to Salerno + bus or transfer to Amalfi
- Bus from Rome to Amalfi Coast
Now, let’s have a look at all your options in more detail.
1. How to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast by Car
While renting a car and road-tripping around Italy with an epic itinerary is generally an amazing way to travel the country, the drive along the Amalfi Coast may be the exception.
The narrow, winding roads travel atop steep cliffs and through tiny villages where the tiny streets can be super hard to navigate. Plus, finding parking is quite difficult and expensive, so I don’t recommend this option unless you are very experienced with driving in Italy.
If you do choose to drive, the route will take you between 3-4 hours depending on the traffic. Note that in the peak summer months (July-September), the roads become jam-packed and traffic jams can be a nightmare!
Pros:
- Flexibility in travel times
- Freedom to make stops along the way
- Handy to have a car to help you get around the coast
Cons:
- Expensive
- Long driving time
- Hard to find parking
- Traffic
2. How to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast by Train
Although there are no direct connections from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, you still have plenty of options for traveling by train. All routes begin by taking a direct fast train from Rome to either Naples or Salerno, from there you can connect by regional train, bus, or ferry.
The best way to travel is by taking a direct train to either Naples or Salerno and then hopping on board a ferry to the Amalfi Coast.
Note that ferries don’t run all year round so take this into consideration before booking (you can read more about that below).
Pros
- Fastest way to travel
- Comfortable
- Easy connections
Cons
- Have to make transfers
Train from Rome to Naples or Salerno
The first leg of your journey by train is to take a high-speed train from Rome to either Naples or Salerno. From either destination, you will have a number of transfer options that I will go over next, so which you choose generally depends on your preference for ongoing travel.
The train to Naples leaves from Rome Termini Station and takes around 1 hour and 15 mins to complete the journey. Italo and Trenitalia both run these trains multiple times per day.
Alternatively, the train to Salerno leaves from both Rome Termini and Rome Tiburtina stations taking around 2 hours to reach its destination. You will be taking a Trenitalia train if you choose this option.
If you book your trains in advance, tickets are pretty affordable, however for budget travelers you can also opt for the bus from Rome to Naples which takes around 2 hours and 45 mins.
Train from Salerno to Vietri sul Mare
If you wish to complete the whole journey by train, you will be a little limited on where to stay on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s not entirely impossible.
Vietri sul Mare is the only Amalfi town with a train station. So after taking a high-speed train from Rome to Salerno, you can hop on a local train here.
However, Vietri sul Mare is located on the eastern boundary of the region, just 4 minutes from Salerno, so you won’t actually get very far and will need to take a taxi or local bus if you want to explore the other towns.
Bus from Naples or Salerno to Amalfi Town
If you choose to take a bus for your onward travel to the Amalfi Coast, it’s best to take the direct train to Salerno. If you are starting in Naples, you will need to take a Flixbus to Salerno for around 1 hour and 40 minutes before you can hop on the local bus.
From Salerno, there are local buses that travel to the different villages of the Amalfi Coast daily. The SITA busses leave from the Via Vinciprova bus stop and take around 1 hour to travel to Amalfi Town, leaving every 30 – 60 mins.
While the ferry is the easiest option during summer, if you are traveling out of season, the bus is your next most flexible choice (aside from private transfers of course). However, this is not a good option if you have a lot of luggage as there is no dedicated luggage storage on the local busses, meaning you will most likely need to travel with it between your legs.
3. How to Get to Amalfi Coast from Rome by Ferry
Ferries run between Naples and Salerno to Amalfi every day from April to October. This means that you will still need to first either take a train or drive from Rome (see above for details).
It’s also important to note that the ferries do not run in winter, so if visiting out of season you will need to take a bus or private transfer instead.
You can’t take a car on any of the ferries but you can take your luggage onboard. But know that you will be charged a luggage fee of around €2 per large piece.
Pros
- Fast travel times
- Great scenery
- Easy connections with trains in Salerno
Cons
- Can’t reach all the Amalfi villages
- The sea can be rough in bad weather
- Doesn’t run in winter
Ferries from Salerno
There are many ferries that run daily from Salerno to the Amalfi Coast between 8:20 a.m. and 6 p.m. The trip takes between 30 minutes to 1 hour depending if you board a fast or slow boat.
With 3 companies (NLG, Positano Jet, and Travelmar) servicing the route, there are around 11 crossings per day meaning it is faster and easier to travel from Salerno as it has more frequent departures than Naples.
The easiest port to take the ferry from is Piazza Concordia which is directly across from the train station, however, boats also leave from Molo Manfredi which is around a 20-minute walk if it’s more convenient for you.
The major stops on the route are Amalfi and Positano, but some ferries also serve the smaller towns of Minori and Maiori.
Ferries from Naples
The ferry from Naples to the Amalfi Coast takes around 1 hour 45 mins to 3 hours to make the crossing and is operated by NLG and Alilauro.
Ferries run from 8:30 am to 4 pm departing from the Molo Beverello pier which is a 10-minute walk from the train station.
Best Way to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast with Kids
Traveling in Italy with kids generally means finding the easiest and most efficient way to get from place to place, and getting from Rome to the Amalfi coast is no exception.
The best way to travel to the Amalfi Coast with kids is to either take the train or drive to Salerno, then connect with a fast ferry to Amalfi.
With just two simple connections, minimal walking (as the port is right opposite the train station), and the quickest travel time, it’s very simple, even if you’re traveling with a baby.
Taking the train + ferry option means you can be eating the traditional Italian cuisine of the fresh Amalfi region in just 2.5 hours!