Are you stuck wondering how to get to Positano? Well, if you’ve done any research on this enigmatic Amalfi Coast destination, you may have already discovered that the journey isn’t exactly a straightforward one.

(And if you haven’t, well, I’m sorry to be the one to burst your bubble.)

First things first, Positano won’t be the easy one-and-done flight that you may have been hoping for. In fact, you can’t actually fly into Positano at all!

Oh, and did I mention that trains don’t run through the town, either?

No? Well, they don’t. Crazy, right? Next thing you know, I’ll be saying you can’t travel by carrier pigeon, either! (Yeah…sorry, that also won’t work.)

All joking aside, Positano definitely isn’t the easiest destination to reach, but it’s one you must get to at least once in your lifetime.

And if you’re still on the fence, perhaps these delicious Positano restaurants with killer views, postcard-worthy Positano beaches, and fun things to do will sway you…

…Plus, you can even check out how to snag a room at one of the top boutique hotels in Positano! (You know, if waking up to some of the best views in Italy just happens to be your thing.) As you can see, the journey to this “Jewel of the Amalfi Coast” is well worth the effort, provided you know how to get there…

Fortunately, that’s where this helpful Positano guide comes in! In it, I’ve covered all the details you’ll need for a seamless journey, from the various transportation options for getting to Positano to what to avoid along the way. And trust me, with all of the quirky nuances associated with getting to this dream destination, you’re definitely going to want to use this guide to plan ahead before your trip.

So if you’re ready to turn that Amalfi Coast dream into reality, let’s dive in and uncover exactly how to travel to Positano (sans an airplane and a carrier pigeon)! 

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through these links, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Read the full disclosure here.

Unfortunately, you cannot fly directly into Positano, as this Amalfi Coast town is too small to support its own airport. Instead, most people will fly into Naples International Airport (NAP), which is the nearest airport to Positano.

Yes, you can drive to Positano. However, keep in mind that the roads leading into the town are tight, winding, and include a lot of switchbacks. Unless you’re experienced with driving around Europe (or you’re otherwise up for the new challenge of navigating traffic with very limited space), you’re best off hiring a private driver.

You definitely don’t need a car in Positano. The town is small and extremely walkable, so it’s quite easy to navigate on foot. If you’re planning to spend all of your time in Positano, it’s generally much easier to do so without a car so you won’t have the added hassle of parking.

Alternatively, if you’re planning to visit multiple Amalfi Coast towns during your trip, you’ll want to consider renting a car for the convenience of traveling around.

Unfortunately, there are no ride-sharing options such as Uber along the Amalfi Coast. While you can book a taxi instead, it will definitely cost you. For instance, the driver will factor the distance it takes to reach you for the initial pickup into your total charge. That means you’ll technically be paying for an additional journey that you didn’t even make!

A car service is an alternative option to consider, but you’ll need to book this in advance.

There are several different ways to reach Positano, including via public transportation (such as a combined train-and-bus or train-and-car journey), arranging a private transfer, and driving yourself.

Keep in mind that there are no trains feeding directly into the town, so you cannot reach Positano solely by train.

Alternatively, you can also get to Positano by boat, which I’ll get into later.

First, let’s cover the options of train and bus travel.

While hopping a train can seem convenient for a portion of your journey to Positano, it will only get you so far. Since trains don’t go all the way to Positano, you’re going to be doing one of these three things after your train trip:

1. Taking a bus
2. Driving yourself
3. Arranging a private transfer

In reality, when you add it all up, a train can add unnecessary time to your trip (unless you’re going to Sorrento).

However, if this is the option you’re most comfortable with, you’ll either want to get off at Sorrento or Salerno and then figure out the remainder of your trip from there. Sorrento is only about a 30-minute drive from Positano, whereas the drive from Salerno will take you about 90 minutes.

Another public transportation option is the SITA bus. This is by far the cheapest means of reaching Positano.

However, I’d only really suggest doing this if you’re taking the bus from Sorrento. In this case, you’ll have a pleasant ride of only about 45 minutes and it will only cost you $2.20 (2EUR).

Otherwise, if you’re starting the bus journey in Naples, things will be more complicated and time-consuming, albeit cheap. I’ll get into more detail on this later, as I cover the different options for traveling from the major metropolitan cities. The journey is nearly 2.5 hours if you go this route.

General Note: Given the high volume of people, the buses often don’t run exactly on schedule. In addition, you may have a difficult time finding a seat during the peak summer season.

Ultimately, I don’t recommend traveling by bus from anywhere other than Sorrento. The only exception would be if your budget is the most important consideration (and you don’t mind the additional travel time).

Personally, I think a car is the best option for traveling to Positano. You can either rent a car and make the drive on your own or you can hire a private driver (my personal recommendation).

Does the idea of zipping along the coast with the windows rolled down and the wind in your hair sound like your Amalfi Coast dream? If so, then getting to Positano by car may just be the method for you. If you’re flying into Naples International Airport, you can rent a car right from there and drive it down to Positano, a journey between an hour and 90 minutes, depending on which route you take.

One of the perks of driving independently is that you can stop off to take in the gorgeous views along the coast – and there are many! Be sure to have your camera ready to capture all the magic.

Once you reach Positano, you’ll need to pay for parking, as there’s no free parking in the town center. Metered street parking – if you can manage to find a space – is available at a rate of about $3.28 (3EUR) per hour.

Alternatively, there are also several paid lots you can use. The ones nearest to the city center are Mandara and De Gennaro, which typically charge between $8.76 to $10.95 (8EUR to 10EUR) per hour.

While there are technically free spots available in the tiny villages of Nocelle and Montepertuso, you’ll need to pay to take a bus to Positano, so you’re really not saving much in the grand scheme of things.

Although you may get lucky and find a street spot, most of these highly-coveted spots are exclusively reserved for Positano residents.

Be prepared to pay upwards of $27.55 (25EUR) per day to keep a car in Positano.

However, as I mentioned earlier, driving here is no easy feat if you’ve never navigated tight, winding roads before. There’s also a caveat – only one single road runs along the coast, The Amalfi Drive. So if the whole “weaving and praying” method isn’t for you, you won’t be able to skirt this option in lieu of some calmer backroads.

Frankly, if you’re even the slightest bit hesitant about taking the wheel (and playing the parking game), I highly recommend hiring a private driver. While this can be a higher investment on your part – typically of around 100EUR from Naples – it is well worth the luxury for your peace of mind and safety, trust me!

If you’re going to be traveling to Positano during the day, the ferry is another option to consider. In this case, you can catch a ferry from Naples, Salerno, Sorrento, or Amalfi.

Ferry service tends to cease around sundown and the last thing you want is to miss the boat – no pun intended! So if you plan to arrive to Positano in the evening (after 7PM), the ferry option is off the table.

Many people tend to visit Positano from major metropolitan cities like Florence, Rome, and Naples (which I shared above). That’s because these cities are transportation hubs with large train and bus stations, making it easier to arrange the trip to Positano.

The most efficient way to get to Positano from Florence is by train. The journey takes approximately 4 hours and 45 minutes and costs between $60.60 – 165.27 (55EUR – 150 EUR)

Keep in mind that the journey will also involve a brief drive of about 30 minutes at the end, since trains don’t transit through Positano.

Train Route Breakdown from Florence to Positano:

• Take the train from Firenze S.M.N to Napoli Centrale (Approx. 2h, 59min)
• At Napoli Centrale, transfer to the 1 Line
• Remain on the 1 Line until you reach Vico Equense (Approx. 1h, 1min)
• Take a taxi, arrange a private transfer, or rent a car and drive the remaining distance to Positano (Approx. 30 min)

If you wish to travel by bus, you can essentially cut your costs in half from $40.77 – $45.17 (37 EUR – 41EUR).

However, it’s important to be aware that the bus journey takes nearly twice as long as the train trip. You are looking at nearly 10 hours of travel time!

You can take a look at the bus route here.

If you wish to drive from Florence to Positano, you can anticipate a journey of anywhere from 5 hours and 41 minutes to 6 hours and 44 minutes, depending on the route.

Since this is a significant journey, you may wish to hire a private driver. However, this is a steep investment that can run you up to around $770 (700EUR). 

Traveling from Rome to Positano by train is the most efficient means of travel (and is roughly equivalent to the journey by car). The train journey takes just under 3 hours.

Train Route Breakdown from Rome to Positano:

• Take the train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale (Approx. 1h, 10m)
• At Napoli Centrale, transfer to Napoli P. Garibaldi
• Take the train from Napoli P. Garibaldi to Castellammare di Stabia (Approx. 50 min)
• Take a taxi, arrange a private transfer, or rent a car and drive the remaining distance to Positano (Approx. 33 minutes)

The combined bus-and-train option is the cheapest means of traveling from Rome to Positano. It can cost anywhere from $11 – $38 (9.98EUR – 34.48EUR). You can take a look at the bus/train route here.

Alternatively, you may wish to take the bus the full way, which will take an additional 15 minutes or so. You can see the bus-only option here.

If you’re considering driving from Rome to Positano, the journey will take you approximately 3 hours and 21 minutes.

Otherwise, you can hire a private driver for anywhere from $330.79 – $441.06 (300EUR – 400EUR).

Again, traveling from Naples to Positano by train is the most efficient option. The train journey takes just under 90 minutes. You’ll then need a car to transport you for the final leg of the journey.

Train Route Breakdown from Naples to Positano:

• Take the train from Napoli P. Garibaldi to Castellammare di Stabia (Approx. 50 min)
• Take a taxi, arrange a private transfer, or rent a car and drive the remaining distance to Positano (Approx. 33 minutes)

Side Note: See if you can also dedicate some time to this amazing city and uncover the best things to do in Naples while you’re here!

If you wish to travel to Positano by bus from Naples, you’ll begin at Naples International Airport. From here, you’ll take the Curreri Viaggi shuttle to Sorrento for $11.03 (10EUR). You’ll need to purchase your ticket online in advance.

Keep in mind that this option will not work after 7:30PM, when the buses cease service for the day.

From Sorrento, you can take the SITA bus to Positano, as I mentioned previously.

Getting to Positano from Naples by car is the most streamlined option. The drive takes approximately 1 hour and 12 minutes.

For the most hassle-free experience possible, I suggest booking a private transfer from Naples. With this option, you can either meet your driver at Naples International Airport, at the train station, or even at a hotel (if you’re staying in Naples before Positano).

There’s no ferry going directly from Naples to Positano. However, you may wish to catch the ferry from Naples to Sorrento and then hop another ferry from Sorrento to Positano.

Keep in mind that the ferries operate seasonally, so be sure to check the dates and times on the ferry schedule in advance.

Alternatively, you may be traveling to Positano from a smaller/lesser-known city. In this case, your best bet would be to first get yourself to a major transportation hub (like the ones I mentioned above) so that you can transit more easily.

I hope this guide has given you lots of useful insight on how to get to Positano. While it’s far from the easiest destination to reach in Italy, it will all be worth it once you see how stunning it is in person!

Have you visited Positano before? If not, which transportation method would you choose? Let me know in the comments below!

Wondering what you can’t miss in Positano? Check out my other guides on where to stay and what to do:

• 20 Boutique Hotels in Positano with Amazing Views
• 25 Fun Things to Do in Positano on Your First Visit
• Best Views in Positano (& Exactly Where to Find Them)
• 10 Best Restaurants in Positano with Killer Views
• Best Beaches in Positano & Beyond
• Taormina or Positano: Which Italian Hot Spot Is Right for You?