NOTE: Please visit my more recent blog post Amalfi Coast Ferry Schedule 2016 for updated information.
Spring has arrived and Easter is just a week away, which means it’s time for the ferry service to begin along the Amalfi Coast. The company Travelmar runs the ferry boats that connect Salerno with Amalfi and Positano, and service begins on April 1st, 2015. Getting around the Amalfi Coast by ferry is not only more convenient but also a great way to see the beauty of the coastline from the sea. No matter how many times I’ve made the trip up and down the coast, I still get out my camera and take photos. It’s just too beautiful to resist!
If you’re staying in Amalfi and would like to see Positano or the other way around, it’s just a 30 minute ferry ride between the two villages. All of the boats have an open seating area on the upper level, which is great for taking photos. Just be sure to bring a hat and your sunscreen as the summer sunshine doesn’t feel as warm as it is with the nice sea breeze. A little tip for taking photos: From Amalfi to Positano you’ll want to sit on the right side of the boat to be on the side closest to the land and the left side from Positano to Amalfi.
Besides avoiding the eternal issue of where to park the car or scooter, taking the ferry also means you arrive right in the heart of Positano. Once you step off the boat you’re just steps from the beach and the shops and restaurants are moments away. When the ferries arrive in Positano they turn shortly before the dock and back in. So if you’re sitting on the top level you’ll get a great 360 view as the boat turns! Do keep in mind, however, that since the dock in Positano is open to the sea that for safety the ferries are not able to stop here if the sea is rough. While it rarely happens during the summer, it can happen more often during the shoulder season. This is less of an issue in Amalfi, Salerno and Sorrento where there are ports.
Travelmar has launched a free app that includes their schedule (linked to the website) and the ability to book tickets on a smartphone or tablet and pay with Paypal.
Infants ride free on the ferries and there are reduced fares for children under the age of 10. Don’t forget that if you’re traveling with luggage on the ferry you will have to pay extra, usually about €1.50 per suitcase.
Visit the Travelmar website to find out all the details, see the latest schedules and book your tickets online in advance. I hope you’ll have a chance to take the ferry on the Amalfi Coast this year!
Very informative as usual! THANK YOU!!
I was wondering if there are any ferries departing from positano to napoli .. if not what would be a better choice? Considering we will be staying & nocelle & we want to reach naples at the earliest?
Many thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Layla, Given that Nocelle is up in the mountains and not very close to the ferries in Positano, I’d highly recommend booking a taxi transfer to Naples. It will be worth the little extra splurge if it works with your budget. 🙂
Always a treat to stay connected with the Amalfi Coast via your blog! I’ll be back home to Atrani when the weather warms up. (Just a note- can’t locate the TravelMar app — I’m in the U.S. I tried going to it from TravelMar website, or directly thru AppStore. Error message. So I believe it probably must be downloaded IN Italy. I’ve seen the same problem with apps between US and Brazil. Just fyi, & if others notice the same thing)
Hi Linda – I just downloaded it on the USA iTunes site, no problem. The easiest way to find it is to go to travelmar.it and at the top of the home page they have a link to their app. Hope this helps.
Thanks for sharing that tip, Paul!
Ciao Linda! Spring has been chilly this year so far, but I sure hope it warms up soon. Please do let me know when you’re back in Atrani. I’d love to meet up! Hum, sounds like Paul below had a solution for the Travelmar app. But soon you can just stroll over to Atrani to get tickets! 🙂
Is there ferry service by Travelmar between Sorrento and Amalfi? I see it on the website, but it will not let you book travel, We’ll be there May 9-11. Thanks, so much!
Hi Terry, Yes there is Travelmar ferry service from Sorrento and Amalfi this year. It’s a new addition and I wanted to double check on it once the season really got going, which is why it wasn’t mentioned in this blog post. But, yes, it is running! I’m not sure why it isn’t available to book online yet, but the ferries are connecting Sorrento with Positano and Amalfi. You’ll be able to buy your tickets at the port in Sorrento and Amalfi. Have a wonderful visit! – Laura
Hi Mike, I was reading your post regarding the luggage on the ferry, we are heading to Positano from Salerno in Aug and we’ll have a large suitcase each bout 20kg each, was it an issue at all and how much extra did you have to pay? Thanks in advance!
Thanks Laura for this wonderful site and handy info, I can’t wait to visit Amalfi Coast!
Hi Laura I was hoping you’d be able to let me know the times of the ferries from Amalfi to Sorrento in August and the cost. I’ve done the trip from Sorrento to Amalfi and back before by bus and really don’t fancy the nastiness of having to fight my way onto a bus back to Sorrento!!! Many thanks Helen.
Hi Laura
Couple of dumb questions that I hope you can help with please:
My wife and arrive in Salerno on May 10 by train from Naples. Do you have any helpful advice about how we get from Salerno train station to the pier for the ferry?
Also: I’ve been on the Travelmar website. They state there that luggage is charged extra: understood. However, they seem to say each passenger is only allowed 1 piece of luggage – and that shoulder bags are counted as luggage. Our ‘problem’ is that we will each have a shoulder bag – BUT we’ll also each be towing a large wheeled suitcase! In your opinion will we be OK rocking up to the boat like this? (After a long journey from the UK I don’t want to run into problems on the dock, so close to Amalfi)
Your help would be much appreciated thank you!
Great site by the way – we can’t wait to experience Amalfi for ourselves!
Mike
Hi Mike,
Happy to help! It’s not far from the train station in Salerno to the port to catch the ferry, and you can definitely walk it even with luggage. When you step out of the train station, just go straight. The sea is in front of you about, oh, three blocks away. Be careful crossing about three busy streets and then you’ll see a big piazza/ parking area with a tall column with a statue on top. That’s Piazza della Concordia. Cross that and you’ll see the “porto turistico.” Walk to the end of the pier where you’ll see white awnings and that’s where the ferries depart. You can see the train station, Piazza della Concordia and the port on this map.
Regarding the luggage, you’ll be find with what you mentioned. I just checked the website in Italian and it says that each passenger can bring a bag up to 10kgs (I don’t suppose they even have a way to weigh it though) and any baggage beyond that you have to pay for. So the shoulder bags would be your personal bags and then you’d need to pay extra for the wheeled suitcases. I see people boarding all the time with the luggage you described, so no need to worry. Always good to check in advance though! 🙂
Have a wonderful time on the Amalfi Coast!
-Laura
Such lovely photos of Positano and the Amalfi coast! I was so disappointed the ferry wasn’t running when we were there last year, but that’s just another excuse to return (among many)! I just wrote about the Amalfi coast in my “On My Radar” for this month. Suddenly I’m inspired by all things Italian and can’t wait to get back to this area for some tasty pizza and gorgeous views. 🙂
Lovely blog! You’ve got a new reader. 🙂
Thanks so much, Shannon! I’m so happy you stopped by and commented. I’ve just popped over to your website and look forward to following! Yes, it is a bummer that the ferries don’t run off season, but the sea is quite unpredictable in the winter. Yes, it’s a perfect excuse to return soon! 🙂
Help!
I am looking for a ferry from Sorrento to Positano June 10th. I cannot seem to find this route. Perhaps there is an indirect route by ferry and that is the issue?
This is my 3rd year in a row going to Amalfi coast but first time staying in Positano. I just love it!
Thank you for your help!
Hi Valerie, I’m not sure what the issue is right now, but the ferries don’t seem to be running between Sorrento and Positano/ Amalfi. I really hope that they will be by June, and you might just have to wait until closer or until you arrive to get the tickets. I was just talking to the ferry ticket office in Amalfi last week and they’re hoping soon as well since there are a lot of people asking!
Laura,
Do you know when the ferries stopping operating in the Autumn. I am planning a trip in late September or early October….will the ferries still be available?
Grazie!
Carolyn
Hi Carolyn, There’s not a fixed date for when the ferry service ends. If the weather is good then there’s often service until the beginning of November, which is a holiday here. However, ferry service definitely runs in September and through most of October. Have a wonderful time planning your trip!
Hi Laura,
Do you know if there is an earlier ferry from Positano to Salerno? We are trying to catch the 11:32 train to Rome, if we take the 10:00 ferry it will get us into Salerno at 11:10, not sure that is enough time to get from dock to station. Any thoughts greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
CB
Hello,
I have been travelling to Italy for several years now, to me it’s paradise on earth for holidays :), but this summer will be my first visit to Amalfi Coast. I was just wondering if ferries do work on Sundays, because I used TravelMar site and couldn’t find any ferry on Sunday 16th August.
Looking forward your answer! Grazie, Cristina
Hello Laura,
Is there a ferry from Salerno to Positano?
Hi Maria, Yes there is ferry service from Salerno to Positano. You can find the schedule on the Travelmar website.
Hi Laura,
My wife and I are staying at Positano for 5 nights towards the end of September. Your site has been the most helpful I have found during the planning of our 6 week holiday. Thank you.
We are dropping our rental car at Salerno and plan to travel to Positano.
Most questions have already been answered, however I was wondering if we were to book our ferry tickets now and the weather was bad on the day, would we get a refund?
Also, if we wait til the day and the weather is bad, are the bus services easy to locate and get “last minute” tickets?
We are definitely hoping for the ferry as your description sounds amazing.
For our return to Salerno to catch a train to Rome, we would need to be on the first ferry from Positano. Would you think this would be reliable considering we have only an hour between the two?
Any help would be appreciated.
Leon and Helen
We are travelling to Amalfi Coast first week of September. We are planning to take the last ferry from Positano to Salerno (6:30PM). Do you think we need to buy tickets online in advance or will I be able to get tickets at Positano when I get there around 2PM that same day? Do the ferries tend to get full?
Hi Anna, You would probably be fine just buying your tickets that day, but since the evening ferries can be busier with travelers returning from Capri then it wouldn’t hurt to have them booked in advance. Have a wonderful holiday!
Hi,
My husband and i will be arriving to Salerno by cruise (Emerald Princess) on july 6. Should we buy tickets in advance to take a ferry to Positano? If yes, which is the closest access to the ferry from the cruise pier? Travelmar mentions Salerno Concordia or Salerno Manfredi as departure points. Thanks,
Linda
Hi Laura
I’m getting a flight from Munich to Rome then a Train from Rome to Salerno in late August this year, I’ve looked at the availalable connections and I doubt I will be able to arrive in Salerno prior to 3.30pm. Are there any ferry/boat/jetboat services that operate from Salerno to Positano with departure times after 3.30pm?
Kind regards
Nathan
Hi Nathan, There is a ferry from Salerno to Positano that departs at 17:10. Would that work with your travel schedule? You can see the full schedule on the Travelmar website. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to take a bus to reach Positano. In that case I would recommend taking the train to Naples instead of Salerno and then transferring to the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento and then taking the bus to Positano. If you take the bus from Salerno you’ll need to change buses in Amalfi. Hope that helps!
The timetable does not show a 17:10 ferry now. Has it been discontinued?
Hi Laura – I am due in Sorrento in a few weeks, and was wondering whether there was any news on whether ferries were running from Sorrento to Positano/Amalfi this year? I’ve looked on most of the websites (Alicost, Travelmar, Caremar, Alilauro) and can’t seem to find anything? (I’m not so keen on relying on the SITA buses!)
With many thanks,
Tanya
Hello there–Thank you for posting about the ferry schedule. We (2 adults and 2 children) are planning to take a train from Florence to Salerno on 7/31 and then travel by ferry to Positano. On the way back, we were hoping to see Pompeii en route to Rome. Any advice? We were thinking maybe of hiring a car to drive us from Positano to Pompeii, so that we can leave earlier in the morning. Then take the train from Pompeii to Rome? Thanks in advance for your assistance. Cheers.
I m planning to stay in Amalfi from august 15. To 22. I Will Like to return in Positano and Sorrento n’y ferry this Time Do you recommand to Guy thé ticket in advance i Know ir Will ne thé highlander season or i CAN Huy thé ticket thé same Day directes at thé pier
Thanks
Hello Laura
Hoping you can help me figure out how to get to Positano from Naples. 4 of us are arriving Saturday Sept 26, 2015 and staying in Positano until Wednesday Sept 30 upon which we’ll return to Rome. Is there nothing directly from Naples to Positano?
We only have two days to see the Amalfi coast. We are coming from Rome and I would love to know is it better to go Rome to Salernoon the fast train or Rome to Naples to see the Amalfi coast? It will be November 11 that we arrive. Will there be ferry service? If not are there private boats that we can take from Salerno to Amalfi and Positano? Thank you so much for your help! I look forward to hearing back from you! Melinda Lynch
Hi there,
Just wondering if ferry services run from Sorrento to Positano on a daily basis??
Thank you
Hi Laura,
Great blog! Apologies for the repeat question; just wondered if there was any update on the ferries to Positano, from Sorrento?
We’re arriving in Naples next sunday and had hoped to get the ferry from Naples to Sorrento, then change onwards to Positano from there. If there is still not boat from Sorrento to Positano, would you recomend another sea route?
Kind regards,
Stuart
Hi,
We are visiting Salerno in early October this year and would like to take a ferry up the Amalfi coast to visit some of towns.
Can you possibly tell us is there a ferry service which runs in October and if so, what is it called ?
Does this ferry service run between from Salerno and Naples and if so does it travel close enough to the coast to see the coast line etc? (We thought that if a ferry was available that this may be a better and more scenic way back to Naples to catch the train to Rome (as compared to taking the train from Salerno to Naples)
Any other advice you may have about seeing the Amalfi coast in October by boat would be appreciated. We have found it difficult to source information about what services run for this period.
Thanks & Regards
Andrea
Hi, My friend and I are visiting the Amalfi Coast end of August. We have 1 day to explore the cities and I am trying to figure out the best way to get to and from Amalfi. We would love to have someone drive us drive one way (preferably Sorrento to Positano) and then ferry home.
I also found some red hop on/off buses. Do you know anything about them and how reliable they are for travelling? They seem like a great way to get to the different cities (Positano, Amalfi, Ravello).
I am trying to figure out how to book a trip on the ferry from Amalfi back to Sorrento (or from Positano). I have tried multiple ferry websites as well as the app. It shows the route as an option, but says there is no route found when I go to book. Any advice on how to help?
Hi Laura
We are on Sorrento but cannot find any details of regular service to Positano. Can you shed any light? Has the service started running? Or stopped again? 🙂
Any help would be hugely appreciated.
Richard
Hi,
My husband and I will be visiting Amalfi from Salerno on Oct. 24. We really hope that the ferry is running then, but if not, are there buses available from Salerno to Amalfi?
We are traveling to Salerno second week of September, we are planning to take one of the morning ferry from Salerno to Positano. Do you think is necessary to buy the tickets in advance??
Do you have any idea if the ferry from Salerno to Positano will be running next year in late March? (March 20-23 time frame)? With Easter the following weekend, we were hoping they might start earlier. Thank you! We are SO looking forward to our first trip to Italy and the Amalfi Coast.
Do you have any idea if the ferry from Salerno to Positano or Sorrento will be running next year in late March? (March 20-23 time frame)? With Easter the following weekend, we were hoping they might start earlier. Thank you! We are SO looking forward to our first trip to Italy and the Amalfi Coast.
Could you tell me whether there will be a ferry running from Salerno to Amalfi on 24th September 2015? I’ve looked at the Travelmar timetable and tried to book but every date I try comes up as Not Available. (N/A). We’d be hoping to travel early afternoon. Should be very grateful if you’re able to advise.
Great info! Debating whether to stay 2 nites in Sorrento or Salerno as base w/o car for Amalfi Coast et al…. this ferry info is great. Thank you!
hi, i was wondering what are the weight limits for baggage in the ferries?
Ciao!
I’m planning a day trip from Rome – Positano arriving from Salerno via ferry and then a bus from Positano to Amalfi and back to Salerno(bus). Would it be more scenic to go to Amalfi by ferry first and then to Positano by bus? Does the ferry going to Positano stop at Amalfi on its way? Kindly advise. Thanks
we will be in Napoli for the day 4 November arriving at 7:30a and would like to take the ferry either from Napoli to Positano or from Sorrento to Napoli. Please let me know if the ferries still run to/from Positano on 4 November and if so what the time schedule is for Sorrento/Positano return and Napoli/Positano and return as I can only find it through October 31st. thank you!
Hello – i am staying in Positano until 10/13 Monday and was wondering if there is a ferry leaving from Positano to Naples? If not, do i need to take a ferry to sorrento first and then get on a ferry to Naples? I prefer to take the ferry over anything!
Also – where does the ferry drop us off in Naples? i see there are a lot of ports.
Thanks!
Kerri
Hi Laura, just discovered your site…lovely! Do you know if there can be very rough weather and the ferries don’t run in mid October? Looking at the Salerno to Amalfi route by ferry instead of bus. Thank you.
do the ferries run in march. I want to go from Sorrento or salerno to the Amalfi coast. want to leave on march 12 and return on march 14. thank you.
Hi Bobbi, The ferries usually start running on the Amalfi Coast around Easter, which is March 27th this year. So I would plan on the ferries not running on your travel dates and if they are it would be a nice surprise. It truly is weather dependent. If we have a beautiful March with good weather there’s a chance they could start up before Easter.
We will be staying in Sorrento for 2 weeks in September and are hoping to attend the Amalfi Musical evening. Should we book a taxi for our return to Sorrento or is there a bus service available ?
Hola vamos en agosto a sorrentoy queríamos ir en ferry a positano pero no encontramos la ruta en travelmar estará activa para comprar los billetes por internet? Gracias
Hi Laura
We are wanting to go from Amalfi to Sorrento and train to Pompei around 19th April,2016. Is this possible as I have seen reports of ferries not starting till May? All very confusing!!
Salve,
Am I doing something wrong looking for Sorrento-Amalfi ferry tickets on the Travelmar website (http://www.travelmar.it/en/reservations/) for 37th-30th May this early? It appears that any dates I select, even dates this very week, return no results.
I did find another website that appears to allow booking for Travelmar ferries during my intended timeframe. Do you know if the following site is a legitimate Travelmar ferry ticket vendor per chance? http://www.positano.com/en/ferry-booking
Grazie mille!
Ciao for now!
Please disregard my last comment…
It appears that I have once again…for a second time in my life while planning a subsequent trip to Amalfi… Mixed up Sorrento and Salerno…. And like Pompeii… it will likely happen again… =P
The timetables load without issue when performing the proper search.
Regardless, thank you!
We’ll be arriving via cruise ship for 1 day in October and prefer to do things on our own. Seeing the Amalfi Coast from the water definitely looks the way to go. How far is the cruise terminal from the ferry dock? Thanks for your lovely blog.
Thanks for your comment, Susan! The pier where your cruise ship tenders will drop you off in Amalfi is the same as the one where ferries depart, so it is super easy to catch the ferry to Positano. When you get off your tender you should find the ferry ticket booths right in front of you up a short flight of stairs. Have a wonderful time!
Hi Laura,
Thank you for your speedy and informative reply. However, I forgot that cruise ships come into several different ports in that region and should have been much more specific. Our ship will be docked in Salerno on Thursday, Oct. 20, so we hope to catch a ferry to Amalfi and perhaps Positano. that day, time permitting. There appear to be several piers in Salerno and we have been unable to learn which one is being used for large cruise ships. Any information you might have would be very much appreciated.
Thanks again.
Susan
Hi!
We will be taking the train from Rome to Salerno to head out to Praiano.Do you recommend taking the ferry to Amalfi and then bus to Praiano? Is there something less complicated? Is this itinerary reliable?
Thanks!
Maria
Hi Maria, Yes that sounds like the best option for reaching Praiano from Salerno. While Praiano is technically closer to Positano, the bus is easier to catch (very close to where the ferry docks) in Amalfi compared to Positano where you’ll have to walk up through the village. With luggage that would not be fun! Yes, the ferry service is reliable. The only thing that can modify it is rough seas, which doesn’t happen all that often during the summer. But as a back up you can always take a bus from the train station in Salerno to Amalfi and then transfer to the bus to Sorrento and get off at Praiano. Hope that helps!
Thanks so much!
Hi! We will be coming into Salerno via cruise boat. I believe on 9/15/16 the ship docks at port at 7 am and leave by 6:30 in the evening. I’m wondering if you’d recommend going to Capri and trying to do the Blue Grotto. Will we have enough time? Is it easy to find the ferry once we leave our boat or do I need to get a taxi/train? Thanks
Hi Susie, I’m not 100% sure on where your ship will be docking in the Salerno port and how far it will be from where the ferries to Capri depart. There are several port areas in Salerno, but they’re not far apart – at most a short taxi ride apart. If your cruise ship is offering day trips to Capri the day you dock then it’s a pretty good sign that it’s doable. It does sound like you’ll have enough time. If you get to Capri and seeing the Blue Grotto is a top priority, make sure to go in the morning. Hope it’s a beautiful and fun day!