No direct route: your three real options
Positano is about 60 kilometres from Naples airport, but the last stretch runs along the SS163 coast road, which is narrow, spectacular and slow. Nothing goes there directly from the terminal, so you pick one of these.
| Route | Price | Time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private transfer | about €100-160 per vehicle | 70-90 minutes | Families, groups, luggage, any arrival time |
| Alibus + ferry (April-October) | €5 + from €14.50 per person | 2.5-3 hours in total | Travellers who want the sea approach and travel light |
| Coach to Sorrento + SITA bus | €10 + €2.60 per person | about 3 hours | Budget travellers, light luggage, daytime arrivals |
Prices were checked in September 2026. Remember the difference that decides most bookings: buses and ferries are priced per person, transfers per vehicle.
Private transfer: what most people book, and why
A driver meets you at arrivals and takes you to your hotel door, or as close as the road allows. Prices we found for this route in September 2026:
- from about €100-122 for a sedan carrying up to three passengers;
- about €160 for a minivan for four to eight people;
- up to €300 for a minibus for larger groups;
- premium and luxury services run higher, and a night surcharge of around 20% is common.
The drive is roughly 70-90 minutes: the A3 motorway to Castellammare di Stabia, then the coast road. Good operators include tolls in the quoted price, so ask.
For a family of four the arithmetic is simple: €160 in a minivan against four bus tickets plus taxis and a long day with suitcases. The transfer usually wins, and it wins outright if you land in the evening.
Five things to confirm before paying:
- Flight tracking. Does the driver follow your flight number and wait if you are late, and for how long?
- Exactly where you meet, plus a phone or WhatsApp number for the driver.
- What is included: tolls, luggage, child seats, and whether the price is per vehicle.
- Where the car can actually stop. In Positano vehicles cannot reach most hotels: you will be dropped at the top or at the Sponda area, and continue on foot or with a hotel porter.
- Cancellation terms, especially for flights that can be delayed or diverted.
The ferry: the best arrival, with conditions
From April to October, fast ferries and hydrofoils connect the port of Naples with Positano and Amalfi. Tickets to Positano start from about €14.50, and Naples to Amalfi by high-speed ferry takes about 1 hour 50 minutes at around €32. Boats leave from Molo Beverello, which is 35 minutes from the airport by Alibus (€5) or a €24 fixed-fare taxi.
Arriving in Positano by sea, with the town rising from the water in front of you, is the best entrance on this coast. But it comes with conditions:
- It is seasonal. Services to Positano, Amalfi and Salerno run roughly April to October; in winter they thin out to a few sailings a week or stop.
- Sailings are few and early. The last useful departure is usually in the late afternoon: an evening landing at the airport does not connect.
- Luggage limits are tighter than on a coach, and boarding with large cases is awkward.
- The sea decides. Rough weather cancels hydrofoils, and it happens even in summer. Never plan your only connection on a boat.
- Allow two hours between landing and departure: baggage reclaim alone takes 20-30 minutes in peak season, then 35 minutes to the port, plus the ticket queue.
The bus route: cheapest, if you travel light
Two legs, both simple:
- Naples airport to Sorrento on the direct Curreri coach: about €10, roughly 80 minutes, luggage in the hold, several departures a day, tickets online or on board.
- Sorrento to Positano on the SITA bus: €2.60 for a single ticket, between 35 and 60 minutes depending on traffic. Buses leave from near Sorrento railway station, roughly every 30-60 minutes, with the first around 07:10 and the last departure from Positano at about 23:20, and a reduced service on Sundays and public holidays. A 24-hour COSTIERASITA pass costs €12 if you plan to hop along the coast.
Two warnings that make or break this plan. Tickets are not sold on board: buy them first at a tabacchi or newsagent. And from May to October the queues for the coast buses are long, especially in the afternoon, so you can wait through one or two full buses before boarding, standing, with your suitcase.
Total cost is €12.60 per person and total time around three hours in good conditions. For one or two people travelling light it is a reasonable deal; with three bags and a child it is a hard afternoon.
Timings and what actually goes wrong
- Baggage reclaim: 20-30 minutes in busy periods.
- Coast road traffic: between June and September the SS163 can slow to a crawl. A 70-minute drive becomes 100 and more on summer Saturdays.
- The airport closes from 22:30 to 04:00 except for delayed flights, and you cannot wait inside. A landing at 23:00 means a transfer or a hotel in Naples.
- Ferries stop early, so an evening arrival rules them out for the same day.
- On the way back, allow three hours before a long-haul flight and two before a European one, plus 90 minutes of travel: from Positano you will be leaving 4-5 hours before departure, and earlier on a summer weekend.
Getting to Amalfi, Ravello and Praiano
- Amalfi. By sea it is a direct high-speed ferry from Naples in about 1 hour 50 minutes, around €32 in season. By road it is a transfer, or the long way via Sorrento and the SITA bus through Positano.
- Ravello. Above Amalfi, with the last stretch uphill: transfers are the practical choice, and the bus involves another change in Amalfi.
- Praiano, Conca dei Marini, Furore. Small villages on the same coast road, well served by the SITA bus but with very few night services: check the last departure before planning a late dinner elsewhere.
Ask your hotel two questions before you arrive: where a car can stop, and whether they help with luggage from the drop-off point. On this coast the answers vary street by street, and they matter more than the price difference between options.
Positano itself: steps, not streets
Positano is built on a cliff, which changes the logistics of arrival. Vehicles use the one-way road that enters at Chiesa Nuova and leaves at Sponda: your driver will stop at one of those points or at a nearby lay-by, not at the door. From there most hotels are reached by steps, either down towards the beach or up from the road.
It means two things. First, pack for stairs: a case you can carry matters more here than its capacity. Second, if you have heavy luggage or difficulty walking, tell the hotel in advance: many arrange a porter service or a small local vehicle, and it is far easier to book it than to improvise on the day.
Renting a car: usually the wrong idea here
Plenty of visitors book a hire car at the airport and regret it by the second day. On the Amalfi Coast the problems stack up.
Parking barely exists. In Positano, Praiano and Amalfi the few garages charge by the hour and fill early; in high season you can circle for an hour and still pay a premium. The road is demanding. The SS163 is narrow, with blind bends, coaches coming the other way and scooters overtaking: it is fine if you drive it often, tiring if you do not. Restricted zones. Several coastal towns limit access in summer, sometimes by number plate on alternate days, and fines arrive at home months later.
A car makes sense if your base is inland, or if you are touring Campania for a week and using the coast for a single day trip. For a stay in Positano or Amalfi, a transfer in and out plus the SITA bus or the ferries for day trips almost always costs less, and takes less out of you.
If you do rent, choose the smallest car you can live with, confirm with your hotel that parking is included, and check its price: on this coast a garage space can cost more per night than a meal.
Which should you choose?
- Two people, light bags, daytime arrival, budget matters: coach to Sorrento plus SITA bus.
- Two people, real suitcases: transfer, or the ferry if you land before mid-afternoon in season.
- Family, or three or more adults: transfer, per vehicle it is the cheapest per head.
- Evening or night arrival: transfer only, booked in advance.
- Winter: transfer or bus. Ferries are minimal or absent.
- First trip to the coast and you want the view: the ferry, with a transfer booked for the return.
Before you book
We are building a directory of licensed transfer operators, guesthouses and car parks around Naples airport, with clear prices and no fixed fees for the businesses listed. If you run one of those services, see the partner page.
Meanwhile the practical information about the airport itself, from night closure to arrival times, is in our Naples airport guide. If your destination is Sorrento rather than the coast, we compare every option on the Naples airport to Sorrento page, and for the city, the station and the port there is Naples airport to the city centre.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Naples airport to Positano?
Three ways: a private transfer for about €100-160 per vehicle in 70-90 minutes; the seasonal ferry from the port of Naples from about €14.50 per person; or the Curreri coach to Sorrento (€10) followed by the SITA bus (€2.60), about three hours in total.
How much is a transfer from Naples airport to Positano?
From around €100-122 for a car with up to three passengers and about €160 for a minivan for up to eight, with a night surcharge of roughly 20%. Ask whether tolls are included.
Is there a bus from Naples airport to the Amalfi Coast?
Not directly. You take the direct coach to Sorrento and then the SITA bus along the coast to Positano, Praiano and Amalfi. Tickets for the SITA bus must be bought before boarding.
Can I reach Positano by ferry from Naples?
Yes, from April to October, leaving from Molo Beverello, with tickets from about €14.50 and a journey of one to two hours. Services are reduced or suspended in winter, and rough seas cancel them.
How long does the drive from Naples airport to Positano take?
Around 70 to 90 minutes, motorway then coast road. In summer, and particularly at weekends, allow considerably more.
What if I land in the evening?
Book a transfer. Ferries have stopped for the day, the coast buses thin out and the airport itself closes at 22:30, so there is nowhere to wait for the morning.
Where will the driver drop me in Positano?
At the entrance or exit of the one-way road, at Chiesa Nuova or Sponda, or at a nearby lay-by. Cars cannot reach most hotel doors: expect steps, and ask your hotel about porter service.
How do I get to Ravello or Amalfi?
Amalfi has a direct seasonal ferry from Naples of about 1 hour 50 minutes at around €32, or a transfer by road. Ravello sits above Amalfi and is easiest by transfer, since public transport requires another change.
Page updated on 18 settembre 2026. Fares and timetables change: always double-check on the official channels before you travel.