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Amalfi Coast, luggage and ferries

Hi everyone,
I am going to be overnight a couple of nights in Salerno with plans to spend one day exploring the Amalfi Coast (Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano) on my way to my next hotel in Sorrento. This will be on 9/1/23. My plan is to take the earliest ferry from Salerno to Amalfi, then from Amalfi to Positano and then take the last ferry (18:40) from Positano to Sorrento. My concerns are about having my luggage with me (a carry on size) while trying to enjoy my time and navigate walking around. Does anyone know if there are lockers at the ferry docks in each town?

The ferry schedule looks good - it appears you can buy tickets in advance but I see in the RS book he says buy tickets on the dock. Has anyone had a problem with buying tickets on the dock?
Any advice is appreciated!

Posted by
4697 posts

Currently the Positano ferry is not running. The dock was damaged by a recent storm. As a result the only way out of the area was private car or SRO buses with very long lines. Hopefully someone on the ground can post current updates.
We just returned from the area, and found the other ferries were very weather - dependent.
Also- never plan to take the last ferry- things happen....
Good luck!

Posted by
258 posts

Since the Positano ferry is not running, consider ferry to Amalfi, store bags, bus to explore Ravello (up up up) and back down to Amalfi. After that, grab your luggage and take a bus from Amalfi to Sorrento. This will take you most of a day anyway.
A few years ago, we rented an Air BnB in Positano. We wanted to ferry from Salerno to Positano. We were advised NOT to ferry all the way to Positano with our luggage anyway, but to take the bus from the ferry base after arriving in Amalfi from Salerno. We loved that bus ride (although it was packed and we were the only ones with luggage). Amazing and scary.

Posted by
6049 posts

I believe there is a luggage storage facility near the Amalfi port- not lockers but manned storage. IIRC it is next to the tabac where you get bus tickets- that was in 2019- so it may have changed
A Google search should bring up your options.

I doubt there is a storage facility close to Positano port as it is tiny and not many shops, etc nearby.

You will definitely need an alternate plan- even if Positano port is fixed that ferry is often canceled due to weather/rough water.

Ferry to Amalfi- check your bags- explore Amalfi- then bus to Ravello. Back to Amalfi then bus to Sorrento as Joan recommends is a good plan.

We spent a few very short hours in Positano- there's not much there other than high end shops. The views FROM the water are the best part.

Posted by
4697 posts

We were just in the area , and those buses were packed, with maybe a hundred people in line at the stops. Is this really a functional way to move around the AC?

Posted by
25 posts

Thanks everyone. I'm reading that the buses can indeed be severely crowded. The City Sightseeing bus is no more for Amalfi to Sorrento. If the ferry is down and the bus line is long I guess I'm left with taking a taxi and just dealing with the cost. Also, I tend to get car sick. Is this road as bad as the road to Hana in Maui?
Thanks!

Posted by
258 posts

I too got car sick on the road to Hana. I had to take over driving the rental car in order to feel better.
However, on the bus from Amalfi to Positano, I did not feel ill. if you sit on the left side, the scenery will be so spectacular that you will be distracted the whole way. Plus, keep in mind that the bus tends to empty out as you head north, with folks getting off at their destination town. I'd rather take the bus than a taxi, due to the high seats you can see more from the bus.
Funny story: we had our luggage, the bus pulled up, the driver got off (for a short break). We got on with the crowd. We thought we were buying tickets from the driver, so did not stop at the tabac to do so. Eventually the driver returned to the packed bus and began collecting tickets. When he got to my husband and I, and realized we had luggage, no tickets, and were absolutely stuck standing near the back, he took pity on us, and did not make us get off. The other passengers smiled and cheered. They even helped us find our Air bnb (the driver did not know the stop we were told to get off). A fine Italian adventure.
(We later took the Positano inter-town bus and watched the driver rip off two different groups of unsuspecting tourists, giving them no change for their ticket purchase. The second group complained and he was forced to give them change. So watch your pennies.)

Posted by
4697 posts

Have you checked Mondo shared tours of the coastline ?
We used a private driver from Aldo Limos who was very professional, had great English, and made the trip a pleasure.
Good luck!