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Amalfi Tour

Hi, My husband & I will be leaving for Italy next week. I am debating on shelling out 260euros for a taxi tour on the amalfi coast or should we go the cheaper route & ride the public bus. Any suggestions? Thanks, Mary

Posted by
15041 posts

Timetable Circumvesuviana Train from Naples to Sorrento: http://www.vesuviana.it/web/files/Orario%20Na_So%20dal%2017settembre%202012.pdf And back: http://www.vesuviana.it/web/files/Orario%20So_Na%20dal%2017%20settembre%202012.pdf Timetable Bus from Sorrento station to Amalfi and back: http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/public/tpl/campania/5070.pdf For tickets I suggest you buy the UNICO-COSTIERA ticket. It costs Eur 7.20 for 24 hours and you can ride both the Circumvesuviana train and the SITA bus all day with it. You can buy it at sales points of Unicocampania, Sita ticket office, Circumvesuviana ticket office and bars/shops displaying the logo. Check the website below: http://www.unicocampania.it/index.php?lang=en&center=inside&colonna=turisti&action=costiera&banner=costiera

Posted by
439 posts

Thanks Roberto, the timetables are a huge help

Posted by
15041 posts

I edited my message above with important info on discount tickets for both train and bus on the Amalfi coast.

Posted by
15041 posts

It's up to you, but I wouldn't pay that much. For 260 Euro you can rent a car for a week with all insurance coverage you can possibly buy. If you don't feel comfortable driving in Italy, you can reach Sorrento from Naples with the Circumvesuviana commuter train (4 Euro) and from there you can take a bus from Sorrento along the Amalfi coast all the way to Amalfi. Of course you can stop along the way, for example in Positano, which is beautiful, and then take the next bus a little later to proceed to the next town you want to visit. Once you reach Amalfi, you visit Amalfi and take the bus back to Sorrento. The cost of the bus would be just a handful of Euros round trip for both you and your husband.

Posted by
1499 posts

In 2011 we took the bus from Sorrento to Amalfi - would never consider a taxi tour. The bus stopped at a pullout above Positano for about 10 or 15 mins for the passengers to get out and take pictures. We were able to spend as much time as we wanted in Amalfi and then take the bus back. We considered stopping at other towns but decided against it, but if you have time and energy you could fit in at least one other stop - just confirm the bus schedule.

Posted by
1829 posts

The Unico Costiera tickets are only valid in the Amalfi Coast area. The furthest you can go from Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana trains is to Meta di Sorrento ie 3 station stops. If you want to buy a ticket that will take you all over Campania eg to Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius and Naples as well as the Sorrento area and the Amalfi Coast you could buy the 3 day UNICOCAMPANIA 3T ticket for 20 euro. You will have to do the math to see whether you would get good value. If you just want to visit around Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, the Unico Costiera tickets would be sufficient. http://www.unicocampania.it/index.php?lang=en¢er=inside&colonna=turisti&action=3T

Posted by
25 posts

I'm a little confused. Is it possible to take the Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Sorrento (purchasing a round trip train ticket), then purchase a 24hr Unico bus pass or RT ticket to go along the Amalfi coast reversing whenever we feel like it? We'd love to see the Amalfi Coast but plan to see it one day & visit Pompeii/Herculaneum on another.

Posted by
25 posts

Sorry - I hit the send button too soon. So a Unicocampania 3T ticket covers the train from Naples - Sorrento and the bus from Sorrento along the Amalfi coast for 3 days travel? We could see Amalfi coast one day & see Pompeii/Herculaneum on another?

Posted by
1829 posts

Kim - yes the 3 T ticket will cover all transport costs (except sea crossings) for 3 days. However, as you are going to Pompeii and Herculaneum and the Amalfi Coast, consider the Unico Artecard ("tutta la regione" version) for 27 euro. It covers entry to the first two sites you visit, 50% discount on further sites plus same travel privileges as the 3T ticket. http://www.campaniartecard.it/EN/itinerary.cfm?id=13

Posted by
25 posts

Thanks, Linda & Roberto - this is the best tip I've found yet in planning our Italian adventure!

Posted by
3551 posts

The public bus is great,cheap, clean and timely. I also suggest you visit beaitiful and scenic Ravello on the same bus as the Amalfi but about 10 min further. you will love it also a great lunch or dinner stop. Consider take ferry part way to enjoy the coast from the sea. say from Sorrento to Positano, then walk up to bus .

Posted by
1829 posts

The ferries from Sorrento to Positano have finished operating for this year. Am in Sorrento at the moment and weather has not been that good for sea trips.

Posted by
2347 posts

Great idea to take ferry to Positano and then walk up hill. However, be prepared, that walk is really, really uphill.

Posted by
35 posts

We were there 2 weeks ago we had a car we put it in the hotel garage for 4 days and used public transportation. That was the only way to go and not expensive.

Posted by
534 posts

We just got off a cruise that included a stop in Naples. Some friends of our hired a taxi for the day so that is another option. I don't remember what they paid, but taxi fares are always flexible. The driver took them where they wanted to go for the whole day and dropped them off at the ship. Having said all that, we did the trains and ferry rides and did the same stuff as them for a fraction of the cost.