drive to Amalfi

The coast road is the only way to get to Amalfi by land. There may be some goat tracks over the mountains but they will be at least, if not more, curvy. Why do you have to drive?

Thanks for the info. We are driving because we will be in Italy for 3 weeks and will be going to Sicily as well as a number of smaller towns. We are two older women who do not want to haul our luggage around. I realize a car is disadvantageous in certain areas, but it is good to have in smaller towns and while touring the countryside. Sara

Sara, Are you aware of the usual "caveats" for driving in Italy? If not, post another note for further details.

Hi Ken, I've heard Italians are crazy drivers. My husband and I drove through Italy in the 1980's and it was okay. Is there more I should know? Thank you. Sara

You'll need an International Driving Permit to accompany your California drivers license. You should confirm your insurance or else buy the comprehensive coverage from the rental car agency. Since you must drive to Amalfi, I suggest taking the Autostrada to Salerno and approach Amalfi from there. That reduces the amount of the coastal road you'll need to drive.

Sara, Here's some additional information on driving in Italy. It's important to note that for driving in Italy, each driver must have the compulsory International Driver's Permit, which is used in conjunction with your home D.L. These are valid for one year, and easily obtained at any CAA/AAA office (two Passport-sized photos required, which in some cases is offered at the issuing office). Failure to produce an IDP if requested can result in fines on the spot! Have a look at This Website for more detailed information on driving in Italy. You may also want to have a look at some of the other posts here concerning the dreaded Zona Traffico Limitato areas that are becoming increasingly prevalent in many Italian towns & cities ( especially Florence!). EACH PASS through one of the automated Cameras will result in a €100+ ticket! There's also the issue of parking tickets and the possibility of having "The Boot" applied, and high fuel costs, tolls, etc. A GPS along with a good Map would also be a good idea. Be sure to also give some thought to the question of CDW and theft insurance. In Italy, buying CDW from the rental firm is usually compulsory, so coverage provided by credit cards will not apply. Check the Car Rental section in Europe Through The Back Door for further information. You could also download the "Car Rental" PDF Guide from Gemut. Cheers!

I just got back from Italy and wouldn't drive there if I were being paid to do it! Not if you're used to US driving at least. I would not recommend the bus either only because I wouldn't support the business that drives such a monstrous beast of a vehicle on a road meant for tiny vehicles. Our driver told us they hold up traffic for long periods because on some of the corners, they have to wait for NO traffic because they take up the whole road. My personal opinion would be to skip Amalfi all together - the only person who was nice to us was the lady at our hotel. Take the train from Rome to wherever you need to get to and be very careful of pick pockets if you end up in the lower level in Naples. If the train is packed, skip it and wait for the next one in 20 minutes. Places south of Rometo see, IMO, are only Sorrento and Capri.

I drove from Rome to the Amalfi coast and the towns throughout in May a few years ago. I very much enjoyed the drive from Rome. It did take some getting use to driving the coast itself. But, after a day I got use to it. One option for you is to drive there and than just park for you stay and take buses. Make sure the place your staying has parking, it can be a hassle.

Hi, We just drove from Rome to Amalfi. It's pretty easy, in my opinion. Our GPS took us through Salerno, and up until that point you're on really great freeways. From Salerno to Amalfi you're on the "Amalfi Coast Road", but for the most part it's the easiest part of the road. For most of the way it's wide (as in, you can get a bus by without having to stop your car!). There are a few places it gets narrow. Cheers!!

Thank you all for your responses. We will indeed be going to Amalfi from Salerno so it should not be too bad to drive. Then we will take a bus to tour the other cities and see the rest of the coast. Sara