We are taking the ferry from Palermo to Naples and then need to get to Minori. I see there are two ferry lines or is that incorrect? And then from the ferry I assume we take a taxi to the train station. The ferry gets in at 6 am and the train leaves at 8:42! I assume that there is no other option other than a taxi which is 100 euros and I think that is a waste of money. Any suggestions or do I have this right?
Posted by
Wichita
831 posts
Janet,
It has been a few years but when I did it I walked off the ferry in Naples and walked a couple of docks over and got a ferry. I had to wait a little while but drinking coffee and eating pastry while watching the bay and a castle wasn't bad. There are several ferry lines in Naples I think one of them was Metro del Mare.
I think there is also a bus option.
Posted by
Los Angeles
425 posts
Janet: here's how to save a BUNCH of money:
When you ship docks in Naples (either Tirrenia or SNAV, they arrive nearly at the same time), you can take a taxi or the streetcar which runs along the port boulevard to the Central Train Station (Napoli Centrale). A taxi costs about 15 Euros, and many taxi drivers try to "rip off" tourists, so you must be careful. At the Station, buy an UNICO CAMPANIA Fascia U5 ticket for 3.30 Euros, which is valid all the way to Minori.
Take a "regionale" ("R") train to Salerno, then the SITA bus from outside the station all the way to Minori. There are very frequent "R" trains, and hourly SITA buses out of Salerno. Use the SAME ticket on both legs, but you must punch the ticket each time, and write "Napoli" as your departure point, and "Minori" as your destination, on the ticket itself.
BEWARE: The UNICO CAMPANIA ticket is NOT valid on fast trains, only on the "R" trains. If you board one of the fast trains with this ticket, you may be fined.
The "R" train takes 40 minutes to Salerno, and the SITA bus takes 60 minutes to reach Minori from Salerno.
There is also a DIRECT SITA bus from the Naples Port which goes to Minori in 100 minutes, but it leaves at 10:00 a.m. (daily except Sundays), which may be too much of a wait for you (unless you want to visit the Angioino Castle across from the Port). You would also use the UNICO CAMPANIA Fascia U5 ticket on this bus.
Here are the schedules:
www.ferroviedellostato.it (trains to Salerno)
www.sitabus.it (buses to Minori and along the Amalfi Coast, between Salerno/Minori/Amalfi/Positano/Sorrento, and between Amalfi and Ravello.
Once in Minori, purchase the UNICO COSTIERA 24-hr and 36-hr tickets to use the SITA buses along the Amalfi Coast (including Ravello). They costs 6 Euros for 24-hrs and 15 Euros for 72-hrs. A one-way ticket between Minori and Amalfi costs 2 Euros, and is valid for 45 minutes.
Posted by
Los Angeles
425 posts
There's an even more direct way to travel from Palermo to the Amalfi Coast: take the once-per-week daylight or the overnight ferry from Palermo to SALERNO (bypassing Naples entirely), then the SITA bus from Salerno to your destination.
Here's more information about this twice-weekly service:
http://slowtalk.com/groupee/forums/a/tpc/f/862600685/m/923100123?r=923100123#923100123
From Salerno to Amalfi, there are SITA buses departing every 30-60 minutes. A one-way ticket (valid for 90 minutes) costs 3 Euros, and is called the "UNICO COSTIERA". The bus goes to Vietri sul Mare, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Atrani and Amalfi, where you can connect to another SITA bus to Ravello or to Positano/Sorrento.
There are also hydrofoils along the Amalfi Coast which depart from the Molo Manfredi in Salerno (next to the industrial port where the Palermo ferry docks), but service is subject to cancellation due to bad weather conditions and, is suspended from the autumn through the spring. The SITA bus is usually more reliable (as well as cheaper and much more frequent).
When you get off the ferry from Palermo, ask for directions to walk to the SITA bus stop to board the bus to Amalfi.
There is also ferry service from MESSINA to Salerno, also referenced in the hyperlinked article above.
If these schedules are not convenient, there's always the daily overnight car ferry to Naples, operated by both Tirrenia and SNAV.
Posted by
Los Angeles
425 posts
Janet: here's another travel option for you:
Your car ferry gets into Naples around 6:30 a.m.
There is a Metro del Mare hydrofoil departing Naples Beverello Dock (about 500 yards from where your ship arrives from Palermo) at 8:25, arrving Amalfi at 10:30. The one-way fare is 15 Euros. This is a seasonal service, but still operates in mid-September.
(By contrast, the train/bus fare from Naples to Amalfi or Maiori is only 3.30 Euros).
At Amalfi, there is a SITA bus at 11:00, arriving in Maiori at 11:15. The fare is 2 Euros for a 45-minute UNICO COSTIERA ticket. (Or you can buy a 24-hr. ticket for 6 Euros if you plan on using the bus later in the day).
This travel option avoids having to get to the Naples central train station by taxi or streetcar, and then connecting in Salerno to Maiori.
A two-hour wait for the Metro del Mare boat is actually very convenient: it will take you at least 30 minutes to disembark from the Palermo ferry, another 10 minutes to walk to Molo Beverello, and you can then have a leisurely breakfast in a cafe while you wait for your hydrofoil to Amalfi. Once in Amalfi, the connection to the SITA bus is extremely easy and close.