Help with SITA bus schedule from Ravello

Suzanne-

Would you please post the actual web link to schedule?
What you have posted is a pdf-not accessible

If you are taking a 4:45 ferry i would take an earlier bus than 4:05- that is cutting it very close, buses are not always exactly on time

ETA
Here is a schedule
https://www.positano.com/en/bus-schedule?route=ravello_amalfi

It looks like some Ravello buses makes a loop to Scala before heading down to Amalfi

I would take the 3:15 bus

Hi--sorry about that--here is the link:
https://www.ravello.com/sita-bus-schedule/scala-ravello-amalfi/

(if copy and pasting this link doesn't work I just went to ravello.com and clicked on SITA bus schedules at the top of the page, and then clicked on Scala/Ravella/Amalfi timetable below on the following page...sorry the link above isn't highlighting up like a link should, but www.ravello.com is my resource).

According to Ferryhopper, there is a NLG ferry going from Amalfi to Sorrento on that day leaving at 17:02, which I'd be happy to do, BUT it's the last ferry of the day. RS warns not to take the last ferry of the day in case of crowds, etc. But maybe it's fine?

But first I need clarity on whether there is a 16:05 bus or not. We have a 2:00 lunch reservation at Villa Maria. I could try to make an earlier reservation for that if there is an earlier bus than the 16:05, but we were hoping to go to Villa Cimbrone and have a couple hours there before lunch.

We won't get up to Ravello very early. The earliest ferry from Sorrento that day gets to Amalfi at 10:40, so we can try to catch the 11:00 SITA bus up to Ravello--if we're lucky--the timing is tight. But if we don't make that, the next bus is at 11:45, so we may not get up there until 12:10. That doesn't give us very much time to enjoy Ravello if we need to leave on a bus before 4:00 (if there even is one) but maybe I'm being unrealistic,...Thank you in advance for your help!

Thank you for your link--it's the same as the one I was using.

I'm still not sure I know how to read the timetable correctly. All I see leaving from Ravello earlier than the 14:05 is a 15:05 (3:05) bus from Ravello, not a 3:15.

Am I reading this incorrectly?

Would taking the 4:05 bus to make the 5:02 ferry in Amalfi (instead of the 4:45) still be cutting it too close? Again, that is the last ferry of the day going back to Sorrento...

I’m sorry- bus is 3:05

I can’t tell you which is best for your plans, you will have to decide yourself
Only you can decide if you want to risk it

The buses are for locals not just tourists but whether they are always on time is a question
I do know transportation on the AC is chaotic, whether that last ferry is crowded on your date is also unpredictable

I would probably skip the lunch- as it is (if you take the 11 bus up) you barely have time to see Ravello and walk out to Cimbrone.

Yes, it's not ideal, I realize.

I am going to check the SITA bus schedules from Sorrento to Amalfi that day (in lieu of taking the ferry there) to see if we could get to Amalfi earlier than 10:40. Therefore, trying to get an earlier bus to Ravello, giving us more time there.

Also would allow for an earlier lunch reservation, thus a more inviting timetable for taking the 3:05 SITA bus back to Amalfi to catch that 4:45 ferry.

Wanted to do ferry both ways but it does seem to shorten our time there considerably......

Good idea
I would take one of the very first buses out of Sorrento
As the morning goes on those buses get more and more crowded and you might not even get on your first choice

https://www.positano.com/en/bus-schedule?route=sorrento_positano_amalfi

I thank you so much for your advice and insight!

Schedule now is:
Take Sorrento to Amalfi SITA bus @ 7: 45 am
(I don't think I want to do the 6:30 bus-- we're on vacation--but I could be talked into it I suppose)
Arrive Amalfi 9:15 am.

Take 9:30 am SITA bus from Amalfi and arrive Ravello @ 9:55. (If this fails, take 10:00 bus from Amalfi to arrive in Ravello@ 10:25).
Go to Villa Cimbrone for 1 - 2 hours. Get an earlier lunch reservation, so as to be able to take the....

SITA bus from Ravello @ 15:05, arriving Amalfi @ 15:35. Allowing for us plenty of time to take the 16:45 ferry back to Sorrento.
I hope this is a good plan!

Suzanne-

Could you share how successful you are with the Amalfi - Ravello bus trip plan you mentioned. And could you also share where you were waited for bus on your way back from Ravello to Amalfi. And any additional details would be very helpful. I am planning to go there in next few months. I have exactly the same question as you had about the bus schedule as it has Ravello mentioned two times. I am not sure if it means two different locations in Ravello or two different routes depending on day and time. When I use Google Map at different times, it always gives different spot for waiting for the bus. And the bus stops on Google are different from the SITA 5110 schedule as well. So it just adds more confusion. Really appreciate your response. Thanks.

I'm also very curious about these buses, knowing how chaotic transportation in that area can be.

My interpretation of the SITA 5110 schedule is that the two appearances of Ravello in the schedule represent two different routes of the bus line. One route is starting from Ravello going to Amalfi. The other could start in Scala as an example but passing through Ravello. So the waiting place back to Amalfi should be all near Piazza Duomo.

Another possible option is through Amico bus line: https://www.amicoshuttle.com/en/
I am not sure how reliable Amico is based on the reviews I read so far.

Hi bhquiao and Pat (and others interested),

Happy to relay our experience of getting to and from Ravello! Thank you for asking---it's a bit complicated...but ideal plans will vary a bit depending on what time of year you are there. We were there in October--very busy time (still) , and bus/ferry schedules change depending on season, but I can give you a timeline of how we were able to spend our day and maximize our time in this absolutely beautiful town!

I have a meeting tonight, and need to dig out my notes for the specifics.
I will get back to this forum post tomorrow with the details---hope it will be helpful!

More to come...Suzanne

Suzanne- great hearing from you, thx, looking forward to your info!

In a nutshell, our day trip to Ravello involved hiring a private driver to go directly to Ravello from Sorrento (our home base), and a bus/ferry combo returning from Ravello/Amalfi to Sorrento. After trying to coordinate ferries and buses only (and with no guarantees especially of getting on buses at specific times due to lines, unpredictable schedules, etc.) we secured a private driver through our Airbnb host.

It was totally worth it; I believe the price for a one-way ride was around 140 euros (including tip). It’s not cheap, but with tourism at full tilt (still, in October) this option gave us enough time to see both of the recommended villas at Ravello AND have a nice, unrushed lunch. The following is our itinerary…

Tip: for the return bus/ferry trip from Ravello to Amalfi to Sorrento, we 1) purchased our SITA bus tickets at the Sorrento train station the day before trip to get from Ravello to Amalfi (to catch the ferry) and 2) also bought our ferry tickets ahead of time directly from the ferry company at the Sorrento Marino Picolla. Both saved us time on our Ravello day.

This itinerary gives you about ½ -1 hours at Rufolo and 2 ½ full hours at Cimbrone
Before a leisurely lunch reservation at 12:30 or so)

7:00: Private driver pick-up @ 7 am at apartment. One way, directly to Ravello
Drive time can take up to 2 hours—no kidding!-- with traffic. Asked driver to drop
us in Ravello at Piazza Duomo
8:15: Arrived Ravello.
(We arrived well before 9:00. Our driver said that even leaving at 7:30 or
8 am would have taken closer to 2 hours. We had plenty of time to have a lovely
coffee and croissant on the main piazza before the Villas opened)

9:00: Walk (1 min.) to Villa Rufolo
(daily 9am – 8pm; from Piazza Duomo, enter villa through the watchtower)
9:00-10:00: Toured Villa Rufolo.
(Palace villa minimal to show, but grounds are worth 45 min.- hour or so. Lovely!

10:00: Walk (11 min.---up and down stepped lanes) to
10:15: Arrived Villa Cimbrone (daily 9:00 – sunset)

10:20 – 12:20: Tour Villa Cimbrone
Use map they give you at entrance to explore all the areas.
There is a beautiful café with refreshments if you so choose.

12:20: Walk (5 min.) to Villa Maria for lunch.
12:30: Lunch Villa Maria (terrace with sea views—recommend!)
(I re-scheduled our rez for this earlier time to have leisurely lunch
and be able to catch bus down to Amalfi for ferry with other options if we
couldn’t get on bus of our choice. We did

2:20: Walk (7 min.) from Villa Cimbrone to SITA Bus Stop (Via Giovanni Boccaccio)
Wait for SITA Bus: Scala-Ravello-Amalfi 15:05-15:35 (3:05 – 3:35)

3:40: Walk (1min.) to Alilaura Gruson ticket office on the ferry docks (next to NLG)
(Confirm departure dock for: Alilauro Gruson (Amalfi- Sorrento)
16:45 – 17:55)
IF unable to get on the 13:05 SITA bus, the next bus isn’t until 4:05-4:30 (16:05)—too late for 4:45 ferry.
Must be at dock for ferry at least 25 minutes ahead of time!
4:20 is latest possible time we need to be at Amalfi marina to
catch 4:45 ferry back to Sorrento!
6:00: Arrive Sorrento, Marina Piccola.

Suzanne - Thanks a lot for the detailed itinerary. It is very helpful. Tips for buying the bus ticket in Sorrento a day earlier and reaching to dock 25 minutes before ferry leaving are important. I really admire your peaceful lunch in Ravello. I would wonder if I should take a private car over there as well to really enjoy the time there. Thanks!

Bhquiao--very happy to help! I think you will find these transportation options the most stress-free.

While this itinerary is somewhat "padded" with extra time in between the various modes of transport (walking, bus, ferry), it's not such a bad thing to people watch and take in the scene while waiting. I find it much preferable to running around and crossing fingers hoping to make the next connection!

Hope you have a wonderful trip--Ravello is definitely worth the effort! Most stunning views we saw on our trip!

Suzanne, thanks, this will be a great resource to many travellers. Thanks for all the details. I don't think most folks, who are new to the AC, can visualize the poor transportation infrastructure in the area.

Pat, yes I agree! You cannot underestimate the time/challenges of traveling in the area—it takes some planning for sure! The difference between our last trip in 2013 and 2025 was notable!

Of course, folks also need to be aware of slightly different bus and ferry options depending on time of year you visit. For ferries especially, I think they are quite limited in the “winter months”…

It is a wonderful part of the world and worth seeing for sure!