I would love your expert help on this topic. I'm quite the newbie feeling a bit overwhelmed with planning so I turn this over to the experts to get me to Positano! We are traveling by train on Oct. 21 from Florence to Salerno. My son helped us buy the tickets which are non-refundable. We arrive in Salerno at 13:42. What is the best way to get to Positano from Salerno? I read something months ago about ferry travel. I would appreciate specifics on this as best you can give me. We will return the same way--Positano to Salerno as I have train tickets from Salerno to Rome where we will fly home from. I SO appreciate the help.
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
Hi Patti--
We stayed in Salerno for 5 nights in March of this year, and one day we took the bus from there to Amalfi, just about an hour trip, dirt cheap at 2,20 Euro. If we had wanted to continue on to Positano, we would have changed buses right there (no problem--it's all in one seaside lot) and it would be another 40-minute ride. Here is the SITA bus schedule that we used:
http://www.theamalficoast.net/orari_sita_bus_timetables.html
October 21 may be a little late in the season for the ferry, but you will want to check all the companies to be sure.
BTW, the bus station in Salerno is adjacent to the train station.
Posted by
OP
Arroyo Grande, California
9 posts
Jay, that you so much for this help. Do I just wait and buy the bus tickets at that time or do I need to buy them now? Same for ferry? I'm guessing that would definitely be one to wait on since you indicated the ferries may not be running at that time or weather could affect their travel.
Posted by
Rick Steves' Europe
16894 posts
Buy either ticket there on the spot. Salerno is the starting point for the bus, but not the point where it tends to fill up.
Posted by
Chicago
1949 posts
...what Laura said. The Salerno train station is a little aged but totally functional & bustling. You will have no problem--it's very convenient.
Too bad you're only using Salerno as a pass-through. We used it as a base for 5 days and easily took trips to Pompei, Naples & of course Amalfi, either by bus or train. In early March the A.C. was just opening up for business for the season, so we opted to stay instead in Salerno, which at that time of year had very, very few tourists. It was great to return from daytripping in the late afternoon, take a walk along the lungomare watching the sunset, then a quick nap back at our B&B (Salerno Centro--wonderful!) before a leisurely dinner among the locals at any one of Salerno's fantastic restaurants. We hope to return one day to this typical southern Italian small city of about 130,000 residents.
Posted by
OP
Arroyo Grande, California
9 posts
Thank you for the helpful information. I had no idea where to stay since it's our first time. I'll definitely keep Salerno in mind for a future trip. Sounds like the ferry would be a great way to get there but I'd have to know for sure they are running. If that doesn't work, the bus is our ticket and we'll buy tickets on the spot.