Naples to paestum in a day

The train trip is about an hour. Use www.trenitalia.com to look at the schedule both directions. Use the name “Napoli” in the search.

Stopping in Positano as well is not likely unless you hire a private driver as there is no train to Positano. You’d have to take a train to Salerno, a bus to Amalfi, another bus to Positano, then leave via bus to Sorrento or Salerno and train to Naples. Too many connections.

There are frequent trains from Napoli Centrale to Paestum and return during the day. The trip takes a little over an hour and costs €6.50 each way. It’s about a fifteen minute walk from the RR station to the Archaeological sites. Here’s a link to a map and more info. I visited Paestum last December and feel both the site and museum are really worth a visit.

In the time you have you won’t be able to visit Positano. To check on rail schedules go to http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en. You want to go from and return to Napoli Centrale.

Thank you both very much. I appreciate the information and links.

I am also interested in making this trip. It looks like these train tickets would be regional tickets. Can the others who replied confirm that since they are regional tickets, there would be no need to purchase tickets in advance? Thanks!

I have one more question, Couldn’t we take a bus from Naples to Paestum and have time to make it back to Naples? Thank you.

A simple check of www.Rome2Rio.com shows a bus to take almost two hours. I did not look at schedules but you can do so vi a link on Rome2Rio.

Yes, the trains are "locals" not high speed. The Regionale takes 1H15M. There is one leaving Napoli Centrale at 8:55 AM, arriving Paestum at 10:10 according to current schedules. Note the next train is not until 11:45 so if you do not make the 8:55, you won't get to Paestum until 12:47 on the slightly faster Intercity train.

Do keep in mind that it takes time to line up, get tendered in, and get to the train station. As you may know, the ship will leave without you if you are not back in time. I have been on the "last tender" myself!

Yes, you need to handle your transit plans carefully, both the train schedules and your ship’s schedule. You cannot include Positano on the same day’s itinerary, but you can easily include a nice stop in Salerno, which has an interesting medieval old town and church with crypt, as well as a modern mid-size city on the beach. From the train station, you can walk through the new town to the old town, enjoy it, maybe even have a meal, and walk back in 2-3 hours, even less with no meal. Then there are both quick trains and buses on to Paestum. Beware that the excellent, modest-sized museum at Paestum is closed one day a week, Monday as I remember, but the wonderful Greek ruins are open seven days, I believe. (There are also Roman ruins at the location, but not so great.)
About trains, while it is true there are few morning trains from Napoli direct to Paestum, there are many more trains to Salerno, so check the Trenitalia schedules carefully. With a stop in Salerno, you can then easily move on to Paestum. While you do not need advance ticket purchase for the trains, arrive with enough time before your train to buy your ticket. The staffed ticket line counter can have a long and slow line. I arrived just before train time, found short lines even at the ticket machines, then after ordering up my ticket, the machine could not make change or issue the ticket. I ended up too late for my intended train, and needed to take the next one.
The Paestum ruins and museum are wonderful and totally worth the time and effort, and Salerno is very nice also. Good luck!

I really appreciate the advice and will revise our plans. We will plan to go to Salerno and Paestum and head on back to the ship. Thank you, again. Your answers make a huge difference.