Positano to Salerno

This page has the bus schedule--you change in Amalfi for Salerno-bound buses: https://www.ravello.com/sita-bus-schedule/
I would not want to ride it after too much wine!

You're looking at the price the wrong way. That estimate means that "two-way" could be, maybe, 225€. The car service costs are the SAME for both one-way and round-trip. There are not hordes of people waiting in Positano to taxi to Salerno. In fact, they probably want to go to Sorrento, and that puts the Salerno driver even farther away from his base and home. And it's quite far, with heavy traffic delaying the driver who could go to another job if it exists. Also, Positano is a high-end destination, so prices are set higher.

We haven't had a post on this lately (Summer 2023), but the ferry dock construction in Positano is reported to be behind schedule. You should check very carefully about the "real" ferry schedule, and if they are going at all.

Now, it doesn't apply to your direction of travel as much, but our host, Rick, has mentioned in some of his books that if you are sleeping in Sorrento and seeing Positano and Amalfi on the same day, you should see Positano first. In the afternoon, the busses going "home" to Sorrento can be so full when they approach Positano that they don't bother to stop at all!

Google is not good at ... everything. For example, they are terrible at scraping Business Hours from company and museum websites.

We really enjoyed our stay in Salerno, and hope you and your friends do the same.

Have you asked your hotel for help with your transportation? We arranged with the owner of our B&B to drive us along the coast to Amalfi, where we caught a boat that took us up to Positano, and back to Salerno.

Unfortunately, they don’t answer to our messages.. Hope that they will do it in the next few days.

We were just in Positano for 4 nights and the ferries were running during the construction. I don’t know what it’s typically like, but there were hundreds of people waiting at the pier for the different ferries to dock for boarding. They board 1 ferry at a time so they may be running a limited schedule. We avoided that area as much as possible.

A transfer from Naples to Positano was €150 for 3 people. I don’t see it being much cheaper for Salerno. I’m fact, our driver said the cost is higher in July/August.

IMHO, if you are visiting Positano and Amalfi on different days, then I'd get to Positano in the morning and then get out of there sometime in the afternoon. Going by ferry is going to cut a chunk of the time it would otherwise take by road, and eliminate a potentially very slow go in heavy traffic. Honestly, there isn't much to do in Positano anyway so you could easily be done in half a day or less: take some pictures, browse the (expensive) shops; have leisurely lunch and some adult beverages; done.

PS: if any of you are prone to motion sickness, that's another very (!!!) good reason to avoid this trip by road.

PSS: if your appointed day is a wet/stormy/very windy one, skip this adventure altogether. Positano's dock has been known to close to ferry service in bad weather although maybe the work they've been doing is to alleviate some of that issue.

I'm another who recommends skipping Positano, save yourself money and frustration. We were there this past May, and it was shoulder to shoulder crowded, and frankly, I don't see the charm. Just a lot of shops. There are enough good vistas from other areas of the coastline.
Private drivers are expensive, and the ferries are weather dependent. NEVER plan to take the last ferry back, or you could be spending the night......This is Italy- things happen- or don't....
Good luck!

It is probably better to choose the ferry, therefore, to avoid the road traffic.
Anyway, we will make sure to book the ferry tickets (with travelmare company) from now on, because we don’t want to stay to Positano at night! 😋

If you haven't already, check out this outfit based in Salerno. We used them in 2022, and some friends had a wonderful day with them on the Amalfi Coast a couple of days ago:

https://www.blumediterraneosas.com/

Hi Christina,
Our impression from this past March: even off-season, Positano seems to have become become the Insta capital of the Universe. They can keep it.
IMHO, its far more interesting (and genuine) to prioritize Cetara (Aqua Pazza restaurant and its colatura di alici), Atrani (the world-class view from Le Arcate restaurant) and attractive Ravello, with its pair of lovely gardens. Also quieter Scala. The sunrise view of Ravello from sleepy Scala is perhaps the best-kept secret along the AC. That is a world-class photo op.
Hope all goes smoothly for you three!

I am done. the anchovy

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/getting-around-amalfi-coast

Some travelers with sufficient budget hire a car & driver service for 8 hours, to see three or more towns on the AC. But this produces limited times in each town, which annoys free-spirited travelers. But it might be a good solution if you can afford it.

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/italy/amalfi-coast-day-trip

Keep aware of current very crowded conditions from at least Sorrento to Positano, and that Positano ferry dock situation. This is a case where staying in Salerno may pay off for you.