Transport/Time advice for Amalfi/Ravello/Positano from Salerno

To even barely scratch the surface of these towns, you would need at least a day in each town. Your time line is a helluva rush. Don't know how you will even find time to have lunch. This stunning and spectacular part of the world deserves more of your time.

The SITA bus schedules can be found on their website. You can download them as pdf files. Take into account that there may be lines to board both buses and ferries.

I believe this is the SITA schedule for Amalfi>Ravello and back (scroll down to schedule in blue):

http://www.sitasudtrasporti.it/archivio/Download/corse/sitasud/Campania/Salerno/ecdab8e9-c590-47cc-a7a7-d73db7c4d0d5_QUADROXV_2017_ESTATE.pdf/0

I personally don't think you have enough time for both Amalfi and Ravello, and barely enough for just one of them. You've allotted about 3 hours total and the bus rides between them will eat up an hour of that. You'll kill additional time messing around with bus lines, getting to the ferry, etc. so I'd opt for just Amalfi.

Or...
Take the first ferry from Salerno and the last or second-to-last out of Positano back to Salerno. Add the extra time to the Amalfi/Ravello part of the day and keep the same amount of time you've estimated for Positano, having a late lunch there.

Ferries:
These are your choices from Salerno to Amalfi:
http://www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule?from=salerno&to=amalfi

From Amalfi to Positano:
http://www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule?from=amalfi&to=positano

Positano to Salerno:
http://www.positano.com/en/ferry-schedule?from=positano&to=salerno

It really doesn't matter which one you take as long as you make sure you're to the dock on time for the last one out at the end of the day. Regarding Positano, there also is always the small chance of the boats being unable to dock there on windy and/or stormy days which create rough seas.

It's a lot for a day. There's not so much to see in Amalfi, imho. I would suggest heading straight for Ravello when you dock, spend some time and have lunch there. The center square of Amalfi with the church is really it, so you can cover that quickly. Then when you get to Positano you'll have some time to wander around, it's much more picturesque than Amalfi. In short, try to spend most of your time in Ravello/Positano.

When taking busses in any country, you have to add "waiting time" into the equation. If the bus runs every half hour, you might wait an average of 15 minutes for it. Alas, in peak months, these busses are running above capacity, and the line of riders can be larger than will fit on the "next" bus. Also remember how long it takes to eat "slow food" in southern European countries. Yes, the food is better that way. Pay attention as to whether your ferry return ticket guarantees you a place on that ferry. (I don't know, but I've heard of crowded ferries that cannot be boarded, especially the last one of the day.)

Thanks Judy, Chani, Kathy, awrzesinki and Tim for the prompt responses!

Judy: I hear you. Unfortunately i dont have the time to allocate a day each to these places. However, i will be spending one entire day at Capri!
But you are right - my timings are "off" the bus up to Ravello already takes about 30 minutes. So an additional hour travelling.

Chani: Got it! i am thinking of taking the Hop on and Hop off buses from Amalfi up to Ravello and back.

Kathy: Thank you for your prompt responses! And yes i totally missed out on allocating bus times and bus waiting times! So this is my new game plan..not great..but it will have to do.
08:40-09:15 Depart Salerno - Arrive Amalfi
09:45 - First "city sight seeing" bus up to Ravello
14:00-14:25 Depart Amalfi - Arrive Positano
18:30-19:45 Depart Positano - Arrive Salerno

awrzesinki: Thank you! I know it is a lot and definitely not the ideal way to enjoy. But it will have to do unless i get to squeeze another day out of my whole italy trip lol. Would you say about 3 hours in Ravello and about 4 hours in Positano be ok? Any particular sights you would highlight above the rest? Oh..i am contemplating a guide with us. do you think its necessary? Thanks once again!

Tim: Great advice on the ferry! I will definitely have to do that if i am getting the last ferry back from Positano.

Thanks guys! Really appreciate the good advice!