What is the best way to see the Amalfi Coast, Ferry, Bus, private driver?

We did Mondo Tours - full day, and I believe they did groups of 8 in a Mercedes van. My husband, son, and daughter-in-law had a great time, and we made several stops. Positano was about a one hour stop, mostly to just go down to the beach and stop in a few shops. They start the tours early, to get out before the tour buses. The driver brought us to a fabulous restaurant up in the hills with a beautiful, panoramic view. Highly recommend.

If you’re more interested in the Amalfi Coast than Pompeii/Naples then I would actually suggest staying on the Amalfi Coast and not Sorrento. But, if you’re set on it, the ferries are by far the most enjoyable, relaxing way to get around. You should gave no trouble purchasing on the spot. With that much time, it might pay to do both a day by ferry and a day by private driver/tour. A driver/tour would be useful for Amalfi & Ravello, as well as some smaller places between. A day by ferry to explore Positano on its own would be a nice day trip. Last ferry to Sorrento would leave Positano late afternoon, but busses are also an option.

Over the past several years I've gotton into the habit of taking the ferry from Sorrento to the coast. I get off at Amalfi Town. Now I have choices: bus to Ravello, bus or ferry back to Positano and then either bus or ferry back to Sorrento. The views from the water are simply beautiful and the ride is relaxing which means I'm rested for an evening meandering the streets of Sorrento and catching a late dinner at Marina Grande. I've long since lost interest in Disney World's 'Space Mountain' so the so-called 'thrill ride' by bus along the Amalfi Coast disappeared from my 'to do' list after my first trip 10 years ago. One summer my friends and I took a ferry from Sorrento that included a stop for swimming off of Capri. That you can't do from the bus . . . . hopefully.

The only problem with the ferries from Positano and Amalfi to Sorrento is that there are so few of them, and the last of them depart so early. It's possible they'll add more runs for the summer but right now, the last boat out of Positano is at 5:00 PM and out of Amalfi at 4:35. (Amalfi>Sorrento ferries stop in Positano along the way).

Same problem going the other direction: only two going Sorrento> Postiano (first one at 10:30). That's the same two ferries that go to Amalfi: they just stop in Positano along the way.

We recently did the Mondo/SharedTours that is in Rick's book (from Sorrento). We would recommend it, we had a good time. But I have heard that seeing the coast from a boat is the best way to do it. I guess it depends on preference and weather... We also stayed in Sorrento, and that was a great choice. It is very walkable. If you don't want Pompeii, you may not want Vesuvius either, but we climbed it, and that was pretty cool. Maybe consider a ferry to Naples for one day...

There are also cooking classes, and a mozzarella factory tour (we did not have enough time to do either).

There is so much more to see on the Amalfi Coast other than the famous towns of Positano,Amalfi, and Ravello. The ferry and busses connect all of them. If you have the time, see the southern end. They're not as crowded either.

https://www.amalficoast.com

Thank you everyone, great suggestions, I will review all of them and make a plan. I do have another question is it worth it to take a hop on hop off bus trip of Sorrento? We have it booked already and I thought it went to Amalfi. We have time to do the ferry's one day and this trip as well, just not sure if it's worth it. Thanks

bus in Sorrento? WHY???? The town is really small enough, and flat enough (except the harbor), for an easy walk. The ancient Greek area (shopping, eating) is 3 blocks wide and maybe 4 blocks long. The more modern area is, well, modern. Not sure that's why you go to Sorrento. The walk down to Marina Grande (amazing dinners) is a bit rough on the way back up - think of it as walking off your dinner (yesterday's too). Or take the town bus. There's way too much to see and enjoy (even if you don't buy anything) where the hop-on-hop-off bus can't begin to fit.

Bus Station in Sorrento, buy a ticket for cheap and enjoy a fantastic trip/views down the Amalfi Coast to Positano, Pasteum or beyond.

Elaine

Hi, I am just a little less than two weeks away from our trip to Italy. I am still confused if I should do Ferry or a private driver for the Amalfi to get the most out of it. We have a Thursday afternoon, Friday evening and Sunday free to do this. Saturday we are doing the all day trip to Capri. Do you see the Amalfi Coast on the Capri boat ride?

I really want to see as much as I can, therefore I am not interested in taking a tour where we hare with people in a van. If I do a private driver I am told you can go anywhere you want and stay as long as you want at the stops you like the most. It seems it would be better than taking a ferry but I am just not sure. Any must see's or eat at the Amalfi Coast? Thank you

Do you see the Amalfi Coast on the Capri boat ride?

Not if you're going to Capri from Sorrento. You'll travel southwest to the island from Sorrento, which is not on the Amalfi Coast. That region (Amalfi Coast) is on the other side and further east of the Sorrentine Peninsula (reference a map).

Editing to add: what's 'best' for one traveler may not be for another for any number of reasons. The considerable expense of an all-day private driver can be too much for budget travelers. For others with very touchy stomaches (like mine) buses or even private cars could be a miserable experience. I was green just on a van ride from Sorrento the Naples airport! Some ferries/jet boats have their first runs later in the mornings and last runs earlier in the evenings than suits the itineraries of still others. A combo of multiple types of transport taken on different days might be the best solution.

Here are some more links you might get info on:
http://www.sorrentotourism.com/en/ferry-and-jet-services.php
http://www.sorrentotourism.com/en/boat-rentals-and-mooring-service.php
http://www.gescab.it/
www.caremar.it

The Sorrento TI sent me two documents that were helpful but I don't know how to link them here as they were attachments but you could email them directly at this website www.sorrentotourism.com
the files were named Orai marittimi 2018.xlsx
and Orario Sita Amalfi 11 giugno 2018.pdf

Probably personal preference but I've found these charts easier to read. Change your departure/arrival posts with the dropdowns.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/ferry-schedule

There are SITA bus, Circumvesuviana and public bus ( for Sorrento) schedules or info on the site too.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/getting-around-sorrento-italy#section-getting-around-02

Thanks Kathy. I guess I don't know how to use that website. Can you help me out? When I do Sorrento to Positano it only shows the high speed ferry and I thought there were regular jet foil service btwn the two cities that offered more times. I wish there was one site that shows you all the options like trainline shows you Italo and Trenitalia. I'm trying to take a boat from Sorrento to Positano, have enough time to explore Positano, then boat to Amalfi with enough time to explore that city and then boat from Amalfi back to Sorrento. I did find this link
http://www.sorrentotourism.com/_downloads/5474-Italiano-orari-maritt-agosto-2.pdf and this link which seems to have trouble loading once you input cities http://www.alilauro.it/ but it does seem to have an earlier boat going to Positano and and later boat returning from Amalfi. I"m having lots of trouble with the site tho.

callen510, we're sort of hijacking poor klouise99's thread so it probably would have been best to start a NEW thread with your question. But with apologies to the OP....

The schedules on the link I previously included (https://www.sorrentoinsider.com) correspond with this one: https://www.naplesbayferry.com/en/t/sorrento/positano

As they're updated weekly, I tend to trust them. They do not include the SEREMAR cruises on the pdf included on your sorrentotourism: other than the organized "Sorrento Gold Cruise" and similar packages, they don't post daily ferry schedules on their own website, if they provide that service at all. Anyway, you have to contact them and that's enough to warn me off that service.

https://www.seremar.it

Alilauro's schedules on their website are reflected on those shown in my two links above.
http://www.alilauro.it/en/departures-and-rates
Go to departures/prices, click on "Select the wished trafficking" and choose departure/arrival ports from the dropdown.

Caremar and SNAV do not serve Positano or Amalfi:
https://shop.caremar.it/en/
https://www.snav.it/en/orari-e-tratte

NLG's website is refusing to come up.

Lucibello doesn't serve Sorrento but their posted Positano> Amalfi schedule matches those shown in the my two links above:
https://www.lucibello.it/en/positano-jet

Travelmar doesn't serve Sorrento but their Positano> Amalfi schedule also matches those shown in the my two links above:
https://www.travelmar.it/en/hours

So, the tall and short of the matter is that schedules on either sorrentoinsider and naplesbayferry are essentially comprehensive and show the options you have to work with, Seremar aside. Note that those schedules could change a bit depending on when in the fall you're traveling.

Thanks! I will look at what you posted. I had trouble with the links I was given yesterday but have not tried again today. I did post a separate post but got little feedback. I thought the OP might like to know that there are other boats other than the ferry. I really, really appreciate the time you took to answer this!

callen510, depending on the route there can be VERY few boats between certain points. They're all listed in this previously supplied link. There's no need to go into all those individual websites as this one is comprehensive.

https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/ferry-schedule

NLG finally came up:
http://www.navlib.it/eng/linee/DettaglioLinea.asp?idli=54

First of all..you will love the Amalfi Coast!
We stayed in Sorrento and this is how we visited the other areas you are interested in.
1st day: hired private driver to take us to Positano: immediately bought tickets for ferry back for later afternoon.
2nd day: enjoyed Sorrento
3rd day: took ferry to Capri and back
4th day: enjoyed Sorrento
5th day: took bus tour back to Positano and Ravello.
All worked out great with a variety of transportation. Bought tickets same day or day before, had no problem with anything.
It's such a beautiful area and September is a great time to go.
Safe travels and enjoy!
Jody