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rome to amalfi coast

Hi, we are planning an overnight trip from Rome to Amalfi in June. What is the best way to get to Amalfi? I looked up train tickets from Rome to Salerno, figuring we could take a bus from Salerno to Amalfi, but the Trenatalia website shows the earliest train to Salerno isn't until 1:45pm/13:45. We were hoping to be in Salerno before then. RailEurope shows 2 trains(trenitalia) leaving at 6:39 and 7:39am but I dont see those options on the Trenitalia website. I was planning on buying the tickets at the station and don't want to get caught without a way to get there. I know the bus from Rome is another option but it looks to be a 5hr journey and I don't really understand the bus website as it is in Italian. Thanks for any help!
Susan

Posted by
521 posts

Very odd. Check what hour you specified on the Trenitalia journey planner. I just tried two dummy bookings at each end of June, departing from 08.00 on a weekday, and it shows me direct trains at 09.39, 10.45, 12.39, 13.45. Even on a Saturday I can see hourly direct trains from 10.45.

Posted by
219 posts

Thank you. I will try again. I am looking at June 9th, only one way because we plan on coming back through sorrento/Pompeii.

Posted by
6732 posts

Have you checked into going via Sorrento rather than Salerno? Trains run frequently from Rome to Naples, then hop on the Circumvesuviana (commuter train, runs often). Sorrento make a great base for this area, take the bus along the Amalfi Coast.

Posted by
219 posts

I will look at going through Sorrento. I am not finding any morning trains between Naples and Salerno and we'd really like to be on the coast by noon. We have reservations at a hotel in Amalfi June 9th. We are hoping to see Minori and Amalfi on Sunday, then Capri on Monday. Time permitting we will try and stop in Pompeii on the way back. Its probably asking a lot, I know! Thanks

Posted by
11613 posts

You should be able to get a fast train from Rome to Naples, take the Circumvesuviana from Naples to Sorrent and the bus to Amalfi and arrive before noon. The first bus from Sorrento leaves at 8 or 8:30. Be sure you enter an early time under "hour" on the Trenitalia site.

Posted by
8700 posts

Susan, The reason that you were finding so few departure times for Rome-Salerno for 9 June is that new timetables will go into effect on that date. Trenitalia has just now uploaded them. They show an InterCityNotte train departing from Roma Ostiense at 05:58 and arriving at Salerno at 09:25. They show another InterCityNotte train departing from Roma Tiburtina at 07:21 and arriving at Salerno at 10:25. Those are night trains with sleeping compartments, but you can book reclining seats for a reasonable price. I suggest that you book now on trenitalia.com to be sure of getting seats.

Posted by
219 posts

Which way would be preferable? Through Salerno or Sorrento? Looking for speed and ease. If there sent much difference time wise, is one a nicer, more scenic ride than the other?
Thanks again

Posted by
219 posts

Its funny. I still can't get anything early to come up from Rome to Salerno but I did put them in separately, Rome to Naples there are 2 trains- 7:21(inter city notte 1911) arrives Naples 9:30 and a 7:35(frecciarossa 9601) arrives Naples at 8:45. Then there are 2 from Naples to Salerno, an 8:45 (which we'd never make) and a 9:50 that arrives in Salerno at 10:25. I was hoping we'd have more options and would not have to buy tickets ahead of time. I hate being on a strict, we have to be there by this time, kind of schedule while on vacation. Though now I am glad I am looking into this now or we might have had a big problem. I bought tickets to the Accademia and Vatican Museums already. We plan on being in Florence on the 7th, have reservations in Amalfi for the 9th. We are traveling with a couple that has never left the US before and I am the 'head planner'. I want it to go smoothly and be relaxed. We were in Lyon, France back in Dec. and when we wanted to take a day trip, we decided in the morning, went to the station, bought tickets and went. I guess I was dreaming that Rome would be as easy;)
Thanks so much for the help:)

Posted by
8700 posts

InterCityNotte 1911 leaves Roma Tiburtina at 07:21, makes a stop at Napoli Centrale, and goes on to Salerno, arriving at 10:25. Although I advised booking tickets now, I expect that since all you'll need are seats (no sleeping compartment), you'll probably be in no danger of the train selling out if you wait until you get to Rome to buy tickets.

Posted by
219 posts

Thanks, I didn't even notice the train #. Now I see it. Taking an extra hour riding the train probably would be preferable to hanging out at the Naples train station for an hour. Should the prices be the same as I see online if I wait to buy at the station? if I buy online, do I print the actual ticket or do I have to get the ticket at the station? Also, how early should one arrive at the station? Are ticket lines typically long?
Thanks again!

Posted by
8700 posts

The base (standard) 2nd class fare for a seat on the InterCityNotte train from Roma Tiburtina to Salerno is €28. That's what you'll pay if you book today online or if you buy your tickets at the station. If you decide to take a high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale and a Circumvesuviana train from there to Sorrento, you wouldn't have to hang around the station very long. The Circumvesuviana site isn't working correctly at the moment so I can't check the timetables, but I'm sure those trains run at least twice an hour (maybe more frequently). The standard 2nd class fare for a high-speed train from Roma Termini to Napoli Centrale is €43, but if you book today you probably still can get a Super Economy fare of €19 or an Economy fare of €29. If you book on trenitalia.com, you will be able to print a page containing a PNR code. That is your e-ticket and you simply show it to the conductor. There are ticket machines at major train stations in Italy, but I'm not sure if they still accept credit cards without an embedded chip. If they don't, you'll need to buy your tickets at a window where the agent can swipe your card. If you have an e-ticket in hand, being at the station 30 minutes before departure is plenty of time.

Posted by
219 posts

Thanks so much,Tim. That is very helpful! I just had Bank of America reissue my credit card with the chip in it so hopefully we wont have a problem.
Thanks again!