Naples to Amalfi Coast Distance
Naples and Amalfi town sit only about 37–38 km apart as the crow flies, but the actual road distance is around 60–65 km, because the SS163 coast road has to trace every bay and headland along the cliffs rather than cutting directly across. That difference is much larger than on a typical inland route.
"Amalfi Coast" spans several towns — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and others — so your real distance and time will vary depending on which one you're heading to.
Straight-Line
approx. 37–38 km (about 23 miles) to Amalfi town
Driving Distance
approx. 60–65 km (about 37–40 miles) to Amalfi town
1 hour 30 minutes – 2 hours
Train Journey
No direct train — nearest stations are Salerno or Sorrento, then bus or ferry
"Amalfi Coast" covers many towns; Amalfi town itself is used here as the reference point. The gap between the ~38 km straight-line figure and the longer driving distance below is unusually large for this route, because the coast road has to follow the mountainous coastline rather than cut across it.
City-Centre vs. Door-to-Door Distance
The figures above use Amalfi town as the reference point. Positano, closer to Sorrento, is reached via a different stretch of coast road and has its own distinct travel time; Ravello sits above Amalfi and adds a further climb.
There is no direct train to any Amalfi Coast town — public transport means a train to Salerno or Sorrento followed by a SITA bus or a seasonal ferry, which adds real time beyond the driving figures above. A private transfer is the only door-to-door option that avoids this change entirely.
By Car
Driving from Naples to Amalfi covers about 60–65 km via Salerno and the SS163 coast road (or via Sorrento from the west), and takes roughly 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours under normal conditions. The SS163 is narrow and winding with sharp bends, so allow more time in the busy summer season when traffic on the coast road slows significantly.
By Train
There is no direct train to the Amalfi Coast — the rail line doesn't reach the coast itself. The usual public-transport route is a train from Naples to Salerno, then a SITA bus along the coast road to Amalfi, Positano or Ravello (or, from the Sorrento side, the Circumvesuviana train followed by bus or a seasonal ferry). Each connection adds waiting and journey time on top of the driving figures above.
By Private Transfer
A private transfer is the only way to travel door-to-door without changing onto a bus, since it drives the coast road directly to your hotel — a real advantage given the lack of rail access and the awkward local bus connections.
For pricing, vehicle options and booking, see our dedicated Naples to Amalfi Coast taxi transfer page.
Places Along the Way
Vietri sul Mare
The gateway town where the SS163 coast road begins, just past Salerno.
What Affects Travel Time
- Season — the SS163 coast road gets significantly busier from May to October.
- Which Amalfi Coast town you're actually heading to (Positano, Amalfi and Ravello each have a different distance and route).
- Traffic through Salerno or Sorrento at the start of the coast road.
- For public transport, waiting time for the connecting SITA bus or ferry.
Which Way Should You Choose?
Given there's no direct train and the local bus connections take real, hard-to-predict time, a private transfer is usually the most straightforward way to reach a specific Amalfi Coast hotel directly, especially with luggage. Public transport (train plus SITA bus) is a workable budget option for those travelling light and with flexible time.
Common Questions