Getting Around the Amalfi Coast: Bus or Ferry

On the Amalfi Coast the question is not which sights to see but how to move between towns that sit an hour apart on one cliff road.

The short answer, as of October 2026: the Travelmar ferry is the faster way between Salerno, Amalfi and Positano, at 10 to 17 euros a leg.

The SITA SUD bus is the cheaper way to reach Ravello and the hill towns, with a 10-euro ticket valid for 24 hours.

This note covers fares, timings, luggage, weather and what a package should cover. Figures are from the Travelmar and SITA SUD official sites, checked October 21, 2026.

Ferries are faster between the big three towns

Travelmar runs fast ferries along the coast and states the service is available all year round. Its timetable and fares page, checked October 21, 2026, lists these single adult fares and crossing times:

• Salerno (Concordia square) to Amalfi: 12 euros, 35 minutes.
• Salerno to Positano: 17 euros, 70 minutes.
• Amalfi to Positano: 10 euros, 25 minutes.
• Amalfi to Minori or Maiori: 5 euros, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Salerno to Vietri sul Mare: 6 euros; Salerno to Cetara: 7.50 euros.

Some routes need a change of boat in Amalfi. Positano to Minori or Maiori, for example, is listed at 15 euros with a connection, and Positano to Cetara at 17 euros.

On the timetable shown on October 21, 2026, boats left Salerno's Concordia square for Amalfi ten times between 08:40 and 18:00, and Amalfi for Positano nine times between 09:20 and 18:00.

The page lists separate timetables for late October, early November and November 16 to February 28, so check the dates of your stay.

Weather cancels sailings, often at short notice

The same page carried a notice dated October 20, 2026: because of adverse sea and weather conditions, all departures to and from Minori and Vietri sul Mare were cancelled, along with several late-afternoon Salerno, Amalfi and Positano sailings.

That is the main weakness of a ferry-based plan. Itineraries that rely on a boat for a Capri day or a hotel transfer need a road fallback, and it is worth asking the operator what happens if the sea closes.

Our note on when a tour goes wrong covers who pays when a connection fails.

One carry-on bag travels free on the ferry

Travelmar states that one carry-on bag up to 45 by 35 by 20 centimetres is included in the ticket price. Its home page does not set out the charge for larger or extra bags; check the conditions of transport before arriving with a full suitcase.

This is one reason most packages move luggage by road on arrival and departure days. Travel light for day trips, as our packing guide suggests, and leave the case at the hotel.

The bus reaches the hill towns the ferry cannot

SITA SUD runs the coast's public buses. Its tickets page, checked October 21, 2026, lists the COSTIERASITA ticket at 10 euros, valid for 24 hours from first validation, with unlimited trips on SITA SUD buses across the coast and the Sorrento peninsula.

The listed towns include Amalfi, Atrani, Positano, Praiano, Ravello, Scala, Furore, Conca dei Marini, Agerola, Minori, Maiori, Cetara, Vietri sul Mare, Salerno, Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Piano di Sorrento, Meta di Sorrento, Massa Lubrense and Tramonti.

Ravello, Scala and Agerola have no ferry landing, so the bus or a taxi is the only public way up. The Agerola trailhead for the Path of the Gods is one of the stops covered by the ticket.

Validate and sign the bus ticket, or risk a fine

SITA SUD sets three rules for the COSTIERASITA ticket. It must be validated on first use, by hand if the machine is missing or broken. It is personal and non-transferable, and the holder writes their name and date of birth on it in pen.

Single-ride fares by distance sit in a separate tariff document on the SITA SUD site, and a notice announced a fare adjustment from October 1, 2026 without amounts in the readable text. Single fares are therefore not quoted here; check the official site before travelling.

SITA SUD lists its Salerno ticket office on Via Vinciprova, open weekdays from 6:45 to 18:45, plus authorised sellers of Campania integrated tickets listed on unicocampania.it.

Which to use, by trip

• Positano to Amalfi and back: ferry, 10 euros each way, 25 minutes, weather permitting.
• Arriving from Salerno: ferry to Amalfi at 12 euros or Positano at 17 euros.
• Ravello, Scala or the Path of the Gods: bus, with the 10-euro 24-hour ticket if making three or more trips.
• Rough sea or a late return: bus, which uses the road rather than the sea.
• Arrival with full luggage: the transfer in your package, not the ferry.

What to check in a coast package

Our Amalfi Coast checklist and our note on what a coast package covers explain why base town matters. Transport is where quotes diverge most, so ask these questions before paying:

• Are ferry tickets included on excursion days, or listed as optional? See our guide to optional excursions.
• Is the arrival transfer private, shared or by public bus?
• What is the fallback if the ferry is cancelled for weather?
• How many steps lie between the hotel and the nearest bus stop or pier? Our note on physical ratings explains why this matters on the coast.

Travellers weighing a package against a self-built trip will find the coast easy to do independently with these two operators; our package or DIY checklist sets out the trade-offs.

Frequently asked

How much is the ferry from Amalfi to Positano?

Travelmar lists 10 euros for an adult single, with a 25-minute crossing, on its timetable checked October 21, 2026. One carry-on bag up to 45 by 35 by 20 centimetres is included.

Is there a day ticket for the Amalfi Coast bus?

Yes. SITA SUD's COSTIERASITA costs 10 euros and is valid for 24 hours from first validation on its buses across the coast and the Sorrento peninsula. It is personal and must carry the holder's name and date of birth.

Do Amalfi Coast ferries run in winter?

Travelmar says its service runs all year and publishes a timetable for November 16 to February 28. Sailings are cancelled in rough sea, as on October 20, 2026, so keep a bus option.

How do I get to Ravello without a car?

By SITA SUD bus from Amalfi, since Ravello has no ferry landing. The 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket at 10 euros covers Ravello and Scala.

Bottom line

Take the ferry between Salerno, Amalfi and Positano when the sea allows, at 10 to 17 euros a leg, and the bus for Ravello, the hill towns and bad-weather days.

Validate and sign the bus ticket, travel light on the boat, and ask any operator what happens when sailings stop.

Sources checked

• Travelmar timetable and fares page, travelmar.it, checked October 21, 2026 (fares, crossing times, departures, timetable periods, October 20 weather notice).
• Travelmar home page, checked October 21, 2026 (all-year service, carry-on allowance).
• SITA SUD Campania tickets page, sitasudtrasporti.it, checked October 21, 2026 (COSTIERASITA price, 24-hour validity, towns, validation and naming rules, Salerno office hours).
• SITA SUD Campania notices, checked October 21, 2026 (fare adjustment from October 1, 2026).
• Not readable on October 21, 2026: SITA SUD single-ride fares, which sit in a separate tariff PDF. Check the official site before travelling.

Sources

• Travelmar timetable and fares – checked 2026-10-21
• Travelmar home – checked 2026-10-21
• SITA SUD Campania tickets – checked 2026-10-21
• SITA SUD Campania notices – checked 2026-10-21