GETTING TO AND AROUND NAPLES AND THE AMALFI COAST
Arriving by Air
The Capodichino Airport in Naples is 5.9 km (3.7 miles) northeast of the city centre. National and international flights arrive from all the main Italian cities and most major European ones.
Alitalia is the main carrier within Italy. Major European airlines offer connections to Naples, including British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa and Iberia, as well as low-cost carriers like easyJet.
Taxis are located outside the arrivals hall, as well as several car rental companies. The regular Alibus service runs from the airport to Napoli Centrale train station and Piazza Municipio, giving access to the Naples Molo Beverello for a ferry to Sorrento and the islands. Curreri Viaggi also offer a bus service from the airport to Sorrento.
Arriving by Train
The train service to Naples is operated by Italy’s national rail company, Trenitalia, and by Italo. Naples’ main station is called Centrale, which offers connections to local bus and Metro lines, as well as the Circumvesuviana train.
Keep in mind that there are no train stations on the Amalfi Coast. The closest is in Salerno, which is serviced by both Trenitalia and Italo. Another option is to take the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. From both Salerno and Sorrento there are buses and ferries to various places on the Amalfi Coast.
Arriving by Sea
A very pleasant way of travelling to this part of Italy is by boat. Ferry and hydrofoil services run from Sardinia, Sicily, the Aeolian Islands and many other Mediterranean ports. Cruise ships also make stops in Naples and along the coast.
Arriving by Road
Reaching Naples by car is possible but it is by no means advisable for the uninitiated. As you hit Naples, there are so many perplexing interchanges, with inadequate signage, that it is easy to get lost. Driving along the twisty and narrow Amalfi Coast road is also an adventure. Given the intense driving experience and extremely challenging parking, many travellers prefer to arrive and travel around Naples or the Amalfi Coast by other methods of transport.
Arriving by Bus
The regular bus and coach services are a good way to get to Naples and other towns in the area. If arriving by bus in Naples you will find yourself in one of the main squares, Piazza Garibaldi, in front of the Centrale train station.
Getting Around by Train and Metro
Naples and its vicinity has a complex but reliable transport system (ANM), including trams, funicular railways and light railways that serve outlying areas. There is also a Metro system in Naples and most lines converge at the Centrale train station.
The Circumvesuviana train goes to Sorrento, with stops along the way, including archaeological sites such as Pompeii. The Cumana and Circumflegreo trains go west to the Campi Flegrei.
By Bus
The city buses in Naples are not for the faint-hearted. The system is chaotic and the old buses are dirty, crowded and subject to traffic jams. Most bus lines have their terminus at Piazza Garibaldi. Buy tickets from any local bar before boarding and validate them once on board. Open-top, hop-on hop-off City Sightseeing buses depart from Piazza Municipio and are a fun way to discover Naples, as well as Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. The Amalfi Coast is also served by the SITA bus company.
By Boat
Once here, you could stick to ferries, going from port to port (though ferries do not run on the Amalfi Coast from November to March/April). Naples has two ports, then there are the islands, Amalfi, Pozzuoli, Sorrento, Positano and Salerno. Companies include Alilauro, Caremar, SNAV and Travelmar.
Tickets
Unico Campania offers 1-day or weekly tickets for integrated travel in Naples and regional areas in Campania. For the Amalfi Coast, look for the Unico Costiera tickets that can be purchased per route or 1- or 3-day passes. Validate tickets before departure by stamping them in the machine on board.
By Taxi
There are taxi ranks throughout Naples and at the airport. Set fares are in place and a list of tariffs with surcharges must be displayed. A taxi from the airport to the town centre is about €30. Companies include Consortaxi, Consorzio Taxi, GESCAB and Radio Taxi La Partenope.
By Car
The minimum age for renting a car is 21, but some companies will charge extra below the age of 25. Most companies require that you be covered for any eventual problem, including collision damage and theft.
Getting around by car in Naples and along the Amalfi Coast area is likely to stress even the calmest of drivers (cars are not allowed on Capri). Traffic jams on the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast are maddening, car theft is common, the motorways are chaotic and confusing, and parking is impossible.
By Bicycle and Motorcycle
Navigating the chaotic traffic in and around Naples on two wheels is not recommended. It’s a better option on the islands of Procida and Ischia, the mountainous backroads along the Sorrentine Peninsula and the Amalfi Coast; but be prepared for narrow roads and surprises around every twist and turn.
On Foot
The sights of central Naples are easy enough to get around on foot. Walking is also a good way to explore villages along the Amalfi Coast, which are made up of staircases and narrow alleys. The area is blessed with mountain trails for hiking. Some of them thread their way along old goat paths from village to village.
