How to Get to Positano: Flights, Airport Transfers and Driving from the US

Positano sits in Campania, in the province of Salerno, on the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula. The nearest major airport is Naples International Airport (NAP), about 38 miles (61 km) away, and from there the options are a ferry of 1 to 2 hours, a bus change in Sorrento, or a private transfer. Trains stop short of Positano, so every route ends on a bus, a boat or a road.

At a glance

• Route: US city → Naples Capodichino (NAP) → Molo Beverello → Positano
• Distance from the airport: about 38 miles (61 km)
• Ferry from Naples: 1 to 2 hours, €14.50 to €37
• Ferry season: most frequent April through October; one a day in winter
• Operators: NLG, Positano Jet, Alicost, Alilauro
• By road from Naples: about one hour and twenty minutes

How do you fly to Positano from the US?

Naples International Airport, also called Capodichino, is the nearest major airport to Positano. Book your flight to NAP, and the rest of the trip is a ground or sea leg of about an hour to a few hours.

Capodichino is about 20 to 30 minutes from the Naples port by taxi or shuttle. A shuttle from the airport also leads to Sorrento, where buses continue to Positano. Cars can be rented at the airport even without a credit card. If your flight lands elsewhere in Italy, the train works too: Rome to Naples takes about 1 hour 13 minutes, and Milan to Naples about 4 hours 30 minutes by high-speed train.

How do you get from the airport to Positano?

The simplest sea route starts at Molo Beverello, the Naples terminal for fast connections, about 1.2 miles (2 km) from Naples central station. Ferries and hydrofoils run from May to October, and the crossing takes about 1 hour 10 minutes on the direct Positano Jet service. NLG charges €32 one way and €65 round trip for an adult, and €18.50 one way for a child aged 2 to 12. Check that day’s timetable if you land late.

By bus, the Curreri bus from the airport to Sorrento and the SITA Sud bus on to Positano cost about €13 in total and take 2.5 to 3.5 hours. A taxi from Naples rarely costs less than €130.

Can you get to Positano by train, bus or car?

Trains reach the area only in combination with other transport, such as a bus from Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrale to Sorrento costs €5 and takes about 70 minutes. From Rome, an Italo train to Napoli Afragola followed by a coach to Sorrento takes about 3 hours. From Sorrento, the bus to Positano takes about 30 to 40 minutes, with tickets around €2 to €3.

By car from Naples, the trip takes about one hour and twenty minutes, traffic permitting. Take the A3 motorway and exit at Castellammare di Stabia, then follow the SS 145 toward Sorrento and the SS 163 at Meta.

No drivable road reaches the water, and the landing area is pedestrian only. From the SS 163, where the SITA bus stops, it’s about twenty minutes down stairways and narrow streets to the pier.

How do you get around Positano once you arrive?

Ferries dock at the Spiaggia Grande pier, on the right side of the beach as you look at the sea, along via del Brigantino. A porter service at the pier carries luggage between the lower part of town and the town above, which helps because Positano is made entirely of steps. That makes it very difficult for anyone with mobility problems.

Walking is the best way to explore Positano. Local buses reach Amalfi and Ravello, and the SITA 24h ticket costs €10 and covers all the nearby villages. In summer, ferries also link Positano with Capri and Sorrento. The crossing to Capri takes about 30 minutes, and an NLG adult ticket costs €24 one way.

A ZTL restricts vehicle access to the town center, and the municipality runs a portal for ZTL payments. Hotels with private parking, such as the B&B Villa Verde on Viale Pasitea, suit those who arrive by car.

What documents do you need to board a flight to Italy?

U.S. citizens do not require a visa for short stays in Italy of up to 90 days.

U.S. citizens who stay in Italy for business, tourism or study up to 90 days must also fill out a “dichiarazione di presenza”.