How to Get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast looks close to Rome on a map, but it sits well to the south, beyond Naples — about 270 to 280 km (170 miles) by road on the far side of the bay. There’s no train that runs straight to Positano or Amalfi: the coast has no railway at all. So getting there always means two legs — a fast run down to the Naples area, then a slow, scenic transfer along the cliffs. This guide lays out the realistic options. For whether the trip is worth doing in a single day, see is the Amalfi Coast worth it as a day trip from Rome.

The Short Answer

The fastest and most comfortable way down is the high-speed train from Rome to Naples (roughly an hour), then a transfer along the coast by bus, ferry or car. The simplest way is a guided day trip that handles both legs and the logistics for you. Driving gives you freedom but lands you on one of Italy’s most demanding roads at its most crowded.

Option 1: High-Speed Train to Naples, Then the Coast

Rome and Naples are linked by frequent high-speed trains — Trenitalia’s Frecciarossa and the private operator Italo — that cover the route in about 55 to 70 minutes. Fares are modest if you book ahead, often starting around €15–30 in standard class. Naples is the gateway; from there you continue to the coast:

• Train + bus. Take the local Circumvesuviana train from Naples toward Sorrento (about 70 minutes; it stops at Pompeii Scavi on the way), then the SITA bus along the coast to Positano (roughly another hour). Cheap, but slow and often crowded.
• Ferry (summer only). From roughly mid-June to mid-September, seasonal ferries run from Naples (and Sorrento or Salerno) to Positano and Amalfi — about 1.5 hours and around €30, with the best views and none of the road’s traffic.

This is the best DIY route if you want to control your own day, and the Pompeii stop is a natural bonus on the way down.

Option 2: Drive the A1, A3 and the SS163

By car it’s the A1 motorway south from Rome toward Naples, then the A3 toward Salerno, and finally the famous coast road. Reckon on 3.5 to 4 hours in light traffic, and realistically 5 to 6 hours in summer or with stops. Tolls run roughly €20–25 each way.

The catch is the last stretch: the SS163 “Amalfitana,” the Amalfi Drive itself. It’s spectacular but narrow and relentlessly winding, with blind hairpins, tour buses edging past each other, and very little parking — expect to pay €20–30 a day for a space, and note that Positano’s centre is a limited-traffic (ZTL) zone private cars can’t enter. In peak summer the road is bumper-to-bumper and there are restrictions on non-resident cars between Vietri sul Mare and Positano. Driving works best off-season and if the coast road is part of the experience you want, not just transport.

Option 3: A Guided Day Trip from Rome

If you’re based in Rome and want the headline sights without managing trains, buses and hairpins, a guided day trip is the most efficient choice. A typical trip leaves central Rome very early, pairs the ruins of Pompeii with free time in Positano or Amalfi, and often adds Sorrento — with the driving, parking and skip-the-line entry all handled. The trade-off is a long day on a set schedule; for what that actually feels like, read is the Amalfi Coast worth it as a day trip from Rome and day trip vs overnight.

How the Options Compare

A Quick Planning Note

Whichever way you go, the distance is the thing to respect — this is a full day, not a quick hop, and an early start is what makes Pompeii plus the coast possible at all. If timing matters to you, see the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast, when the road is calmer and the light is better.

Ready to Book?

A top-rated Rome to Amalfi Coast day trip bundles the long drive, skip-the-line Pompeii entry, and free time in Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento into one booking — with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check availability and let someone else take the hairpins.