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Sorrento to Positano: the options at a glance
Going from Sorrento to Positano is one of the classic trips on this coast, and the good news is that it is short: about 35 to 60 minutes by road, depending on traffic. You can go by SITA bus, by ferry in the warmer months, by taxi, by scooter or with a private driver. All of them work; the best one depends on the season, your luggage and how much you mind queues.
- SITA bus: about 40–60 minutes, the cheapest, crowded in summer.
- Ferry: about 40 minutes at sea, seasonal and weather dependent.
- Taxi: about 35–60 minutes, door to door, fare agreed before leaving.
- Scooter or rental car: flexible, but parking in Positano is very hard.
- Private driver: about 35–60 minutes, hotel to hotel, help with luggage.
By SITA bus: cheapest, but plan for the queue
SITA SUD buses run along the Amalfi Coast road between Sorrento and Amalfi, stopping in Positano. In Sorrento they leave from the area in front of the Circumvesuviana station, and the ride to Positano takes about 40 to 60 minutes. The service runs all year and is by far the cheapest way to make the trip.
In summer, though, this is the busiest bus line on the coast. Queues form early, full buses may not stop at intermediate stops, and you may have to stand on a road full of hairpin bends. For the best views on the way to Positano, sit on the right-hand side. In Positano the bus stops on the upper road, and from there you walk down through the village to the beach. Tickets are normally bought before boarding at newsstands, tobacconists or ticket points; check current rules and timetables on the SITA SUD website.
- Go early in the morning to beat the longest queues.
- If you get carsick, sit near the front and look at the horizon.
- With suitcases, the bus is the hardest option of all.
By ferry: the most scenic, when it runs
Ferries from Sorrento’s harbour, Marina Piccola, reach Positano in about 40 minutes. Watching Positano rise from the sea is the postcard arrival, and the boat skips road traffic completely.
Ferries on this route run mainly from spring to autumn, with little or no service in winter, and timetables vary by month and by operator, with companies such as Alilauro and NLG serving the coast. Rough sea can cancel sailings. You also need to get down to Marina Piccola from the town centre, and in Positano you land on the main beach, with stairs and steep lanes up to most hotels. Check the operators’ official websites for the current season.
By taxi or scooter
Taxis wait at ranks in central Sorrento, at the station and at the port. Agree the fare before you get in. In high season you may wait at the rank, and the drive itself takes the same time as any car in traffic.
A scooter gives real freedom, and on a quiet morning the coast road is a joy. In summer it is a different story: big buses take the whole bend, traffic stops and starts, and parking in Positano is scarce and expensive. On busy days in season, alternating number-plate rules on the coast road restrict cars but not motorbikes or scooters; check the current rules if you hire a car instead.
With a private driver
A private driver collects you at your hotel in Sorrento and takes you as close to your Positano hotel as cars can go, with help for the luggage. If you are going for the day, you can be dropped in the upper part of town so you walk downhill to the beach, and collected later at an agreed time. Stops at viewpoints along the way are easy to add, and the same car can continue to Praiano, Amalfi or Ravello as a coast tour.
To be fair about it: for two people with a daypack in May, the bus or the ferry is perfectly fine and much cheaper. A private driver makes sense when you are changing hotels with suitcases, travelling with children, visiting in high season, or have limited time and do not want to spend it in a queue.
Getting around Positano once you arrive
Positano is vertical. One main road loops through the upper part of the village, a small local bus runs along it, and everything else is stairs and steep lanes down to the beach. Wear comfortable shoes and keep in mind that walking back up in the afternoon heat is tiring.
If you are meeting a driver or catching the bus home, plan to be on the upper road, not on the beach, at the agreed time. If your hotel sits on a stairway, ask the hotel whether a porter can carry your bags.
Positano is also a good starting point for the rest of the coast. From the beach, boats run in season towards Amalfi and Capri, and the coast road continues to Praiano and Amalfi. If you only have one day, many visitors spend the morning in Positano and the afternoon in Amalfi or Ravello, which is easiest by car.
Which way should you go?
Choose by your day, not by habit:
- Budget day trip outside July and August: SITA bus.
- Sunny day, calm sea, no luggage: ferry one way, bus the other.
- Changing hotels with suitcases: private transfer or taxi.
- Family with small children: private transfer, with child seats on request.
- Short on time in high season: private driver, possibly as a half-day on the coast.
Questions travellers ask
How long does it take from Sorrento to Positano?
About 35 to 60 minutes by road, about 40 to 60 minutes by SITA bus and about 40 minutes by ferry, not counting queues or getting to the pier.
Does the ferry from Sorrento to Positano run all year?
Not in full. The regular service runs from spring to autumn; in winter there may be only an occasional sailing or none at all, and boats can be cancelled in rough sea. Check the operators’ timetables for your dates.
Which side of the bus should I sit on to Positano?
The right-hand side, which faces the sea on the way from Sorrento to Positano.
Is it easy to park in Positano?
No. There are few spaces and private garages are expensive and fill up early in summer. Many visitors prefer the bus, the ferry or a driver.
Can I go from Sorrento to Positano with luggage on the bus?
It is possible but difficult in summer, when buses are full. With suitcases a taxi or private transfer is far more comfortable.
