Practical
Ferry or car? Moving along the Amalfi Coast
The SS163 is the most beautiful road in Italy until you're stuck on it. Here's the honest comparison.
When the ferry wins
Salerno → Amalfi: 35 minutes by ferry, €12. By car, 50 minutes off-peak, 2+ hours on a Saturday in August. The ferry runs April–October roughly every hour.
Amalfi → Positano: 25 minutes, €10. The view from the water includes coves you can't see from the road — and you skip the worst hairpins.
When the car still wins
Off-season (November–March), midweek, or if you want to stop at Furore, Conca dei Marini, Praiano on the way. The road is genuinely empty between November and April and the drive is a pleasure.
If you do drive in summer, leave at 7am or after 19:00. Never between 11:00 and 17:00 on a weekend.
Where to stay
Our homes in Amalfi
The maritime republic that gave the coast its name — a striped duomo, paper mills tucked in a wooded gorge, and the quiet center of the Costiera.
Keep reading
More guides from our team
Practical6 min readNaples airport to the Amalfi Coast — the four real options
There's no single right answer. The right transfer depends on your luggage, your group size, when you arrive, and where on the coast you're staying.
Practical5 min readDriving the SS163 — when and how
The Amalfi coastal road was carved into the cliff in the 19th century for ox carts. The driving rules haven't fully caught up to modern SUVs.