Naples and the Amalfi Coast sit at either end of the Bay of Naples, and the combination is one of Italy's most visited for good reason. Naples is chaotic, dense, and completely itself. The Amalfi Coast is dramatic coastal scenery, cliffside villages, and cerulean water. They share proximity and contrast almost everything else. This trip suits anyone with at least 5 nights who wants both the city and the coast.

Why This Combination Works

Naples is the Campania gateway: it's where flights go and where the main train station is. The Amalfi Coast is not self-contained as a destination without Naples as a base or transit point. Rather than treating Naples as just an overnight before the coast, this combination gives both places the time they deserve.

For 7 nights: 3 nights Naples, 4 nights on the Amalfi Coast (based in Positano, Praiano, or Amalfi town). For 5 nights: 2 nights Naples, 3 nights on the coast. Do not try to see the Amalfi Coast as a day trip from Naples: the journey time and the cost make it poor value for less than 2 nights.

Getting There

There is no direct train to the Amalfi Coast. The standard route is:

Train from Naples Centrale to Sorrento via the Circumvesuviana: around 1h10min, roughly €4. From Sorrento, ferries run to Positano and Amalfi town (seasonal, April to October primarily): around 30-40 minutes to Positano, 1h10min to Amalfi, and roughly €15-20 per leg. In the off season or when seas are rough, the SITA bus from Sorrento along the SS163 coastal road is the main option: spectacular views, about 1h30min to Amalfi, and prone to delays when tourist coaches block the road.

A second option: ferries run directly from Naples Molo Beverello to Sorrento (35 minutes, around €15) or to Positano/Amalfi in summer, which cuts out the Circumvesuviana leg.

On Renting a Car

Do not rent a car on the Amalfi Coast unless you have experience driving on single-track mountain roads and nerves for reversing into passing places above sheer drops. The SS163 is beautiful and genuinely treacherous. Coaches and local buses take priority. The few parking areas in the main villages are limited and expensive. Most visitors who rent a car on the Amalfi Coast regret it. Use public transport and ferries.

What Each Adds to the Trip

Naples

Naples gives you the Museo Nazionale Archeologico, which holds the finest Roman artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum in the world, the Spaccanapoli street cutting through the centro storico, underground Naples (Napoli Sotterranea), and pizza that is a specific and serious thing here. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele and Sorbillo are both worth queuing for. Add a day trip to Pompeii (35 minutes by Circumvesuviana): it is extraordinary and you should not skip it.

The Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast delivers cliffside villages with coloured houses stacked above the sea, the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) hiking route between Positano and Praiano, Ravello's gardens and hilltop views, and the kind of scenery that explains why this stretch of Italian coast has had people obsessed for centuries. Positano is the most photographed village; Praiano is quieter and worth considering as a base. Swimming is best from small beaches and rocks accessible by boat.