Positano Transportation

The easiest way to get to Positano without a car is to take the train to Sorrento, then take one of the SITA buses that runs from the street just below the train station to Positano. These leave on a regular basis during tourist season--basically every hour, and it's a great scenic ride along cliff-hanging roads. Sit on the right side of the bus going to Positano for the best views right over the cliff, and don't be surprised if the driver is about 22. :) He'll probably have to back up a couple of times to let other cars pass...or maybe he'll be like ours, who seemed to use the size of our bus to intimidate the other drivers into letting him go first! :)
Check the website for details. There are two stops in Positano--which one you want depends on where your hotel is. The driver will announce both stops, but it was up to us to get our luggage out of the bowels of the bus, and there's no pull-off, so act fast! :) (Don't worry, it's fun.)

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Of our 2 week stay in Italy we knew getting to Positano would be the most difficult to arrange. We came from Venice by train, we got a IC plus train, which stops less and required no train changes. You arrive in Napoli Centrale station and walk to the left (never exiting the station) and head to the Garibaldi station which is marked. We had some unclear directions with this part of our journey. One nevers leaves the stations to/from Naples Centrale/Garibaldi, where you pick up the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana train make several stops to/from Sorrento/Naples. One of these stops is the Scavi Pompei stop which you will take if you want to tour the ruins of Pompei. Once you arrive in the Sorrento train station go to the tabacchi on the lower level and to the left as you exit. You will purchase a ticket for the SITA bus to Positano which departs on the street in front of the train station. They leave about every 30 minutes for Positano. If you are arriving on Sunday night (like us), the last bus leaves at 19:25 not 20:00. We missed the last bus (along with several others) by 2 minutes which required us to split with another couple an 80 euro cab ride! Normally this bus ride to Positano is about 4 euro. Get off at the Chiesa Nuevo bus stop, which is at the very top of Positano. At this stop you can also purchase your SITA bus ticket for your return trip back to Sorrento (Tabacchi at the bus stop). After you depart the blue SITA bus, wait for the Internal Positano bus to get to the nearest bus stop to your hotel. The marquee will say Positano, it will cost 1 euro per person to board and you can get off at any stop. You will be rewarded with beautiful Positano for your persistence! Good Luck!

Take the SITA bus for the entire coast. The roads are too narrow, too far, too treacherous to walk (please don't even try).

You can't drive in either, they restrict the number of cars allowed to pass through the area - there's no place to park anyway!

Take the SITA bus - it's scary but quite an experience, and very scenic. If not for anything, you'll admire the skill of Italian bus drivers.

You can pretty much see the entire Amalfi-Positano-Ravello coast on a SITA bus.

Besides, it's cheap!

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Day trips to Capri are made on the ferry, which is actually a tugboat-sized craft with benches on an open deck. From Naples and Sorrento much larger and faster hydrofoils are used. In season, tickets for the ferry should be purchased from the little kiosk on the west end of the Positano beach. The ferry begins in Sorrento and stops in Amalfi so to ensure a seat during high season buy early. The trip can be choppy as the boat passes the legendary home of the Scylla and Charybis, the sirens of Homer's Odyssey. The landing area at Positano is an unprotected pier so in rough weather it will just bypass. If this happens returning from Capri, the next stop is Amalfi. Fortunately the bus station is immediately adjacent so returning is not difficult although obviously inconvenient. The enclosed photos show Positano and Marina Grande from the ferry.

Anne and I travelled through Europe for 4.5 weeks with another couple, Brian and Amanda. We flew into Rome and out of Paris. During these 9 days in Rome and Paris we did not require a vehicle so we leased a Peugot for 22 days.
This proved to be a cost effective move because we only paid approx AUS$1200 per couple for the car which included all of the insurance, taxes and stamp duties and the car came "fully insured with no excess!" When you think of the money you spend on trains/busabout tickets etc without the freedom of choice, this is an excellent way to see what you want to see!

If you are going to hire a car to drive around the Amalfi Coast, Positano, or any of the other cities in the area, make sure you hire a SMALL one. We hired a family sedan and although most of the coast road was ok, driving in the towns with their tiny streets was a problem. There are large tourist buses that scream up and down the coast road and often you will have to stop to give way. So it's just easier to have a smaller car.

I rented a car and drove my family along the Almafi coast. It is do-able but a difficult drive. Only for the adventerous.... The road is VERY small and twists along the mountainside. Frequently you are driving thru mirrors that are, thankfully, placed on many of the tight corners so you can see on-comming traffic. It is certainly a test in concentration and focus and not for those predisposed to car sickness. For me, a slow patient driver, I found it quite enjoyable.

The most difficult part of this drive are the tour buses. The roads are too small for the Italian compact car much less the HUGE tour buses that seem to flock here. Frequently there is heavy traffic as the buses require the entire road.... and well it is a 2 way road...... to get through. I hate to say it would be easier in a tour bus, as the buses are incredibly dangerous on this road, but at least you would not have to drive.....

Take the boat along the Amalfi coast! It gives you a completely new perspective on this beautiful piece of earth.
I took it twice, once from Positano via Amalfi to Salerno and another time just from Amalfi to Salerno. Both times I really enjoyed the view.

Check the webpage below for the connections and the timetable.