Day Trips from Positano: Amalfi, Ravello, Pompeii, and Capri

Positano is positioned well for day trips along the Amalfi Coast and across the Bay of Naples: Amalfi is 20 minutes by ferry, Capri is 50 minutes, and Pompeii is reachable in under two hours. The challenge is transport logistics - the SS163 coast road is beautiful but slow, and in summer the buses can be crowded. Ferries are almost always faster and more comfortable than road transport for the coastal destinations.

Amalfi and Ravello (by ferry)

The ferry from Positano to Amalfi takes approximately 20 minutes and costs approximately €8–10 as of 2026. It is the most natural day trip from Positano - another Amalfi Coast town, but with a completely different character. Amalfi was a maritime republic that rivalled Venice and Genoa in the 9th and 10th centuries; the scale of the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea (free entry, crypt approximately €3) and the Arab-Norman cloister (Chiostro del Paradiso, approximately €5) reflect that history. The Piazza del Duomo, the market streets behind it, and the Arsenale (medieval shipyard, free) make for a good half-day.

From Amalfi, the local SITA bus climbs to Ravello (approximately 20 minutes, approximately €2 as of 2026) - a small hill town above the coast, famous for its gardens and views. Villa Cimbrone (entry approximately €8 as of 2026) contains the most dramatic viewpoint on the entire coast: the Belvedere of Infinity, a stone terrace with classical statues looking out over the sea from 300 metres up. Villa Rufolo (entry approximately €7) has a rose garden and Arabic courtyard used for the Ravello Festival concerts each summer. The combination of Amalfi and Ravello makes a very full and satisfying day.

Capri (by direct ferry)

From April to October, a seasonal ferry runs directly from Positano to Capri, taking approximately 50 minutes and costing approximately €20–26 per person as of 2026. Buy tickets from the ferry booth at Marina di Positano or online (NLG and SNAV operate the route). In summer, book in advance - these boats sell out.

A day on Capri from Positano works well: take the morning ferry (typically around 9:30am or 10:30am), spend the day visiting the Blue Grotto (approximately €32–34 total as of 2026), walking to the Faraglioni viewpoint at Punta Tragara, or taking the Anacapri chairlift to Monte Solaro, and return on the late afternoon ferry. The key is time management - the Blue Grotto by itself takes 2–3 hours including the queue. Doing it and the Faraglioni walk is achievable; adding Anacapri makes for a rushed day.

For a day trip to Capri from Positano with a guide and boat, organised tours departing from the Amalfi Coast include transport and skip the worst queuing.

Pompeii (by bus and train)

Pompeii is reachable from Positano by SITA bus to Sorrento (approximately 1 hour, approximately €1.30 as of 2026) followed by the Circumvesuviana railway to Pompei Scavi station (approximately 35 minutes from Sorrento, approximately €2.80 as of 2026). The station is directly opposite the site entrance. Total transit time approximately 1.5–2 hours each way.

Pompeii Archaeological Park is one of the best-preserved Roman sites in the world - 44 hectares of streets, houses, temples, and public buildings frozen under volcanic ash in AD 79. Entry costs approximately €16 as of 2026 (book online to avoid queues). Allow 3–4 hours minimum; a guide or audio guide (approximately €8–10 as of 2026) significantly improves the experience.

Key sites: the Forum (the civic heart of the city), the House of the Faun (with the Alexander Mosaic copy), the Lupanar (the brothel, the most visited site in Pompeii), and the Garden of the Fugitives (where plaster casts of victims are displayed). Get there when gates open at 9am - the site fills rapidly in summer.

The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods)

The most celebrated hiking trail on the Amalfi Coast starts above Positano and can be organised as a day trip with a guide. The standard route begins at Agerola (reached by bus from Amalfi town, approximately 1 hour, approximately €2 as of 2026) and descends to Nocelle above Positano via approximately 7.5km of ridge-top path, with views across the full sweep of the coast.

The descent from Nocelle to Positano takes approximately 45 minutes down a long staircase (approximately 1,800 steps). Total hiking time 3.5–5 hours depending on pace. Start early - the trail becomes very hot after 10am in July and August. Proper hiking footwear is essential. Guided Sentiero degli Dei walks from Positano with transport to Agerola arranged can be booked through local operators, typically approximately €35–50 per person as of 2026.

Sorrento and Naples (by ferry)

Ferries run from Positano to Sorrento (approximately 35 minutes, approximately €15–18 as of 2026) and to Naples Beverello port (approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, approximately €20–25) in season. Sorrento makes for an easy half-day - the clifftop town, the lemon grove gardens, and the good lunch options are all close together. It is also the hub for onward transport to Pompeii, Capri, and Herculaneum.

Naples requires more planning: it is a large, intense city and a quick day trip barely scratches the surface. The National Archaeological Museum (entry approximately €20 as of 2026) houses the most important collection of Roman artefacts in existence, including the Farnese collection and the finds from Pompeii and Herculaneum - worth the whole journey on its own. The historic centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and the pizza at Di Matteo or Sorbillo on Via dei Tribunali justify the crossing for food and urban energy.