Naples Airport (NAP, officially Capodichino) sits inside the city, about 6 km from the centre. That’s good news and bad news. Good, because you land close to everything. Bad, because the road to the Amalfi Coast starts in Naples traffic and then climbs onto the SS163, a narrow coastal road with blind curves and slow buses. Positano is roughly 60 km away, but the drive can take well over two hours depending on the season and the day. Knowing that number up front changes how you plan.
your real options from the airport
There are a few ways to cover the distance, and they suit different travellers.
- Alibus to Naples port or central station. The official airport shuttle runs to Piazza Garibaldi and Molo Beverello. It’s cheap, but it only gets you into Naples. From there you still need a ferry or another bus.
- Train then bus. Take a taxi or Alibus to the station, a regional train to Sorrento or Salerno, then a SITA bus along the coast. Inexpensive and scenic, but slow, and you’ll be hauling luggage through several changes.
- Ferry in season. Between roughly April and October, ferries run from Naples to Positano and Amalfi. Beautiful, and they skip the traffic entirely. They don’t run in winter, and rough sea can cancel them with little warning.
- Private transfer. A car meets you at arrivals and drives you straight to your hotel. One vehicle, one price, no changes.
why the coast road eats your day
The SS163 was built for a different era of travel. In July and August, and on summer weekends, it can crawl. A transfer quoted at “90 minutes” in May can stretch past three hours in August. If your hotel is in Positano, the last stretch involves steep, narrow lanes where large vehicles can’t always reach the door. Drivers who work the coast know this. They know which streets close, where the drop-off points are when a car can’t get further, and roughly how long a porter will take with your bags. A driver new to the area does not, and that gap shows up as wasted time and confusion at the end of a long flight day.
booking a private transfer the smart way
If you want the simplest door to door trip, a private transfer is the option with the fewest moving parts. With GetPrivateRide you book the ride in advance on the booking platform, get a fixed price before you travel, and a local English-speaking driver meets you in the arrivals hall. A few things that make the day easier:
- Flight tracking. If your plane is late, the driver sees it and adjusts. You’re not paying for waiting time you didn’t cause, and nobody leaves without you.
- A fixed price. You agree the cost when you book, so the summer surge that hits metered taxis doesn’t apply to you.
- Online cancellation on 99% of rides. Plans change. If the ferry suddenly looks better, or your dates shift, you can cancel online instead of chasing a phone number.
- Right-sized vehicles. A family of four with suitcases and a couple travelling light need different cars. Book the size that fits, so your bags actually go in the boot.
One practical tip: tell the driver your exact hotel and ask where the realistic drop-off point is. In Positano and Ravello especially, “the hotel” and “where a car can stop” are sometimes two different places, and a short walk or a hotel buggy bridges the gap.
which option fits which traveller
If you’re young, travelling light, and not in a hurry, the train and SITA bus combination is cheap and gives you a real taste of the area. If you’re arriving in high summer and the sea is calm, the ferry is genuinely lovely and avoids the worst of the road. If you land late, travel with kids or a lot of luggage, or simply want to step off the plane and not think again until you reach the hotel, a private transfer earns its cost. Many people mix and match: ferry one way when the weather cooperates, a car the other when they have an early flight and can’t gamble on the timetable.
before you go
Check your arrival time against the ferry schedule if you’re hoping to sail, since the last departures are often mid-afternoon. Confirm whether your hotel offers parking or a meeting point for cars. And give yourself buffer on the return: leave the coast earlier than feels necessary, because the road back to NAP is the same slow road, and missing a flight to save twenty minutes is a bad trade. Book the transfer once you know your flight details, and the hardest part of the trip is handled.
