Amalfi Coast Ferries: Routes, Operators, Fares and Tickets Explained (2026)

Amalfi Coast ferries are the fastest way to move between Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento and Capri. However, several companies share the piers, and each sells its own tickets. This guide shows who runs which route, what the operators charge, and when the bus or a car makes more sense.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Amalfi Coast ferries at a glance

The table below summarizes the main lines. Fares are adult one-way prices read on each operator’s own pages (checked September 2026). Luggage fees and island charges come on top.

Who runs the Amalfi Coast ferries

Four companies cover most of what visitors need. Each has its own ticket office and website, so a ticket from one is not valid on another.

• Travelmar is the coastal workhorse. According to its official site, it serves Salerno, Vietri, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi and Positano, and it describes its service as available all year (checked September 2026).
• NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo) runs hydrofoils from Naples to Capri, Sorrento, Amalfi and Positano. It also runs the Capri links from Positano and Amalfi.
• SNAV runs hydrofoils to Capri and Sorrento. According to SNAV, these run with daily departures throughout the year (checked September 2026).
• Alicost sails from Salerno to Amalfi, Positano and Capri, and also runs a seasonal Capri to Positano service. Note that Alicost leaves from Molo Manfredi in Salerno, according to its route page (checked September 2026).

That detail matters, because Travelmar leaves from Piazza Concordia, next to Salerno’s train station. So check your pier before you set off.

Main routes and what they cost

Salerno, Amalfi and Positano

This is the line most visitors use. According to the Travelmar timetable updated from September 7, the Salerno to Amalfi crossing takes 35 minutes, and Salerno to Positano takes 70 minutes (checked September 2026). In addition, some departures stop at Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri.

Fares are fixed rather than dynamic. The Travelmar 2026 fare table lists about €12 from Salerno to Amalfi, about €17 from Salerno to Positano and about €10 from Amalfi to Positano (checked September 2026). A €1.50 municipal charge on departures from Salerno is already included in those figures.

Naples, Sorrento and Capri

From Naples, the hydrofoils leave from Molo Beverello, near the port. For example, NLG lists about €18.50 from Naples to Sorrento on its route page and about €25 from Naples to Capri on its Capri route page (checked September 2026). From Sorrento, the NLG Sorrento to Capri fare is about €22, and the summer timetable shows seven daily sailings (checked September 2026).

Capri, Positano and Amalfi

The Capri link is the most seasonal of all. According to the NLG Positano to Capri page, it runs from April 1 to November 3, 2026, with three departures a day each way and an adult fare of about €24 (checked September 2026). NLG runs Amalfi to Capri on the same dates. There is also a Naples to Amalfi line, with some trips changing boats in Capri.

On top of the fare, Capri charges a landing contribution on arrival. NLG lists it as €5 per person from April to October and €2.50 from November to March (checked September 2026).

When Amalfi Coast ferries run: seasonality

Summer and fall have the most departures, while winter service thins out sharply. In practice:

• April to early November: the full network runs, including the Capri links from Positano and Amalfi. NLG’s summer timetables run from April 1 to November 3, 2026.
• Winter: Travelmar keeps a year-round service on the coast, but with fewer runs. By contrast, NLG’s Positano to Sorrento winter timetable shows a single daily departure each way, on limited days.
• Timetables change mid-season. Travelmar, for example, issued a new timetable from September 7. Therefore, check the current version close to your travel date.

How to buy ferry tickets

You can buy online on each operator’s site or at the ticket booths by the piers. For peak months, however, online is safer. Alicost’s FAQ notes that tickets are sold at ticket offices, but availability is not guaranteed in peak season (checked September 2026). It also suggests arriving 20 to 30 minutes before departure.

There is one trap to know. According to NLG, the company has no ticket office in Positano, so you cannot buy or change NLG tickets there on the spot (checked September 2026). As a result, book NLG departures from Positano online in advance.

Also, buy one-way tickets unless you are sure of your return time, since sea conditions can change.

Luggage on the ferries

Luggage rules differ by company, and big suitcases cost extra. According to Travelmar, one carry-on bag of up to 45 x 35 x 20 cm is included in the ticket (checked September 2026). Its fare table then lists a €3 charge for extra luggage. NLG, by contrast, charges €5 per piece on each one-way trip.

Positano’s pier sits at the bottom of town, below long flights of steps. So pack light, or ask your hotel about a porter.

Rough seas: what happens to your ferry

Ferries on this coast can be delayed or canceled when the sea is rough. The Travelmar timetable states that departures may change because of adverse weather and sea conditions (checked September 2026). Similarly, Alicost says services may be delayed or canceled for safety reasons.

Refunds depend on each company’s fare conditions, so read them at checkout. Above all, keep a backup plan, such as the SITA bus. Also, avoid a tight flight or train connection right after a ferry leg.

Ferry, SITA bus or driving: how to choose

The SITA bus

SITA Sud runs the public buses on the Amalfi Drive. Its line 5070 links Amalfi, Praiano, Positano and Sorrento (checked September 2026). In addition, SITA sells a COSTIERASITA ticket for €10, valid for 24 hours from first validation across the coastal towns (checked September 2026). The bus runs all year, but it gets crowded in summer.

Driving and the alternate plate rule

Driving the coast road yourself is possible, but peak-season rules apply. According to the Amalfi Coast tourism district, an odd-even plate rule covers the SS163 from Vietri sul Mare to Positano from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (checked September 2026). In 2026 it applies on weekends and holidays in June, July and October, and every day from August 1 to September 30. Hotel guests on check-in and check-out days are among the exemptions. Our guide to driving in Italy covers the wider rules, including ZTL restricted zones.

Getting to the ferry piers

Salerno is the easiest gateway for rail travelers, because Travelmar’s pier sits next to the train station. Our guide to trains in Italy explains how to book the high-speed leg.

If you base yourself in Sorrento, see our things to do in Sorrento guide. For Capri itself, read our guide to the island of Capri. Finally, budget for the local Italy tourist tax in the towns where you sleep.

Boat tours and day trips instead of ferries

A public ferry is transport, not a tour. For swimming stops and a slower pace, book a boat instead. For example, the tour pages on our site cover an Amalfi Coast boat tour and a Capri boat tour with the Blue Grotto.

Short on time? A guided day solves the logistics. Options include an Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome and a Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples. If you add Pompeii on your own, read our guide to Pompeii tickets first. For a side-by-side view of formats, see our Amalfi Coast tours guide and the Amalfi Coast travel guide.

In winter, Salerno is a good base: see our guide to Luci d’Artista in Salerno for the light festival and ferry links.

Starting in Rome? Our guide from Rome to the Amalfi Coast shows which gateway, Naples or Salerno, fits your base.

Starting from Naples? Our guide to getting from Naples to Positano compares the ferry, the train and bus, the airport shuttle and transfers.

Amalfi Coast ferries: frequently asked questions

Do Amalfi Coast ferries run all year?

Travelmar describes its Salerno, Amalfi and Positano service as year-round, with fewer runs in winter. The Capri links from Positano and Amalfi are seasonal, and NLG runs them from April 1 to November 3, 2026.

How much is the ferry from Amalfi to Positano?

The Travelmar 2026 fare table lists about €10 for an adult one-way ticket, checked September 2026. Extra luggage beyond one small carry-on costs €3.

Should I book Amalfi Coast ferries in advance?

In peak months, yes, because ticket offices cannot guarantee availability. NLG has no ticket office in Positano, so book its departures from there online.

What happens if the sea is rough?

Departures can be delayed or canceled for safety. Refunds depend on each company’s fare conditions, so keep the SITA bus as a backup.

Is the ferry or the bus better between Positano and Amalfi?

The ferry is usually quicker and more pleasant in season, while the SITA bus runs all year and costs less with the COSTIERASITA day ticket.