Amalfi Coast Day Trips from Rome
The Amalfi Coast is an entire stretch of coastline that encompasses a series of villages along with stunning cliffs and dazzling magic.
Amalfi Coast | ©John Morton
With a great tourist attraction, unbeatable beaches and extraordinary views, the Amalfi Coast and all its municipalities were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997.
Below I tell you which are the best excursions to do in the Amalfi Coast from Rome and I take this opportunity to invite you to read the post what to see and do in Rome, to design the best plans for your trip.
1. Discover the Amalfi Coast from Rome by cruise ship
The town of Amalfi is located in southern Italy, more precisely in the province of Salerno. This small and picturesque town gave its name to the famous Amalfi Coast, which I propose you to discover with this tour of the Amalfi Coast from Rome.
On this double trip that combines the experience of a high-speed train ride from Rome with a coastal cruise in a small group, you will be able to marvel at the paradisiacal beaches of southern Italy. You will travel from Rome in the comfort of a train and then cruise the waters of the Mediterranean as you experience Amalfi and Positano.
This is one of the best excursions from Rome, which will also give you the opportunity to taste a tasting of limoncello, the liqueur made from the lemon that produces these lands, visiting an orchard in the area.
In addition, an expert guide will tell you the history of these beautiful villages in a route of about 13 hours. You will get to know not only the beautiful coast, but also the history, culture and gastronomy of Amalfi and Positano.
Interesting details
- Price: From 180 €
- Duration: About 13 hours
- Means of transport: Train from Rome to get there and boat to go along the Amalfi Coast. All included in the price.
- Advantages of this option: With this excursion you forget to look for how to get to the area and then you will enjoy the best views of the coast. And of course don't forget your limoncello tasting, a very tasty extra!
- Disadvantages of this option: For those who may have problems with seasickness aboard a boat, it may not be the most advisable option.
2. Tour Positano and Amalfi in a comfortable minibus
It is undeniable that Amalfi is one of the most amazing places to visit on the Italian coast. Its deep blue and crystal clear waters will not leave you indifferent, nor will its narrow and picturesque streets. Neither will Positano, another postcard village. That's why I propose this double excursion to Amalfi and Positano by minibus.
Again this tour will depart from Rome by train and continue through Positano and Amalfi by minivan in a group of maximum 15 people to enjoy spectacular views along the way. The driver-guide will leave you enough time to immortalize the moment with photos. Of course, the sight you will see there will be unforgettable!
The comfort of traveling in a minivan with driver will allow you to explore the area without the hassle of looking for parking or looking for other means of transportation. It is a perfectly planned trip for you to just enjoy the views.
Details of interest
- Price: From 200 €
- Duration: About 13 hours
- Means of transport: Train to reach the coast and then minibus to tour the two villages with a maximum of 15 people.
- Advantages of this option: After a comfortable high-speed train ride included in the price, you can comfortably contemplate the spectacular views of the Amalfi coast from your minibus.
- Disadvantages of this option: It has the same cost as the previous excursion and this one does not include the limoncello tasting.
3. Take advantage of a shore excursion and visit the spectacular Pompeii
Departing from Positano you can take a tour to the city of Pompeii which is world famous for its archaeological value.
In 79 B.C. the city was devoured by the Vesuvius volcano and was completely ruined under the volcanic ash. It used to be a city with great development and growth potential.
If you have little time in Rome but do not want to miss the wonders of the southern Italian coast, take advantage of your trip to the Amalfi Coast to make an excursion to Pompeii, along with Amalfi and Positano. You will have skip-the-line access to the extinct city of the Roman Empire.
A private bus will take you to see the highlights of the three locations while an expert guide will tell you the stories of Pompeii's archaeological remains. Of course, you will have time to enjoy the views of the coast.
A great advantage of this tour is that if you travel to Rome in winter most of the stores and restaurants in Positano are closed, so you can switch to the town of Amalfi. If, on the other hand, you visit Rome in summer, so that the traffic in the town that gives its name to the southern coast is not a problem, the excursion allows you to substitute Sorrento for Positano.
Details of interest
- Price: From 243 €
- Duration: About 10 hours
- Means of transport: Bus with a maximum of 24 passengers
- Advantages of this option: During a full day excursion you will get to know three essential sites of Rome and its surroundings. Pompeii will not leave you indifferent!
- Disadvantages of this option: As Pompeii is included in this day trip, and there is so much to tell about its archaeological ruins, you may find the time spent in the different locations short.
4. Recreate in Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast in small groups
If you have already seen some images of the spectacular views of the towns that bathe the Mediterranean Sea and want to include it among your excursions from Rome but a walk through each of these towns is not enough for you, I recommend another option to delight you at your leisure with each of them.
The excursion to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast in small groups is undoubtedly the most complete option, since it includes pick-up and drop-off at the hotel and a tour with an expert guide through Pompeii, Amalfi and Positano. You will not miss any of the wonderful scenery!
Being able to go in small groups of maximum 8 people will allow you to enjoy an unforgettable experience in detail. You will be able to relax while watching the amazing coastline and you will have enough time to get to know in depth the remains of the buried Pompeii.
The tour includes a visit to the most important sites of Pompeii such as the thermal baths, the Forum, the Basilica, the residential houses of the time and many other sites of great interest. Anyway, for more information about the historic city, be sure to read this post about the best excursions to Pompeii from Rome.
Details of interest
- Price: From 242 €
- Duration: About 14 hours
- Means of transport: Car
- Advantages of this option: Forget about finding your way to the train station or any other meeting point with your guide; in this tour you will be picked up at the door of your hotel. In addition, the duration of the tour allows you to visit the three locations at your leisure.
- Disadvantages of this option: The price rises as it includes three guided tours and transfers.
Which towns belong to the Amalfi Coast?
- Amalfi
- Positano
- Ravello
- Conca dei Marini
- Praiano
- Scala
- Tramonti
- Vietri sul Mare
There are even more municipalities that belong to the Amalfi Coast, but Amalfi, Positano and Ravello are the ones that get all the attention and tourist attractions.
Sorrento, although it is a town located just off the coast, is a must to visit and tour as it has a lot of hotels (often at very convenient prices), is full of bars and restaurants, and has a public transport that will take you wherever you want in minutes.
A bit of history
The history of the Amalfi Coast seems to date back to the 1st century A.D. although the first written mentions date back to the 6th century. The region prospered thanks to its maritime power, in particular through the trade of cereals, salt and slaves where many exchanges were made with the East, especially with the Byzantine Empire.
The famous doors of the cathedral of Amalfi were cast in Constantinople, and the oriental architecture is something visible in the city from the Cathedral, passing through the cloister and many other buildings that have reminiscences of that origin.
Despite its modest size, it was one of the main ports of Europe between the 9th and 12th centuries. Since Roman times the coast was taken as an ideal place to vacation and bathe under the Tyrrhenian sun.
Today the entire Amalfi Coast is a meeting point for locals who wish to spend a few days away from the chaos of the city enjoying the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea, to thousands of international tourists who come from all over the world to be captivated by the beauty of the area.
How to reach the Amalfi Coast from Rome via Salerno
If you decide to go on your own or your contracted excursions do not include the trip to the coast, read on and I'll tell you how to manage your travel to and from the region, read on and I'll tell you the best ways to get there.
Leaving by train from Roma Termini train station, you can take a train to Salerno. The company that provides this service isTrenitalia and the trip takes two hours.
Prices can change and can range from 30 euro to 70 euro, it always depends on the time of booking.
Once in Salerno, getting to the Amalfi Coast is very easy. From Piazza Concordia in Salerno, you can find boats that will take you to Amalfi in 35 minutes for an approximate cost of 8 euros. Usually there is a departure every hour, but the schedule can change,
. You can also choose to go from Salerno to the Amalfi coast by bus.
From Rome to Amalfi Coast by Car
Another option you could use is to rent a car from Rome and drive directly to the Amalfi Coast.
Car prices vary a lot depending on the model of the car, size, etc. Generally, the further in advance, the more economical the rental car prices will be.
The car journey is direct, well signposted and in just over three hours you will reach the coast.
Traveller Tip
As the roads on the Amalfi Coast are quite small and narrow, parking becomes an odyssey. Choose in advance where you will be able to park without wasting time driving around.
Best time to visit Amalfi Coast
Although you will find many different opinions about the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast, the truth is that it is impossible to give a correct answer.
As I have told you, every town on the Amalfi Coast is a treasure waiting to be discovered, with beautiful views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, delicious cuisine and postcard facades. In other words, you won't regret visiting the coast any time of the year you can.
In the Italian summer, which runs from June to August, you can enjoy the beach, the sun and great sunsets at your favorite cocktail bar.
There are also events in the different towns, street performers and a lively and fun climate. The only thing you should keep in mind is that these months are also the busiest and most crowded with tourists, both local and international, so it is advisable to book in advance and get used to the hustle and bustle of the people.
In the two Italian mid-seasons ( April to May and September to October). Spring and autumn respectively in the weather is still very warm and pleasant and you notice calmer vibes and also less crowds of tourists.
The Amalfi Coast always has something to delight its visitors, with the possible exception of winter (around November to March), when it is often cold, wet and lacks its usual atmosphere but still worth a fleeting visit to see the great sights.
September and October are ideal months to experience the coast as the heat is still optimal but not in the extreme (making it more suitable for outdoor activities such as hiking), and the cities are still lively but with much lower prices.