Best Amalfi Coast Tours from Sorrento

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. If you are based in Sorrento, here are the best excursions you can choose to visit the Amalfi paradise.

Matías Rodríguez

Matías Rodríguez

11 min read

Best Amalfi Coast Tours from Sorrento

Amalfi Coast | ©Richard Morte

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most visited destinations in Italy. Because of the beauty of its landscapes and beaches and its easy access from almost any city in southern Italy, it is a very popular place for tourists. Taking Sorrento as a base to discover this area is one of the most common and most effective options, because it will not only allow you to stay close to Amalfi, Positano and Ravello but also to the islands of Capri and Ischia, two other paradisiacal places.

In addition to its proximity to the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento has many activities to see and do and a rich historical, cultural and gastronomic heritage that will leave you in awe. If your intention is to discover the Amalfi cities, making a base in Sorrento will make things easier for you and will also allow you to enjoy yourself without rushing, away from the urgencies and haste of other populous cities in the area such as Naples.

Boat trip to Amalfi, Ravello and Positano from Sorrento

By boat along the Amalfi Coast| ©Jason Harman
By boat along the Amalfi Coast| ©Jason Harman

Visiting the Amalfi Coast from a boat is one of the most common options. This type of excursion includes a visit to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, the three main towns accessible from the imposing Tyrrhenian Sea.

The tour also includes a walk along the Bay of Ieranto, along the shores of the island of Li Galli and the towns of Nerano and Praiano.

On these tours you will visit Amalfi, its romantic landscapes and the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle. You will also visit the town of Ravello, with its Arab villa of Rufolo and its balcony gardens overlooking the sea.

Ravello is one of the most picturesque destinations of the Amalfi Coast, for its colors and its flavors, as it owns one of the best gastronomy of the area.

The third destination of the Amalfi roads is Positano, which is known as the Pearl of the Coast. There you can get lost in its narrow streets, enjoy its local markets and colorful ceramics.

These tours generally end their tour of the Amalfi Coast in Positano and propose a return by boat to the starting point.

These tours last approximately eight to ten hours and aim to make the most of the heat of the day. They are ideal excursions to admire the coasts of Sorrento and Amalfi and enjoy a boat ride.

If after this tour of the Amalfi Coast you feel like visiting other places, I recommend excursions to the island of Capri from Sorrento.

Details of interest

  • Price... These excursions start at approximately 65 euros.
  • Duration... These excursions last approximately eight to ten hours.
  • Means of transportation... Bus from the meeting point to the pier and to tour Amalfi, Positano and Ravello and boat round trip from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast.

Book an excursion to the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast day bus tour from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast| ©Dave & Margie Hill
Amalfi Coast| ©Dave & Margie Hill

A bus tour from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast is ideal for getting to know the entire area.

These tours generally include hotel pick up and a drive along the Amalfi Coast which is considered one of the most beautiful tourist routes in the world and is chosen by many travelers to enjoy it by car.

These excursions also include the assistance of an expert guide who will give you general information about the activities you can do at each of the three agreed stops.

In Positano, as the first destination, you will be able to walk through its tangle of streets and alleys and the stores that display the colorful fashion of one of the most visited towns in Italy. The town center, crowned by the parish church of Santa Maria Assunta, is also worth a visit.

In Amalfi, second stop, you can enjoy a city built overlooking the sea. From all its flower-filled gardens you can enjoy the beauty of the Tyrrhenian Sea and the colors of a city dominated by the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Amalfi's past as a Maritime Republic can be glimpsed at every step, especially in its picturesque port.

The last destination is Ravello, which is also an elegant town, full of gardens and luxurious villas, especially that of Rufolo, and the site of Italy's most important music festival.

In Piazza Vescovado you can enjoy the best Italian food and from the portal of the Cathedral you can access its majestic bell tower. These excursions usually end in Ravello and return by bus to Sorrento, where you can continue to enjoy the city.

Details of interest

  • Price... These excursions start at approximately 75 euros, including the assistance of the local expert guide.
  • Duration... These excursions last approximately eight hours.
  • Means of transportation... Bus from the meeting point or hotel pick-up to each of the Amalfi Coast towns.

Book an excursion to the Amalfi Coast

Alternatives to reach the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento on your own

Driving a car| ©JESHOOTS.com
Driving a car| ©JESHOOTS.com

The Amalfi route is considered one of the most beautiful in the world and it is common that many visitors choose to tour the Amalfi Coast by car.

Moreover, it is also possible to visit it by public transport. I will tell you what are the alternatives for these cases.

Tour by car along the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento

After the organized excursions by bus or by boat, touring the Amalfi route by car is the most chosen option by visitors. The best alternative is to rent a car in Sorrento and start the road along the SS163 route with stops in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello.

The road is direct and has very beautiful scenery. The advantage of this option is that you can do the route at your own pace and also visit other towns that are not usually included in the organized tours.

In addition, from Ravello and for the return, you could opt for the SS145 route which is a bit longer but includes a pass through Pompeii, where you can also make an excursion from Sorrento.

  • Price... Renting a car in Sorrento starts from 70 euros per day.
  • Duration... The drive from Sorrento to Ravello takes about an hour and a half. The duration will depend on the time you spend at the intermediate stops.

Bus tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento

While touring the towns of the Amalfi Coast by bus may be the most economical option, it can also be a bit cumbersome, especially because of the frequency with which the buses pass through.

From Sorrento you can reach Positano directly in about forty minutes on bus line 5070 or by combining lines 1 and 5070.

To reach Amalfi from Positano you will have to take bus 5070 again for a one hour trip and from Amalfi to Ravello it is possible to get there on bus line 5110 in about thirty minutes.

Interesting details

  • Price... Bus tickets are about eight euros per leg.
  • Duration... The total bus ride from Sorrento to Ravello takes about two hours. The duration will depend on the itinerary of the trip and the time you spend at the intermediate stops.
  • Means of transport... By bus on lines 5070 and 5110.

Book an excursion from Sorrento to Pompeii

How to book an excursion to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento?

Booking online| ©Marek Levak
Booking online| ©Marek Levak

Reservations for any of the Sorrento tours, including those to the Amalfi Coast, can be made online or purchased directly when you are in town.

In high season, during the summer, excursions along the Amalfi route are in high demand, so I recommend that if you have an organized itinerary you make your reservations in advance.

The same advice is valid for boat trips from Sorrento on the Tyrrhenian Sea and visits to the Blue Grotto on the island of Capri. Sorrento is a city that many tourists use as a base to then visit the Amalfi Coast and the islands.

Book a cruise to Capri from Sorrento

How long is a tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento?

On Amalfi Coast| ©Martin Hesketh
On Amalfi Coast| ©Martin Hesketh

The answer depends on the means of transportation you use. Generally, Amalfi Coast boat or bus tours last approximately eight to ten hours. These excursions are designed to take a full day, with pick-up and drop-off at the starting point in Sorrento.

If you choose to travel on your own by bus or car, you should keep in mind that the time will depend on the intermediate stops you make. As a reference, Ravello can be reached by car in an hour and a half and the bus takes about two hours.

If you only plan to stay a few days in the city I recommend that you opt for an organized tour or plan a precise itinerary if you decide to visit the Amalfi Coast on your own.

To help you, here are the activities you can see and do in Sorrento in three days click here.

What am I going to see in this kind of Amalfi Coast tours from Sorrento?

Li Galli Islands| ©Gianfranco Vitolo
Li Galli Islands| ©Gianfranco Vitolo

The Amalfi Coast excursions are designed to give you an overview of the main towns in the area and also to discover some of the secrets of one of the most beautiful places in Italy and the world.

On the boat excursions you will be able to tour the Tyrrhenian Sea, its crystal clear and warm waters and the paradisiacal islands of Li Galli, which lie off the coast.

You will also visit Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, which is an eclectic city with a wide range of tourist attractions and some of the best gastronomy in Italy.

On the bus tours you will not be able to see the Amalfi Coast from the Tyrrhenian Sea but you will be driven along one of the most beautiful routes in the world and you will also enjoy the three most visited towns of the Amalfi Coast.

If you book a bus tour and want to see the Tyrrhenian Sea from the water, you can opt for a boat trip on another day.

Book a boat trip from Sorrento

Tips for an excursion on the Amalfi Coast

Sunset in Amalfi| ©Giuseppe Milo
Sunset in Amalfi| ©Giuseppe Milo

The towns of the Amalfi Coast live at their own pace, the ideal is to walk through them at your own pace to discover them. Ravello is a town of tangled streets that has a lot to offer and I recommend that you allow yourself to get lost in its streets and get to know it in all its colors and flavors.

Amalfi and Positano have their cathedrals and parishes and very nice local markets. Excursions along the Amalfi Coast are generally designed so that the visitor can take the time to get to know the corners of each place in detail, so relax and try to enjoy them!

How much does a tour of the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento cost?

Money in Euros| ©Pixabay
Money in Euros| ©Pixabay

The answer depends on the tour you choose and the means of transportation. By bus excursions start from around €75 and by boat tours are available from €65. These prices usually include stops in the main towns along the Amalfi Coast, but not meals.

If you travel on your own by public transport bus the price can go down appreciably, although you should bear in mind that it can be a tiring and complicated tour to organize. The cost of each bus ticket per section is around eight euros.

If you go by car the cost will depend on the price of car rental, but you can find some from about 70 euros per day. In any case, if you travel along the Amalfi coast by car enjoy the tour but do not lose sight of the road, as it is a somewhat winding route.

What are the towns I should not miss on the Amalfi Coast?

Positano, Amalfi Coast| ©pululante
Positano, Amalfi Coast| ©pululante

There are many towns to visit on the way from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast. In them you can discover different attractions and breathe the air of each town. All of them have unmissable landscapes, enchanted alleys and unparalleled views.

In any case you can't miss the main ones, which are Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Below I detail what you can find in each one.

  • Positano: It is a village of narrow and steep streets, built on a cliff that faces the best views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Among its attractions are the parish of Santa Maria Assunta, the local market and its characteristic and colorful ceramics. It is considered the Pearl of the Amalfi Coast.

  • Amalfi: If you arrive by road from Positano you can enjoy one of the sections of the Path of the Gods, which according to mythology is the path followed by the divinities to save Ulysses. In Amalfi you will enjoy its gardens full of flowers and the colors of the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle. Its picturesque harbor harkens back to the city's days as a Maritime Republic.

  • Ravello: Its luxurious Arab villas, including Rufolo, are arranged like balconies overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is also characterized by the elegance of its buildings and narrow alleys in which I recommend you let yourself go to discover the bowels of this historic town. It is home to Italy's largest music festival.

Why is it advisable to take a trip to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento?

View of Ravello| ©Fabrizio Pivari
View of Ravello| ©Fabrizio Pivari

If you are in Sorrento it is because you are possibly planning to tour the Amalfi coast, but in case you are not I recommend you to do it.

The Amalfi coast has some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world and the route of the Amalfi roads is considered one of the most beautiful, chosen every year by millions of visitors who travel it in organized tours or in rented cars.

You cannot miss the breathtaking views of Ravello, the colors of Positano and the opulence of Amalfi as a Maritime Republic. In any case, you will not be the same after visiting these spectacular landscapes with an open view of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting the Amalfi Coast on my own?

Getting to know the Amalfi Coast| ©Francisco Anzola
Getting to know the Amalfi Coast| ©Francisco Anzola

The Amalfi Coast has many towns to get to know and is somewhat inconvenient to access by public transportation. It is impossible to access by train and by bus the adventure can be inexpensive but cumbersome.

If the excursion is also by boat, you can discover the beauty of the coast from the Tyrrhenian Sea. The assistance of an expert local guide can also be essential to discover each destination.

If you travel by car it can also be an interesting experience and in fact millions of visitors choose this option every year. In that case you will just have to be attentive to the road and organize a suitable itinerary so as not to miss any detail.