How to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast – By Train, Car, Bus & Ferry

With no direct trains or other connections linking the capital of Rome to the beautiful Amalfi Coast, getting between the two popular destinations can be a little bit complicated at first glance. 

Despite the approximately 173 miles (278 km) in distance, thankfully there are still plenty of options for visitors including cars, trains, busses, ferries, or a combination of them all. That means that you can easily pick the option to suit your budget, time restraints, and comfort levels. 

Here is a quick rundown of all the best options, I will explain them all in more detail throughout the post: 

• Drive from Rome to Amalfi Coast 
• Train to Naples or Salerno + ferry to Amalfi (summer only)
• Train to Salerno + bus or transfer to Amalfi 
• Bus from Rome to Amalfi Coast

Now, let’s have a look at all your options in more detail. 

1. How to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast by Car

While renting a car and road-tripping around Italy with an epic itinerary is generally an amazing way to travel the country, the drive along the Amalfi Coast may be the exception. 

The narrow, winding roads travel atop steep cliffs and through tiny villages where the tiny streets can be super hard to navigate. Plus, finding parking is quite difficult and expensive, so I don’t recommend this option unless you are very experienced with driving in Italy. 

If you do choose to drive, the route will take you between 3-4 hours depending on the traffic. Note that in the peak summer months (July-September), the roads become jam-packed and traffic jams can be a nightmare! 

2. How to Get from Rome to Amalfi Coast by Train

Although there are no direct connections from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, you still have plenty of options for traveling by train. All routes begin by taking a direct fast train from Rome to either Naples or Salerno, from there you can connect by regional train, bus, or ferry. 

The best way to travel is by taking a direct train to either Naples or Salerno and then hopping on board a ferry to the Amalfi Coast. 

Note that ferries don’t run all year round so take this into consideration before booking (you can read more about that below). 

Train from Rome to Naples or Salerno

The first leg of your journey by train is to take a high-speed train from Rome to either Naples or Salerno. From either destination, you will have a number of transfer options that I will go over next, so which you choose generally depends on your preference for ongoing travel. 

The train to Naples leaves from Rome Termini Station and takes around 1 hour and 15 mins to complete the journey. Italo and Trenitalia both run these trains multiple times per day. 

Alternatively, the train to Salerno leaves from both Rome Termini and Rome Tiburtina stations taking around 2 hours to reach its destination. You will be taking a Trenitalia train if you choose this option. 

If you book your trains in advance, tickets are pretty affordable, however for budget travelers you can also opt for the bus from Rome to Naples which takes around 2 hours and 45 mins. 

Train from Salerno to Vietri sul Mare

If you wish to complete the whole journey by train, you will be a little limited on where to stay on the Amalfi Coast, but it’s not entirely impossible. 

Vietri sul Mare is the only Amalfi town with a train station