Amalfi Coast by SITA bus: timetables, tickets, and how to survive it
From Sorrento: Amalfi & Positano Full-Day Tour by Van
How does the SITA bus work on the Amalfi Coast and how much does it cost?
SITA buses run the length of the SS163 between Sorrento and Salerno. Buy tickets at tabacchi shops before boarding (€1.60–3.60 depending on distance). The buses run roughly every 40–90 minutes and are often standing-room only in summer. Travel before 9:00 or after 19:00 to avoid the crush.
| Where | SS163 coastal road, Sorrento to Salerno |
| Cost | €1.60–3.60 per leg, bought at tabacchi |
| Time needed | 45–60 min Sorrento–Amalfi; 15–60 min waits |
| Best time | Before 9:00 or after 19:00 to skip the crush |
| Booking | No reservations — first-come-first-served |
The SITA bus system in plain terms
SITA Sud (formally Società Italiana Trasporti e Automovie) operates the scheduled bus network on the Amalfi Coast. The relevant routes for tourists are:
- Line 5050 / Sorrento–Amalfi via Positano (the main coastal route, along the SS163)
- Line 5080 / Amalfi–Ravello (the spur up to Ravello)
- Line 5060 / Amalfi–Salerno (the eastern coast route)
- Various local lines connecting hillside villages (Praiano, Conca dei Marini, Furore, Scala)
For most tourists the useful routes are the first two. The Sorrento-to-Amalfi run is the backbone; the Amalfi–Ravello run is the only viable public transport access to Ravello. For the wider planning picture — including whether to base yourself on the coast at all — see the full Amalfi Coast guide and the town-by-town comparison.
Why anyone still recommends the bus
Given the crowding described below, it is fair to ask why the SITA bus remains the default recommendation. The answer is coverage and cost: it is the only public transport that reaches every coastal town, it runs year-round (unlike the ferries), and at €1.60–3.60 a leg it is a fraction of a taxi or private driver. For a budget trip, or for reaching towns the ferries skip (Praiano, Conca dei Marini, Minori), it remains the only realistic option. If budget is not the constraint, hiring a car and driver from Naples removes the crowding problem entirely.
Planning your day around the bus
The bus rewards people who treat it as the spine of a loose plan rather than a connection to be squeezed. Pick two or three stops at most, decide which end of the coast you want to start from, and accept that the road sets the pace. Most first-timers reach the coast from the Bay of Naples side, either by train to Sorrento (the Circumvesuviana guide explains that leg, and getting to Sorrento covers the alternatives) or by a ferry across the bay.
Once you are at the Sorrento stop, think about what each town offers before you commit. Positano is a place to wander and sit, not to tick off sights, so it suits a slow half day. Amalfi town has a cathedral, a lively waterfront and the bus terminus, which makes it the natural hinge of the trip. Ravello is quieter and higher up, reached only by the spur line, and it rewards an unhurried afternoon more than a rushed visit. If you want a gentler starting point before any of this, the Sorrento guide will help you decide how long to stay there first.
A practical habit: when you step off a bus, check the posted timetable for the return before you do anything else. Photograph it with your phone. That one minute removes most of the anxiety about being stranded, and it lets you relax over lunch instead of watching the clock.
How to buy tickets
At tabacchi shops (tobacconists): The correct method. Look for the “T” sign with a stylised “T” (brown background). Tabacchi shops sell SITA tickets by distance zone (fascia). Tell the seller your destination (“Un biglietto per Positano, per favore”) and they will give you the right ticket.
From the driver: Possible but slightly more expensive (typically €0.50 more per ticket). Only use this option if you couldn’t find a tabacchi before boarding.
Validity: Buy before boarding. Validate the ticket by inserting it in the machine at the front of the bus when you get on. The machine stamps the time. A validated ticket is valid for 75 minutes of travel. If your journey is longer, buy a multiple-zone ticket.
Key prices (approximate, 2026):
- Single tickets by zone: AC1 €1.60, AC2 €2.50, AC3 €3.00, AC4 €3.60. Check the zone of your route on sitasudtrasporti.it or unicocampania.it
Where to board and where to get off
Sorrento
Bus stop directly in front of the Circumvesuviana railway station, outside the main entrance. Multiple bays — confirm with the driver that your bus goes to your destination. Timetables posted on a board at the stop. In summer, arrive 10–15 minutes early; the buses fill before departure.
Positano
Two stops on the SS163 through Positano:
- Positano - Sponda (lower stop, closer to the beach): for Spiaggia Grande and the lower town.
- Positano - Tre Viole / Chiesa Nuova (upper stop): for the upper village and the car park area.
If arriving from Sorrento (westbound), the Sponda stop comes after Tre Viole. If you want the beach, stay on to Sponda.
Amalfi
The main bus terminus is at Piazza Flavio Gioia on the waterfront. All SITA lines serving Amalfi terminate or pass through here. The Ravello bus and the Salerno bus also depart from this point (different bays).
Ravello
End of the spur line. The bus stop is on the main road at the entrance to the town — a 3-minute walk to Piazza Duomo and the gardens.
What no one tells you about summer SITA buses
Capacity: The buses are full beyond designed capacity in July–August. Standing in the aisle is normal. Personal space is minimal. Bags compete for floor space. First-timers find this significantly more uncomfortable than expected.
The best strategy for avoiding the crush:
- Take the first bus of the day (around 6:30–7:00 from Sorrento — check current schedule). You will have a seat and the road will be quiet.
- Or take the last bus back (after 19:30–20:00 from Amalfi or Positano). Crowds thin dramatically after the day-trippers return.
- If you want a comfortable midday journey, take the ferry instead — see Amalfi Coast by boat.
Motion sickness: The SS163 between Sorrento and Positano has some of the tightest hairpin bends in Italy. The driver takes them at speed. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit near the front (best view, least swaying motion), eat lightly before boarding, and face forward. The worst section is the last 10 minutes before Positano from the Sorrento side.
Photography from the bus: The left side (northbound, facing the sea when travelling from Sorrento toward Amalfi) has the best sea views. In summer, you may not have a window seat. If you have a seat, the bus moves too quickly for photography through glass at most viewpoints — the best road photography is done on foot at specific viewpoints or from a car.
Staying on the coast and using the bus as a resident
Using the bus every day from a base is a different experience from a single day trip. If you are still deciding where to sleep, where to stay on the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento versus Amalfi weigh the trade-offs, and Sorrento as a base explains why many travellers choose the western end for its transport links. Smaller villages such as Praiano, Atrani, Minori and Maiori are calmer than the big names, and the bus is what makes them practical.
Walkers can pair the bus with the high trails: the Path of the Gods guide describes a route where the bus is the usual way to reach or leave the trail. Beach days work too, since the best beaches on the Amalfi Coast are mostly a short ride or walk from a stop. Remember that the same road is shared with cars, scooters and coaches; if you are weighing a hire car instead, read about driving the SS163 before deciding, because many visitors conclude the bus is the less stressful choice.
Ferry vs bus: which to take
The SITA bus and the coastal ferries (see Amalfi Coast by boat) connect the same towns but offer a different experience and different tradeoffs:
| SITA Bus | Ferry | |
|---|---|---|
| Price (Positano–Amalfi) | see sitasudtrasporti.it | ~€10–15 |
| Journey time | 45–60 min | 25 min |
| Views | Road-level scenery | Sea perspective |
| Summer comfort | Often crowded, no A/C | Generally comfortable |
| Luggage | Difficult | Easier |
| Operating season | Year-round | April–October |
| Flexibility | High frequency | 1–2 times daily per leg |
For a first visit: take the ferry in one direction and the bus in the other. You get both perspectives and a genuine comparison. See the full guide to Amalfi Coast from Naples for the optimal one-day itinerary.
Timetables and schedules
SITA timetables change every season. The most reliable sources:
- Posted at bus stops (updated at the start of the season)
- Available from the tabacchi shop at Sorrento station
- The SITA Sud official website (sita-on-line.it) has PDF timetables by route
- Local tourist offices in Sorrento, Amalfi, and Positano
Key frequency note: The Sorrento–Amalfi route runs roughly every 40–60 minutes at peak hours in summer. The Amalfi–Ravello spur runs approximately hourly. Missing a bus on the Ravello spur means waiting an hour in Amalfi — plan accordingly.
Special services: Salerno-side access
From Salerno (reachable by train from Naples in 45–50 minutes, €5), SITA buses run westward along the coast from Vietri sul Mare. This eastern approach gives access to the coast towns from Cetara, Maiori, Minori, and on to Amalfi. It is a less-used but entirely practical approach for day-trippers who want to start at the eastern end rather than the western (Sorrento) end.
Salerno itself has a useful ferry service to Amalfi and Positano in season — sometimes faster than the bus if the timing works.
When to skip the bus entirely
If you are visiting in July or August, arriving with heavy luggage, travelling with young children, or simply want a stress-free introduction to the coast, a guided minibus or a private driver removes the ticket-buying, standing-room and timetable-guessing entirely. It costs more, but for a first visit or a tight one-day window it can be worth the trade.
Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples (shared minibus) Private car and driver, Amalfi Coast from Naples (8 hours)For the return comparison — going independent by train and bus versus organised transport — the Amalfi Coast day trip guide lays out all four options side by side, and Amalfi Coast from Naples has a full one-day itinerary built around public transport.
Fitting the bus into a longer trip
The bus works best as one ingredient in a wider itinerary. The Naples and Amalfi Coast in five days plan shows how a coastal stretch sits alongside the city, and the romantic Amalfi weekend is a good example of a slow, two-night approach where the bus is only used for short hops. If Capri is also on your list, the Capri and Amalfi in four days and Sorrento base with Amalfi and Capri itineraries show how to sequence the islands and the coast without doubling back.
Frequently asked questions about the SITA bus
Do I need to book a seat on the SITA bus?
No. SITA buses operate on a first-come-first-served basis with no reservations. In peak summer you may need to wait for a second bus if the first is full. The driver will not overload — if the bus is full, the next one comes in 40–60 minutes.
Can I use a contactless card to pay?
On most SITA buses on the Amalfi Coast, the answer is currently no — cash or pre-purchased paper tickets are required. This may change as systems are updated. The reliable method remains buying a paper ticket at a tabacchi shop in advance.
Is there a day pass for the coast?
SITA offers multi-day travel cards in some areas of Campania, but specific Amalfi Coast all-day passes are not always available. The Campania ArteCard (7-day €43) includes some transit options but covers mainly the Naples metropolitan area and not typically the SITA routes. See Campania ArteCard guide for details. For most itineraries covering two or three towns in a day, buying individual tickets at each tabacchi works out simpler than trying to find a bundled pass, and it avoids paying for zones you will not use.
What if I miss the last bus back?
In Positano and Amalfi, the last SITA buses toward Sorrento run approximately 22:00–22:30 (check current timetable). If you miss this, options are: (1) taxi to Sorrento (€60–80), (2) stay overnight, (3) the scheduled early-morning ferry may run at 6:30–7:00 from Amalfi to Salerno, which connects to a train. Salerno to Naples by train: 45 minutes.
Is the SITA bus suitable for wheelchair users?
Most SITA buses on the coast route are older vehicles without low-floor wheelchair access. The narrow road and sharp bends also mean the physical experience on the bus is challenging. For mobility needs, a private hire car or taxi with a driver is more practical. Contact SITA Sud directly to ask about specific accessibility provisions.
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