Amalfi Coast by boat: tours, ferries, and hiring your own vessel
From Positano: Amalfi Coast Boat Tour
What is the best way to see the Amalfi Coast by boat?
For a single day: a shared boat tour from Positano or Amalfi covering the coast's sea caves, snorkelling coves, and the Emerald Grotto (€50–90/person). For flexibility: hire a small motorboat for a half-day (€80–130, no licence needed for under 40hp). For town-hopping: use the seasonal local ferries between Positano, Amalfi, Minori, and Salerno.
The coast from the water: why boats add a different perspective
Everyone who visits the Amalfi Coast sees it from the road — the SS163 cuts along the cliff face, passing through tunnels, hairpin bends, and coastal towns at road level. The road view is impressive. The sea view is revelatory.
From a boat, the relationship between the cliffs, the town levels, and the water is completely different. You see the full height of the limestone cliffs. The SS163 appears as a pencil-thin line halfway up the cliff face. The colours of the sea at different depths — from turquoise green at 2 metres to deep blue at 20 — are visible across the bays. The sea cave entrances, invisible from the road, open up in the cliff base.
A half-day on the water is, for most visitors, the most memorable element of an Amalfi Coast trip.
Guided boat tours
Half-day tours from Positano
Duration: 3.5–4 hours Cost: €50–80/person shared; €150–200 private (4-6 people) Typical itinerary: Departure from Positano harbour, coast east to the Grotta dello Smeraldo, Fiordo di Furore, snorkelling stop at a cove, return. Some tours extend east to Praiano sea caves.
Morning departures (9:00–10:00) are best — calmer sea and better light in the sea caves.
Snorkelling and sea caves boat tour from PositanoFull-day tours (Positano to Amalfi or Salerno)
Duration: 6–7 hours Cost: €80–130/person shared; €250–400 private
A full coast traverse by boat covers the entire SS163 coastal route from Positano to beyond Amalfi, with multiple stops. You see the Faraglioni of Capri in the distance, the full profile of the Lattari Mountains from the sea, and the Amalfi town harbour from the approach angle — one of the best architectural views on the coast.
Many full-day tours include lunch at a sea-level restaurant (at Cetara for the anchovies, or at a beach club below one of the coast hotels). Confirm whether food is included or extra.
Tours from Amalfi town
Boat tours also depart from Amalfi waterfront. These typically go west (toward Positano and the Grotta dello Smeraldo) or east (toward Cetara and Salerno). Some go north-northeast to the Grotta di Isca and the offshore rock formations east of Amalfi.
6-hour private grottoes boat tour from AmalfiTours from Salerno
Less commonly used but practical if you approach the coast from Salerno (which has good train connections from Naples). Salerno-to-Amalfi boat tours run westward with stops at Cetara and the eastern coast. Salerno is also the base for some operators running full-day circuits of the entire coast.
Local ferries between towns
The local ferries on the Amalfi Coast are a public transport option, not a tour — but they give good sea views and are significantly faster than the SITA bus. They run seasonally (April–October, exact dates vary by operator).
Positano – Amalfi: Approximately 25 minutes, €10–15. Runs 3–5 times daily in peak season. Amalfi – Salerno: Approximately 35 minutes, €10–15. Runs 3–4 times daily. Amalfi – Positano – Naples: The MetrodelMare service connects the coast to Naples Molo Beverello in approximately 90 minutes from Amalfi.
Buying tickets: at the kiosk by the ferry pier in each town, or from travel agencies on Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi. Timetables are posted at the pier.
The practical combination: Take the ferry one direction (enjoying the sea views passively) and the SITA bus the other (seeing the road scenery). This combination gives you both perspectives on the coast without paying for a separate boat tour.
Hiring your own boat
No-licence motorboats
In Italian waters within 1 nautical mile of shore, boats under 40 hp do not require a captain’s licence to hire. These small boats are sufficient for exploring the coast’s immediate coves and sea caves. Several hire shops in Positano, Praiano, and Amalfi Marina offer these:
- Cost: €50–80 for a 2-hour hire; €80–130 for 4 hours (half-day). Fuel usually included within the area.
- What you can reach: All the main sea caves, the beach coves, and the snorkelling spots within 1 km of shore.
- What you need: A credit card for the deposit (€100–200), basic boat handling confidence (the hire shop will explain controls), and knowledge of the no-go zones (swimming areas, marine reserve boundaries).
Ask the hire shop specifically which caves are reachable and any current restrictions. The Grotta dello Smeraldo area and Fiordo di Furore are within standard hire range.
Licensed boat charter
For larger, faster vessels or voyages further from shore (including to Capri), a licensed skipper or an international boat certificate is required. Most hire companies offer skipper services at €100–150/day extra.
The Grotta dello Smeraldo in detail
The Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) is the coast’s primary sea cave attraction. It sits at water level in the cliffs near Conca dei Marini, approximately 2.5 km from Amalfi and 12 km from Positano.
Access by sea: Most cost-efficient as part of a boat tour. The guide navigates to the cave mouth. You transfer to a small rowboat (as at the Blue Grotto in Capri) that enters the cave through a low arch. Cost: €6 state entry fee + rowboat cooperatives fee. Time inside: approximately 15–20 minutes.
Access by road: The SS163 passes above the cave. A signed lift (elevator) descends from the road to water level (€5 entry, then rowboat fee as above). Less scenic approach but works if you are passing by road.
The colour: Similar to Capri’s Blue Grotto in principle — light enters through underwater openings and refracts through the water. The Emerald Grotto’s light enters from different angles, producing a green-emerald rather than blue tint. Visibility varies with sun position — best in the morning.
Sunset and evening cruises
Several operators run 2-hour sunset cruises from Positano, Amalfi, and Praiano from approximately 17:30–18:00. These include prosecco, typical cheese-and-salami aperitivo, and the sunset view over the Tyrrhenian. Cost: €40–60/person.
The Positano sunset cruise (westward, looking back to the town as the sun sets behind the Faraglioni direction) is the most popular. These tours are social and relaxed — not oriented toward sea caves or snorkelling, but a very pleasant end to a coast day.
Practical details
Booking: Most boat tours book the morning of for smaller private hires; guided tours benefit from 1–2 days advance booking in summer.
What to bring: Swimwear, sunscreen, water. A light windproof layer if the tour includes late afternoon. Waterproof bag for phone/camera.
Motion sickness: The Amalfi Coast sea between Positano and Amalfi is generally calmer than the open bay to Capri. In summer, afternoon thermal winds can create chop. Morning departures are calmer. Sit in the middle of the boat if prone to sickness.
Sea cave light: Best light conditions for sea caves are mornings (10:00–12:00) when the sun angle maximises the underwater light entry. Afternoon visits are possible but the colour effect is less intense.
Frequently asked questions about the Amalfi Coast by boat
Is the Amalfi Coast better by boat or by road?
Both offer distinct perspectives. The road gives the mountain-above-sea view, the hairpin drama, and access to the towns. The boat gives the cliff-face view from below, access to sea caves, and a sense of scale impossible to appreciate from road level. Most visitors who do both agree the boat adds significantly to the coast experience.
Can I swim from the boat at sea caves?
Most tours allow swimming at designated stops — usually at a sheltered cove rather than directly at a cave entrance. The water is 2–6 m deep at most swimming stops on Amalfi Coast tours, clear and warm in summer. Lifejackets are on board; not mandatory for swimming.
How is weather assessed for boat tours?
Tour operators assess conditions daily. If sea state exceeds Beaufort Force 3–4 (whitecaps, 0.5–1.5 m waves), most operators cancel or modify their route. The Amalfi Coast is slightly more sheltered than the open Capri route — tours here proceed in conditions that would cancel Capri trips.
Do I need to book ferries between towns in advance?
No — local coastal ferries are first-come-first-served. At peak times (10:00–12:00, 15:00–17:00 in July–August), there may be queues at the ticket kiosk. Arriving 20 minutes before departure is sufficient.
Frequently asked questions about Amalfi Coast by boat: tours, ferries, and hiring your own vessel
What can you see on a boat tour of the Amalfi Coast?
Can I hire a boat without a licence on the Amalfi Coast?
What is the Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto)?
Are the local ferries between Amalfi Coast towns good for exploring?
What is the Fiordo di Furore and can I visit by boat?
Is snorkelling good on the Amalfi Coast?
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