There is no direct train or bus from Amalfi to Pompeii. The most reliable independent route is SITA bus from Amalfi (Piazza Flavio Gioia) to Sorrento (~75 minutes), then Circumvesuviana train to Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri (~30 minutes) — total approximately 105–120 minutes. A seasonal ferry from Amalfi to Sorrento (approximately 55 minutes) can replace the first leg from April to October. A guided day tour is the most stress-free option and handles all transport including the notoriously slow coastal road.
Amalfi is 38 km from Pompeii. On paper that is a short distance. In practice, the SS163 Amalfitana — the single-carriageway cliff road connecting the Amalfi Coast to the rest of Campania — is one of Italy’s most congested roads in summer. A journey that takes 45 minutes in October can take 2+ hours in July, and there is no way to predict it in advance. This guide gives you every realistic option with honest journey times so you can choose the right one for your day.
Top Tickets
# Entry Ticket with Audio Guide
# Guided Tour with an Archaeologist
# 2-Hour Small Group Tour
Table of Contents
Route Comparison at a Glance
- Via Sorrento (bus or ferry + Circumvesuviana): 105–130 minutes — most reliable independent route; trains every 30 min from Sorrento
- Via Salerno (bus + train): 130–150 minutes — longer but avoids the Sorrentine peninsula entirely; good in peak summer
- By car: 45 minutes (off-peak) to 2+ hours (July–August) — unpredictable; parking adds time at the Pompeii end
- Private transfer: 50–90 minutes depending on traffic — comfortable, door-to-door, driver monitors conditions
- Guided day tour: Predictable schedule, all logistics handled — best choice when your time is limited
Route 1: SITA Bus to Sorrento → Circumvesuviana to Pompeii
How do you get from Amalfi to Pompeii by public transport? Take the SITA bus from Amalfi’s Piazza Flavio Gioia to Sorrento (approximately 75 minutes; check SITA schedules as frequency varies by season). From Sorrento station, take the Circumvesuviana train toward Naples and alight at Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri — not ‘Pompei’ town station. Train: 30–35 minutes, every 30 minutes, €2.60. Total journey: approximately 105–130 minutes.
This is the most commonly used independent route from Amalfi to Pompeii — reliable because the Circumvesuviana is frequent and consistent, and the only variable is the SITA bus leg along the coastal road.
Step by Step
- Step 1 — SITA bus: Amalfi → SorrentoDepart from Piazza Flavio Gioia, Amalfi — this is the main bus terminus in the centre of town. Buy tickets from the SITA office here or from tabacchi (tobacconists) in Amalfi town. Journey time: approximately 75 minutes in spring/autumn; 90–120 minutes in July and August as the bus shares the SS163 with heavy tourist traffic. Check the SITA schedule before you travel — services vary significantly by season and some departures run limited days only
- Step 2 — Circumvesuviana: Sorrento → Pompei ScaviFrom Sorrento station (terminus of the Circumvesuviana line), board any train toward Naples. Alight at Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri — this is the stop directly adjacent to the archaeological site. Do not alight at ‘Pompei’ station — that is in the modern town centre, 1 km from the ruins. Journey: 30–35 minutes. Cost: approximately €2.60. Trains run every 30 minutes from approximately 6:00 am to 10:30 pm
- Step 3 — Walk to entranceFrom Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri station, the Porta Marina entrance is a 5-minute walk. Follow the signs or the flow of other visitors. The entrance is directly visible from the station exit
Seasonal Ferry Alternative: Amalfi to Sorrento
From approximately April to October, a ferry service connects Amalfi to Sorrento — operated by Alicost and other Amalfi Coast ferry companies. The journey takes approximately 55 minutes and arrives at Sorrento port, which is a short walk from the Circumvesuviana station. The ferry is often faster and more comfortable than the coastal bus, and avoids the SS163 entirely.
- Ferry operators: Alicost, Travelmar, NLG — check current seasonal schedules at the Amalfi port ticket office or online
- Cost: Approximately €10–13 one way
- Frequency: Multiple daily departures in peak season; reduced or suspended October–March
- Note: Services can be cancelled due to sea conditions — have a backup bus plan if weather is poor
Route 2: SITA Bus to Salerno → Train to Naples → Circumvesuviana
Can you get from Amalfi to Pompeii via Salerno? Yes — SITA bus from Amalfi to Salerno takes approximately 75 minutes (same coastal road issues apply to this direction but less severely than toward Sorrento). From Salerno, a regional train or Circumvesuviana bus to Pompei Scavi via Naples takes approximately 75 minutes. Total: 130–150 minutes. This route is longer overall but avoids the congested Sorrentine peninsula and can be better in summer when Sorrento-direction traffic is heaviest.
- Step 1 — SITA bus: Amalfi → Salerno (~75 min from Piazza Flavio Gioia)
- Step 2 — Train: Salerno → Naples Centrale (~35 min by regional train; ~40 min by InterCity)
- Step 3 — Circumvesuviana: Naples Porta Nolana → Pompei Scavi (~35–40 min)
- Total: Approximately 130–150 minutes
See our Salerno to Pompeii guide for the Salerno–Pompeii leg in detail.
Route 3: By Car
How long does it take to drive from Amalfi to Pompeii? Off-peak: approximately 45–55 minutes via the SS163 east to Vietri sul Mare, then the A3 motorway north to the Pompei Ovest or Pompei Est exit. In summer (July–August): 1.5–2.5 hours on the same route due to coastal road congestion and motorway queues around Pompei. The coastal road alone (Amalfi to Vietri sul Mare) can take 60–90 minutes in peak season.
The recommended driving route avoids the worst of the SS163 by heading east toward Salerno rather than west toward Sorrento:
- SS163 east: Amalfi → Vietri sul Mare — approximately 30–45 minutes off-peak, 60–90 minutes in summer
- A3 motorway: Vietri sul Mare → Pompei Ovest or Est — approximately 20 minutes off-peak
- Total driving: 45–55 minutes off-peak; 90–150 minutes in July–August
Driving toward Sorrento and then to Pompeii is not recommended in summer — it adds the full length of the congested Sorrentine peninsula to your journey. Always go east toward Salerno if driving.
Parking at Pompeii: private lots near Porta Marina and Piazza Anfiteatro charge approximately €5–€10 per day. See our parking guide.
Route 4: Private Transfer
A private transfer from Amalfi to Pompeii takes 50–90 minutes depending on traffic and time of day. The driver monitors conditions and adjusts the route (east via Salerno or west via Sorrento) according to real-time traffic. Door-to-door from your Amalfi accommodation to the Pompeii entrance. More expensive than public transport but significantly more comfortable for groups of 3+ where the cost can be shared.
- Cost: Approximately €80–€130 for a private car (2–4 passengers); more for larger vehicles
- Best for: Groups, families with children, visitors with luggage, or anyone who values certainty over cost
- Book in advance: Particularly important in July–August when drivers are in high demand
Route 5: Guided Day Tour (Recommended for Limited Time)
Is a guided day tour the best option from Amalfi? For most visitors, yes — particularly in summer. A guided tour from the Amalfi Coast (t622166) handles all transport from multiple Amalfi Coast pickup points, includes skip-the-line Pompeii entry and a professional guide, and removes all the transport uncertainty that makes DIY planning stressful. The tour departs at approximately 7:30–8:25 am depending on your pickup point, which also means you arrive at Pompeii before the worst crowds.
The Amalfi Coast: Pompeii Ruins Guided Tour (t622166) is the most practical single option for Amalfi-based visitors — pickup from multiple points across the coast, all transport managed, skip-the-line Pompeii entry, and a professional live guide.
- Pickup points: Amalfi (Piazza Flavio Gioia), Maiori, Minori, Praiano — earlier pickups for more distant villages
- Departure times: Approximately 7:30–8:25 am depending on pickup point
- Includes: Round-trip transport, skip-the-line Pompeii entry, professional live guide
- Duration at Pompeii: Approximately 2.5–3 hours guided tour
- Total duration: Approximately 6 hours including travel
Also worth considering if you want to combine Amalfi Coast and Pompeii in a single day from Naples: the Naples: Amalfi Coast & Pompeii Small Group Tour (t13355) covers both in one day.
Book This TourThe SS163 Amalfitana: What to Expect
How bad is traffic on the Amalfi Coast road? In July and August, the SS163 between Amalfi and Positano/Praiano and between Amalfi and Vietri sul Mare is often stop-and-go for extended stretches. The road is a single carriageway cut into the cliff face — any accident, broken-down vehicle, or delivery lorry can cause delays of 30–90 minutes with no alternative route. In spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October), traffic is manageable. In winter (November–March), the road is essentially clear.
- April–May and September–October: Manageable; 15–20 minutes over normal journey times
- June: Getting busy, especially weekends; allow 30 minutes extra
- July–August: Peak congestion; allow 60–90 minutes extra on the coastal leg. Bus and ferry options are significantly more reliable than driving
- November–March: Light traffic; driving is viable and fast
The practical implication: never rely on a specific coastal road arrival time in July–August. If your Pompeii entry ticket has a timed slot (as all tickets do in peak season), add a 60-minute buffer to your coastal road journey estimate. Pre-booking your Pompeii entry ticket with free cancellation (GetYourGuide allows changes up to 24 hours before) gives you flexibility if you need to reschedule.
Booking Your Pompeii Ticket
Whichever route you take from Amalfi, book your Pompeii entry ticket before you leave — particularly important given the unpredictable Amalfi Coast journey time. A pre-booked ticket eliminates the gate purchase queue (30–90 minutes in peak season) and guarantees your entry slot even if you arrive later than planned.
- Entry Ticket with Audio Guide — skip-the-line entry + digital audio guide on your smartphone
- Guided Tour with an Archaeologist — skip-the-line entry + 2-hour expert-led tour from Porta Marina
See our full entry ticket guide and Express vs Plus comparison.
Practical Tips for the Journey
- Start early regardless of route — leave Amalfi by 7:30–8:00 am to arrive at Pompeii before 10:30 am; the site is best in morning light and cooler temperatures
- Check the SITA bus schedule the day before — coastal bus services change seasonally and some are reduced or suspended without much notice; check sita-on-line.it
- Buy bus tickets before boarding — SITA tickets must be purchased in advance from the Amalfi SITA office or local tabacchi; you cannot pay the driver
- Validate your Circumvesuviana ticket — stamp it in the yellow machines on the platform at Sorrento before boarding; an unvalidated ticket is treated as no ticket
- Don’t confuse ‘Pompei’ with ‘Pompei Scavi’ — always aim for Pompei Scavi – Villa dei Misteri; ‘Pompei’ town station is in the modern settlement, 1 km from the ruins
- Return journey: Allow the same journey time in reverse; book a return guided tour if using a tour, or note the last Circumvesuviana departure from Pompei Scavi (approximately 9:30–10:00 pm depending on the day)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a direct bus from Amalfi to Pompeii?
No direct bus service runs from Amalfi to Pompeii. All public transport routes require at least one transfer — either at Sorrento (bus or ferry, then Circumvesuviana) or at Salerno (bus, then train to Naples, then Circumvesuviana).
Can I do Pompeii and Vesuvius in one day from Amalfi?
Yes, but it is a long day — approximately 10–12 hours total. The easiest approach is a guided tour that covers both sites from the Amalfi Coast. For independent visitors: Pompeii in the morning (3–4 hours), bus transfer to Vesuvius in the afternoon. See our Pompeii & Vesuvius guide.
Is Positano closer to Pompeii than Amalfi?
Slightly — Positano is approximately 30 km from Pompeii vs Amalfi’s 38 km. But the journey options are very similar. See our Positano to Pompeii guide.
What time does Pompeii open?9:00 am daily.
From 16 March to 14 October, timed entry slots apply. See our opening hours guide.
