How to Drive on the Amalfi Coast

It happened again. At a party last weekend, we found ourselves in conversation with friends who are planning a trip to Italy’s Amalfi coast. They asked our thoughts on how to arrive, and how to move around once they reach the coast. There is a plethora of information online about the Amalfi coast and what to do and see while there, but there’s little guidance on how to drive on the coast.

The Amalfi Coast, or costiera amalfitana, is one of our favorite places in Italy. The dramatic mountain cliffs rise up against the emerald-blue sea sparkling in the sunlight below. Pastel-colored villages carved into the mountainside shine vibrantly against the landscape, while scented lemon groves and a salty sea breeze fill the air.

You can arrive by a combination of train and bus and then take the big blue SITA buses from town to town once you are there, but let’s be honest – hauling luggage around and navigating public transportation schedules takes the joy out of the travel experience. Hiring a private driver is an option but it takes the spontaneity away, and wouldn’t you rather spend that money on restaurants, lodging, and shopping anyway? For these reasons and more, renting a car is an option worth considering.

The drive along this spectacular coastline is simply breathtaking. It’s not, though, for the faint of heart. With steep rock on one side and a dramatic drop to the Mediterranean on the other, the narrow road clings to the mountain and follows the twisting shoreline, resulting in winding stretches of roadway and sharp curves. Equipped with a sense of adventure and some solid advice, you can drive the coast and experience one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

Location

The Amalfi Coast is the 60 km (37-mile) stretch of coastline between Sorrento and Salerno, located just south of the Bay of Naples. The most charismatic part of the coast is the 36 km (22 mile) stretch between Positano and Vietri sul Mare. The driving guide below will show you how to arrive in Vietri sul Mare, travel north to Amalfi with a stop in Ravello, then continue on to Positano before catching the autostrada north to Naples or Rome.

Directions to Vietri sul Mare

Arriving from Rome or any other northern Italian city, take the Autostrada A1 south toward Naples. Just past Naples, exit onto the Autostrada A3 headed toward Salerno-Reggio Calabria. Follow the A3 past Mount Vesuvius, the volcano whose eruption in AD 79  buried the cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, to the Vietri sul Mare exit. Follow the road down toward the city of Vietri sul Mare, catching your first glimpse at the blue sea down below. As you enter the town of Vietri sul Mare you will see a municipal surface parking lot. If space is available, this is your best parking option. There is a parking ticket machine at one end of the lot. Pay in advance and place your ticket on your dashboard. If there is no space in the lot, look for street parking. Stores in Vietri sul Mare close at 1:00 pm for the pausa del pomeriggio (afternoon break), so plan your departure accordingly to arrive in time to do some shopping.

Vietri sul Mare to Positano, with stops along the way

Leave Vietri sul Mare and proceed west along the coastal road through the villages of Maiori and Minori, stopping for a caffè or a gelato if you wish, and on towards Amalfi. When you arrive at the village of Castiglione, turn right and follow Via Castiglione up the mountain to the city of Ravello, overlooking the Amalfi Coast and the Tyrrhenian Sea below. Visit Villa Rufolo and maybe Villa Cimbrone and take in the charming town and spectacular views.

When you’re ready to leave, hop back in the car and take Via Castiglione back down to SS163, the official name for the coastal road, and proceed toward Amalfi. As you approach the town, you will see several municipal parking lots near the shore, often with city traffic officers directing tourists into parking spaces. Be prepared to pay the high parking fees – there simply is no alternative. After you’ve strolled the streets of Amalfi, climbed the steps to the Duomo, bought some limoncello and maybe some fresh canned tuna packed in olive oil, pile back in the car, get back on SS163, and head toward Positano, a 40-minute drive unless you stop for a caffè in the town of Praiano.

Arriving in Positano, be prepared for parking to be challenging. If you plan to spend the night, find a hotel that offers parking. In the best case scenario, you will pull off on the side of the road in front of your hotel, go in to check in, and hand your keys over to a valet, and not worry about your car again until you are ready to leave Positano. Otherwise, you may get lucky and find street parking. If you do, pull your rear view mirrors in and get as close to the mountain as you can, either letting your passengers out in advance or having them scoot over to exit via the driver’s side. Otherwise, be prepared to pay top dollar for one of the parking garages in town.

Leaving Positano

When you are ready to leave Positano and end your stay on the Amalfi coast, get back onto the coastal road SS163 and follow it west. It will eventually take you inland in the direction of Sorrento. Follow the signs to Sorrento; the road will eventually turn into SS145. Stop and stay in Sorrento for a night, or follow the SS145 until you see signs for E45 Napoli/Roma. Take the E45 Napoli/Roma, which will turn into the Autostrada A1 headed toward Rome.

Driving Tips

If you are enamored with the costiera amalfitana, value of the flexibility a car offers, and enticed to experience the amazing coastal drive yourself. You can; just follow the advice below.

1. Choose a smaller-sized car; it will be easier to handle on the curves. Too much luggage is a hassle on the coast anyway.
2. Consider automatic vs. manual transmission. Many Italian cars still have manual transmission (cambio manuale), and if you know how to drive a straight-stick, the manual transmission is a lot of fun. Be prepared, however, for frequent shifting between first, second and third gear as you speed up and slow down on the winding roads. If this isn’t your thing, get a rental car with automatic transmission (cambio automatico).
3. Keep an eye out for the scooters. Locals, especially the youth, use motorini and Vespas to travel up and down the coast. Their driving will seem reckless, especially as they pass you on the right, squeezing between your car and the mountain wall. Keep your cool and stay in your lane – literally. Don’t be tempted to veer into the oncoming lane to give them space or go around them; you’re apt to find yourself head on with a tourist bus. Remember, they’ve driven this road hundreds of times, and you haven’t. They know where they fit and where they don’t. Do your thing and let them do theirs.
4. Don’t get too adventurous and rent a scooter yourself. You’re not ready for that yet. If you get really good at driving the road in a car, then you could maybe consider renting a scooter.
5. Don’t drive too fast, but don’t drive too slow, either. It’s frustrating to be stuck behind a tourist creeping along the road, holding up traffic. This is especially aggravating for the locals.
6. If two of you are confident drivers, consider switching off driving. Since you are traveling north, the sea will be on the driver’s side, which means that the driver will miss some of it in order to focus on the road. Switching drivers allows both of you to observe the amazing scenery as a passenger.
7. Relax and enjoy it! You are in one of the world’s most beautiful locations, driving on one of the world’s most scenic routes.

UPDATE! Alternating License Plate Number Driving Restrictions

To reduce traffic and pollution, since 2023 the towns along the Amalfi Coast have adopted alternative-day driving restrictions based on the final number of your license plate. Under this system, cars with a license plate ending in an odd number cannot drive the Amalfi Coast Drive on odd-numbered days, while cars with a license plate ending in an even number cannot drive the road on even-numbered days.

The restrictions are in place from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during Easter week, on weekends from June 1 to September 30, and throughout the month of August. It is also in effect on some holidays and long weekends between April and October.

If you are a guest of a hotel, agriturismo, bed and breakfast, or other holiday house, you are allowed to drive on the planned days of arrival and departure regardless of your license plate number. Have documentation of your reservation on hand if you need to drive on one of these days.

The specifics of this rule are subject to change. Confirm driving restrictions with your lodging accommodations before visiting, and contact the Amalfi Coast District Tourist Information Office at +39 089874557 for more information.