Pompeii and Amalfi Coast itinerary without a car
Three and five days, all by train and ferry. Based in Scafati.
The most relaxed way to see Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast is not to drive. Based in Scafati — the station is a stone’s throw away and the train line takes you to Naples, to Pompeii and to Salerno — you do everything by train and ferry, come home in the evening, and never once look for a parking space. Two ready-made itineraries below; to make them your own, the Plan your stay tool builds them around your days.
Times are indicative: they change with the season and the timetable. Check the official Trenitalia, ferry-company and SITA Sud sites before you set off.
Two rules for getting around
- For Pompeii, Naples and Salerno: the train. From Scafati the ruins are one stop away (about 3 minutes, then a short walk to the Piazza Anfiteatro entrance); Naples and Salerno are under half an hour.
- For the Coast: train to Salerno, then the ferry. From Salerno boats leave for Amalfi (all year) and Positano (April to October): you arrive from the sea, which is also the most beautiful way to see them.
The 3-day itinerary
Day 1 — Pompeii and Vesuvius. Morning at the ruins of Pompeii: go in early, in the low light and before the heat (all the hours and tickets are in the Visiting Pompeii guide). Back home for lunch, and in the afternoon Vesuvius: the crater and the gulf from above.
Day 2 — the Coast from the sea. Train Scafati → Salerno (~43 min), then a ferry to Amalfi: the cathedral, the alleys, and — with a second boat or the bus — nearby Ravello. If you love fishing villages, add Cetara and Maiori.
Day 3 — Naples or the Vesuvian area. Two choices: Naples, with the Archaeological Museum, where the real treasures of Pompeii are, and the old town; or, staying close, the quieter ruins of Oplontis and Pompeii itself, at your own pace.
The 5-day itinerary
To the first three, add:
Day 4 — Sorrento and the sea. Sorrento is one train away; from there, if you like, Capri by hydrofoil, or a swim at Regina Giovanna’s Baths.
Day 5 — on foot above the Coast, or a step back in time. The Path of the Gods (it starts at Agerola: train to Salerno, ferry to Amalfi, SITA bus to Agerola) is the finest walk in the area. Alternatively, the Greek temples of Paestum or the Royal Palace of Caserta, both reachable by train.
Make it yours
These are two frames: move the stops around as you please. The Plan your stay tool lets you pick days and tastes and prepares your route day by day, with how to get there; and when you book direct with us you pay less than the intermediaries. → The houses
Sleep steps from the ruins — book direct, pay less.
See the houses and dates