Salerno is the coast's real ferry gateway · April–October
Salerno–Amalfi Ferries & Getting Around by Sea.
The honest version: the Amalfi Coast ferries are seasonal, cheap and genuinely the nicest way to move between towns — but they only run roughly April to October, and the exact timetables change every season. From Salerno's Molo Manfredi and Molo Concordia you can reach Amalfi in about 35–45 minutes, Positano in around 70, and hop on to Capri. This page explains which boats run, what they cost, and when to skip the ferry and book a tour instead.
- Apr–Oct Season
- ~35 min To Amalfi
- €8+ From
- At port or online
- Travelmar · NLG · Alicost
Ferries are seasonal · schedules change yearly — always check the live operator calendar · bookable tickets on GetYourGuide
Route 01 · The Everyday Boat
The scheduled coast boat — Salerno to Amalfi in ~35 minutes.
This is the workhorse most travellers actually want: the seasonal Travelmar and Alicost fast ferries that shuttle up the coast from Salerno's Molo Concordia. Salerno to Amalfi runs roughly 35–45 minutes depending on the boat, with short hops onward to Minori and Maiori and the town of Amalfi as the main hub. One-way fares are cheap — usually around €8–12 — and in high season boats leave several times a day. It beats the coast road hands down: no hairpin traffic, no standing on a crowded SITA bus, just the cliffs sliding past from the water.
Two honest caveats. First, it's seasonal — scheduled Amalfi Coast ferries run about April through October and largely vanish in winter. Second, timetables shift year to year and even mid-season, so treat any printed schedule as a guide and confirm the live calendar the day before. Tickets are sold at the port kiosks, but on peak summer days the queues are real; a pre-booked e-ticket like the one below lets you walk past them.
Minori & Maiori stops are sold at the port and vary by season — check the live schedule below.
Route 02 · Further Out
Positano in ~70 minutes — and Capri without a car.
Beyond Amalfi, the same seasonal network reaches the coast's showpieces. Salerno to Positano is roughly a 70-minute ride on the fast ferries (Travelmar / Alicost), and from Positano or Amalfi you can connect on toward Capri by hydrofoil — the Positano–Capri leg alone is only about 30–40 minutes. Because Capri has no through-road for visitors, arriving by boat is not just nicer, it's the sensible way in. Buy point-to-point at the port, or take a single ticket that stitches the day together for you.
The easiest all-in-one is NLG's day ferry looping Salerno → Amalfi → Capri → Positano → Salerno on a fixed timetable, with generous free time in each stop. At $91 it's pricier than piecing legs together, but it removes every timetable worry and the boarding queues. It's a hydrofoil transfer, not a guided cruise — no swimming stops or lunch — so book it for reach and convenience, and book a boat tour instead if you want to swim and be shown around.
Its live calendar sits right below ↓
Route 03 · Which To ChooseWhen the ferry wins — and when it doesn't.
Take the scheduled ferry when you want to move point-to-point cheaply, set your own pace, and simply be somewhere — one town for lunch, a beach for the afternoon, a change of base with your bags. It's the local way to travel, it's a fraction of a tour's price, and the views are the same from a €10 seat. If your dates fall inside the April–October window and you're happy to watch the clock, the ferry is almost always the right call.
Book a tour instead when the calendar or the goal is against you. In winter (roughly November–March) the scheduled ferries stop, so a land day trip is your only reliable way to see the coast. And even in season, if you want to swim in the coves, be told the stories, and not manage a single timetable, a guided boat tour earns its higher price. Still weighing it up? Our boat vs ferry vs land guide lays the three side by side.
Every route from Salerno — by sea.
Crossing times are approximate; fares marked "at port" are typical one-way point-to-point prices sold at the kiosk, not fixed. All scheduled routes are seasonal — roughly April–October. Where a bookable GetYourGuide e-ticket exists, we link it.
| Route | Crossing | Season | Operator | Price | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salerno ⇄ Amalfi (Fast Ferry) Bookable e-ticket |
~50 min | Apr–Oct | Travelmar | $15 | ★ 4.2 (20) | Book |
| Salerno → Amalfi (point-to-point) Cheapest |
~35–45 min | Apr–Oct | Travelmar / Alicost | €8–12 at port | Seasonal | When it runs |
| Salerno → Minori / Maiori Short hops |
~30–50 min | Apr–Oct | Travelmar | At port | Seasonal | When it runs |
| Salerno → Positano Showpiece |
~70 min | Apr–Oct | Travelmar / Alicost | At port | Seasonal | When it runs |
| Positano → Capri Onward leg |
~30–40 min | Apr–Oct | NLG / Alilauro | €20–25 at port | Seasonal | Capri guide |
| Salerno → Amalfi + Capri + Positano (Full Day) One ticket, three stops |
10 hrs (loop) | Apr–Oct | NLG hydrofoil | $91 | ★ 4.2 (1,263) | Book |
Want to swim, not just travel? Boat tours from Salerno · Travelling out of season? Land day trips
Check dates for the two bookable ferry tickets.
These are the only two Salerno ferries with a live GetYourGuide calendar. Everything else on this page is a walk-up ticket at the port — check the operator's own schedule for those.
When the boats actually run.
Scheduled Amalfi Coast ferries are a summer service. Here's the honest month-by-month, and why you should always confirm the live schedule before you plan a day around it.
Ports, boarding & the practical stuff.
Six ferry gotchas.
Salerno ferries — questions answered.
How long is the ferry from Salerno to Amalfi?
About 35–45 minutes on the seasonal fast ferries (Travelmar / Alicost), with a one-way fare typically around €8–12 bought at the port. There's also a bookable e-ticket ($15) if you'd rather skip the queue.
What months do the Amalfi Coast ferries run?
Roughly April to October. The schedule builds up in spring, peaks in July–August, and winds down through October. In winter (November–March) the scheduled ferries stop, so you'll need the coast road or a land day trip.
Can I get from Salerno to Positano and Capri by ferry?
Yes, in season. Salerno to Positano is about 70 minutes, and you can connect onward to Capri (the Positano–Capri hydrofoil leg is roughly 30–40 minutes). The simplest option is the $91 full-day NLG ferry that links Amalfi, Capri and Positano on one ticket.
Do I need to book ferry tickets in advance?
For most point-to-point hops, no — kiosks at the port sell same-day tickets. But in July and August the queues get long and boats fill, so a pre-booked e-ticket is worth it on the busy legs and for the full-day loop.
Where do the ferries leave from in Salerno?
Two jetties: Molo Concordia for most fast ferries (a short seafront walk from the centre) and Molo Manfredi at the Stazione Marittima for the NLG day ferry and some services. Your ticket names the correct one — arrive about 30 minutes early.
What happens if the ferry is cancelled for weather?
Rough seas or wind can cancel a sailing at the captain's discretion, occasionally last-minute. Pre-booked GetYourGuide tickets are refunded if the trip is cancelled; for walk-up tickets, ask at the port office. Always keep a flexible plan B.
Is the ferry better than a booked boat tour?
Different jobs. The ferry is cheapest for getting from A to B at your own pace. A guided boat tour costs more but adds swimming stops, commentary and zero timetable stress. Out of season, only a land tour reliably runs. See our full comparison.
The coast is prettiest from the water.
Related guides: boat tours from Salerno · land day trips · Capri from Salerno · boat vs ferry vs land
Check Ferry Dates