Getting Around in Campania

Public transport in the region very much runs on Italian time. The buses, trains and ferries do eventually arrive, and they are generally pretty comfortable, clean and do the job. But don’t get fixated by the timetable, it’s less of a timetable and more a frame of reference for when something might happen. If a bus is due at 12pm, it will arrive somewhere between 11.45 and 12.45pm, you can either get annoyed (like Sam has a number of times) or accept that you’re somewhere beautiful and that time really is all relative and we should just savour the moments we have.

The main way to get around is the Sita bus. These buses run all along the Amalfi coast and we’re certain it’s where retired F1 drivers retire - they manage to swing these huge buses around the sheer cliffs of the coast at speed and with abandon.

Important to know that you can’t buy tickets on the bus. You have to either buy them from a Tabaccherie or grocery store or get the Sita bus app to buy tickets. The app is way quicker and easier. In typical Italian style, it’s not a straight forward process to find the app - to find it, search UNICO Campania app and once you’ve downloaded it and setup an account, you need to look with the SITA SUC CAMPANIA section to purchase the correct tickets. It’s worth noting there are also other bus services that run along the coast and unhelpfully don’t accept these tickets. They seemed far less frequent or capacious though so we’ve always tended to stick with the Sita Bus.

Everyone coming will have slightly different plans. Some are coming just for the day of the wedding, some are staying a week and some are making a full european holiday of it. Whatever you’re doing, you’ll want to do your research, but below are a few key details that might help you decide how to travel and where to stay.

Where is the Wedding?

The wedding is taking place in two small towns, both close to each other. The Hindu ceremony in the morning is taking place is Ravello and the symbolic ceremony is taking place in Scala. Both of these are located in the province of Salerno and the Campania region, in an area commonly refered to as the Amalfi Coast

Flights

Napoli (Naples) - NAP Airport is the closest airport to fly to. Naples is a great city in itself, home of the pizza and much more. If you have time, it’s worth spending at least an afternoon wandering the narrow streets of the old town.

There are a few ways to get from Naples to Ravello and Scala. The only way to go direct is by getting a Taxi / Private car, but this can be a bit pricey. Below are some options, but definitely check closer to the time and plan for the journey to take longer than google says as the road along the Amalfi coast (whilst stunning) can get knotted up with traffic.

Bus

You can take the Pintour bus for €20 from Napoli airport to Ravello. It will drop you on the coastal road and then you will need to take a taxi or Sita bus up the hill as it’s quite a climb from the coastal road to Ravello or Scala. If you haven’t already purchased a Sita bus ticket, stay on the Pintour bus to Minori which is the next town along the coast. You will be able to buy a Sita bus ticket from one of the newsagents (tabaccherie) or catch a taxi from there.

Train

Naples main train station confusingly has two names as it used to be two stations, but has now merged into one. Head to either Napoli Centrale or Napoli Garibaldi, they are all within the same area and you can catch the train to Sorrento. It’s worth booking ahead on the tourist train, the Campania Express as you’re guaranteed a seat. It’s about €5 more expensive than the commuter train, but worth it for the AC and reserved seat. Book Campania Express tickets here. From Sorrento you will need to head outside the station and catch the bus to Amalfi and then a second bus from Amalfi to Ravello/Scala.

Ferry

If you’re heading straight from the airport, there is an airport shuttle bus from Naples Airport to Molo Beverello port to catch the ferry which takes about 20 minutes. You can take the Ferry / Hydrofoil from here to Sorrento, then change at Sorrento to get a second boat to Amalfi. You then have to get a bus or taxi from Amalfi to Ravello. The tickets are about €35 per person for the two trips total. They are referred to as Ferries which I think of as quite slow and tranquil. The Hydrofoil is super speedy and so it can be a bit choppy, but it is a great way to see the coast line from the sea and you feel like you’re arriving in style! You can buy tickets when you arrive and we’ve never had an issue getting a ticket, but it might be worth booking ahead as it’s peak summer. There are a few sites you can do this on such as FerryHopper.com.

Private Car

There are a few sites where you can book a private car. If there’s a few of you together this might be the easiest option as it will get you straight to your accommodation, but it’s the most expensive. To get an idea of prices, you can use MyDayTrip.com or Sorrento Limo. There are lots of options for private cars, so shop around.