Are you planning a summer trip to Florence?
Then, you shall absolutely save a few days for a short stay by the sea, since Italy has more than 8.000 Km of beaches and scenic coastal landscapes!
Tuscany has many lovely seaside resorts, and Liguria is just around the corner, but if you want to have a taste of some authentic Southern lifestyle, head to Campania and enjoy the sunny and picturesque Amalfi Coast!
The journey will be quite long, since more than 500 Km separate Florence from Sorrento. You’ll probably have to switch means of transport at least once and you’ll spend 70 euro on average, but it will be definitely worth it!
Let’s see how you can get to the Amalfi Coast from Florence!
Table of Contents
How to Visit the Amalfi Coast From Florence
Getting from Florence to the Amalfi Coast by train
Florence is one of the main Italian railway hubs and all the high-speed train lines go that way. From there, you can reach Rome, Naples, or Salerno in a few hours every day.
OPTION 1
Firenze-Roma-Costiera Amalfitana
Departure: railway station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Frequency: about 50 rides per day
Journey time: approx. 1h30
Ticket cost: about 50 euro
Arrival: station of Roma Termini
More information at EN – Trenitalia
Once in Rome, you can get to Sorrento by Marozzi bus
Departure: Tiburtina Train station (about 7 minutes from Roma Termini)
Frequency: 1 ride per day (afternoon)
Journey time: about 4 hours
Ticket cost: about 19 euro
Arrival: Corso Italia in Sorrento
More information at: Viaggi in Autobus in sicurezza e qualità | Marozzi (marozzivt.it)
Journey time from Florence to Sorrento: 5h30-6h
Cost: about 70 euro
Check out: how to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast
OPTION 2
Firenze – Napoli-Costiera Amalfitana
Departure: station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Frequency: about 35 rides per day
Journey time: approx. 3h
Ticket cost: about 75 euro
Arrival: station of Napoli Centrale
More information at EN – Trenitalia
Once in Naples, you can take a Circumvesuviana train to reach Sorrento
Departure: platform 3 in Napoli Porta Garibaldi (located underground – escalator in the middle of Porta Garibaldi)
Frequency: every 30 minutes
Journey time: 1h
Ticket cost: about 3 euro
Arrival at: Sorrento train station
More information at ORARI NAPOLI SORRENTO_dal 2 novembre 2020 (feriali) + info accessibilità.pdf (eavsrl.it)
Journey time from Florence to Sorrento: 4h
Cost: 80 euro
Check out: how to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
OPTION 3 – BEST OPTION
Firenze – Salerno – Costiera Amalfitana
By reaching Salerno, you’ll be able to easily reach any village or town on the Coast with the local bus line
Departure: station of Firenze Santa Maria Novella
Frequency: about 20 rides per day
Journey time: approx. 3h50
Ticket cost: about 77 euro
Arrival: Salerno train station
More information at EN – Trenitalia
Once in Salerno, take a SITA bus to reach your chosen destination
Departure: via Vinciprova Bus Station in Salerno (you shall walk for about 10 minutes from the railway station)
Frequency: 2 rides per hour
Journey time: 1h15 to reach Amalfi, which is the farthest stop
Ticket cost: about 2 euro
Arrival at: Amalfi Largo Piccolomni (farthest stop)
More information at SITA SUD (trasporto pubblico locale su gomma) (sitasudtrasporti.it)
Journey time from Florence to Amalfi: 5h
Cost: about 80 euro
Pros and Cons of getting from Florence to the Amalfi Coast by train
Pros: frequent rides and many options
Cons: it’s a long journey and you’ll have to switch means of transport at least once
Getting from Florence to the Amalfi Coast by bus
OPTION 1 – Flixbus
Departure: Firenze Villa Costanza
Frequency: see timetables at Bus travel through Europe | FlixBus
Journey time: approx. 10h – you’ll have to change bus in Rome
Ticket cost: about 45 euro
Arrival: Corso Italia in Sorrento
OPTION 2
Reach Rome by high-speed train, then catch a Flixbus from there
Traveling by bus is not a good solution to reach the Amalfi Coast from Florence: the journey is too long and you’ll have to change at least 2 means of transport.
Getting from Florence to the Amalfi Coast by car
If driving long hours is not a problem for you, rent a car in Florence and head South. You’ll get to the Amalfi Coast in about 6h, but you can also plan a couple of stops along the way (you shall stop at least in Rome and Naples). You’ll have to pay a toll of about 40 euro for the highway and add the cost of fuel, which is quite expensive in Italy. Moreover, parking spaces are very expensive on the Amalfi Coast and a night can cost you up to 30-35 euro.
Pros and Cons of getting from Florence to the Amalfi Coast by car
Pros: you’ll be free to wander around at your own pace and you’ll be able to stop and visit other famous places along the way
Cons: the journey will be long and expensive
Choose it if: you like the idea of an Italian road trip
Visiting the Amalfi Coast with a guided tour
If you want to spend a few days by the sea without having to plan anything ahead, the best option is to take a guided tour from Florence. It is not possible to visit the Amalfi Coast in just one day from there, because you would spend all the time traveling instead of enjoying the landscape! Anyway, there are numbers of weekends or short trips that you can book from Florence to visit all the most beautiful destinations on the Coast! If you plan to spend at least 3-4 days in Campania, don’t miss a visit to Naples and Pompei too!
Practical Tips:
- The journey from Florence to the Amalfi Coast is long, so leave early in the morning no matter what kind of journey is waiting for you!
- If you want to make the journey shorter and more comfortable, reach Naples or Salerno with a high-speed train, then book a private transfer (ex: Amalfi Coast Private Car)
- If you want to enjoy a scenic arrival, choose a ferry ride from Sorrento to reach either Positano or Amalfi (info at Sorrento – Amalfi: 2021 Ferry Schedules, Prices (sorrentoinsider.com))
You might also like:
How to get from Naples to Pompeii
An Amalfi Coast Itinerary
The best towns and villages to visit in the Amalfi
Where to stay in the Amalfi Coast
Things to do in Capri
Things to do in Sorrento
How to spend 3 days in Naples
Where to stay in Naples