Day Trips from Salerno: Amalfi Coast, Pompeii & Campania's Icons

Salerno sits at the northern end of the Cilento coast and the southern terminus of the Amalfi Coast ferry network — perfectly placed to access both. The rail line north connects Pompeii and Naples quickly; south runs the coast to Paestum and the Cilento. Ferries serve the entire Amalfi Coast from the port.

Amalfi Coast (by ferry from Salerno)

The most scenic approach to the Amalfi Coast from Salerno is by ferry — the coastal road (SS163) is narrow, heavily trafficked in summer, and the views are largely blocked by the bus in front. From the ferry, the cliff villages tumble into the sea at an angle that gives the full spectacle.

Key stops:

• Amalfi town (approximately 35 minutes by fast ferry, approximately €8 each way as of 2026) — the old medieval maritime republic, with the Duomo di Sant’Andrea (free, extraordinary Arab-Norman facade, crypt approximately €3) and the nearby Piazza del Duomo
• Positano (approximately 1 hour from Salerno, approximately €12 each way) — arguably the most beautiful village, steeply terraced with pastel-coloured houses and a beach at the base
• Ravello is inland above Amalfi — SITA bus from Amalfi to Ravello takes approximately 25 minutes (approximately €1.50). The Villa Cimbrone gardens (entry approximately €10 as of 2026) have the famous Terrace of Infinity with views along the entire coast.

Ferry day passes covering all stops (Salerno–Positano–Amalfi–Minori–Salerno) cost approximately €20–25 as of 2026 — the most flexible option for a coast day trip.

Getting there: TRAVELMAR and Alicost ferries from Salerno port (Piazza della Concordia) — seasonal, April to October. Book via travelmar.it or alicost.it.

Paestum (40 km south, approximately 35 minutes by train)

Three extraordinarily well-preserved Greek temples standing in a plain of wildflowers (the surrounding land was malaria-ridden until the 20th century, which ironically protected the ruins from development). The Temple of Hera I (the Basilica, approximately 570–550 BC), Temple of Hera II (approximately 460 BC, sometimes called the Temple of Poseidon), and Temple of Ceres (approximately 500 BC) are all freestanding and remarkably intact.

The Museo Nazionale di Paestum (on site — entry approximately €12, combined with archaeological park as of 2026) holds the famous Tomb of the Diver (approximately 480 BC) — the only Greek funerary painting on plaster to survive in the world, with remarkably vivid images of a symposium and a diver mid-air above a pool. Allow at least half a day for the site and museum.

Getting there: Trenitalia regional train from Salerno Centrale to Paestum — approximately 35 minutes, approximately €4 as of 2026. From the station, the temples are a 15-minute walk.

Pompeii (30 km north, approximately 35 minutes by train)

The Roman city buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD — one of the most visited archaeological sites in the world. The site is enormous (44 hectares, only two-thirds excavated) and a full visit requires 3–4 hours minimum.

Priorities: the Villa dei Misteri (the finest collection of intact Roman frescoes in existence — on the western edge of the site, near the entrance), the Lupanar (the brothel, with erotic frescoes), the Forum, the Thermopolium of Regio V (a Roman fast-food counter with pots still in the counter), and the House of the Tragic Poet (with the Cave Canem — “Beware of the Dog” — mosaic). Entry approximately €18 as of 2026; book online at pompeiisites.org to avoid queuing.

Getting there: Trenitalia regional train from Salerno Centrale to Pompei (note spelling — the station serving the archaeological site is Pompeii Scavi-Villa dei Misteri on the Circumvesuviana, but from Salerno, the Trenitalia service to Pompeii Centrale is approximately 35 minutes, approximately €4). Alternatively, the Circumvesuviana from Naples reaches Pompeii Scavi faster (approximately 35 minutes from Naples).

Naples (50 km north, approximately 40 minutes by train)

Italy’s most intense city — chaotic, beautiful, and unlike anywhere else. The Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Piazza Museo Nazionale — entry approximately €18 as of 2026) holds the most important collection of artefacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum in the world. The Spaccanapoli (the long straight street that cuts the old city in half) connects the Gesù Nuovo and Santa Chiara churches at one end to the medieval district at the other. Pizza: Sorbillo (Via dei Tribunali 32) and Di Matteo (Via dei Tribunali 94) are among the most highly regarded pizzerias for authentic Neapolitan pizza (approximately €5–8 as of 2026).

Getting there: Trenitalia regional train from Salerno to Napoli Centrale — approximately 40 minutes (approximately €8) or Frecciarossa (approximately 35 minutes, approximately €15 booked in advance).

Cilento Coast (Agropoli, 30 km south)

Agropoli is the first town south of Paestum — a fishing port with a Saracen castle above the sea and a clean beach at Lungomare San Marco. The Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park begins here — protected coastline with sea caves, coastal paths, and significantly fewer crowds than the Amalfi.

Getting there: Trenitalia regional train from Salerno to Agropoli-Castellabate — approximately 40 minutes, approximately €5 as of 2026.

Practical notes

• Amalfi Coast ferries are seasonal (roughly April–October) and can be cancelled in rough weather — check travelmar.it before planning; always verify the last return ferry time
• Pompeii and Paestum both require comfortable shoes and sun protection — minimal shade, long distances, and intense summer heat
• Naples: the historic centre is not dangerous but is intensely busy — watch for pickpockets in tourist areas and on public transport
• Salerno is considerably cheaper for accommodation than the Amalfi Coast towns — staying here and making day trips is a cost-effective approach
• Day tours from Salerno to Paestum, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast are available with guide and transport included — useful if you prefer not to coordinate ferries and trains independently
• Prices listed are approximate as of 2026

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Back to the full Salerno travel guide for the cathedral, Lungomare, and ferry connections. For things to see in Salerno, see things to do in Salerno. For accommodation, see best hotels in Salerno. The Amalfi Coast is the primary draw — our Amalfi Coast travel guide and things to do on the Amalfi Coast cover all the villages. For Pompeii with guided context, our Pompeii tours guide covers skip-the-line options.