Amalfi is in Campania, Italy, in the heart of the beautiful Italian coastline and a must-see town on your Amalfi Coast adventure. Located 21 miles west of Salerno; 38 miles southeast of Naples. Amalfi was once a glorious Maritime Republic, and today is a busy tourist resort with a picturesque old center and a magnificent setting against the steep slopes of the Valle dei Mulini. Its active seafront and energetic piazza give the place more energy than most of the other towns on the coast, and its central location makes it a popular base for exploring the area.

Amalfi is one of the bigger towns on the Amalfi coast. It has squares connected by pedestrian streets full of restaurants and souvenir shops.

The nearest airport is Naples International Airport, though you can get to the coast from Rome`s Leonardo da Vinci (Fiumicino) Airport. From Naples, take the Campania Express (mid-March to mid-October) or slower Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, from where buses run to Positano and Amalfi. Alternatively, get a faster train to Salerno and pick up a bus from there. Boats run year-round from Naples to Sorrento and in summer from Sorrento and Salerno to towns along the coast. Another option is a private transfer from Naples.

The SITA local bus network travels all over the Amalfi Coast. To and from Sorrento via Positano and Praiano and onwards to Furore Fjord, Conca and its Emerald Grotto. Buses also travel to and from Salerno from Amalfi via Minori, Cetara and Vietri. Local buses also link Amalfi to Ravello and the upper reaches of Furore, Pogerola, Agerola and Napoli.

Positano is about 40 minutes from Amalfi (depending on traffic). The trip to Amalfi from Sorrento is approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes (depending on traffic) otherwise this can take over two hours. July and August are considered peak season, so the buses can become very crowded. It`s best to be at the front of the crowd (that can get pushy) for when the buss pulls up, otherwise you will have to wait for the next one.

It is a comfortable way to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrentine Peninsula on the bus, however if you are prone to motion sickness the twists and turns on these roads will certainly induce symptoms very quickly! SITA offers a very efficient public transportation service in the area, with expert drivers who glide along the zigzagged roads like they were driving on a highway.

When riding the bus system, make sure to purchase your ticket in advance. Tickets can be purchased at café bas, some have a black and white sign `Tabacchi` hanging out the front while some stores selling lotto tickets also sell bus tickets as well. Also, some shops display the SITA logo as well as the SITA ticket office at the Salerno train station.

Once you enter the bus, you must clip your ticket in the yellow/orange machine that you will see in front of you as you climb the steps. Do not forget to clip your ticket as this could result in a fine.

The boat companies mentioned offer transfers to nearby harbors. The SITA terminal on Piazza Flavio Gioia (tel. 089 405145) is the hub for all the local bus lines. Adjacent to the terminal is the taxi stand (tel. 089-872239).

The ferry season opens from Easter weekend and runs until mid to late October with connections from Amalfi to Positano, Salerno, Capri, Naples and Sorrento. Headquartered in Naples, the Metro del Mare is an extension of urban public transport (by sea). Operating since 2002, it connects the northern ports of Bacoli and Pozzuoli to Naples and from there goes to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. There are several boats a day between Naples and Positano.

Headquartered in Amalfi, ferries are operated by Coop Sant`Andrea (a consorzio which includes Travelmar, Alicost and Linee Marittime Partenopee). Coop Sant`Andrea run the ferry service from Salerno to Amalfi, Amalfi to Salerno, Amalfi to Positano, Positano to Amalfi, Positano to Salerno, Salerno to Positano and connections in summer between Amalfi-Minori-Maiori. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth located on the main pier in Amalfi called Molo Pennello or at Divina Costiera, an information point in Amalfi opposite the SITA bus terminal.

If you`re travelling to Capri early or late in the season it`s a good idea to travel from Naples or Sorrento as the boats from Amalfi and Positano are less certain to be running. Once you`re on the island there is a bus service that covers the whole island but has its own ticketing (you can`t use your Unico Campania tickets here). The funicular railway runs from the Marina Grande ferry port (where you arrive) up to the La Piazzetta (Piazza Umberto). From here you can catch a bus to Anacapri. There is also a taxi service which runs from Piazza Umberto. There are set prices to popular destinations. For details on Unico Capri, taxi fares and tariffs, and up to date ferry times and prices go to www.capritourism.com.

As unlikely as it might seem, there is also much that you can do here on foot. The SS 163 road has only been around since 1840. Until then, trails and footpaths were the only ways to get around (other than by sea). These paths are still used for bringing animals to pasture and are well kept and well marked. Visitors are highly advised to purchase the excellent map published by the C.A.I. Club Alpino Italiano Monti Lattari Penisola Sorrentina, Costiera Amalfitana: Carta dei sentieri sold for about 8€ at the best newsstands and bookstores in Ravello, Amalfi, and Tramonti.

Once you arrive in glorious Amalfi, getting around is remarkably easy. The SITA bus (www.sitabus.it) operates all along the Amalfi Coast and is the easiest way of getting anywhere, whether it’s to Sorrento, Amalfi, Positano, Ravello or back to Naples. Buses are frequent, running every 15 minutes at peak times and between 30 and 60 minutes at other times. Another interesting option is using Unico Campania (www.unicocampania.it) offering combination tickets with multiple companies.