Conventional travel advice says: stay in Sorrento or Positano for the Amalfi Coast. We see another option. Positano and Sorrento are crowded in summer, and traffic on the coast road is heavy. You can base in Naples, day-trip the coast and come back to a real city at night.
Why Naples Works as a Base
- Ferries to Sorrento, Capri and other coastal destinations leave from the port of Naples; check the operators for routes and timetables
- Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii and Sorrento, with frequent departures
- A real city to come back to at night, with proper restaurants
- Naples airport is close to the city, which helps on arrival and departure days
The Daily Loop That Works
Wake up in your Naples apartment. Walk or take a taxi to Molo Beverello. Take a morning ferry to Capri or Positano. Spend the day. Catch an afternoon ferry back. Aperitivo on the Lungomare. Dinner at a local pizzeria. Sleep in a city that is alive — not in a coastal resort that closes at 22:30.
How Do I Get to Capri?
Ferries leave from Molo Beverello (Naples port); check the operators for timetables and fares. Buy ahead in high season, when they can sell out. Once on Capri: funicular up to the town, then either walk or take the local bus to Anacapri. Plan a full day.
How Do I Get to Positano?
Some operators run seasonal direct ferries from Beverello; check the timetable. Otherwise: train to Sorrento (Circumvesuviana), then SITA bus or local ferry from Sorrento to Positano. Doable in a day but tight. Better as part of an Amalfi loop: Positano → Praiano → Amalfi → ferry back to Salerno → train to Naples.
What About Pompeii and Vesuvius?
Pompeii: reached by Circumvesuviana from Napoli Garibaldi. Go early; it gets hot by midday in summer. Vesuvius: check the current bus and ticket options for the crater trail.
What About Ischia and Procida?
Procida is our personal favorite — quieter than Capri, prettier than Positano, and an easy ferry ride from Naples. Ischia is bigger, has thermal baths, and works as a 1- or 2-night side trip if you want a real beach pause.
How to Compare the Cost
We do not publish a cost table: hotel and apartment prices change by date, and ferry fares are set by the operators. Compare the total for your dates for a base in Naples against a base on the coast, and add the ferry or train fares for the days you plan to travel.
When Should I Pick Positano Instead?
Three cases: (1) honeymoon and money is no object, (2) you specifically want the cliff-hotel-balcony Instagram experience, (3) you are traveling with limited mobility and the Naples-Positano ferry transfer is too much. Otherwise, base in Naples.
Ready to Plan?
Browse our Naples apartments and check the distance from each listing to the port. Book direct and compare the total for your dates.