The cliff road from Sorrento to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, without the stress of
driving it yourself. Small-group, classic and private day tours compared, with the stops, timings and
small print.
Stops and timings spelled outMinutes in each town, lunch, pickup
Real guest ratingsLive Viator & Tripadvisor figures
Free cancellationUp to 24 hours before, on every tour here
Secure checkout on ViatorMobile ticket, instant confirmation
Tours
Choose your Amalfi Coast drive
In the centre, the most booked day from Sorrento: a guided minibus with a boat leg in season.
Either side, a small group of eight at most and a private car with your own driver.
They all visit the same famous towns. What changes is group size, how long you get in each
town, whether you are collected from your hotel, and whether part of the "drive" is actually on a boat.
Tour
Starts from
Best for
Length
Rating
From
Positano, Amalfi & Ravello Day Tour
Meets at Piazza Tasso, Sorrento
First-timers who want a guide, and a boat leg in season
Private tours show a per-person price that falls as your group grows, so check the
total for your party at checkout. Lunch is included only on the small group with wine lunch. Every tour here
cancels free up to 24 hours ahead.
What the day really is
Fifty kilometres of cliff road, three towns you will never forget.
The Amalfi Coast drive is the SS163 Amalfitana, a road carved into the cliffs of the Sorrento peninsula
above the Tyrrhenian Sea, part of a coastline listed by UNESCO since 1997. From Sorrento you cross the
peninsula, drop to the coast and follow it past Positano and Praiano to Amalfi, then climb to Ravello,
about 350 metres above the sea.
What the brochures leave out: much of the day is spent in the vehicle, the road is slow and summer
traffic is heavy, and free time in each town is usually one to two hours. The famous tour even swaps part of
the drive for a boat in season. None of that is a reason to skip it; it is a reason to pick the right format,
sit on the right-hand side, and go early.
1h 35
Sorrento to Amalfi on the public bus, before any
stops. A tour turns that into a day with photo stops and three towns.
PositanoAmalfiRavelloSS163
Positano, the first big stop about an hour from Sorrento.
01
Is lunch included?
Rarely. Only the small group with wine lunch includes it; elsewhere you eat during free time.
02
Where do I sit?
On the right going out from Sorrento: the sea is on that side. On the left coming back.
03
Car sickness?
The road never stops bending. Take tablets beforehand, sit up front, or take the boat instead.
04
Who might skip it?
Anyone who wants a beach day. The small-group boat day stops in both towns and adds a swim.
The day
How the Amalfi Coast drive unfolds
About eight to nine hours from Sorrento and back. Exact times vary by tour; this is the classic running order.
01
Pickup in Sorrento
Hotel pickup or Piazza Tasso, then over the peninsula to the first sea views above Positano.
About 8:30 AM
02
Positano
A photo stop above the town, then free time to walk down to the Spiaggia Grande.
1 to 2 hours
03
Amalfi
Past Praiano and the Furore fjord to Amalfi, its cathedral steps and lemon shops. Lunch here or in Ravello.
1 to 2 hours
04
Ravello
Up the hill to Ravello's villas and gardens, then back along the coast to Sorrento.
Pickup, costs on the day, the rules of the road and what to bring: one tab each.
The classic guided tour meets at its office on Piazza Tasso, a five-minute walk from Sorrento station.
Small-group minivans collect you within about 2 km of central Sorrento; further out, check the pickup point.
Private tours pick up at your hotel, the port or the station, around Sorrento or Naples.
Arriving the same morning by ferry or cruise ship? The small-group tours do not accept that; book a private tour or the Naples tour.
Most tours leave between about 8:00 and 9:00 AM.
Lunch in the towns: allow roughly EUR 20 to 40 per person; guides often suggest a good-value place.
Villa Rufolo in Ravello: EUR 8 (EUR 6 for over-65s and children 5 to 12), paid on site.
The Amalfi Cathedral's Cloister of Paradise is ticketed separately.
Optional short boat trips from Amalfi are offered on some tours for about EUR 15 to 20.
Tips for your driver or guide are appreciated but never required.
The SS163 is narrow and full of blind bends; buses sound their horns and often need the whole road.
Vehicles over 10.36 m are banned from 6:30 AM to midnight all year, which is why tours use minibuses and vans.
In peak periods, an alternate number-plate scheme limits non-resident cars; tour vans and buses are not affected.
Summer traffic can cut free time in Amalfi or Positano; guides adjust the order to dodge the worst of it.
Comfortable shoes with grip: every town is built on steps.
Motion-sickness tablets, taken before you set off.
Sun hat, sunscreen and water.
Cash or a card for lunch, gardens and small shops.
A swimsuit if you hope to dip in at Positano.
Every tourPositanoThe vertical village of pastel houses, a beach and endless steps.
Every tourAmalfiThe old maritime republic, its cathedral and its lemon shops.
Most toursRavelloHilltop gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, high above the sea.
Passed on the roadFiordo di FuroreA narrow gorge with a tiny beach under a road bridge.
Photo stopsLi Galli viewsThe little islands off Positano, seen from lay-bys above the coast.
ExtraPath of the GodsThe famous clifftop hike, on one private tour with a 3-hour walk.
Where the day starts
Meeting point in Sorrento
Piazza Tasso, Sorrento
Piazza Torquato Tasso, 80067 Sorrento NA, Italy
Sorrento's main square is where most shared Amalfi Coast tours begin. The classic guided tour meets at its
office right behind the statue of Torquato Tasso, and the small-group minivans use the Fauno Bar on the same
square as their meeting point if you are not picked up at your hotel. It is about five minutes' walk from the
Circumvesuviana station.
Arrive 15 minutes before your start time
Private tours collect you at your door instead
SITA buses to the coast leave from the station nearby
4.7★★★★★ 2,767 reviews · Positano, Amalfi & Ravello day tour live Viator & Tripadvisor figure
★★★★★
Daniello was an exceptional guide who made our tour of the Amalfi Coast, Positano, and Ravello truly unforgettable. His professionalism, extensive knowledge, and wonderful sense of humor made the entire experience both informative and incredibly enjoyable.
★★★★★
The coast is like no other place in the world! We went all along the narrow highway through the quaint towns that were practically built into the sides of the mountains. The water is emerald green and sapphire blue.
★★★★★
His driving was perfect, especially on the narrow roads of the Amalfi coast area. I am so glad we had a driver. Not a place to drive a rental unless you live in Italy.
★★★★★
Nello was a wonderfully hilarious but knowledgeable driver. The views to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello are breathtakingly gorgeous and the lunch is delicious! This tour was the highlight of my trip to Italy.
★★★★★
Truly, a wonderful day driving down the Amalfi coast. Absolutely stunning views. We had more than enough time in Positano, Ravello and Amalfi to see everything. The tour is very flexible so you get to pick where you want to go.
★★★★★
A stunning day out experiencing one of the world's great road trips. Incredible scenery, just breathtaking, and we don't just mean the sheer cliff drops! A terrific guide and a masterful driver ensured a safe and interesting day.
★★★★★
We thoroughly enjoyed our all day tour of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. Vincenzo was our tour guide. He did a great job providing us with history of the area and insights of each of the towns.
★★★★★
What a fabulous day trip this was. Our guide Claudio was so knowledgeable and provided great recommendations on how to maximise our time along the Amalfi Coast. Would thoroughly recommend.
★★★★★
This is the best experience we've had around Sorrento! The scenery is stunning and the private drive is convenient and relaxing. Can't recommend more! Don't skip the driving tour!
Another day in Sorrento?
Take the boat to Capri next
Most people spend a second day on the water. From the same harbour, small boats cross to Capri
and circle the island before you step ashore.
Capri & Blue Grotto Small-Group Boat Day
★ 4.7 · 3,001 reviews · 7 to 8 hours
Sorrento's other great day out goes the opposite way: a small boat across to Capri, a lap of the island past the Faraglioni rocks, free time ashore and a swim stop, with prosecco, drinks and fruit on board. The Blue Grotto entry is extra and depends on the sea.
Sorrento is the natural base for the Amalfi Coast: close enough for a day trip, with far more
hotels and far easier transport than the coast itself. Here is how the drive works, what each kind of tour
really gives you, and how to get the most out of a long, spectacular day.
The road itself
The SS163 Amalfitana runs for about 50 km along the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula, cut into the
cliffs so that one side is rock and the other is a drop to the sea. From Sorrento, tours cross the ridge of the
peninsula and join the coast above Positano. The views begin almost at
once: Positano stacked above its beach, the three Li Galli islets offshore, Praiano, the gorge of Furore,
Conca dei Marini, and finally Amalfi in its valley. Ravello sits above Amalfi, up a separate winding road.
The road was built for carts, not coaches. Vehicles over 10.36 metres are banned outright, buses sound their
horns at every blind bend, and cars regularly reverse to let them through. That is why nearly every tour uses a
minibus or a Mercedes van, and why the pace is slow: a local bus needs about 1 hour 35 minutes from Sorrento to
Amalfi without stopping.
Buses and vans share a road that often has room for only one of them at the bends.
Which kind of tour to book
The classic guided tour is the most booked for a reason: a guide who talks you through the history,
a fixed running order and a price in the low hundreds. The catches are group size (up to 21) and a meeting
point on Piazza Tasso instead of hotel pickup. In late spring, summer and early autumn it switches to a boat
between Positano and Amalfi, which many travelers love and a few are surprised by.
Small-group minivans cap the group at eight and pick you up near your hotel, for a similar price. Your
driver is also your guide, so the commentary comes from the front seat. One version includes a three-course lunch
with wine in Ravello. Private tours cost far more per person for a couple but get close to small-group
prices for a family of six, and they let you change the plan: more beach in Positano, skip Ravello, add a
ceramics shop in Vietri.
The honest small print: the most common complaint is not the tours, it is time. Traffic
can squeeze your stop in Amalfi, towns are crowded at midday in summer, and big groups move slowly. Pick a small
group or private tour if time matters more than price, start early, and decide before you arrive what you want
to see in each town.
Car, bus, boat or tour?
You can do the coast on your own. The SITA bus from Sorrento station is the cheapest option, EUR 10 for a
24-hour ticket, but tickets must be bought before boarding, the summer buses fill quickly and there is no guide.
Ferries link Sorrento with Positano and Amalfi in season, weather permitting. Hiring a car gives freedom in
theory, but parking in Positano and Amalfi is scarce and expensive, and in peak periods an alternate
number-plate scheme can keep non-resident cars off the road for the day. One private tour guest put it simply:
not a place to drive a rental unless you live in Italy.
Lemon stalls along the road: most drivers know the best one for a granita.
Making the most of the day
Book early in your stay so free cancellation leaves room to move the date if the weather turns. Sit on the
right side leaving Sorrento. Wear shoes with grip: Positano and Ravello are staircases with houses attached.
Use your time in Positano for the beach and the lanes, in Amalfi for the cathedral and a lemon granita, and
in Ravello for the gardens of Villa Rufolo (EUR 8) and the view. If the road makes you queasy, take tablets
before you leave, not after the first bend.
Ravello's gardens are the quiet end to a busy day.
Straight answers to what travelers ask most about the Amalfi Coast drive from Sorrento.
How long is the Amalfi Coast drive from Sorrento?
Sorrento to Amalfi is roughly 35 km on the SS163 coast road, but it is slow: the SITA bus takes about 1 hour 35 minutes, and summer traffic adds more. A day tour covering Positano, Amalfi and Ravello runs 8 to 9 hours door to door, with 3 to 4 hours of that in the vehicle.
How much does an Amalfi Coast tour from Sorrento cost?
On Viator in 2026, small-group minivan tours start from about $110 per person, the classic guided day with a boat leg from about $126, a small group with lunch from about $133, and private tours from about $329 to $397 per person, falling as your group grows. Compare them in the tour price guide.
Is it better to drive the Amalfi Coast yourself or take a tour?
For most visitors, a tour. The road is narrow, buses need the whole width at bends, parking in Positano and Amalfi is scarce and expensive, and in peak periods an alternate number-plate scheme can keep your car off the road. Read driving the Amalfi Coast before you hire a car.
Can I do the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento by bus?
Yes. SITA buses run from Sorrento station to Positano and Amalfi, and a 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket costs EUR 10. Buy tickets before boarding, because they are not sold on the bus. In summer the buses fill fast and you may have to stand. See bus vs tour.
Which side should I sit on for the Amalfi Coast drive?
Heading from Sorrento towards Positano and Amalfi, sit on the right: the sea is on that side. On the way back, sit on the left.
Is Positano, Amalfi and Ravello in one day too much?
It is a full day, but it works on a tour, because the driver handles the road and parking. Expect about an hour or two in each town. If you want long lunches or beach time, pick two towns or book a private driver. See the one-day itinerary.
Is the Amalfi Coast drive scary or bad for car sickness?
The drops are dramatic but professional drivers do this road daily. Car sickness is the real issue: several tours say they are not recommended for it. Sit at the front, look at the horizon, take motion-sickness tablets before you leave, or take the boat instead.
Do Amalfi Coast tours from Sorrento include hotel pickup?
It depends. The small-group minivan tours pick up within about 2 km of central Sorrento, and private tours collect you anywhere in the area. The big classic tour meets at Piazza Tasso; hotel pickup is only on its private option.
Is lunch included on Amalfi Coast tours?
Usually not. Of the tours here, only the small-group day with wine lunch includes a three-course lunch in Ravello. On the others you eat where you like during free time; guides often recommend a spot.
When is the best time for the Amalfi Coast drive?
May, June, September and early October: warm, with the boats running and fewer crowds than July and August. Go early in the day. In winter many hotels and some boats close, but the road is far quieter.
Private driver or small group: which is better?
A small group (maximum 8) costs about a third of a private tour per person for two people and still feels personal. A private driver makes sense for families, groups of 4 to 8, or anyone who wants to set the stops. See private driver costs.
Can I cancel my Amalfi Coast tour?
Yes. Every tour listed here can be cancelled for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time on Viator.
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