Minibus Rental Across Italy

Sorrento Coach Hire and the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento is the base; the Amalfi Coast is the question. A full-size coach can reach Sorrento, but it cannot drive the coast road, so vehicle size comes first.

Choose the vehicle for the coast road

The coast road, SS163 "Amalfitana", links Positano with Vietri sul Mare. Under ANAS ordinance 337/2019, in force since April 2020 and upheld by the regional court, buses longer than 10.36 m or higher than 4 m may not use it in either direction. Book a midi-coach or a minibus within those limits.

In busy periods even smaller coaches must follow rules on direction and timing, and the operator checks the ordinance in force for your travel date. There is also the alternate-plates rule (targhe alterne), in force from 10:00 until 18:00 on the days the calendar sets. In 2026 it still runs on October weekends; the 2027 calendar is not out yet.

MAN Lion's Coach 49-seat touring coach, front three-quarter view
MAN Lion's Coach 49-seat touring coach, front three-quarter view

Stopping in Sorrento itself

Coaches use the municipal Achille Lauro car park. One stop of up to 15 minutes to let people on or off is free; longer stays are charged hourly. The centre also has an evening ZTL, running from 19:30 to 04:00 every night until 25 October in 2026.

The Circumvesuviana railway ends at Sorrento and stops at Pompei Scavi and Ercolano on the way. There is no main-line station on the peninsula.

Airports for groups arriving in Sorrento

Coach day trips from Sorrento

  • Massa Lubrense — about 7 km, about 20 min
  • Positano (on the SS163) — about 16 km, about 25 min
  • Pompei (archaeological site) — about 26 km, about 45 min
  • Amalfi (on the SS163) — about 31 km, about 50 min
  • Ravello — about 38 km, about 1 h
  • Ercolano (Herculaneum) — about 40 km, about 1 h
  • Napoli (Piazza del Plebiscito) — about 50 km, about 1 h 10 min
  • Salerno — about 55 km, about 1 h 20 min
  • Reggia di Caserta — about 72 km, about 1 h 30 min
  • Paestum — about 101 km, about 2 h 15 min

Coach rules in Sorrento that shape the day

  • Napoli Airport (NAP, Capodichino) is about 51 km by road from Piazza Tasso (about 1 h 15 min by coach in light traffic; much longer at peak times on the coast road).
  • Sorrento station is the terminus of the Circumvesuviana railway from Napoli, which also stops at Pompei Scavi and Ercolano. There is no main-line railway on the peninsula.
  • Sorrento town centre is a limited-traffic zone (ZTL) in season: in 2026 it applies from 1 April to 25 October, every day from 19:30 to 04:00 and on public holidays also from 10:00 to 13:00. Electronic gates (Via Fuorimura, Corso Italia by the Carmine church, Via Correale, Via San Francesco) enforce it.
  • Tourist coaches in Sorrento use the municipal car park Achille Lauro. A single stop to load or unload passengers, of up to 15 minutes, is free; parking longer is charged by the hour.
  • Amalfi Coast road (SS163 "Amalfitana", Positano to Vietri sul Mare): under the ANAS ordinance 337/2019, in force since 1 April 2020 and upheld by the regional administrative court (TAR Campania), buses longer than 10.36 m (or higher than 4 m) may not use the road in either direction. Smaller coaches are subject to direction and time-slot rules in the busy periods. A full-size coach therefore cannot do the Amalfi Coast; book a midi-coach or minibus within the limits.
  • Alternate number plates (targhe alterne) on the SS163 between Positano and Vietri sul Mare, 10:00 to 18:00: on even dates even-numbered plates may not circulate, on odd dates odd-numbered plates. In 2026 the rule applies daily over Easter and the 25 April to 2 May period, on weekends and holidays in June, July and October, and every day in August and September. The calendar is set each year. Taxis and NCC cars with driver are among the exemptions.
  • Amalfi: coaches stop to load and unload only at the coach area "Flavio Gioia", with a stop booked and paid online in advance (no payment on the spot). Buses longer than 10.36 m cannot load or unload there.
  • Ravello: buses are banned from the historic centre except public buses and tourist coaches authorised in advance, for passengers going to Ravello hotels or restaurants or passengers with disabilities. The authorisation is applied for online by the day before. Since 27 July 2026 a Provincia di Salerno ordinance (no. 649 of 21 July 2026) closes the road up to Ravello (SR373) to vehicles over 5 t, except buses up to 9.30 m long, and the Amalfi-Agerola road (SR366) except buses up to 10.40 m; the ordinance was to be reviewed after 30 September 2026, so the operator checks whether it still applies.
  • Maiori: a coach stop at the Rotonda San Francesco or near the tourist port must be notified in advance to the town by certified e-mail (PEC), with date, time and number plate.
  • Capri: groups reach the island by boat (from Marina Piccola in Sorrento or from Napoli). From summer 2026 the island limits guided groups to 40 people and requires earpiece systems for groups over 20; guides carry a proper sign, not an umbrella.
  • No official coach park for Positano was found; coaches stop briefly on the SS163, and the public bus stops (such as Sponda and Chiesa Nuova) are for the regional bus line. The operator confirms the stopping point. Boats from Sorrento and Amalfi are an alternative in season.

Positano, Amalfi and Ravello each have a rule

Amalfi: the only place a coach may load or unload is the "Flavio Gioia" area, and the stop has to be reserved and paid online ahead of time. Ravello: coaches enter only with an authorisation requested online by the day before, for hotel or restaurant guests or passengers with disabilities. Maiori wants every stop notified to the town by certified e-mail (PEC).

A provincial ordinance from July 2026 also limits the roads up to Ravello and over to Agerola by bus length. Its monitoring period closed on 30 September 2026 and changes may follow, so the operator finds out whether it still stands. Positano has no official coach park; the operator confirms the stopping point, and in season the boats from Sorrento are an alternative.

Capri, Pompeii and Naples

Capri is reached by boat from Marina Piccola. Since summer 2026 the island limits guided groups to 40 people, and guides of groups over 20 use earpieces. A party of 50 splits in two.

Pompeii is about 45 minutes by road, Ercolano about an hour, and Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples about 1 h 10 min. Paestum is about 2 h 15 min each way, so plan the driver's breaks into it.

Questions organisers ask

How far is Naples airport from Sorrento?

Roughly 51 km by road from Piazza Tasso; allow about 1 h 15 min by coach when traffic is light. At peak times on the coast road it takes much longer.

Can a full-size coach do the Amalfi Coast?

No. A full-size coach is over the 10.36 m limit on the SS163. Split the group into midi-coaches or minibuses, or take the boat to Positano and Amalfi in season.

Do cars with driver follow the alternate-plates rule?

No. The rule exempts taxis and NCC cars with a driver, which helps a small party on a restricted day.

Other group trips we arrange

Vehicles with a driver