Coach & Minibus Hire in Italy

Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast in a Small Minibus

Sorrento is where many small groups base themselves for the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii and Capri. The coast road decides almost everything here, and the size of your vehicle matters most.

Why a full-size coach stays off the coast road

The Amalfitana, or SS163, links Vietri sul Mare with Positano. Since April 2020 an ANAS ordinance, upheld by the regional administrative court, has kept off any bus over 10.36 m long or 4 m high, whichever way it is heading. A big coach therefore cannot do the Amalfi Coast at all; a midi-coach or minibus within the limits can. Smaller vehicles still face direction and time rules in busy periods, so the ordinance is checked against your travel date.

On top of that come the alternate plates, the targhe alterne, on set days between 10:00 and 18:00: even plates stay off on even dates, odd plates on odd dates. The 2026 calendar still covers the weekends of October, and the 2027 one has not been published. Taxis and NCC cars with a driver are among the exemptions.

Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view
Sprinter 19-seat minibus, side view

Amalfi, Ravello and Positano

In Amalfi, buses may load and unload solely at the "Flavio Gioia" area, and the stop must be reserved and paid online ahead. Ravello keeps buses out of its centre unless they are authorised by the day before, for guests of its hotels or restaurants or passengers with disabilities. A provincial ordinance from July 2026 also closes the road up to Ravello and the Amalfi to Agerola road to heavy vehicles, with exceptions for buses under set lengths; a review was planned once September 2026 ended, so whether it still stands is checked before your trip.

Maiori asks for stops to be notified in advance by certified e-mail. Positano has no official coach park, so the operator confirms where the vehicle can pause. In season, the boats from Sorrento and Amalfi are a lovely alternative.

Flying in to Sorrento

Stops worth making in Sorrento

  • Pompei (archaeological site) — Excavations of Pompeii, on the way to Napoli; reached by road or by the Circumvesuviana railway
  • Amalfi and Ravello — Cathedral town of Amalfi and hilltop Ravello (Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone); both have their own coach rules
  • Positano — Cliffside village at the western end of the Amalfi Coast road (SS163 "Amalfitana")
  • Capri — Island reached by boat from Sorrento or Napoli; from summer 2026 guided groups on Capri are limited to 40 people, and guides of groups over 20 must use earpiece systems
  • Marina Piccola — Sorrento's port below the town: boats and hydrofoils to Capri, Napoli and, in season, Positano and Amalfi
  • Piazza Tasso and the old town — Main square and the old streets of Sorrento above the cliffs; the town centre is a limited-traffic zone in the evening in season

Easy pickup points

  • Amalfi, Ravello, Maiori and Minori
  • Positano and Praiano
  • Massa Lubrense and Sant'Agata sui Due Golfi
  • Sant'Agnello and Piano di Sorrento
  • Sorrento town centre (Piazza Tasso, Corso Italia)

Arriving by cruise ship

Sorrento itself, Capri and the ruins

Tourist buses in town use the Achille Lauro car park, where a single set-down or pick-up of up to 15 minutes is allowed. In 2026 the centre is a limited-traffic zone from 1 April to 25 October, every evening from 19:30 to 04:00, and also from 10:00 to 13:00 on public holidays.

For Capri, boats leave from Marina Piccola, down at the water below Sorrento. From summer 2026 the island caps guided groups at 40 people, and groups over 20 use earpieces. Back on land, Pompeii is about 45 minutes away, Herculaneum about an hour and Paestum's temples about 2 h 15 min.

What travellers ask us

How long is the transfer from Naples airport?

Roughly 51 km to Piazza Tasso, which is about 1 h 15 min when the roads are clear. At busy times on the coast road it can take much longer.

Is there a train from Naples to Sorrento?

Yes, the Circumvesuviana, which also stops at Pompei Scavi and Ercolano. There is no main-line railway on the peninsula.

How big a vehicle can drive the Amalfi Coast?

On the SS163 the cap is 10.36 m in length and 4 m in height. Say how many people are travelling and the quote will name a vehicle that fits within the limits.

More trips we arrange

Other vehicles with a driver