Salerno as a base for exploring the Amalfi Coast

If you're planning a few days on the Amalfi Coast, you've probably already run into the same question: where should you stay?

Amalfi, Positano and the smaller towns along the coast are certainly an option. But there's another way to plan the trip: stay in Salerno and set out from here each day.

We grew up in Salerno, so we're a little biased. But living here also means we can help you work out whether it's the right base for your trip.

Salerno is especially good if you want to get around without a car, see more than one place on the same trip, and, besides the coast, have a city to come back to in the evening.

Why use Salerno as a base?

The simplest reason is probably the location.

The train brings you right into central Salerno, you can reach a good part of the city on foot, and in the warmer months ferries leave from the harbour for several towns along the coast.

That means you can arrive, drop your bags, and forget about the car for a few days.

In the morning you can leave for Amalfi, Positano or one of the coastal towns, and come back to Salerno in the evening. Or you can change plans completely and spend a day in the city, in Paestum, in Naples, or somewhere less well known nearby.

That's the part we like most: that freedom.

Exploring the coast by ferry

When the weather allows it, the nicest way to reach the coast, for us, is still the ferry.

Leaving from Salerno, you see the coast from a completely different angle. The mountains come down almost to the water, and the towns start appearing one after another along the way.

And, above all, you avoid a good deal of the traffic on the coastal road.

In season there are connections from Salerno to several places, including Amalfi and Positano. Times, frequency and stops change through the year, though, so there wouldn't be much point listing them here and watching them go out of date after a few months.

Our advice is very simple: check the official timetable when you're here — or a few days before — and pick the day with the weather in mind as well.

If you're staying with us, we can of course help you work out which connection makes the most sense.

Can you do it without a car?

Yes. And for a Salerno + Amalfi Coast trip, we think it's often simpler too.

The train station is in the centre of the city, the seafront is lovely to explore on foot, and from the central area you can reach both the old town and the ferry terminals.

We're right in the centre, a few steps from everything you need to get around the city without a car. Once you're here, it's easy to walk, and for days out you can combine trains, ferries and buses.

It depends on the trip you have in mind, of course. If you want to explore inland, reach more remote places or travel without having to plan around public transport, a car can be useful. But if the idea is to get to know Salerno and the coast, you don't really need one.

Amalfi and Positano, of course. But there's more.

When people talk about the Amalfi Coast, it's easy to reduce everything to Amalfi and Positano.

They're beautiful and, especially if it's your first time here, you'll probably want to see them.

But if you have a few extra days, we'd leave room for the rest as well.

Vietri sul Mare is practically the gateway to the coast from Salerno. Cetara is small, still very much centred on the harbour, and somewhere we'd happily go just for lunch. Maiori and Minori have a very different seaside feel from Positano. Atrani looks almost tucked into the space left between two mountains.

And then there are the paths, the towns higher up, and places you might not come across in a quick online search.

That's also why we prefer not to put together itineraries that are too rigid.

One day can be Positano. The next, a walk, a long lunch in Cetara, and back to Salerno.

A harbour, a few boats, and time to stop.

And in the evening?

In the evenings, people head out for drinks, meet friends and take a walk along the seafront.

Between the old town, the Corso and the nearby streets there are small bars, wine bars and places to stop for an aperitivo, have a drink after dinner, or simply meet up. Along the seafront, especially on warmer evenings, there are always people walking until late.

It's something we like a lot about the city: you don't necessarily have to plan the evening in advance. You can go out, walk a little, pick a place that feels right, and stay.

There are groups of friends meeting up, people stopping for a drink after work, busy outdoor tables, and people who are simply enjoying the evening.

And if you don't know where to go, we're happy to tell you the places we'd go ourselves.

When is Salerno a good choice?

Especially when the trip isn't built around a single place.

If you want to see the coast but also have the freedom to change plans, arrive and leave easily by train, spend a few hours in the city, and maybe reach other places in Campania, Salerno is a great fit.

That doesn't mean it's the right choice for everyone, though.

If you've always imagined waking up with Positano outside the window and want to spend almost all your time there, then it probably makes more sense to stay on the coast itself.

They're simply two different ways of experiencing the trip.

And we're happy to share what we love about staying here.

And Salerno deserves at least a day of its own

We always think it's a shame when people arrive at the station, rush straight to the ferry and only come back to sleep.

Leave at least one day for the city.

Set out without too many plans, go into the old town, walk up towards the cathedral, take your time wandering through the narrow streets, have a coffee, make your way down to the sea and then keep going along the seafront.

In the evening, find somewhere to eat and take your time over dinner.

There's no need to turn Salerno into a list of ten things to see as well.

We think Salerno is best enjoyed at an unhurried pace.

And if you have a few extra days?

From Salerno the trip doesn't have to stop at the Amalfi Coast.

There's Paestum and its archaeological site to the south, Naples to the north, Pompeii, inland towns, Cilento, and plenty of other places to explore on a day trip.

But we wouldn't try to fit everything into the same trip.

Same here: better to choose a few things you really care about and leave a little room to change your mind.

If you come and stay with us

We're in the centre of Salerno, in a position that makes it easy to get around the city on foot and set off each day in a different direction.

The station, the seafront and the ferry terminals are all within walking distance, so it's a home that naturally suits this way of travelling.

And beyond the location, we're here to share our local knowledge.

If you tell us what you like doing, we can suggest a restaurant we'd go to ourselves, a town to visit, a beach, a walk, a trail, or simply a place to stop for a drink in the evening.

There's no need to plan everything before you arrive.