Sorrento Travel Forum

I'd love to take the ferry from Sorrento to Positano for a 1/2 day walkabout on our very last day in Italy (Oct. 14th) but I've read that when the sea is choppy, the ferry can't always land so continues to Amalfi. According to the Metro del Mare schedules, Oct 14th is the last day of the low season that the ferries (MM2 and MM3) even make this run and I'm wondering if rough seas in the late season is the reason or if it's just lack of enough tourists to turn a profit? Really don't want to take the bus (cursed with a touchy stomach) as I'd likely be green (or worse) by the time we get there! Anyway, I'm just weighing our chances of making it via water vs. over land. Anyone had any experience here? Thanks a bunch!

I can guarantee you from personal experience that if the waters are choppy the ferry will bypass Positano's unprotected pier and you will go to Amalfi. Not to be unhappy because the bus stop is right across the street and you can go back to Positano or better up to Ravello which is considerably closer. Our ferry was filled - every seat - and it did not stop because of the rough waters.

Thanks for the info, Lew! So just how bumpy is that bus ride from, say, Amalfi to Positano or Sorrento to Positano? I suppose I could look at the sea action in Sorrento that morning and guess whether the ferry would make it or not, eh? I'd sure love to see the coast from the water so maybe we'll just do it and run the risk of having to catch a bus back. Yes, I hear Ravello is lovely!!! We just weren't sure if we'd have the time to travel quite that far away....

Glad to be of help - with respect to the ferry and the sea - the south shore is rougher than the north which is within the bay. The road between these cities is quite curvy and there are plenty of hills but it is a good road. And the views are to die for. The main road thru villages like Positano and Priano is a narrow and poorly paved ( unless recently upgraded ) but traffic moves slowly thru these villages for obvious reasons. We drove all over the place in a rented car and had no problems at all. Others have disagreed with me on this - some strenuously - but we found the driving relatively easy and the drivers courteous and not crazy at all. Ravello is only a short trip from Amalfi, with perhaps the only rough stretch of road ( mercifully short ) that we encountered. The bus from Amalfi goes thru Atrani on the way but still doesn't take a long time at all. We drove straight up in less than 10 minutes.

note - the ferry picked us up in Positano in the AM but could not stop on the return trip. I don't know if the waters are rougher at varied times of day, perhaps due to the tides and or the weather.

you will love this. N.

Well, doggone it, Lew - if you say we'll love it then we'll make it to Positano, by hook or by crook! I'll also put Ravello back into consideration as you say it might not take that much longer. The bus thing - bus/carsickness is the bane of my existence but I bought some Sea Bands and will see if they might help calm the queasies. I cannot wait to see the Amalfi Coast - we hear it's unreal. Thanks again for all of your help!