What routes does Alilauro operate?

Alilauro runs fast passenger ferries from Naples Molo Beverello to Ischia (Ischia Porto and Forio) and to Sorrento, and in season from Naples and Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi. The Sorrento–Capri boats are sold as Alilauro Gruson, and the group's Alicost brand sails from Salerno along the Amalfi Coast.

Are Alilauro services foot-passenger only?

Yes. Alilauro's Bay of Naples boats are fast passenger craft with no vehicle deck. With a car, use the Caremar or Medmar car ferries to Ischia, and note that visitors cannot take cars to Capri at all in 2026.

How much luggage can I take on Alilauro?

One bag up to 50×35×20 cm and 9 kg is included on the Naples–Ischia and Naples–Sorrento boats. Larger or extra bags are charged.

Is the Amalfi Coast ferry a good alternative to driving?

For many visitors, yes. The coast road (SS163) is narrow and congested in summer. The boats between Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi avoid the traffic and give a view of the coast you cannot get from the road. They run in season only, and are cancelled in rough seas.

Alilauro

Who they are

Alilauro is the Naples fast-ferry company of the Lauro family's shipping group (Gruppo Lauro). The group dates back to 1944, when Agostino Lauro started a tourist line between Ischia and Capri. From 1989 his son Salvatore Lauro moved the business from conventional ferries to fast craft, and today Alilauro is one of the busiest operators out of Naples Molo Beverello, where the company is based.

The group sells under several names. Alilauro runs the Naples services; Alilauro Gruson, formed in the 1990s with the Sorrento shipping group Gru.So.N. and now part of the Gescab group, runs Sorrento–Capri; and Alicost sails from Salerno along the Amalfi Coast to Positano and Capri.

Network and routes

In the Bay of Naples, Alilauro is the busiest company on the Naples to Ischia ferry, with boats from Molo Beverello to Ischia Porto roughly every hour or two in summer and several a day continuing to Forio on the west coast. It is also the main operator on the Naples to Sorrento ferry, with five or six crossings a day in summer at about 40 minutes.

From Sorrento, Alilauro Gruson runs the most frequent service on the Sorrento to Capri ferry, about 20 minutes to Marina Grande. In season, Alilauro boats also run from Sorrento to Positano (about 40 minutes) and on to Amalfi, and some sailings from Naples reach Positano and Amalfi via a stop in Sorrento. These Amalfi Coast boats are seasonal, roughly from spring to early November.

Alilauro's booking site also lists Castellammare, Torre Annunziata and the Salerno side of the coast (Salerno, Vietri, Maiori, Minori), mostly through the group's Alicost boats.

Fleet and on board

The fleet is made up of fast catamarans and fast monohulls. All are passenger-only, with enclosed, air-conditioned cabins and, on the larger boats, some outside deck space. Crossings are short (Naples to Ischia about an hour, Naples to Sorrento about 40 minutes), so on-board catering is minimal.

Luggage is the main practical limit. On the Naples–Ischia and Naples–Sorrento routes the fare includes one bag up to 50×35×20 cm and 9 kg; bigger suitcases are charged and stacked near the door.

Booking and tips

Alilauro tickets can be bought at the ticket offices at Molo Beverello and the other ports, or online. The Amalfi Coast and Capri boats are heavily used in July and August, so book ahead for morning departures and afternoon returns. Arrive 20–30 minutes before departure, as the piers at Naples and Sorrento get crowded.

On the Amalfi Coast, one or two stops by sea work better than a same-day return. Positano to Amalfi by boat, then back by SITA bus, is a classic plan. Avoid the coast road in summer if you can.

Services are weather-dependent. Strong wind can cancel fast boats in the Bay of Naples, and the more exposed Amalfi Coast sees more cancellations on rough days. Check the Alilauro website for service updates before heading to the port.

Frequently asked questions

What routes does Alilauro operate?: Alilauro runs fast passenger ferries from Naples Molo Beverello to Ischia (Ischia Porto and Forio) and to Sorrento, and in season from Naples and Sorrento to Positano and Amalfi. The Sorrento–Capri boats are sold as Alilauro Gruson, and the group's Alicost brand sails from Salerno along the Amalfi Coast.
Are Alilauro services foot-passenger only?: Yes. Alilauro's Bay of Naples boats are fast passenger craft with no vehicle deck. With a car, use the Caremar or Medmar car ferries to Ischia, and note that visitors cannot take cars to Capri at all in 2026.
How much luggage can I take on Alilauro?: One bag up to 50×35×20 cm and 9 kg is included on the Naples–Ischia and Naples–Sorrento boats. Larger or extra bags are charged.
Is the Amalfi Coast ferry a good alternative to driving?: For many visitors, yes. The coast road (SS163) is narrow and congested in summer. The boats between Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi avoid the traffic and give a view of the coast you cannot get from the road. They run in season only, and are cancelled in rough seas.

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