Naples to Positano Ferry

The Naples to Positano ferry is a seasonal high speed service from Molo Beverello, run mainly by NLG (Navigazione Libera del Golfo) and Positano Jet, with Alicost at weekends and Alilauro via Sorrento. Direct boats take about 1 hour 20 minutes, and adult one-way tickets cost about €30–34 in 2026, with a few departures cheaper. The one thing a first-timer should know: Positano has no real port. You land on a pier at the main beach and the town rises straight up from it, so plan how your luggage gets from the pier to your hotel before you book.

Ferry options compared

All Positano ferries are passenger-only high speed boats. There is no car ferry and no conventional slow ferry on this route. The choice is between operators, and between direct and indirect departures.

• NLG direct. The most frequent option. In 2026 NLG ran direct boats at 10:00 from April, and 08:35 and 14:40 from May. They continue to Amalfi after Positano, so if Amalfi is your base, see our Naples to Amalfi ferry guide.
• NLG via Capri. The 10:40, plus some midday and evening departures depending on the week, go by way of Capri. On the 10:40 you change boats in Capri. These trips are slower, but they give you a look at Capri's harbour without a separate ticket.
• Positano Jet. Lucibello's Positano Jet ran direct at 10:45 and 14:05 in the week we checked, with an extra 17:50 on Tuesday to Thursday. Direct Ferries lists it as the fastest sailing on the route, at about an hour. Luggage rules are strict: the fare includes one small personal bag up to 40×20×25 cm, and a standard 50×40×20 cm bag must be bought.
• Alicost. A weekend 12:45 departure in the week we checked, at €30.
• Alilauro via Sorrento. Alilauro runs Naples–Sorrento–Positano, calling at Sorrento for 15 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes according to Ferryhopper. Some Alilauro departures run only Friday to Sunday. It is a useful fallback if the direct boats are sold out.

Comfort is similar across operators: enclosed seating, and on most boats a small open area at the back. The trip crosses the Gulf of Naples and rounds the tip of the Sorrento peninsula, so it can be bumpy in wind. If you get seasick, pick a seat low and toward the stern, and choose a morning departure, when the sea is often calmer.

Timetable and season

Positano ferry schedules change through the year and often week to week.

• April. NLG's 2026 season started on 1 April with the 10:00 direct and 10:40 via Capri. Fewer boats run, so book ahead for Easter.
• May to September. The full timetable, with NLG's 08:35 and 14:40 added from 1 May. Ferryhopper counts up to 10 departures a day in the summer months, from the first ferry at 08:35 to the last ferry at 17:40.
• October to early November. Services thin out. NLG's 2026 timetable ran until 3 November.
• Winter. Positano.com says that from the end of October to the beginning of April there is only one crossing a day. Treat that as a best case and check before you travel.

For the return trip, NLG's 2026 departures from Positano to Naples were 09:15 and 16:24 daily, plus 10:55 and 16:35 from 1 May. Resellers note that their ferry timetables refer to the current week and change often, so recheck a few days before your trip.

Getting to Naples Beverello

Every Naples to Positano ferry leaves from Molo Beverello, the hydrofoil pier in front of Piazza Municipio. Big ferries to Sicily and Sardinia use Calata Porta di Massa and other quays in the same port, so make sure you head for Beverello. More detail is in our Naples ferry port guide.

• From Naples airport. The Alibus goes from Capodichino airport to Piazza Garibaldi (Napoli Centrale) and on to the port, with a stop at Molo Angioino/Beverello. The airport puts the journey at about 35 minutes, and a ticket costs €5. A taxi on the fixed fare (tariffa predeterminata) is €24 to Molo Beverello; ask for it before you set off.
• From Napoli Centrale. Take Metro Line 1 from Garibaldi to Municipio station, then walk a few minutes to the pier.
• From the city center. Most central hotels are a short walk or taxi ride away; allow extra time for traffic around the port in summer.

The ticket office kiosks line the pier. We recommend arriving early, at least 30 minutes before departure in high season, because the Capri, Ischia and Amalfi coast queues share the same space. If you booked online, check whether your operator needs the e-ticket exchanged for a boarding pass at the kiosk.

Arriving in Positano

The ferry arrives at the pier on Spiaggia Grande, Positano's main beach, below the church of Santa Maria Assunta. This is the porto di Positano: a single pier with ticket kiosks, cafés and restrooms nearby, and no road to the water's edge.

From the pier, most hotels are uphill. Your options:

• Porters. Porters meet the boats and take bags to most hotels. Hostel Brikette quotes the official 2026 rate as €15 per standard bag up to 20 kg and €18–20 for oversized or heavy items. Agree the price first.
• Interno Positano bus. The local bus loops along the upper road, with a stop near Chiesa Nuova. Tickets cost a few euros and are sold at kiosks on the beachfront. You still have to walk up from the beach to reach it; Piazza dei Mulini is about five minutes uphill.
• Walking. Possible with a backpack. With a suitcase, expect steep steps.

From the same pier, local Positano ferries connect to Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento and Salerno in season, which makes day trips along the coast easy.

Tickets and prices

You can book Positano ferry tickets online with NLG, Positano Jet or Alilauro, through resellers such as Ferryhopper and Direct Ferries that compare prices across ferry companies, or at the kiosks on Molo Beverello. Reseller booking fees vary, so compare the final price.

What drives the ticket price:

• Departure. Most adult one-way fares were €30–34 in 2026. NLG's 14:40 was €27.50 in the week we checked, and its 10:40 via Capri was €30–31.
• Return tickets. NLG sold returns at €65, so there is no real saving over two singles.
• Children and pets. NLG charged €18.50 one-way for ages 2–12 and €7 for pets.
• Luggage. NLG charges €5 per piece. Positano Jet sells standard and XL bag tickets separately; anything over 9 kg counts as XL.

Booking early does not usually bring lower prices, but it secures the 08:35 and 10:00 boats in July and August, which are the first to sell out. Keep your ticket on your phone with ID.

Other ways from Naples to Positano

When the sea is rough, the boats are sold out, or you travel between November and March, you still have good options for the trip from Naples:

• Train and bus via Sorrento. The Circumvesuviana train runs from Napoli Porta Nolana and Napoli Piazza Garibaldi (under Napoli Centrale) to Sorrento in about 1 hour 10 minutes, or about 50 minutes on the faster trains that skip stops. The fare was €4.60 in 2026, and trains run from early morning to late evening. From Sorrento, SITA buses follow the Amalfi Coast road to Positano. In summer the road is slow and the buses are often full, so allow plenty of time.
• Train and ferry via Salerno. Take a train from Napoli Centrale to Salerno, then a Travelmar boat from Salerno to Positano. Travelmar says its Amalfi coast service is available all year round, although winter departures are fewer.
• Private transfer or taxi. The most expensive option, but door to door. Useful for families with luggage and for late arrivals at Naples airport.

For most travellers between May and September, the direct Naples to Positano ferry is still the quickest and simplest way to arrive.

Tips

• Watch the weather. Rough seas can suspend hydrofoils. If the forecast is poor, use one of the land routes above.
• Sit on the left. Once the boat rounds the Sorrento peninsula and heads east, Positano and the cliffs are on the left (port) side.
• Pack for steps. A backpack or soft bag beats a large wheeled case in Positano.
• Plan your return day. Allow at least three hours between your ferry's arrival in Naples and a flight, in case a boat is cancelled.
• Consider Sorrento or Capri as a stop. If direct boats are full, a ticket via Sorrento or Capri turns the journey into a short sightseeing trip. See Naples to Sorrento ferry and Sorrento to Capri ferry.

For the whole gulf network, including Capri, Ischia and Procida, see our Bay of Naples ferries guide.