Sights and ideas for your own excursion on the Amalfi Coast

Salerno Excursion Offers and Tickets

- Berths of the Cruise Liners

The berths of the cruise ships in the port of Salerno are located in the western part of the city and thus sometimes in the industrial port on the Molo di Ponente and/or Molo Tre Gennaio. In this case, free shuttle buses are normally used to take passengers to the port exit. Another berth is available at the Molo Manfredi with the cruise terminal Stazione Marittima, which is opened in 2016. A tourist information stand is open for a few hours after the arrival of a cruise ship. If shuttle buses are organised and used by the shipping companies, they usually drive to Piazza Concordia, which is close to the centre, and are not free of charge.

- Old Town and Pedestrian Zone

If the ship moors at the Stazione Marittima, the old town of Salerno is also easily accessible on foot. Thus, one can walk alongside the nicely arranged promenade Lungomare Trieste that is located right at the sea or stroll through the close shopping streets. The boardwalk extends for approximately two kilometres and runs up to the Piazza Concordia. This walk there or to the nearby local train station takes 25-35 minutes per direction. Most of the shops and boutiques are located in the narrow, shady Via dei Mercanti and in the wide Corso Vittorio Emanuele at its western end, which finally leads to Piazza Vittorio Veneto. The two streets are separated by the small square Piazza Sedile di Portanova, run parallel to the coast and are largely pedestrianised. If one chooses this slightly longer way through the shopping streets, the time you needed can be considerably increased by the shopping stops!

- Industrial Port and Buses

Piazza Concordia can also be reached by local buses and is therefore an alternative to the shuttle buses of the shipping companies. If you have the possibility to buy a valid ticket in advance. This is available in various tobacconists and in the central sales point at Piazza Matteo Luciani 33. If the cruise ship is moored in the industrial harbour, a walk into the city takes too much time. At the Via Ligea bus stop located at the northern entrance to the port and along the long promenade, several lines stop in the direction of the railway station and/or near Piazza Concordia. In case of doubt, simply ask the bus driver if he stops there. For example, with the line 5, one needs approximately 10 minutes from the harbour exit north up to the Piazza Concordia.

- Bus schedules

- Cathedral

In Piazza Alfano I you can find the Cathedral of Salerno, whose entrance is reached through a beautiful courtyard with two-storey porticoes. The construction works for the Cathedral of San Matteo began in 1076 and the consecration took place 8 years later. With a height of approximately 50 metres, the bell tower, which is not accessible to the public, looks quite mighty. The magnificent crypt in the basement is worth seeing. The church is open outside the church services from Monday to Saturday from 09:30-18:00 and on Sundays from 16:00-18:00.

- Cathedral of San Matteo

- Diocesan Museum

Right beside the cathedral is the diocesan museum Museo Diocesano. Individual pieces of the collection date back to the 10th century. A special part of the exhibition are the 67 artistically worked ivory-plates, most of them show scenes of the Old and New Testament. Open daily except Wednesdays from 09:00-13:00 and from 15:00-19:00. The entrance fee is 2 euros per person.

- Diocesan Museum Museo Diocesano

Excursion offers and tickets from

GetYourGuide

more tours and transfers...

- Botanical Garden

At Vicolo Ferrante Sanseverino 1 is the Botanical Garden Giardino della Minerva. Originally belonging to the local medical school, from the 10th century onwards, mainly medicinal plants were cultivated and bred there. Today the terraced garden is open to visitors daily except Mondays from 09:30-16:30. The entrance fee is 3 Euros per person. To facilitate access, a public elevator has been installed at the piazza ďAniello. This Ascensore Comunale leads to the higher street Via Torquato Tasso, not far from the entrance.

- Castle Complex

The old walls of the Castello di Arechi rise impressively above the city. Located on Monte Bonadies, the castle was built in the 7th century and offers the visitor an excellent view of the Gulf of Salerno and the city itself. There is also a small museum in the area where various archaeological finds from the area, mainly coins and ceramics, are exhibited. Open Tuesday to Saturday from 09:00-17:00 and Sunday from 09:00-15:00. Monday is closed. The entrance fee is 5 euros per person. The buses of line 19 stop at the foot of the castle. Access is possible from the centre of Salerno at Piazza Maggio.

- Castello di Arechi

- Beaches

The small beach section of Santa Teresa connects the harbour facilities with the long extended promenade Lungomare Trieste. It is also a popular meeting point for the locals in the evening hours. At the south-east of the Piazza Concordia, there are some more smaller beaches where most of the times, parasols and deck chairs are offered. Some areas also have pool complexes with attached bars and cafés.

- Ferries

From Piazza Concordia you can reach the central shopping street Corso Vittorio Emanuele and the local central station Stazione Salerno after a few metres. From there you can reach the Salerno area by the trains of the Italian railway Trenitalia and the interurban buses from SitaSud. From the marina, located in front of the piazza, it is possible to explore the Amalfi Coast by boat or to reach other places. The ferries to Amalfi depart every hour from 08:40 in the morning, take 35 minutes and cost 8 Euros per person and direction. The crossing to Positano takes 70 minutes and costs 12 euros per person and direction. Here too, there is a morning service from 08:40 and hourly service. Other ferries, especially the fast ferries also start their trips from Molo Manfredi. The piers are located not far from the Stazione Marittima and one of the destinations is the beautiful island of Capri. However, you should expect a journey time of 130-145 minutes in each direction. In most cases the stay is quite short and not really worth it.

- Ferry connections

- Ferry connections

- Amalfi

The entire coastal region was named after the charming village of Amalfi. Founded in the 4th century, the community soon grew into one of the most important maritime republics. From the 11th century onwards, the town lost more and more importance and since the middle of the 20th century it has been profiting from increasing tourism. Still popular, especially in the summer months many visitors cavort in the alleys and streets. Cafés, restaurants and small shops line the paths around the central square Piazza Duomo.

- Transfer to Amalfi by Boat or Bus

Amalfi is easy to reach from Salerno. Impressive landscapes can be seen from the water. The crossing with one of the ferries takes only 35 minutes and costs 8 euros per person and direction. Normally from the marina in Piazza Concordia and often with the presence of a cruise ship from the Molo Manfredi, the boats leave daily from 08:40 am. Tickets are available on site in small cottages. Further departure times are, according to the current status, at 09:40, 10:40, 11:40, 14:10 and at 15:30. You can also get back with the ferry boats at 10:35, 12:45, 14:10, 16:15, 17:45 and 19:10. Alternatively, you can take one of the intercity buses back to the cruise port, which stop near the ferry piers. In advance, one should buy a ticket in a tobacco shop that currently costs 5 euros. The buses of the line 5120 with destination Salerno main station use the spectacular coastal road Amalfitana, drive nearly every hour and need approximately 75 minutes for the trip. It is quicker by rental car or taxi in 30-35 minutes, the latter costing about 45-50 euros.

- Cathedral of Amalfi

The gorgeous building of the Cathedral St. Andrea of Amalfi already catches the eye at the entrance of the harbour. With its richly decorated façade and the 62-step access stairs, the church building is one of the most beautiful of its kind on the Amalfi Coast. Dedicated to Saint Andrew the Apostle, who is also the patron saint of the parish, the church was built in the 11th century. In 1208 the mortal remains of St. Andrew were finally brought to the cathedral from Constantinople and have been kept in the crypt ever since. Above the crypt is the Basilica of the Crucifix, which was used as a church for many years before the Cathedral was built and now houses the Diocesan Museum Museo Diocesano di Amalfi, which presents unique historical pieces. The beautifully designed Cloister of Paradise, with its 120 narrow columns, surrounds the green courtyard which was once used as a burial place for wealthy locals. The area can be explored daily and outside of church services from 10:00-17:00 and is subject to a fee. An adult pays 3 euros for admission and children one euro each.

- Emerald Grotto

About 5 kilometres southwest of Amalfi, the Emerald Grotto Grotta dello Smeraldo is located in the rock. The sea water in the cave shimmers in fantastic emerald green tones due to the natural incidence of light, thus also impressively illuminating the crib installed on the bottom. The effect is most intense at midday between 12:00 and 13:00 when the sun is at its highest. An elevator or the outside staircase leads from the coastal road to the surface to the rowing boats, which are ready to take a 10-15 minute tour. For this, 5 euros per person are required and oftenly, a tip is also expected from the boatmen. It is open daily from 09:30-16:00 o'clock. The cave can be reached from Amalfi in 15 minutes by bus line 5070. Alternatively by boat for 10 Euro per person. If you are travelling with a rented car, you can park it in the paid parking lot. But the parking place is not very big and so it is quickly overcrowded during rush hours. In bad weather the Emerald Grotto is closed.

- Amalfi Beaches

Amalfi has a few smaller beach sections. The biggest of them is undoubtedly the Marina Grande, located at the port. Further to the west you can find Le Marinelle and Lido Delle Sirene. In the immediate vicinity of the beaches, there are various localities. Sun loungers and umbrellas are generally available for hire, although they are very popular, especially during the high season.

- Positano

The former fishing village of Positano is best reached by boat from the marina in Piazza Concordia or from the Molo Manfredi. The crossing along the enchanting coast takes about 70 minutes and costs 12 euros per person and direction. Arriving by rental car is absolutely not recommended as there are almost no parking spaces in the village built on the hillside. The colourful houses nestle up impressively to each other and are oftenly only accessible on foot through narrow alleyways and countless stairs. You will find many different localities, nice shops and boutiques. The two pebble beaches Spiaggia Grande and the smaller Spiaggia Fornillo invite you to relax. Deck chairs and parasols can be rented on site.

- Pompeji

The famous ruins of Pompeii are located northwest of Salerno at the foot of the mighty Vesuvius. This caused devastating damage by its eruption in 79 AD and claimed many victims. Especially the eruption cloud moving to the south-east buried whole areas of land and destroyed all life. In the end, the volcanic deposits were up to 12 meters high and made the city fall into oblivion. It was not until the 18th century that archaeological excavations were begun, which have brought a large part of the former city area back to light. Pompeii can be visited daily from 09:00-17:00. From April to October is open until 19:30 and on weekends the entrance is already at 08:30. Admission always closes 90 minutes before closing time.

The regular admission price is 11 Euros for adults and 5.50 Euros for children. If special exhibitions are presented or various events are organised on the grounds, the admission price is increased by 2 euros. At the entrances, audio guides and maps are available, in which the most important sights are listed, making orientation much easier. Especially in the summer months it is often very hot and there are only few shady places. Therefore, you should bring sufficient sun protection and drinks. Furthermore, sturdy shoes are recommended. Toilets are only available at the entrances and in the halfway centrally located café/restaurant. The area is not barrier-free and thus for wheelchair users and prams unfortunately badly and/or not at all passable.

- Pompeji

- Transfer to Pompeii

The excavation sites of Pompeii are easily accessible from Salerno. The quickest way is by rental car or taxi. For the approximately 32 kilometres, you can plan 30-40 minutes in each direction. A taxi costs about 45-50 euros. With the public bus line 50, the pure travel time is about 60-75 minutes. In Salerno, you can get on the bus near the station and get off at the Porta Marina stop in Pompeii, which is located near the main entrance. Trains from Salerno stop in Pompeii at the station to the south and take 32 to 48 minutes, depending on the option chosen. This station is still about 1.8 kilometres away from the main entrance of the formerly buried settlement. An additional 25-30 minutes on foot is then to be expected. If you take a bus of line 4, which runs there, the walking time is reduced to about 3 minutes. This bus also comes from Salerno, but it takes almost 2 hours to Pompeii and is therefore unattractive for the whole route.

- Connections

- CSTP Buses

- Trenitalia Trains

- Paestum

About 40 kilometres from Salerno you can find the ruins and temples of Paestum. The place was founded by the Greeks in 600 BC under the name of Poseidonia and later renamed by the Romans. The former forest area became increasingly marshy and was finally abandoned. Rediscovered in the 18th century, the excavations of the historical site slowly began. Surrounded by an approximately 5000-meter long and still well-preserved city wall, the remains of the mighty Poseidon temple, the basilica and the temple of Ceres are particularly impressive. In addition, there is a museum on the site, which mainly exhibits findings from the former settlement. Paestum is open daily from 08:30-19:30. On the first and third Monday of the month it closes already at 13:40. Admission stop is always 40 minutes before closing time. The entrance fee including the museum is 9 euros per person. By rental car or taxi, it takes 45 to 50 minutes per direction along the coastal road. The trains of the Italian railway Trenitalia take 33 minutes from the Stazione Salerno to Paestum Station. From there it is a short walk to the archaeological site. Alternatively, you can also get there from Piazza Concordia by taking the number 34 bus. Due to the many stops it takes about 60 minutes to get there.

- Paestum

- Excursion Portals and Excursion Providers

Through the tour and excursion providers GetYourGuide, Meine Landausflüge and Viator, you can book various excursions, activities, tours, tickets and admission tickets in Salerno, which are often offered at much lower prices than comparable excursions offered by the shipping companies. Thus, if you book in time, you can realize a variety of excursions on your own.

A small preselection of independent tour operators

for, in and around Salerno,
we have compiled for you here.

- Cruises and Special Offers

If you have not yet booked a Mediterranean Cruise, but would like to get to know Salerno personally and make excursions on your own, you will find great offers from the major cruise operators in the German-speaking world. Aida, Costa and Tui Cruises - Mein Schiff offer attractive routes with their modern cruise ships, together with other interesting destinations. Book your next dream holiday directly with your favourite shipping company at fair conditions.

All ocean and river cruises can also be booked conveniently and inexpensively online with the sea travel specialist Kreuzfahrten-Zentrale Astoria. This means that you can choose from a wide range of up-to-date offers from various shipping companies. These include AIDA Cruises, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and TUI Cruises. Also attractive are the popular special offers, with which one can travel at a particularly low price and possibly also get a great bargain.

Shore excursions Salerno ..... continue to the 2nd page

More port information on popular cruise destinations in the Mediterranean

Croatia - Dubrovnik 

France - Ajaccio in Corsica

France - Cannes

France - Toulon

Greece - Iraklion, Crete

Greece - Kerkyra on Corfu

Greece - Piraeus (Athens)

Greece - Rhodes

Greece - Santorini

Italy - Bari

Italy - Cagliari in Sardinia

Italy - Catania, Sicily

Italy - Civitavecchia (Rome)

Italy - La Spezia

Italy - Livorno

Italy - Messina in Sicily

Italy - Naples

Italy - Olbia in Sardinia

Italy - Palermo in Sicily

Italy - Salerno

Italy - Venice

Malta - Valletta

Monaco - Monte Carlo

Spain - Barcelona

Spain - Cartagena

Spain - Eivissa on Ibiza

Spain - Malaga

Spain - Palma de Mallorca

Spain - Valencia