Naples Cruise Port: The Best Shore Excursions to the Amalfi Coast and Pompeii

By the Positano Limo Service team, licensed NCC drivers on the Amalfi Coast since 1999 · Updated November 2026

Where your ship docks in Naples

Cruise ships berth at the Stazione Marittima on Molo Angioino, right in the city centre. Castel Nuovo (Maschio Angioino) is across the street, and Molo Beverello, where the ferries and hydrofoils to Capri, Ischia and Sorrento leave, is next door. That central position is what makes Naples such a good port day: you step off the ship and you are on the road south within minutes.

The catch is distance. Pompeii is roughly a 30-minute drive in normal traffic, Sorrento 1 to 1.5 hours, and Positano, Amalfi and Ravello 1.5 to 2 hours. With around 8 hours ashore, you have time for one region done properly, not three done badly. Here is how we would choose.

The three shore excursions that work from Naples

Not included: entrance tickets, licensed guides, meals, ferries and boat trips.

1. Amalfi Coast tour: Positano, Amalfi and Ravello

This is the classic. A typical day looks like this: 8:00 pickup at the terminal, Positano around 9:30 for photos and a walk down to the beach, Amalfi around 12:30 for lunch and the cathedral, Ravello around 14:30 for the gardens and the view over the gulf, then back to the ship around 17:00 with a margin for traffic. The road (the SS163) is narrow and slow, which is exactly why a local driver matters. NCC vehicles like ours are exempt from the odd-even plate rule on the SS163, and we know where we can legally stop for photos. More on that in our guide to driving the Amalfi Coast yourself vs hiring a driver.

Details and booking: Amalfi Coast tour from Naples.

2. Pompeii, Sorrento and Positano

If Pompeii is on your list but you don’t want to miss the coast, this is the best compromise. We go to Pompeii first, when the site is quieter, spend around two hours inside, then continue to Sorrento and finish in Positano. You see less of each place than on the dedicated tours, but it is a good choice if this is your only day in the region. A licensed Pompeii guide is optional at €160 for 2 hours, and we recommend one: the site is huge and poorly signposted.

Details: Pompeii, Sorrento & Positano shore excursion.

3. Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius

For travellers who care more about Roman history than beaches. Herculaneum is smaller than Pompeii but far better preserved, with wooden beams and upper floors still in place. Doing both in one day is very manageable with a driver, and the road up Vesuvius takes you towards the crater path. A guide for both sites costs €300.

Details: Pompeii, Herculaneum & Vesuvius tour.

Pompeii tickets and opening hours (checked November 2026)

Pompeii changed its rules recently, and many cruise blogs are out of date. According to the official Archaeological Park website:

• Prices from 12 January 2026: €20 for the ancient city only; €25 for Pompeii plus the suburban villas (including the Villa of the Mysteries) and Villa Regina. Under-18s are free; EU citizens aged 18–24 pay €2.
• Tickets are personal (nominative), and there is a daily cap of 20,000 visitors. In high season entries are split into time slots, with most capacity in the morning. Buy online from the official seller in advance for spring to autumn sailings.
• Hours: 16 March–14 October, 9:00–19:00 (last entry 17:30). 15 October–15 March, 9:00–17:00 (last entry 15:30).
• Bags: only small bags are allowed (maximum 30×30×15 cm). Leave backpacks in the car; your luggage and shopping stay locked in our vehicle all day.
• First Sunday of the month: free entry for everyone, which also means the biggest crowds. If your ship is in port on one, expect queues.

Herculaneum’s official site lists a full ticket at €16, with similar seasonal hours (last entry 18:00 in summer, 15:30 in winter). Prices and rules change: please confirm on the official websites before you travel.

Private driver vs ship excursion vs doing it yourself

We are obviously biased, so here are the honest trade-offs.

• Ship excursion: the big advantage is that the ship waits for its own tours if they run late. The downsides are large coach groups, fixed stops and per-person pricing that adds up fast for a family.
• DIY by train and ferry: the cheapest option. The Circumvesuviana train runs to Pompeii and Sorrento, and ferries leave from Molo Beverello next to the terminal. But you depend on crowded trains, changing timetables and, in winter, reduced ferry service. On a port day, one missed connection can cost you the ship.
• Private driver: one price per vehicle, not per person. For four to seven people, €500 in a V-Class usually costs less than ship tours for the same group. You choose the pace, the driver plans the day backwards from your all-aboard time, and you are never more than a phone call away from your car.

To be clear: a private tour is not a ship’s tour, so the ship will not wait for us. That is why we build in a traffic margin and always plan to have you back well before all-aboard. We have been doing cruise pickups in Naples since 1999, and that planning is the whole job.

How the day works with us

1. Book online with your ship name, date and all-aboard time. Nothing is charged at booking; our office confirms by email.
2. Your English-speaking driver waits at the terminal exit with a name sign as soon as passengers disembark.
3. You travel in a private Mercedes: E-Class for 1–2 guests, V-Class for up to 7, Sprinter for up to 16. Bottled water, fuel, tolls, parking and VAT are included.
4. We return you to the Stazione Marittima with a safety margin before all-aboard. Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour.

Starting or ending your cruise in Naples?

If Naples is your embarkation or disembarkation port, you can turn the transfer into a sightseeing day. Our transfer from Naples with a Pompeii stop costs €320 per vehicle (€400 Sprinter), with 2.5 hours at the site while your luggage stays locked in the car. Heading to Capri first? The airport-to-port transfer for the ferries is €70. And if you are adding days on land, our 3, 5 and 7-day Amalfi Coast itinerary will help you plan.