Salerno sightseeing

The best sights, monuments, and activities in and around Salerno, Italy

When the Fascists moved the Italian government to this strategic port briefly during World War II, allied forces took the opportunity to bomb medieval Salerno to smithereens.

As a result, there is not much of historic interest in Salerno—for the majority of visitors, Salerno is really more of a transit hub anchoring one end of the Amalfi Coast, and as athe gateway to the Greek ruins of Paestum just down the Cliento Coast.

The city consists today mainly of modern buildings, a wide and rather pleasant but sunburnt palm-shaded park running the length of the harbor, and a busy container port overseen by dramatically soaring highway overpasses and the broken remains of a craggy old 7th–10th century Castle atop the hill.

Sights in Salerno

Duomo

The cathedral of Salerno houses ancient Greek columns, Roman sarcofagi, medieval pulpits, and the body of St. Matthew the Evangelist... » more

Aqueduct

A portion of Salerno's 8th century aqueduct survives ... » more

Sights near Salerno

Paestum

Time (aided by centuries of malaria) forgot the crumbling ruins of this ancient Greek city founded in the 7th century BC. Then, in the 18th century, a road crew rediscovered a trio of remarkably well-preserved temples hidden among the weeds and poppies of Mozzarella country along Campania's southern Cliento coast... » more

Mosaics workshop

Mosaic is an art form that has a long history in the Campania region around Naples, dating from the Greek period and blossoming during the age of the Roman Empire. During this hands-on workshop, visitors learn this ancient art in the company of a professor of medieval art and critically-acclaimed mosaic artist... » more

Tips & links

Details

How long does Salerno take?

Planning your day: Honestly? You can skip it entirely. If you want to check out the cathedral, give it 20–30 minutes.

Amalfi Coast tours

Useful links & resources

Sights & experiences
Lodging
Transport

Local tourist offices
Turismoinsalerno.it (official; entire area)
Amalfitouristoffice.it (Amalfi)
Aziendaturismopositano.it (Postiano)
Ravellotime.it (Ravello)
Sorrentotourism.com (Sorrento)
incampania.it (regional)

Useful private sites
Amalficoast.com
Amalficoast.it
Museincampania.it
Theamalficoast.net (abandoned, but some everrgreen content still useful)

Hotel
B&B
Apt
Hostel
Residence
Farm

Public
Bus
Boat
Tour
Train
Car
Air

Public transit
Bus: Unicocampania.it, Sitasudtrasporti.it
Circumvesiviana train (Naples-Sorrento): Eavsrl.it
Italian rail (Naples-Salerno): Trenitalia.com
Ferries: Alilauro.it (Sorrento-A.C., Naples-A.C., Capri-A.C.); Alicost.it (Sorrento-A.C.; Salerno-A.C.); Coopsantandrea.com (Sorrento-A.C.; Salerno-A.C.; Capri-A.C.); Travelmar.it (Salerno-A.C.)

Airports
Napoli-Capodichino: Aeroportodinapoli.it
Roma Fiumicino: Adr.it

Airport transfers (Naples):
Bus (€10 to Sorrento; 75 min): Curreriviaggi.it
Private (€19 to Sorrento, €22–€25 to Postiano, Amalfi, or Ravello): Viator.com
Taxi (€100 to Sorrento, €120 to Positano, €130 to Amalfi): Aeroportodinapoli.it/taxi, Comune.napoli.it/servizinondilinea

Airport transfers (Rome):
Bus (total: €28–€30; 5+ hr): Marozzivt.it (bus Sorrento-Roma Tiburtina; €20–€22; 4 hr) + Trenitalia.com (train Tiburtina-airport; €8, 48 min)
Private (€65–€120; 3 hr): Viator.com (note: Rome airport or hotel to Sorento or any Amalfi Coast town)

Regional rail & access points
Circumvesiviana train (Naples-Sorrento): Eavsrl.it
Italian rail (Naples-Salerno): Trenitalia.com
[The Amalfi Coast itself has no rail service, only bus and boat. Sorrento is the closest train station to the most popular A.C. towns, and the over-the-sea Sorrento-Salerno bus ride is more spectacular than the cliff-hugging Salerno-Sorrento reverse route.]

Car resources
Emergency service/tow: tel. 803-116
Highway agency: Autostrade.it (traffic info, serivce areas, toll calculator, weather)
Italian automotive club (~AAA): Aci.it
ZTLs: Ztl-italia.blogspot.com (lightly outdated, but handy, links to cities' traffic-free zones)

Regional & long-distance bus (coach) info
Orariautobus.it
Italybus.it
Oraribus.com
ibus.it
Sitabus.it
Autobus.it

Ferries & hydrofoils
Alicost.it (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi; Capri-Positano-Amalfi-Salerno)
Travelmar.it (Positano-Amalfi-Salerno; Amalfi-Minori-Maiori)
Alilauro.it (connecting Sorrento and Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, or Ischia; also connecting Amalfi, Positano, or Salerno with Capri or Ischia)
Gescab.it (connecting Capri with: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Salerno)
Coopsantandrea.com (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi-Minori-Maiori-Salerno; Amalfi-Capri)
Caremar.it (Sorrento-Capri; Naples-Capri)

Private boat transfer (Naples-Sorrento, Naples-Amalfi)
Viator.com

Coastal cruises & island excursions
Viator.com (from Sorrento, Amalfi, Poistano, or Praiano)
SelectItaly.com (from Positano)
Lucibello.it (from Positano)
Coopsantandrea.com (from Amalfi)

Multi-day sailing trips & yacht charters
Viator.com
Intrepid.com
SelectItaly.com

Transport between Naples train station and Molo Beverello port
Bus/tram (€1): Anm.it (Tram 1; bus 151)
Taxi (€11): Consorziotaxinapoli.it
Private car to docks (€7–€35): Viator.com
Private car from docks (€5–€28): Viator.com

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Details

Useful links

Info
Lodging
Transport

Local tourist offices
Turismoinsalerno.it (official; entire area)
Amalfitouristoffice.it (Amalfi)
Aziendaturismopositano.it (Postiano)
Ravellotime.it (Ravello)
Sorrentotourism.com (Sorrento)
incampania.it (regional)

Useful private sites
Amalficoast.com
Amalficoast.it
Museincampania.it
Theamalficoast.net (abandoned, but some everrgreen content still useful)

Hotel
B&B
Apartment
Hostel
Residence
Farm

Public
Bus
Boat
Tour
Train
Car
Air

Public transit
Bus: Unicocampania.it, Sitasudtrasporti.it
Circumvesiviana train (Naples-Sorrento): Eavsrl.it
Italian rail (Naples-Salerno): Trenitalia.com
Ferries: Alilauro.it (Sorrento-A.C., Naples-A.C., Capri-A.C.); Alicost.it (Sorrento-A.C.; Salerno-A.C.); Coopsantandrea.com (Sorrento-A.C.; Salerno-A.C.; Capri-A.C.); Travelmar.it (Salerno-A.C.)

Airports
Napoli-Capodichino: Aeroportodinapoli.it
Roma Fiumicino: Adr.it

Airport transfers (Naples):
Bus (€10 to Sorrento; 75 min): Curreriviaggi.it
Private (€19 to Sorrento, €22–€25 to Postiano, Amalfi, or Ravello): Viator.com
Taxi (€100 to Sorrento, €120 to Positano, €130 to Amalfi): Aeroportodinapoli.it/taxi, Comune.napoli.it/servizinondilinea

Airport transfers (Rome):
Bus (total: €28–€30; 5+ hr): Marozzivt.it (bus Sorrento-Roma Tiburtina; €20–€22; 4 hr) + Trenitalia.com (train Tiburtina-airport; €8, 48 min)
Private (€65–€120; 3 hr): Viator.com (note: Rome airport or hotel to Sorento or any Amalfi Coast town)

Regional rail & access points
Circumvesiviana train (Naples-Sorrento): Eavsrl.it
Italian rail (Naples-Salerno): Trenitalia.com
[The Amalfi Coast itself has no rail service, only bus and boat. Sorrento is the closest train station to the most popular A.C. towns, and the over-the-sea Sorrento-Salerno bus ride is more spectacular than the cliff-hugging Salerno-Sorrento reverse route.]

Car resources
Emergency service/tow: tel. 803-116
Highway agency: Autostrade.it (traffic info, serivce areas, toll calculator, weather)
Italian automotive club (~AAA): Aci.it
ZTLs: Ztl-italia.blogspot.com (lightly outdated, but handy, links to cities' traffic-free zones)

Regional & long-distance bus (coach) info
Orariautobus.it
Italybus.it
Oraribus.com
ibus.it
Sitabus.it
Autobus.it

Ferries & hydrofoils
Alicost.it (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi; Capri-Positano-Amalfi-Salerno)
Travelmar.it (Positano-Amalfi-Salerno; Amalfi-Minori-Maiori)
Alilauro.it (connecting Sorrento and Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri, or Ischia; also connecting Amalfi, Positano, or Salerno with Capri or Ischia)
Gescab.it (connecting Capri with: Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Salerno)
Coopsantandrea.com (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi-Minori-Maiori-Salerno; Amalfi-Capri)
Caremar.it (Sorrento-Capri; Naples-Capri)