Amalfitana: Driving bans in summer – What holidaymakers need to know
Tight curves, steep cliffs, colorful villages, turquoise sea, and lemon trees characterize the Amalfi Coast. The beauty of this 50-kilometer-long stretch of coastline in the south of Italy's Sorrento Peninsula attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year.
Many arrive by car. The result is kilometers of traffic jams during peak travel season on the famous Amalfitana coastal road, whose full name is Strada Statale 163 Amalfitana. This has devastating consequences for residents, as they often cannot get to work, go shopping, or see the doctor – or only arrive late. In 2022, the region therefore curbed traffic with a curious license plate regulation. The regulation will be used again this year.
It stipulates that vehicles with odd-numbered license plates are not allowed to use the route between Meta di Sorrento and Vietri sul Mare on odd-numbered days. Vehicles with even-numbered license plates are not allowed to use it on even-numbered days.
This regulation could pose problems for travelers. Anyone vacationing on the Amalfi Coast, for example in Positano, Praiano, or Amalfi, must travel along Strada Statale 163. Previously, there were no exceptions for tourists, but a new rule has been in place since 2024.
Since last year, travelers who have booked accommodation along the Amalfi Coast's restricted driving route have been exempt from the driving bans. But beware: This only applies to the day of arrival and departure, according to the ADAC . You should also be able to show proof, such as a hotel reservation, if stopped.
Also exempt from the driving ban are cars belonging to residents, taxis, public transport buses, motorcycles, Vespas and other two-wheelers.
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular tourist routes in Italy.
Source: IMAGO/Panthermedia
The regulation applies to cars with Italian and foreign license plates, rental cars, and tourist buses. Anyone violating the driving ban can expect a fine.
Motorhomes and caravans are prohibited from driving on the Amalfi Coast every day of the year from 6:30 a.m. to midnight. Anyone who violates this rule can expect a fine of at least 100 euros.
Travelers should plan their arrival and departure times so that they do not fall during the restricted hours. If that's not possible, the train station in Vietri sul Mare offers an alternative: There is a large (unguarded) parking lot there. From there, guests can either be picked up from their accommodation, take a taxi, or take one of the regularly scheduled buses along the coastal road.
A particularly nice option is to continue your journey by boat: From Vietri sul Mare, a boat departs hourly for Amalfi (around 15 euros per person). From Amalfi, there are connections to Positano or Capri.
Pure idyll on the Amalfi Coast. But traffic chaos regularly prevails on the Amalfitana coastal road.
Source: Getty Images/iStockphoto
To counteract the increasing traffic chaos, temporary traffic restrictions will apply on the Amalfi Coast – as in previous years. According to the ADAC, car traffic will be reduced during the following periods:
- 13 April to 1 May : daily
- 1 June to 31 July : only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
- 1 August to 30 September : daily
- October 1 to 30 : only on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
During these periods, a traffic control system with alternating driving bans applies daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The idea for the license plate regulation isn't new at all. The regulation was originally supposed to come into force in April 2020. However, local objections and the coronavirus pandemic caused the process to be delayed several times. Furthermore, a temporary driving ban on motorhomes and caravans has been in place for years during peak season on the stretch between Vierti sul Mare and Positano.
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