"Naples airport is the right starting point for a south Italy driving trip. The city itself is a different calculation — the ZTL zones, guarded parking requirements, and narrow streets mean a car earns its keep once you leave Naples behind, not while you're in it."
Naples Capodichino Airport is the practical entry point for the Amalfi Coast, the Cilento national park, Paestum, and the broader Campanian interior — all places that require a car. The airport sits north of the city, and the A3 motorway south toward Salerno is less than 20 minutes away. For most visitors flying into NAP, the logic is straightforward: pick up the car, join the motorway, and leave the city behind.
What complicates the picture is the Amalfi Coast itself. The SS163, the coastal road that connects Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, runs under a seasonal alternating plate restriction that applies to rental cars and is timed during the hours most people would want to drive it. This page covers how the restriction works, how to pick up at NAP, and when driving into Naples makes sense versus when it doesn't.
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Naples airport pickup: what to expect
The Car Rental Center at Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) is a dedicated facility just outside Terminal 1, not inside the arrivals hall. After collecting luggage and exiting the terminal, follow the signs for Autonoleggio to the free shuttle bus. It runs every 5–10 minutes and takes you directly to the rental center, where Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis, and local suppliers including Locauto (which handles Enterprise bookings in Italy) all operate from the same building. Most counters run from roughly 07:30 to 23:30 daily — confirm your supplier's hours if you're arriving on a late flight.
One thing to confirm before you book: some suppliers at NAP require the car to be parked in a guarded lot (parcheggio custodito) if left overnight in the city. It's a contractual condition, not a recommendation — street parking in Naples with a rental car can void your coverage at those suppliers. If any part of your itinerary involves overnight stays in Naples with the car, check this in the rental conditions before committing to a supplier. For the full documents checklist — IDP, credit card rules, age requirements — see what you need to rent a car in Italy.
The route south: leaving Naples
The cleanest exit from NAP toward the Amalfi Coast is the A3 motorway toward Salerno. From the airport, it's about 20 minutes to join the motorway heading south — you bypass Naples entirely. NAP to Salerno runs about 45 minutes on the A3. From there, the SS163 Amalfitana begins at Vietri sul Mare: NAP to Positano is roughly 1h30, NAP to Amalfi about 1h45 in normal traffic. In peak summer, add 30–45 minutes for the coastal section.
The alternative approach from Sorrento (A3 south then the SS145 peninsula road) puts you at the western end of the SS163 in Positano — the most congested section in peak season and the narrowest stretch of road. For a first drive of the coast, Salerno east-to-west is the easier direction in both traffic and road width.
Parking is the thing most guides skip. On the SS163, there is almost no roadside parking in the main towns during peak season — spaces are reserved for residents. Positano has a paying lot (Parking Positano) above the town, reachable before you descend into the village: rates run around €5–8 per hour in summer, and it fills by mid-morning. Amalfi has a multi-storey garage at the tunnel entrance on the eastern approach — the most reliable option in town. For Ravello, park in Castiglione or at the lower lot and walk up. Budget the parking time into your day; it's not the drive that slows you down, it's finding a space at each stop.
The Amalfi Coast plate restriction
Since 2019, the Campania regional authority has applied an alternating plate system to the SS163 Amalfitana during peak periods. The rule is straightforward in theory: on even-numbered calendar dates, cars with an even last plate digit cannot use the road between 10:00 and 18:00; on odd-numbered dates, odd-ending plates are banned. In practice, the complication for rental drivers is that you won't know your plate number until you collect the car.
For 2026, the confirmed restriction windows are Easter week (30 March–6 April) and the late April–early May holiday bridge (24 April–2 May), both operating 10:00–18:00 only. The summer schedule is announced separately by RTA Campania — typically covering weekends and public holidays from June through September. Outside the restriction hours — before 10:00 or after 18:00 — any plate can use the road freely. Motorcycles and scooters are exempt throughout.
Two exemptions apply to accommodation guests: registered hotel, agriturismo, and B&B guests on the coast may drive the SS163 for arrival and departure only. This covers getting to and from your accommodation — not unlimited driving during your stay. If your accommodation is on the coast, confirm the exact exemption terms directly with them before you drive.
If your itinerary includes time in Naples
Naples is worth time — the historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage site, the food is exceptional, and the city has a density of things worth seeing within walking distance of each other. The question isn't whether Naples is worth visiting; it's whether a rental car helps you do it.
For city days, the honest answer is usually no. Naples has six ZTL restricted zones covering the historic center, including the Centro Antico (the Spaccanapoli and Via dei Tribunali area), which is active seven days a week. Camera enforcement is consistent: a violation is logged automatically, billed to the rental company, and passed to you with an admin fee of €30–€60 on top of the original fine of €200–€335. The bill typically arrives on your card four to eight weeks after you've returned home. The city center is also genuinely chaotic to drive — narrow lanes, scooters in all directions, and parking that runs €15–€25 per day in guarded lots.
The practical approach for a combined city-and-coast trip: fly into NAP, leave the car at the airport for your Naples city days (guarded parking at NAP runs around €8–€12 per day), pick it up when you're ready to head south. The metro and funicular cover the city well. If you're using Naples as an end point — driving south first, returning to the city last — drop the car at NAP when you arrive and use public transport for any remaining city time.
South Italy beyond the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is the reason most people rent at NAP, but it's not the only one. Cilento national park, roughly 90 minutes south of Salerno, is almost entirely off the train network. The Greek temples at Paestum are 45 minutes from Salerno and among the best-preserved in the world — an easy half-day from any Amalfi Coast base. The coastal towns further south (Acciaroli, Pisciotta, Palinuro) and the inland villages of the Alburni mountains require a car. Cilento has no plate restrictions, significantly more parking than the SS163, and a fraction of the summer crowds. For travellers who find the Amalfi Coast beautiful but stressful to drive, Cilento is the better road trip.
The verdict
If you haven't booked yet: NAP is the right airport for a south Italy road trip. Pick up the car, head straight onto the A3 south, and approach the Amalfi Coast from Salerno rather than Sorrento. Book a compact automatic well in advance if you're traveling in summer — they go fast. If any of your trip includes Naples city days, consider leaving the car at the airport for those days rather than navigating the ZTL zones and guarded parking requirements.
If you're already booked: Check the current plate restriction schedule at distrettocostadamalfi.it against your planned Amalfi driving dates. Confirm your IDP is arranged if your licence is non-EU — it can't be obtained in Italy. If you're planning any overnight stays in Naples with the car, read your rental agreement for the guarded parking condition before you go. Screenshot your booking confirmation and save it offline.
If you've returned the car and have a question about a charge: ZTL fines are the most common post-return charge at Italian airports — check the fine details (date, location, camera reference) against your driving record before paying. If you booked through a third-party platform, start there. Otherwise contact the supplier in writing with your rental agreement and any photographic evidence. Give them one week before escalating to your credit card issuer.
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- The plate restriction applies to rental cars with foreign and Italian plates alike. You won't know your plate number until pickup — you cannot pre-select a plate ending to match your travel dates.
- Hotel guest exemptions on the SS163 cover arrival and departure only — not all-day driving during your stay. Confirm the exact terms with your accommodation before assuming you can drive freely.
- Naples city ZTL zones include the Centro Antico (Spaccanapoli, Via dei Tribunali), active seven days a week. The rental admin fee for a ZTL violation is typically €30–€60 on top of the fine itself.
- Some suppliers at NAP require a guarded parking lot — not street parking — as a condition of the rental agreement. Check this before you book if you plan to leave the car overnight in Naples.
- Google Maps and Waze do not reliably flag ZTL zone boundaries in Naples. Do not rely on navigation apps alone to avoid restricted areas.
- The A3 motorway south from Naples to Salerno is the fastest exit route from the airport toward the Amalfi Coast. Stay on it until Salerno, then approach the SS163 from the east — quieter and more forgiving than the Sorrento approach.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rent a car at Naples airport for the Amalfi Coast?
Yes — NAP is the practical pickup point for any south Italy driving itinerary. Pick up your car, join the A3 motorway south, and drive toward Salerno or Sorrento. The strategy is to approach the Amalfi Coast from outside Naples, not through it. If the Amalfi Coast is your only destination and you're returning to Naples at the end, the same logic applies in reverse: drop off the car at NAP and use the train or ferry for any Naples city time.
What is the Amalfi Coast plate restriction and how does it affect rental cars?
The SS163 Amalfitana operates an alternating plate system during peak periods: on even-numbered calendar dates, cars with an even last plate digit cannot use the road between 10:00 and 18:00; on odd-numbered dates, odd-ending plates are banned. The rule applies to rental cars regardless of registration country. The practical complication: you don't know your plate number until pickup. If your Amalfi driving day falls on a restricted date for your plate, you'll need to drive before 10:00 or after 18:00, or take the ferry along the coast instead. Hotel guests are exempt for arrival and departure only — not all-day driving.
Where is the car rental center at Naples airport?
The Car Rental Center at Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) is a dedicated facility just outside Terminal 1. After collecting luggage and exiting arrivals, follow the signs for "Autonoleggio" to the shuttle bus stop. A free shuttle runs every 5–10 minutes to the rental center. Major suppliers (Hertz, Sixt, Europcar, Avis) are all in the same facility. Hours run approximately 07:30–23:30 daily depending on the supplier.
Can I drive a rental car into Naples city center?
Legally yes, but the city center has six ZTL restricted zones including the Centro Antico, which is active seven days a week. Cameras log every entry without a permit. The fine arrives at the rental company, who bills you the original fine amount plus an admin fee of €30–€60, typically charged to your card weeks after you return home. Parking in Naples is a separate challenge: guarded lots run €15–€25 per day, and some suppliers require guarded parking as a rental condition. Most visitors with a car are better served by parking outside the city and using the metro or funicular for any city time.
I already have a booking at Naples airport — what should I check before pickup?
Four things: confirm your IDP is arranged if your licence is non-EU; check your credit card rental coverage for Italy; identify whether your rental agreement requires guarded parking if you're spending any nights in Naples; and check the current Amalfi plate restriction schedule against your planned driving dates at distrettocostadamalfi.it. If your Amalfi dates fall within a restriction window, plan your start time before 10:00 or after 18:00, or confirm the hotel guest exemption with your accommodation.
Where do I park on the Amalfi Coast?
Parking on the SS163 is genuinely limited in peak season — most spaces in the main towns are resident-only from June through September. In Positano, use the Parking Positano lot above the village before descending; it fills by mid-morning in summer and costs around €5–8 per hour. In Amalfi, the multi-storey garage at the tunnel entrance on the eastern approach is the most reliable option. For Ravello, park at the lower lots near Castiglione and walk up. Build 15–20 minutes into each stop for the parking search, especially if you arrive after 10:00.
Is the Circumvesuviana train a better option than a car for Pompeii?
For Pompeii alone, yes. The Circumvesuviana runs from Naples Centrale station to Pompei Scavi (Pompeii excavations) in about 35–40 minutes and drops you at the main entrance. Driving to Pompeii is straightforward via the A3, but parking is limited and adds cost. Where a car earns its place is for a broader south Italy itinerary that combines Pompeii with the Amalfi Coast, Paestum, Cilento, or the Campanian interior — routes the train doesn't serve.
