If your vacation is a cruise with a stopover in Salerno is essential to organize the most of the time to enjoy the beauty that has to offer this small pearl of the Mediterranean. Of course, visiting Salerno in a short time and appreciating its wonderful surroundings in a single day may seem very difficult. However, with a precise, selected and well-organized agenda you will be satisfied.
Most of these sightseeing visits can be done in full autonomy, simply with the right organization of time in relation to the stop of the cruise ship. In fact, once docked at the port of Salerno, you will find adjacent to the Maritime Station, the "drop on/off" shuttle bus service free of charge through which you can reach the city center, the train station and the pier Masuccio Salernitano from which depart the main connections by sea to and from the Amalfi Coast.
So, here are our suggestions on what to do if you're cruising in Salerno, Amalfi Coast:
Stopover at Salerno cruise port: what to see and do if you're arriving on a cruise
1. Visit to the historical center of Salerno
If you have thought about visiting Salerno on your own, you can get around on foot and admire the city's most characteristic places. The first thing you'll be able to see once you dock in Salerno is the modern Marine Terminal, and then head to Liberty square, the largest seaside square in Europe. The third attraction we suggest is the Minerva Gardens, the first botanical garden in Europe for medicinal cultivation. Afterwards, it is undoubtedly essential to stop at the Salerno Cathedral, built in Romanesque style, and its crypt.
It is also recommended, if you have the opportunity to visit the Castle Arechi, a medieval monumental complex, once reached will allow you to admire a wonderful panorama of the Gulf of Salerno which stretches from the tip of the Amalfi Coast to Agropoli, belonging to Cilento Coast. A final suggestion is to choose, for your lunch break, one of the restaurants in the historical center to taste the delicious flavors of the Salerno's traditional cuisine: scialatelli with seafood, spaghetti with anchovies sauce from Cetara, Buffalo mozzarella or, why not, a pizza.
So...you'll be spoilt for choice!
We strongly recommend you to use our itinerary proposal on Google Maps that you find below:
2. Boat tour to discover the Amalfi Coast and Capri
Another option is a special tour dedicated to cruise passengers to discover the Amalfi Coast, and possibly the world famous island of Capri. Thanks to a private boat tour, optimized to your available time, you will have the opportunity to discover the wonderful places that make the Amalfi Coast unforgettable, for example the beautiful and characteristic towns of Amalfi, Positano, Praiano.
In addition, it is possible to reach the island of Capri and discover all its main attractions: Blue Grotto, the Faraglioni and much more.
We are convinced that you will be impressed by the brilliant crystal clear waters and the beauty of the natural sites here. A unique and highly recommended experience!
Learn more about how to organize a private boat excursion on the Amalfi Coast:
3. Paestum temples
For history buffs, we recommend a visit to the archaeological ruins of Paestum, an ancient city of Magna Graecia. Here it will be possible to admire three magnificent well-preserved temples in Doric style: the temple of Neptune, the temple of Hera and the temple of Athena. Also absolutely worth a visit is the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, built as a temple, and inside which you will find numerous artifacts: vases, frescoes, as well as the famous "Tomb of the Diver".
To get to Paestum from Salerno, you can use the shuttle bus service to get to the train station in Salerno from which you can take the line "Napoli Centrale - Reggio Calabria", and then get off, after about 30 minutes of travel, at the stop "Paestum". Once out of the station will be about 15 minutes walk, passing through Porta Sirena, to reach the archaeological site.
More information about the archaeological site: Paestum temples
4. Pompeii ruins
The fourth proposal is a visit to the famous archeological site of Pompeii, of immense historical value, to be seen at least once in a lifetime. Ancient Pompeii, known throughout the world for the archaeological remains of the city that in 79 AD, was buried by the dust and lapilli of the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius. The city remained buried for about 1700 years and still today it is possible to admire among its millenary ruins: houses, temples, stores. Despite the short stop by cruise ship in Salerno, even if only for a few hours, spending a day in Pompeii will allow you to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of a Roman city remained eternal and for these reasons proclaimed UNESCO heritage.
To get to Pompeii from Salerno, you can use the shuttle bus service to get to the Salerno train station from where you can take the train to Pompeii. The duration of the trip is about 40 minutes. At the stop "Pompei", not to be confused with "Pompei Scavi" it will be possible to access the archaeological site from the entrance of Piazza Anfiteatro, to reach it it will take about 10 minutes on foot.
Learn more about the Pompeii excavations and opening hours:
5. The Royal Palace of Caserta
The last of our suggestions is the Royal Palace of Caserta, a royal residence in Campania that has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Royal Palace of Caserta has an extension of about 5 hectares of land and is one of the largest royal palaces in the world, comparable in size to Versailles or the Royal Palace of Madrid. You'll be impressed by the magnificence and luxury that characterizes these royal apartments, as well as by the size of its gardens.
For this excursion, it is recommended to join well-organized bus tours from Salerno.
These are a few of the possibilities to make the most of your visit once docked at the Salerno cruise port. There are many other opportunities... Don't hesitate to contact us, we will be happy to help you with more information!
