Paestum is about an hour and a half by car from Naples airport and 45 minutes from Salerno: leave the A2 at Battipaglia and follow the SS18. By train, the closest station to the B&B is Capaccio-Roccadaspide, about half an hour from Salerno; for the Temples, get off at Paestum. To explore Cilento, a car remains the best choice.
This guide lines up every option, from the airport to the last mile, with indicative journey times and links to the operators for up-to-date timetables. Our B&B is at Via Filette 11, in Capaccio Scalo, in the countryside between Paestum and the Vannulo estate: about 5 km from the Temples, around ten minutes away by car.
How do you get to Paestum by car?
Driving is the simplest and most flexible option. From Naples, take the motorway towards Salerno, which south of the city continues as the A2 Autostrada del Mediterraneo. The exit to take is Battipaglia: the junction links directly to the SS18 Tirrena Inferiore, which you follow south towards Paestum and Capaccio. The A2 is toll-free along its entire length.
From the Battipaglia exit to Capaccio Scalo the road crosses the Sele Plain, through fields and buffalo farms. It is flat and well signposted, but at rush hour and on summer weekends the SS18 can be busy. Check the traffic on an up-to-date navigation app before you set off, as the Battipaglia junction has seen roadworks and temporary closures in the past.
- From Naples (city or airport): about 1 hour 30 minutes.
- From Salerno: about 45 minutes.
- From Rome: about 3 hours 20 minutes, on the A1 to Naples and then towards Salerno.
Which airport is better: Naples or Salerno?
There are two airports to consider, both run by the same operator.
Naples Capodichino
This is the airport with by far the most domestic and international flights. It is about an hour and a half from the B&B by car. Without a car, take the Alibus, run by ANM, from the airport to Napoli Centrale station: it stops in Piazza Garibaldi and continues to the port. From there you take the train to Paestum. Trenitalia sells a combined train-plus-Alibus ticket (the bus part costs €5): simply choose "Napoli Capodichino Aeroporto" as your departure point.
Salerno Costa d'Amalfi e del Cilento
The airport at Pontecagnano is the closest: about 40 minutes from the B&B by car. Its routes change from season to season, so check the active destinations on the airport website. Without a car, the Salerno Airlink bus connects the terminal with Salerno railway station in about 40 minutes; here too, Trenitalia sells a combined train-plus-bus ticket.
How do you get to Paestum by train?
Two stations are useful, both on the Tyrrhenian line between Salerno and Reggio Calabria, served by Trenitalia regional trains and some InterCity services: Capaccio-Roccadaspide for the B&B and Paestum for the archaeological area.
- Capaccio-Roccadaspide (recommended for the B&B): this station is in Capaccio Scalo, the village where Il Giardino dei Pini stands, and it is the closest one to us. Coming from Salerno, it is the stop before Paestum, about half an hour's journey. Write to us before you travel and we will help you organise the last stretch.
- Paestum (for the Temples): the railway runs almost to the gates of the archaeological area. From the station, walk along Via Porta Sirena, entering the ancient city through the gate of the same name, and in 10–15 minutes you reach the Temples of Paestum.
Journey times, indicative for both stops:
- From Napoli Centrale: around twenty direct trains a day, almost all regional. The journey takes about an hour and twenty minutes on average; InterCity trains take just over an hour, while the slowest regional trains take close to two hours.
- From Salerno: more than twenty direct trains a day, taking between 21 and 50 minutes; a typical journey is just over half an hour.
Timetables change with the seasons and not every train runs every day, so always check the Trenitalia website before you set off.
What if you are coming from Rome?
There are two options. The quickest combines a high-speed train, Frecciarossa or Italo, from Rome to Salerno (usually between an hour and twenty minutes and an hour and a half) with a regional train from Salerno to Capaccio-Roccadaspide, the closest stop to the B&B, or to Paestum. Alternatively, a few direct InterCity trains run from Rome to Paestum in about 3 hours 20 minutes, but not every day or at every time of year. By car, allow about 3 hours 20 minutes from Rome.
Are there buses or sea connections?
Regional bus lines link Salerno with Paestum and Agropoli, but services are infrequent and slower than the train: if you are travelling by public transport, the railway remains the most practical solution.
In summer, the sea becomes an option too. In summer the Campania Region funds the Metrò del Mare lines: in 2026 they ran from mid-July to early September, connecting Agropoli with San Marco di Castellabate, Acciaroli, Palinuro, Marina di Camerota and Sapri. They are not a way to reach Paestum from afar, but a lovely alternative to the car for a day on the coast. To choose where to go, see our guides to the best beaches near Paestum and to the villages of Cilento. Dates, routes and operators change every year: check the current timetable before you travel.
| From | Mode and route | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Naples, city or airport | Car: motorway to Salerno, A2 to Battipaglia, then SS18 | about 1 h 30 to the B&B |
| Salerno airport | Car | about 40 min to the B&B |
| Salerno | Car, via A2 and SS18 | about 45 min to the B&B |
| Rome | Car | about 3 h 20 to the B&B |
| Napoli Centrale | Regional or InterCity train to Capaccio-Roccadaspide (closest stop to the B&B) or Paestum | 1 h 05 to 1 h 50 (average about 1 h 20) |
| Salerno | Train to Capaccio-Roccadaspide or Paestum | 21 to 50 min |
| Roma Termini | High-speed train to Salerno + regional train, or direct InterCity | about 2 h 30–3 h with a change; about 3 h 20 direct |
| Paestum station | On foot along Via Porta Sirena | 10–15 min to the Temples |
Indicative times, without traffic or waiting. Sources: Trenitalia, Salerno Airport. Timetables and services may change: check before you travel.
How do you cover the last mile to the B&B?
Il Giardino dei Pini is in open countryside in Capaccio Scalo, about 5 km from the Temples, which are not within walking distance. That is why we recommend arriving by car, or hiring one at the airport or in Salerno. Besides making the arrival easy, a car opens up the whole area: the beaches about ten minutes away, Agropoli twenty minutes south, and the dairies of the Sele Plain, with the Vannulo estate five minutes away (more on that in our guide to buffalo mozzarella).
If you arrive by train, get off at Capaccio-Roccadaspide, the closest station to the B&B: write to us before your trip and we will tell you how to organise the last stretch, for example with a taxi or a private car service. Once here, you will find the pine garden, the outdoor pool in the summer season and rooms designed for resting after the journey.
If you can, plan to arrive in daylight: the last stretch through the countryside is easier to find, and the Sele Plain at sunset is a fine welcome. And if you are arriving by train with plans to tour Cilento, consider hiring a car in Salerno: it saves you depending on local bus and train times.
How many days do you need once you arrive?
One day is enough for the Temples and the museum, but the park ticket is valid for three days and also covers Velia. For ideas on how to organise your stay, see our guide to Paestum in 1, 2 or 3 days. If you are choosing between the great archaeological sites of Campania, read our comparison Paestum or Pompeii too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best way to get to Paestum?
By car: about an hour and a half from Naples and around 45 minutes from Salerno, leaving the A2 at Battipaglia and continuing on the SS18. Without a car, take the train: the closest station to the B&B is Capaccio-Roccadaspide, while for the Temples you get off at Paestum, a 10–15 minute walk away.
How long is the train from Naples to Paestum?
About an hour and twenty minutes on average on the direct regional trains from Napoli Centrale; InterCity trains take just over an hour and the slowest regional trains almost two hours. There are around twenty direct trains a day, but timetables vary, so check with Trenitalia.
Which airport is closest to Paestum?
Salerno Costa d'Amalfi e del Cilento airport, about 40 minutes from the B&B by car. Naples Capodichino, with many more flights, is about an hour and a half away.
Can you visit Paestum without a car?
Yes, for the Temples and the museum: Paestum station is a short walk from the archaeological area. For the B&B, the best stop is Capaccio-Roccadaspide, the closest station; to explore the beaches and villages of Cilento, a car is almost essential.
