Italy: What is the best way to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast?

As other people said you have to take Circumvesuviana from Naples. For Roma>Napoli trip you can take a Trenitalia Frecciarossa train from Roma Termini, a bus but if you can plan your trip at least a couple of weeks earlier you can also take Italo, the new high speed train by NTV (20€ RM>NA in Economy). You can check ticket availability on http://www.italotreno.it

The listed train to Napoli --> Circumvesuviano to Sorrento --> SITA bus to the Amalfi Coast is definitely the most common route by public transportation, but there are a few other ways to the Amalfi Coast.  For people who like buses, there is a direct bus from Rome's city center to Sorrento, but that only runs in the summer. Marozzi is the company that runs this bus. Another alternate is taking a train from Rome to Salerno, the other end of the Amalfi Coast.  From there you can  catch the SITA bus to the major destinations along the Amalfi Coast or a ferry to Amalfi/Positano.  The SITA bus may be less crowded catching it from this end since most tourists take it from Sorrento.  The ferry cost a little more than the bus, but it's also less crowded and seeing the coast from the water is well worth it.  Usually I would agree that driving is the best option when traveling, but during high season the roads become very congested since they were never built for the capacity the summer months bring.  Also, parking is almost impossible for the more popular villages.  I'd only drive if it were during the winter, which is a beautiful experience of the Amalfi Coast in itself.

The Advertised Trains of Circumvesuviana Advertised photo from the http://vesuviana.it site. The Reality of Circumvesuviana Trains I Know - Hmm, Contrasty The train you're more apt to ride (replete with spray painted expletive).  Artistic license notwithstanding, keep your city wits about you and you'll be fine. Steven's Rome to Amalfi layout is accurate and succinct. I would add that the Circumvesuviana is a little rough around the edges and may require you hone your urban awareness skills. The train and associated stations near Naples harken to 1981-Pre-Guiliani Brooklyn lawlessness. Staggering unemployment, minimal education and the expected affects on a population are rampant. Dress and plan accordingly. A circumvesuviana trick I've yet to master is how to determine which train goes to Sorrento. There are only two tracks so multiple departures occur on the same platform. The time tables are scarcely accurate so you can't expect to decipher which train from which by its physical arrival. Perhaps I'll post the question for others to answer, (Perhaps I've been too jet lagged every other time and there's a patently obvious solution).

I agree with Tuffer...is not so easy reach Sorrento by train, although it is the fastest way to reach the Amalfi Coast. An alternative is to take the bus. From Roma Tiburtina (you could reach this station with the underground line B) depart the Marozzi Buses. Without any bus change you could reach in 5 hours Amalfi and in 4 hours Sorrento. You could also prebook the tickets online (website in Italian, but easy to use)  http://www.marozzivt.it/web.aspx

The circumvesuviana is certainly charming.  But my favorite way to get to the Amalfi Coast from anywhere in Italy (certainly Rome) is by car!  Rent a car and drive the coast.  You wiill experience nothing else like it anywhere.  Gorgeous, breathtaking, exhilirating!  And be sure to stop for a lemon granita on the side of the street!

Rome to Naples via the fast train  Trenitalia Frecciarossa. Plenty of options for this train, and it is very comfortable. You can book online before you get to Italy, and you might get cheaper tickets if you book early. From Naples there is the budget route or the more expensive (faster and recommended) options:1. Budget - take the train from Napoli to Sorrento (for Positano destination, for Amalfi check if the stop after Sorrento works). You have to go one level down from the arrival area. But be warned - its a local train, stops every 5 mins and it will take upto an hour. From Sorrento there is a local bus, but you need to know the schedule so not convenient. The other realistic option is a taxi on a Mercedes van which costs around Euro 40-60 to Positano (maybe more for further locations) so not cheap really. See next option for the best. 2. Slightly more expensive but recommended - ask your hotel in Amalfi to send a taxi to pick you up. It costs about Euro 100-125 but worth it if you see costs above.

For going from Rome to Amalfi you have two options. First you can book a day trip, which costs about 217 Euros. The coach will drive you up the coast and let you be in one of the towns for about an hour. It also usually includes a stop at Pompeii. The other option is to do it yourself, which I recommend. For that first you will have to go to Naples and then to Amalfi. You can catch a train from Rome to Naples, there are frequent trains so it's very convenient. But it's best to book in advance for cheaper rates and suitable timings. From Naples there are 3 ways to get to Amalfi. 1. Hotel Pick-up: If you are planning to spend a night in Amalfi then you can ask your hotel to send a cab to pick you up, which costs about 100 Euros one way. 2. Self-Drive: You can hire a car and drive up, the drive is absolutely spellbinding. But then pick a hotel that offers free parking or you would end up spending a lot on parking. 3. Public Transport: This is what I did when I went and found it very easy and fun. I took the Circumvesuviana Train that goes from Naples and takes you to Sorrento. Then from Sorrento you take the Sita bus to whichever town you decide to stay in. I stayed in Positano. So I after the Sita bus dropped me in Positano, I had to take another internal Red bus to reach my hotel. It was quite easy and much cheaper than the hotel pick up. For your reference, the train from Naples to Sorrento cost me 4.10 Euros and the bus from Sorrento to Positano cost me 1.60 Euros. I've written quite extensively about my trip here - http://bit.ly/diy-amalfi-coast

I agree with the car comment! Take a car to Sorrento and stay in a hotel there (make sure your hotel has parking). From Sorrento you can go to Capri via boat (or hydrofoil - aliscafo) and you can either take the bus to the Amalfi Coast (the bus ride is an adventure on its own), or, take a hydrofoil from there. If you are going to have a long stay, Hertz has a rental office in Sorrento and you can drop off the car there. Once you are in Sorrento, you won't need it. The train ride from Rome is a beating... I don't recommend it.

Agree with Steven. In fact, I just saw a photo of Giada DeLaurentis taking this train. You can also hire a driver, if you're on a tight schedule. I know people who've had their hotel arrange that from the airport. I like the train.