Tourists Can Get Around Italy In A Unique & Thrilling Way With This Transportation Method

You've really loved Sorrento. Who wouldn't? This hilly seaside city in southern Italy is one of the most photogenic in the world, and you love losing yourself in its narrow streets and alleyways. You've sampled the wine and seafood and purchased gifts for friends at little negozi. Now you want to explore the region, because the Amalfi Coast is full of colorful towns, and there's so much to enjoy among these sun-bleached cliffs and beaches.

How do you plan to get there, though? Will you drive a rental car along breakneck roads? Will you risk motion sickness in a slow-moving bus? They say that a scooter is the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast, and it'll save you time and money, but what if the prospect of two motorized wheels feels just a little precarious? Sorrento stands near the very tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula, so you'll have to backtrack along twisting highways and cragged seashore, or else hop the ferry to Naples.

Or maybe you could take a helicopter. This may sound crazy, but Uber — the same Uber that pioneered ride-sharing — added boat and helicopter service to its app in June 2025, specifically in Sorrento. With the same ease that you reserve a trip to the airport, users can chart a flight plan from this popular city on the Tyrrhenian Sea. "Uber Copter" will score you an aerial commute over the hills of Campania, serving locations across southern Italy. Meanwhile, with Uber Boat, a motorboat will carry you across the waves to the dock of your choosing.

Uber Copter (literally) launched its services in 2019, not in Italy but in New York City. The concept was to sidestep Big Apple traffic to JFK International Airport by flying over the city's sprawling suburbs. Unlike Uber's ground vehicles, which could be any car the contracted driver happens to own, Uber choppers bore the company's logo. The service received mixed reviews, but many appreciated the novelty, affordability, and spectacular views.

So why would Uber test out this service in Italy? Uber's precise motivations are hard to know, but the Amalfi Coast does pose special challenges for travelers: The intercity roads are narrow and winding, as they trace Campania's jigsaw coastline. Helicopters are well-suited to photography, and it's hard to imagine a more picturesque landscape. It's no secret that Italians are famous for their style and flair — and inventors of the concept of "sprezzatura," or "effortless grace" — and strong fashion sense is the secret to dressing like an Italian local on your trip to the Amalfi Coast. In short, arriving at your destination in a private chopper is the most dramatic entrance most of us can imagine. "Oh, that?" you might say, flipping a scarf over your shoulder. "That's just my Uber."

Boats are much more common along the Amalfi Coast, and plenty of travelers book boat tours and fishing charters in these gorgeous turquoise waters. You can expect to find piers and marinas on the waterfront of each town. Still, a private boat you can request on your phone is still a new concept, especially for point-to-point transit.

Cool, where do you sign up? Well, these options aren't quite as straightforward as the four-wheeled Ubers we're all used to hailing. The pilot program is only available on weekends, so you won't be able to fly across Italy for most of the week. You have to reserve your flight or boat ride at least 48 hours in advance, and all itineraries can be cancelled due to weather, which is still a factor in this famously blue-skied region.

You can take up to six people, but make sure to check luggage limits; these helicopters are small and small-craft pilots must worry about weight. Flights are reported to cost about $290 per person, which isn't bad for a scenic aerial journey, but many travelers will seek more economical options. The good news is that Uber will provide ground transport from anywhere in Sorrento to the company's private helipad.

Uber Boat allows up to 12 people, so large parties can hop aboard, and modest food and drink are provided. This initial round of service will only last through August 24, 2025, but if enough people sign up, it could conceivably come back next summer. While scoping out the region for places to visit, consider this little hidden gem on the Amalfi Coast, a total paradise without huge crowds.