Things to Do in Amalfi Coast

Three to four days gives you time to visit the main towns, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, without rushing, plus a day trip to Capri or a hike on the Path of the Gods. If you want to explore quieter villages like Atrani or Furore, or spend time on beaches, plan for five to seven days. Most visitors base themselves in one town and day-trip to others via ferry or bus.

The SITA Sud buses run along the SS163 coastal road connecting all major towns, but they're crowded in summer and schedules can be unreliable. Ferries operated by Travelmar and Alilauro are faster and more scenic from April to October, running between Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, and Capri. For reaching Ravello, which sits 365 meters above sea level, you'll need to take a bus or taxi from Amalfi town.

Not unless you're comfortable with narrow cliff roads, hairpin turns, and aggressive bus drivers, the SS163 averages just 3 meters wide in places. Parking is scarce and expensive (€5, 8/hour in Positano), and summer traffic can turn a 15-kilometer drive into an hour-long ordeal. If you do rent, book the smallest car available and pick it up in Sorrento or Salerno, not Naples.

Late April to early June and September to mid-October offer warm weather, open hotels and restaurants, and manageable crowds. July and August bring cruise ship masses, hotel rates double, and beaches are shoulder-to-shoulder. Winter (November, March) is quiet but many hotels and restaurants close, ferries don't run, and Ravello's gardens lose their color.

A casual lunch of pizza or pasta runs €12, 18 per person in towns like Amalfi or Praiano, rising to €18, 25 in Positano. Dinner at a mid-range trattoria with wine costs €35, 50 per person. Upscale spots in Ravello or Positano can reach €80, 120. For cheaper eats, look for friggitorie (fried seafood stands) or grab supplies at Deco or Conad supermarkets.

Positano offers the most well-known views and nightlife but comes with the highest prices and steepest hills, some hotels require climbing 100+ steps from the road. Amalfi town is more central for buses and ferries, flatter, and less expensive, though it lacks Positano's charm. Praiano and Atrani are quieter, cheaper alternatives with authentic village life. But fewer dining and shopping options.

Yes, but most beaches are pebbly or rocky, not sand, and space is tight. Positano's Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo charge €15, 25 for sunbed and umbrella rental. Free public areas shrink to narrow strips in summer. Maiori has the coast's longest sandy beach with more public access. Water quality is generally good. But check for algae advisories in August.

The main 7.8-kilometer route from Bomerano to Nocelle is moderate, mostly downhill with some rocky, uneven sections and a few steep drop-offs without railings. It takes 2.5 to 4 hours depending on pace and photo stops. Wear proper hiking shoes (not sandals), bring water, and start early in summer to avoid midday heat. From Nocelle, you'll descend 1,700 steps to Positano or catch a shuttle bus.

From May to September, yes, popular hotels in Positano and Ravello fill up months ahead, and top restaurants like Rossellinis or La Sponda require reservations weeks in advance. In shoulder season (April, October), a few days' notice usually works. Walk-in spots exist for casual meals. But expect waits at prime times. Always book ferries to Capri ahead in summer.

Naples Capodichino (NAP) is 65 kilometers away and the main gateway. From there, take the Curreri bus directly to Amalfi or Positano (€10, 90 minutes), or the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (€4.50, 70 minutes) and continue by SITA bus or ferry. Rome Fiumicino is a 3-hour drive but makes sense if you're starting elsewhere in Italy. Salerno is the nearest train station for visitors arriving from southern Italy.

Capri is the classic choice, ferries run from Positano and Amalfi in 25, 40 minutes (€20, 25 each way), though it's mobbed by cruise passengers from May to September. Pompeii and Herculaneum are 60, 90 minutes away via Circumvesuviana train from Sorrento. For something quieter, visit Paestum's Greek temples (1 hour south by train from Salerno) or hike the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve above Amalfi.

Comfortable walking shoes are essential, towns are built on hills with uneven stone steps and cobblestones everywhere. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (Italian pharmacies stock it but it's pricey), a sunhat, and a light layer for cooler evenings or air-conditioned restaurants. If hiking, pack proper trail shoes, not fashion sneakers. A small daypack works better than a large bag for navigating crowded buses and narrow streets.