Amalfi Coast: Cliffside Villages & Lemon-Scented Days
Three perfect days from Positano's pastel stacks to Ravello's garden terraces
Trip Overview
This 72-hour loop hugs the coast's most dramatic stretch: Positano's vertical maze of boutiques and staircases, Amalfi's thousand-year-old cathedral piazza, and Ravello's hilltop villas suspended between sky and sea. You'll travel by ferry, local bus, and foot, timing market mornings to avoid cruise crowds and sunset aperitivo to catch the golden hour. Expect steep climbs, lemon granita breaks, and nightly anchovy pasta eaten while watching fishing boats bob below.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Positano Vertical: Steps, Sand & Sunset Spritz
Where to Stay Tonight
Lower Positano near Spiaggia Grande (Casa Buonocore guesthouse)
5-minute walk uphill from the beach; avoids the 400-step climb others face at night
Amalfi Town: Cathedral Steps, Paper Mills & Lemon Delights
Where to Stay Tonight
Amalfi historic center (Hotel Lidomare, 14th-century palazzo)
Inside the pedestrian maze—no uphill climbs and 30-second walk to morning cappuccino
Ravello Heights: Villa Gardens & Infinity Terrace Views
Where to Stay Tonight
Amalfi (bus back down) (Same as night 2)
Avoids lugging bags up and down; last bus leaves Ravello at 10:30 pm
Practical Information
Getting Around
Ferries run April-October and are faster than the twisty SS163 road. Buy a 3-day Coop Sant'Andrea ferry pass (€36) or unlimited SITA bus pass (€22). Buses fill at each terminus—board in Positano at Chiesa Nuova, not the harbor, to get a seat. Taxis between towns cost €80-120—agree price before getting in.
Book Ahead
Ferry pass, Ravello concert tickets (May-Sept), and any cliff-side restaurant for sunset (Da Adolfo is first-come-first-served).
Packing Essentials
Non-slip sandals for pebble beaches, light sweater for Ravello's 1,100 ft altitude, portable phone charger (Google Maps drains fast on cliff roads), and cash—many tabacchi and beach bars are cash-only.
Total Budget
$520 for 3 days including transit, food, and activities (excluding hotels)
Customize Your Trip
Budget Version
Stay in Agerola above Praiano where hostels run €35 dorms. Hike the Path of the Gods for free views, picnic with €5 mozzarella sandwiches from Delicatessen Da Franca, and stick to sfusato lemonade stands instead of café terraces.
Luxury Upgrade
Book junior suite at Le Sirenuse in Positano with private terrace hot tub. Charter a 32-ft Gozzo from Amalfi to Capri, lunch at Conca del Soglio in Nerano, then helicopter transfer back to Naples. Add private driver for €550/day.
Family-Friendly
Base in Amalfi—flat center, stroller-friendly promenade. Swap Da Adolfo boat for the larger Lucibello ferry to Fornillo beach where loungers have shade. Villa Rufolo offers family ticket (2 adults + kids under 12 for €12) and early evening gelato bribe keeps kids happy while parents enjoy the view.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Amalfi Coast