Things to Do in Amalfi Coast in October
October weather, activities, events & insider tips
October Weather in Amalfi Coast
Is October Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing drops by 30-40% compared to peak summer - you'll find four-star hotels in Positano around €180-250 per night instead of €400-plus, and restaurants actually have tables without reservations made weeks ahead
- The Mediterranean averages 21°C (70°F) in October, which is still warm enough for swimming without the oppressive August heat. Beaches are maybe 20% as crowded as summer, so you can actually spread out a towel at Fornillo Beach without playing human Tetris
- October harvest season means agriturismi are processing fresh lemons, olives, and grapes. You'll see actual production happening at farms, not just staged tourist demonstrations, and the new olive oil starts appearing in restaurants by mid-month
- The light in October is genuinely spectacular for photography - lower angle sun creates that golden-hour quality for most of the afternoon. Coastal hiking on the Path of the Gods is comfortable at 18-20°C (64-68°F) instead of the brutal 32°C (90°F) summer slogs
Considerations
- Ferry schedules start reducing in October - Capri connections drop from every 30 minutes to hourly by late month, and services to smaller beaches like Furore shut down entirely after mid-October. Some years they cancel completely by October 25th depending on sea conditions
- You're looking at about 10 rainy days across the month, and when it rains here, the steep terrain means flash flooding on coastal roads. SS163 between Positano and Amalfi closes maybe 2-3 times per October for rockslides, stranding tourists for hours
- Shorter daylight hours mean sunset around 6:15pm by late October - that's 2.5 fewer hours of usable day compared to July. Beach time realistically ends by 5pm when temperatures drop quickly, and some coastal restaurants close their terraces early
Best Activities in October
Path of the Gods Hiking
October is arguably the single best month for this 7.8 km (4.8 mile) ridge walk between Bomerano and Nocelle. Summer heat makes the exposed sections genuinely dangerous - I've seen tourists with heat exhaustion by 11am in August. October temperatures of 18-22°C (64-72°F) are perfect for the 3.5-hour trek, and autumn haze actually improves the views by softening the coastline below. The trail gets muddy after rain, so avoid the day after storms, but it dries quickly. You'll share the path with maybe 40-50 other hikers on weekdays instead of 200-plus in peak season.
Pompeii and Herculaneum Archaeological Sites
October weather transforms these exposed ruins from miserable to manageable. There's zero shade at Pompeii, and summer temperatures on those stone streets hit 35°C (95°F) with brutal sun reflection. October's 22°C (72°F) and occasional cloud cover make the 4-5 hours you need for Pompeii actually pleasant. Herculaneum is smaller but better preserved, and the covered boat sheds provide rain backup. Crowds drop by half after schools resume in September, so you can actually see the House of the Faun frescoes without elbowing through tour groups.
Amalfi Coast Boat Tours
The sea is calmer in October than September, oddly enough - summer thermal winds die down, and you get glassy morning conditions maybe 6-7 days per week. Water temperature is still 21°C (70°F), warm enough for swimming in grottoes without a wetsuit making you look like an anxious seal. Private boat charters drop to €500-700 for a full day (split among 6-8 people), compared to €900-1200 in summer. You'll have Emerald Grotto and Fjord of Furore practically to yourselves. That said, afternoon sea conditions can turn choppy, and tours cancel maybe 2-3 days per month for rough weather.
Ravello Villa Gardens and Concert Season
Ravello sits 365 m (1,197 ft) above sea level, which means it's about 3°C (5°F) cooler than coastal towns - perfect for October afternoons. Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo gardens are spectacular in autumn when bougainvillea is still blooming but the crowds have thinned to maybe 30% of summer levels. The Ravello Festival runs through early October with outdoor concerts on the Villa Rufolo terrace - sitting in those gardens at sunset with chamber music is genuinely special, not tourist-brochure nonsense. Gardens stay green through October, unlike the brown late-summer look.
Cooking Classes and Agriturismo Experiences
October is harvest month for olives and late-season vegetables, so cooking classes use genuinely fresh local ingredients instead of market-bought produce. You'll work with sfusato amalfitano lemons that are actually in season, and some agriturismi let you help with olive pressing if you time it right in late October. Classes typically run 3-4 hours including meal and wine, held in farmhouse kitchens with views. The cooler weather makes standing over pasta-making boards comfortable instead of sweaty. You're learning from nonnas who actually cook this way, not culinary school grads performing tradition.
Capri Day Trips
Capri in October is what Capri probably looked like before mass tourism - you can walk the Pizzolungo coastal path without queuing, and the Giardini di Augusto viewing platform isn't shoulder-to-shoulder. The Blue Grotto is hit-or-miss in October due to sea conditions and lower light angle, but when it's open, you'll wait 10 minutes instead of 90. Ferry rides are smoother than summer when loaded boats pound through waves, and the 50-minute crossing from Positano is usually calm in morning hours. Island temperatures run 2-3°C (4-5°F) warmer than mainland, so comfortable for full-day exploring.
October Events & Festivals
Ravello Festival Final Concerts
The summer-long festival wraps up in early October with final performances in Villa Rufolo gardens. These aren't tourist shows - you're getting legitimate classical and chamber music with the Amalfi Coast as backdrop. The October concerts tend to be smaller, more intimate affairs compared to July's orchestra performances. Worth timing your trip around if you care about music, otherwise skip it.
Sagra della Castagna in Tramonti
Tramonti villages in the mountains above Amalfi hold chestnut festivals in mid-October when harvest comes in. You'll find roasted chestnuts, chestnut flour pasta, and local wine that nobody exports because production is tiny. This is actual local festival, not staged for tourists - you might be the only foreigner there. Gets you into mountain villages most visitors never see.