🍋 ItalyAmalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is thirteen towns wedged into forty-odd kilometres of cliff on the south side of the Sorrentine peninsula: pastel Positano, the old maritime republic of Amalfi, Ravello's gardens hanging in the air above it, and lemon terraces the whole way. Steep, small, and best taken by boat.
Where to stay
Positano
The postcard town — pastel houses stacked down a ravine to the beach, linen and made-to-measure sandals in the shops, and staircases where other places have streets.
Amalfi & Atrani
The coast's namesake harbour town: flatter, busier, the best-connected for buses and ferries, with tiny Atrani a few minutes' walk around the headland.
Ravello
Up the hill behind Amalfi at around 350 metres, with clifftop villa gardens, a summer music festival, and far more quiet than the towns below.
Praiano, Maiori & the quieter towns
Between and beyond the famous two — sunset views west from Praiano, longer beaches at Minori and Maiori, anchovies at Cetara, and prices that make sense.
Don't miss
Ride the Amalfi Drive
The SS163 hangs off the cliff from Vietri sul Mare to Positano on hairpins barely wide enough for two buses; take the SITA bus and sit on the sea side rather than driving it.
Walk the Path of the Gods
The high trail from Bomerano to Nocelle looks down on the whole coast — about three to four hours, then a long staircase or a short bus down into Positano.
Ravello's two villa gardens
Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone open terraces straight out over the water; Rufolo's garden stage carries the summer festival concerts.
Amalfi's cathedral and cloister
A striped, mosaic-fronted front at the top of a wide, steep staircase, with the Arab-Norman Cloister of Paradise alongside.
A day on Capri
Seasonal boats cross from Positano in about half an hour and from Amalfi in about an hour; go early, and take the bus up to Anacapri for the calmer half of the island.
Lemons, anchovies and ceramics
The coast's huge sfusato lemons turn into limoncello and granita, Cetara lands the anchovies behind colatura, and Vietri sul Mare paints the tiles you see on every doorway.
When to go
May–June and September into early October bring warm days, running ferries, and thinner crowds than the July–August peak, when the coast road crawls. Boats run roughly April to October, and much of the coast closes from November through March.
Good to know
Is Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast?
No. Sorrento faces Naples and Vesuvius from the other side of the peninsula, and the coast proper starts over the hill at Positano. It's still a common base, because it has the train line and the ferries, but budget for the transfer at both ends of every day.
Do I need a car?
No, and most people are happier without one. The coast road is narrow and slow in season, parking is scarce, and the coast runs alternating licence-plate days whose dates are set fresh each year. SITA buses and the seasonal ferries reach every town, and the boat is the nicer ride.
Which town should I stay in?
Positano for the view and the glamour, and for the most steps; Amalfi for a flatter centre and the easiest bus and ferry connections; Ravello for quiet and gardens; Minori or Maiori for a real beach and better value.
How many days do I need?
Four or five to settle into one town, walk a trail, get up to Ravello, and take a boat day. A week is comfortable if you're adding Capri, Pompeii, or Naples.
Ready to plan Amalfi Coast?
Describe your trip in a sentence and Ollin builds a real, day-by-day itinerary, free.
Plan my Amalfi Coast trip