Italy · Campania
Amalfi Coast
Split your stay between Positano or Praiano for the classic cliffside view and Amalfi town or Ravello for easier logistics, use Travelmar ferries between towns whenever the sea allows, and give a full day each to Capri and Pompeii.
Vue d'ensemble
The Amalfi Coast is 50 kilometers of vertical Mediterranean drama: pastel towns stacked into cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, terraced lemon groves, and a single coastal road (the SS163) that is as much the attraction as anything at the end of it. It is best treated as a road trip between towns, not a single-hotel holiday.
If you only take one thing from this guide: take the boat, not the car. The SS163 gridlocks in July and August, and the ferries between Salerno, Amalfi and Positano are faster, calmer and better views anyway.
Idéal pour
Couples · Honeymoons · Scenery and photography · Boat and ferry travel · Hikers
Itinéraire quotidien
4 to 6 days
Unlike a flat resort coastline, every town here is built into a cliff, so getting around by ferry or a hired driver matters as much as where you sleep. The reward is a UNESCO-protected landscape that has looked roughly like this for centuries.
Meilleure période pour visiter
Late May to June and September to early October give warm, swimmable seas without the July/August gridlock on the coastal road or the fully booked ferries and restaurants that peak season brings.
- May: Green terraces, lemon trees flowering, sea still cool for swimming.
- June: Warm sea, long days, before the worst of the summer road traffic.
- July to August: Peak heat, peak crowds, SS163 traffic can add hours to short drives.
- September: Warm sea, softer crowds; often the best value-for-experience month.
- October: Mild, quieter; ferry schedules and some hotels start winding down mid-month.
Choses utiles à savoir
- Ravello Festival (roughly July to September): classical concerts on the Belvedere of Villa Rufolo, overlooking the coast.
- Amalfi’s Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics (rotates among four historic cities; when hosted in Amalfi it draws large crowds).
Où séjourner
Positano
The postcard town: houses cascading down a cliff to a pebble beach. The most photogenic and most crowded base, with steep stairs everywhere and no flat ground.
Idéal pour: Couples · Honeymoons · The classic Amalfi Coast photo
Constant stairs (hundreds of steps from the upper town to the beach); the most expensive town on the coast.
Amalfi town
The coast’s historic capital and namesake, with the striped Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea, the old paper mills, and the best transport hub for ferries and buses in both directions.
Idéal pour: First-time visitors · Logistics · History
Busy with day-trippers off boats and buses in the middle of the day.
Ravello
Perched 350 meters above the sea, quieter and cooler than the coastal towns, with two of the region’s great gardens (Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone) and the summer Ravello Festival.
Idéal pour: Views without the coastal crowds · Gardens · A calmer evening base
No direct beach access; a bus or taxi ride down to the water.
Praiano
A quieter, less built-up cliff town between Positano and Amalfi, with some of the coast’s best sunset viewpoints and a more residential, less touristy feel.
Idéal pour: Couples wanting Positano views without Positano prices · Sunsets · A calmer base
Fewer restaurants and shops than Positano or Amalfi; a car or bus is needed for most evenings out.
Minori and Maiori
The coast’s value towns: flatter streets, longer sandy-ish beaches, and noticeably lower prices, a short ferry or bus ride from Amalfi and Ravello.
Idéal pour: Families · Value · Longer beach time
Less dramatic scenery than Positano or Praiano; fewer high-end restaurants.
Où dormir
Le Sirenuse
luxury · Positano
Idéal pour: A landmark Positano stay · Honeymoons · La Sponda restaurant
- A former private villa (opened as a hotel in 1951) with the classic Positano cliffside view
- La Sponda, its candlelit restaurant, is one of the coast’s best
- Genuinely central to Positano’s stairs and lanes
- Among the most expensive hotels on the coast
- Books out many months ahead for summer
- Positano’s stairs apply to guests too; not easy with heavy luggage or mobility issues
Hotel Santa Caterina
luxury · Amalfi town
Idéal pour: Couples · A Michelin-starred dinner on site · Sea-level access via a private lift
- Family-run by the Gambardella family since 1880
- Glicine restaurant holds a Michelin star
- A private lift and elevator down to its own seafront pool and cabanas
- A 10 to 15 minute walk from the center of Amalfi town itself
- Formal, traditional style rather than minimalist or modern
Belmond Hotel Caruso
luxury · Ravello
Idéal pour: Ravello’s clifftop calm · An infinity pool over the coastline · A quieter luxury base above the crowds
- Set in an 11th-century former palace with dramatic clifftop gardens
- One of the most photographed infinity pools on the coast
- Ravello’s calmer pace compared to Positano or Amalfi
- No direct beach access; the sea is a drive or bus ride below
- Very high price point even by Amalfi Coast standards
Casa Angelina
design · Praiano
Idéal pour: Adults-only quiet · Minimalist design lovers · A less touristy base with Positano-level views
- An all-white, minimalist design rare on this coast of majolica tile and pastel facades
- Adults-only (12 and up), genuinely quiet
- Praiano’s lower prices and lighter crowds than Positano next door
- Seasonal, open only April through October
- Fewer restaurants and shops within walking distance than Positano or Amalfi
Hotel Bonadies
value · Ravello
Idéal pour: Ravello on a more moderate budget · A historic building without a luxury price tag · Families
- A 13th-century former convent turned family-run four-star hotel, run by the same family for over 140 years
- Central Ravello location on Piazza Fontana Moresca
- Pool and terrace with coastal views at a fraction of the neighboring luxury hotels’ rates
- Simpler rooms than Ravello’s luxury properties
- Still requires a bus or taxi down to the sea, like all of Ravello
Expériences essentielles
Costiera Amalfitana (UNESCO)
The entire coastline is a UNESCO World Heritage Site: 11,231 hectares across 15 municipalities, terraced with citrus groves, olive orchards and vineyards.
Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea, Amalfi
The striped Arab-Norman cathedral dominating Amalfi’s main square, reached by a steep staircase; the crypt holds relics of St Andrew.
Villa Rufolo, Ravello
A 13th-century villa and garden whose Belvedere terrace hosts the summer Ravello Festival concerts, overlooking the coastline.
Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity
A historic garden estate whose marble-balustraded Terrazza dell’Infinito is one of the most photographed viewpoints on the whole coast.
Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods)
An 8km clifftop trail between Bomerano and Nocelle with sweeping views over the coast toward Capri; always open and free.
Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto)
A partly sea-flooded cave near Conca dei Marini where light filters underwater to turn the interior a glowing emerald green; discovered in 1932.
Gastronomie
- Scialatielli ai frutti di mare: A thick, hand-cut local pasta invented on this coast, tossed with mixed seafood.
- Delizia al limone: A dome-shaped sponge cake filled and glazed with lemon cream; the coast’s signature dessert.
- Colatura di alici: An amber anchovy extract from Cetara, a direct descendant of ancient Roman garum, used to season pasta.
- Sfusato Amalfitano lemons: The elongated local lemon variety behind the region’s limoncello and lemon desserts.
- Limoncello: The lemon liqueur made along this coast, served ice-cold after dinner.
Dinner runs from about 8pm; many restaurants are seasonal and close completely from November to March. Booking ahead in July and August is close to essential at the well-known places.
Où manger
Da Vincenzo
institutionOpened by grandfather Vincenzo in 1958, now run by his grandson; a steady, unpretentious counterpoint to Positano’s pricier tourist-facing spots.
Dernière mise à jour 2026-07-15
Ristorante Marina Grande
institutionBegan as a seaside bar in 1918 and sits directly on Amalfi’s main beach, specializing in fish-based dishes.
Dernière mise à jour 2026-07-15
Levers de soleil
Ravello’s Belvedere (Villa Rufolo terrace area)
Facing east and 350 meters up, Ravello catches clean early light over the Gulf of Salerno well before the coastal towns below wake up.
April to October
Couchers de soleil
Praiano’s Church of San Gennaro terrace
Praiano faces west and is widely considered the best sunset town on the coast, with an open sea horizon unblocked by the next headland.
April to October · The sun drops directly into the sea here rather than behind a headland, unlike Positano.
Terrazza dell’Infinito, Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
The marble-balustraded Terrace of Infinity looks out over the whole gulf; a quieter, more formal sunset than the coastal towns.
April to October · Villa Cimbrone gardens have posted opening hours; check the last-entry time before sunset visits.
Fornillo Beach, Positano
A quieter beach one headland over from Positano’s main Spiaggia Grande, with the town and cliffs lit up as the sun drops behind Capri.
May to September
Excursions d'une journée
Capri
A boat trip to the glamorous island across the bay: the Blue Grotto sea cave, the Piazzetta, and the chairlift up to Monte Solaro for a view over the whole gulf.
About 30 to 50 minutes by ferry from Positano or Amalfi · Full day
Pompeii
The excavated Roman city buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD, reachable by the Circumvesuviana/EAV train line that also serves Sorrento.
About 1 to 1.5 hours combining the coastal bus or ferry to Sorrento with the EAV train · Full day
Ravello and Scala loop (if not already staying there)
For those based on the coastal strip, a half-day up to Ravello for Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and, for the more adventurous, the older hill town of Scala just beyond it.
About 25 to 40 minutes by bus from Amalfi · Half day
Itinéraire quotidien
Five days on the Amalfi Coast: towns, boats and one island
Two or three nights on the coastal strip (Positano or Praiano), one or two in Ravello or Amalfi town, moving by ferry wherever possible.
- 1
Arrival and Positano
relaxedArrive via Naples/Salerno and transfer by ferry or private driver to Positano.Lunch on arrival near Spiaggia Grande.Walk Positano’s stairs and lanes; a swim at Fornillo Beach.Fornillo Beach as the light drops behind Capri.Dinner at Da Vincenzo.A slow evening walk through town.Ferry from Salerno or Naples avoids the SS163 traffic on arrival day.Estimation: If seas are rough, arrive by SITA Sud bus or private driver instead.
- 2
Path of the Gods
fullBus to Bomerano and hike the Sentiero degli Dei toward Nocelle.A packed lunch or a stop in Nocelle.Descend into Positano; recover with a swim.Praiano’s San Gennaro terrace, a short taxi or bus ride.Seafood dinner in Praiano.Quiet night, legs earned it.Bus up to the trailhead, walk down; no car needed.Estimation: Shorten the hike by starting from Nocelle instead of Bomerano.
- 3
Amalfi and the Emerald Grotto
moderateFerry to Amalfi town; the Cattedrale di Sant’Andrea.Lunch at Ristorante Marina Grande on the beach.Stop at the Grotta dello Smeraldo in Conca dei Marini en route or by boat.Amalfi’s harbor front as boats come in.Dinner in Amalfi town.A gelato walk along the Amalfi waterfront.Travelmar ferry between Positano and Amalfi; check the timetable both ways.Estimation: Skip the grotto if the sea is choppy; it closes in rough conditions.
- 4
Ravello
moderateBus up to Ravello; Villa Rufolo’s gardens and Belvedere.Lunch in Ravello’s main piazza.Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity.The Terrace of Infinity itself, if opening hours allow.Dinner in Ravello, a calmer pace than the coast below.A Ravello Festival concert if the dates align.SITA Sud bus from Amalfi; no car needed.Estimation: Add nearby Scala for a quieter, less-visited hill town.
- 5
Capri day trip and departure
fullEarly ferry to Capri; the Blue Grotto if the sea cooperates.Lunch in Anacapri or the Piazzetta.Chairlift up Monte Solaro for the panorama, then the ferry back.Final dinner back on the coast.Departure or an early night before a morning transfer.Book the Capri ferry in advance in peak season; it sells out.Estimation: Swap Capri for a slower final day in Minori and Maiori if boat travel is not appealing.
Se déplacer
- Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main gateway, about 1 to 1.5 hours by car or bus to the coast.
- Trains run from Rome and Naples to Salerno or Sorrento, both of which connect onward to the coast by ferry or SITA Sud bus.
- Salerno and Sorrento are the two main ferry gateways onto the coast itself.
- Travelmar fast ferries connect Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, Praiano-adjacent stops, and other towns; the fastest and most scenic way to move between towns.
- SITA Sud buses run the length of the SS163 between Sorrento and Salerno via Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, Minori and Maiori; buy tickets before boarding at a tobacconist, not on the bus.
- The EAV (Circumvesuviana) train links Naples, Herculaneum, Pompeii and Sorrento, useful for combining the coast with those sites.
Choses utiles à savoir
- · Renting a car and self-driving the SS163 in July or August, when it can gridlock for hours.
- · Not checking ferry schedules for sea conditions; Travelmar routes can be cancelled or reduced in rough weather.
- · Underestimating how many stairs a "short walk" in Positano or Ravello actually involves.
Budget
| Bas | Attendu | Confortable | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Style d'hébergement / par nuit | 100 € | 220 € | 500 € |
| Style gastronomique / par jour | 30 € | 60 € | 130 € |
| Transport local / par jour | 10 € | 25 € | 60 € |
| Estimation / par jour | 5 € | 20 € | 45 € |
Estimation · EUR · 2026-07-15. Accommodation is per room per night (two sharing) and runs higher than most of Italy due to limited supply on the cliffs. Local transport "comfortable" assumes some private driver transfers rather than only ferries and buses. Shoulder-season figures; July/August runs meaningfully higher.
Choses utiles à savoir
Questions fréquemment posées
How many days do you need on the Amalfi Coast?
Four to six days lets you split between the coastal strip and Ravello, with a day trip to Capri or Pompeii. Fewer than four means picking one town and staying put.
What is the best town to stay in on the Amalfi Coast?
Positano for the classic view and atmosphere (at a price), Praiano for similar views with fewer crowds and lower cost, or Amalfi town and Ravello for easier logistics and calmer evenings.
When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
Late May through June and September into early October: warm sea, thinner crowds, and far less SS163 traffic than July and August.
Do you need a car on the Amalfi Coast?
No, and in peak season a car is often a disadvantage. Travelmar ferries and SITA Sud buses cover the coast; a private driver is a reasonable middle ground for transfers.
Is the Amalfi Coast good for a honeymoon?
Yes, it is one of the classic honeymoon coastlines in Europe: Positano and Praiano in particular are built around sunset views, and Ravello adds a quieter, more formal alternative for part of the stay.
Sources (4)
- Costiera Amalfitana is a UNESCO World Heritage site · unesco · 2026-07-15
- Campania regional tourism overview, attractions and practical information · tourism-board · 2026-07-15
- Travelmar ferry network and timetables across the Amalfi Coast · ferry · 2026-07-15
- Pompeii Archaeological Park official visitor information · official · 2026-07-15
