The Amalfi coast is an incredible place to explore and however long you have to spend here, you won’t regret a single moment of your time. It’s noisy, always busy and unimaginably hot if you visit in summer, but everything else makes up for it. Quite frankly, there are so many things to do in Amalfi Coast that you will never get bored.
Amalfi is one of the most stunning, sensory experiences we’ve ever had! When we visited, we spent just over a week exploring this wonderful area stretching from around Vico Equense to Salerno, and passing through areas like Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, to name a few.
On this trip, we learned a thing or two about how to have the best experience on the Amalfi Coast and the main things that can take it from being stressful and unforgiving to cool and collected. This mainly revolves around planning your main activities so that you can focus on enjoying your days that much more.
Our guide below goes through some of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast, and whether this is your first time exploring this staggering coastline or you’ve been before, we know the experiences we’ve included below will give you a great starting point to plan an amazing trip you’ll remember for years to come.
Planning your Trip to the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is a stunning area of coastline that is characterized by towering mountains inland and picturesque views out to the sea. The area is iconic and if you’ve done any research already, you’ll surely have seen pictures of stunning pastel colored buildings steeping into the hillsides high above the towns.
The Amalfi Coast and the Naples area is well known for their stunning food – which focuses on fresh ingredients, robust flavors and enjoys a good kick of chili. The Amalfi Coast is actually a fairly large area, so planning where to go, where to stay and how to get there to have the best experience can be a bit daunting. From our experience, we’ve broken it down for you below to help you plan a trip that runs smoothly!
Where is the Amalfi Coast?
The Amalfi Coast is in the South of Italy, not far from nearby city Naples. As you’ll see from our map below (which we’ve drawn a driving route along), the Amalfi Coast stretches from around Vico Equense through to Salerno.
This Amalfi Coast Road runs specifically from Sorrento to Salerno along the SS163 (Amalfitana). However, there is a lot to see and do along the coast before Sorrento – in fact, some of the best things to do in Amalfi Coast are along this stretch and is pretty stunning to say the least (our suggestions below highlight some of these).
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast?
From Rome
If travelling from Rome, it’s about a 267km/165 miles journey to Sorrento. You can drive it in roughly 3 hours and includes toll roads. These are never really that expensive, but be mindful that some of the toll roads only accept cash – so have Euro’s available.
You can also take the train – to do this, you’ll get a train from Rome to Naples and then in Naples you’ll change to get on a train to Sorrento. This journey takes on average just under 2 hours and runs very frequently throughout the day.
From Naples
If you’re flying into Italy exclusively to visit the Amalfi Coast, we would recommend Naples as this gives you an excellent starting point (and is well worth exploring in its own right). From Naples, you can drive to Sorrento in just over an hour usually. This is roughly 53km/32 miles.
You can also take the train from Naples to Sorrento which takes just under 2 hours. There are trains pretty frequently throughout the day and span out into the early evening.
By Car
It’s totally possible to travel around the Amalfi Coast by car – and this is what we did for most of our trip (apart from when we took some boat tours – more on that later). We found that a car was a great way to explore because we wanted to check out some areas that were a bit less accessible by train or boat and this gave us the ease to do that. Whether a car is essential or not will also depend on where your accommodation is and how accessible it is!
You can easily hire a rental car from Naples airport and drive down, which is pretty easy. We had heard stories that the Amalfi Coast Road was scary, but we’ve had quite a lot of experience of driving in Italy already, so were not really phased by it. Likewise, we have quite a lot of experience driving on mountain passes. If this is you, then you should be fine.
If you do rent a car, keep in mind the number plate system entry for the Amalfi Coast Road that runs at certain parts of the year (more on that below when we go into detail of driving the Amalfi Coast Road). We’d also really recommend you rent a small car; we can’t stress this enough!
Many of the roads are quite narrow and you will need to be able to dive in and out of traffic easily, so having a car with a small turning circle and footprint makes all the difference. When we arrived at our accommodation, we also had to navigate in and out of this tiny alley every single day. A little bit hair raising, but we did it thanks to having a small car. With anything bigger, we would really have struggled. This is a fairly regular occurrence on the Amalfi Coast.
By Train
The train network through Europe is pretty amazing and it’s really easy to get to the Amalfi Coast by train. This is pretty perfect if you feel like you want to stay put in one town or area for a number of days. This would work well if you wanted to head to Sorrento and then from there you could take a boat out to Capri and also Amalfi.
From Naples, you can catch a train in roughly 2 hours and there are plenty of trains heading that way through the day. This is a pretty reasonably priced option – just be sure that wherever you’re staying is within easy reach of the town as there are a lot of hills and stairs on the Amalfi Coast!
By Bus
It’s pretty inexpensive to travel around the Amalfi Coast by bus and the company that runs the network around this area is called Sita. There are a number of buses a day from Naples airport to Salerno which takes about 90 minutes and is very inexpensive (around 6 Euros at time of writing).
Once in the Amalfi Coast, you can then take further buses. You can check the Sita website for timetables, but this is only in Italian. We’d generally say to avoid traveling by bus if you can as they can be very delayed in the traffic, especially in summer.
Things to be Aware of on the Amalfi Coast
From our time on in the Amalfi Coast, we learnt a thing or two about what to be aware of to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Below, we’ve gone through some of the key things we picked up on and experienced in more detail:
Traffic: If you do find yourself visiting in summer (sometimes you might not have any other option) you’ll need to be happy with the idea of traffic if driving. The Amalfi Coast Road is another level in July and August, and you will need to plan your visit carefully as there are driving restrictions in place in the summer months (more on this below in our driving the Amalfi Coast Road section). You’ll also need your wits about you at all times – driving here is fairly unpredictable.
Extreme heat: The heat in Italy hits differently – you will be a hot, sweaty mess extremely quickly if you visit in June, July, August and the first half of September before temperatures shave off a little. Even if you’re used to hot summers in the US for example, nothing can quite prepare you for the heat in Italy. If you think we’re exaggerating, we’re not. So, plan wisely.
Steps and hills: Sadly, the Amalfi Coast isn’t the most accessible place. There are a lot of hills and steps in pretty much all the places we visited. One that had some exceptions here was Amalfi itself. If you want to spend any time on the beach in places like Sorrento, Positano etc., then steps will become a part of your life.
Amalfi is a good option for a more accessible trip as the beach and the town are pretty much on the same level, but it isn’t fully accessible. There are lots of cobbled and uneven surfaces pretty much everywhere.
If you aren’t too fussed on the beach and want to enjoy the views from above and check out the towns, you can still have an amazing trip. We actually didn’t spend that much time on the beach when we visited and focused mostly on the views and looking around and had the most amazing time. But if you just want as beach trip, then keep this in mind.
Parking: The towns in and around Amalfi Coast get very busy and there are fairly limited options when it comes to parking. Because this is the case, the parking garages that are offered price gauge because they can.
If you plan to stay in one place for most of your trip, you may find it better to get the train and not rent a car at all. For example, parking for a whole day in Amalfi itself costs around 30 Euros – so that quickly adds up over a few days, especially as most of the town is pedestrianized and you won’t need your car.
Many hotels in the town centers also don’t have parking so you should research this well in advance because if you rent a car, you may find yourself parking quite a way from your accommodation. Likewise, many of the villas and accommodation options snugly located on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast Road are a long way from where you’ll park.
Be prepared to climb a lot of steps and if this is an issue, research your accommodation and check this before booking. We are so glad we did this, as it allowed us to book an apartment that was a very short walk from our car. It was up a steep staircase with a never-ending amount of stairs, but still better than some of the other options we’d seen!
Narrow alleyways: Depending on your accommodation, check in advance how you get to your parking and if there are any narrow alleyways you’ll need to navigate through to get to your home for the night. We were so thankful we’d rented a small car when we arrived at our Airbnb, and we found we had to go through a tiny alley to get to the parking. The small car we’d rented barely fit! So, a small car is always a good idea!
ZTL: If you’ve never been to Italy before and are planning to drive, then you may be unfamiliar with ZTL – which means Zona Traffico Limitato – or a limited traffic zone. There are certain areas, mostly centers or historical areas which are restricted to certain types of traffic and usually just allow residents and registered vehicles through at certain times.
These can be spotted when you see a road sign with a red outline circle and it’ll say ZTL on it. They usually (though not always) say the times they’re in operation. They aren’t always obvious until you’re nearly in one and so we’d advise that you just get your head around if there are any ZTL’s in the area you’re going.
If you enter a ZTL, you will be fined, and this isn’t small at roughly 50 Euros, so it’s best to make sure you follow the rules. Though the signage doesn’t always make this easy. Your rental company should tell you about them too, so ask if you need further clarification.
When is the Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast?
Spring
Spring can be a lovely time to visit the Amalfi Coast as temperatures are perfect for going hiking and seeing a side of some of the towns that are very busy with tourists in summer. You will also find it less congested.
Between March and late May is a great time to visit but be mindful you may see some rain. Temperatures will be a warm 15-20 degrees Celsius or so. Easter weekend is always busy though, and this is one of the busiest times before summer season.
You may also find that earlier in the season, some of the main tourist infrastructure, like a lot of cafes, will close, especially in more touristy areas. So, this can be a good time to stay in areas like Castellammare di Stabia.
Summer
Summer can be overwhelming with heat (well over 30 degrees Celsius) and is exceptionally busy with tourists. Even though we visited in July, we would not do this again (but this was when we had a chance, so we took it). If we visited again, we would either visit in May or October.
It is extremely hot between the months of June and September, not to mention busy with tourists. It’s too hot really to go hiking and you will swelter as soon as you step outside. The heat just hits differently here. Though if you like it hot and want a very relaxed time by the pool or on the beach then it may be perfect for you.
Fall/Autumn
Fall/Autumn can be one of the best times to visit the Amalfi Coast as the temperatures have shaved off to more manageable numbers, the crowds have calmed down and you can breathe that little bit easier. We were told that October is an amazing time to visit to go hiking, see the towns when they’re a little bit more locals focused and enjoy the coast road and all it has to offer along the way in a much more relaxed way. We’re talking late September through to the beginning of November here.
Winter
Winter isn’t really advised that much for visiting the Amalfi Coast as it can be quite overcast, cold (by local standards) and rainy. Between the months of mid-November through to early April are best to avoid. However, if you want something a little moodier, you can get some great deals in this time. Be mindful to stay somewhere a little less touristy or cook at home as most of the tourist hotspots will be closed in this time.
How Long Do You Need to Visit the Amalfi Coast?
We stayed around the Amalfi Coast for just over a week and we felt this was a good amount of time, especially visiting in July as we were ready for a breather by the time we left. Had we visited in the fall/autumn, we would be tempted to say if you really want to do Amalfi properly, to give yourself 10 days or so.
This would allow you to see the main sights at a really relaxed pace, spend time in various towns and also take some boat trips out to places like Capri. With longer, you don’t need to rush as much.
4-5 days is your absolutely minimum. Anything less than this and you will feel rushed. 4-5 days would still be a rush, but it is doable if you understand that you won’t be able to see and do everything. We’re still kind of amazed we fitted in everything we’ve suggested below in just over a week!
Where to Stay in the Amalfi Coast?
Where the best places to stay in Amalfi Coast are will be based on what you plan to do with your time. If you want something that is a little bit more relaxed and you want to spend more of your time in town, on the beach and don’t really want to travel around then Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno may be your best bets.
However, these can get expensive, especially if you’re visiting in summer and can get picked over very quickly (especially if you want an option where you don’t need a car or a long drive). So, if this is the plan, get something booked with as much notice as possible.
If you need to keep things a little cheaper, consider places like Castellammare di Stabia. We stayed here for quite a lot of our trip, and we found it was a great base. Not very far from places like Sorrento or Amalfi and a fraction of the price of some of the more touristy areas. You can easily get to Sorrento by train from Castellammare di Stabia in around 30 minutes with many trains a day.
This is a great option if you don’t want to be surrounded by tourists and busy all the time too, as Castellammare felt considerably less busy (relatively) than other places along the coast we visited. You could also look at Vico Equense too, which is still busy but less so than Sorrento.
The Very Best Things to do in the Amalfi Coast
There are some truly amazing things to do in Amalfi Coast and there really is something for everyone. From hiking and exploring on foot to touring the fantastic coast road by car. There are so many more options than these too – these are just some of the many things that we enjoyed when we visited the Amalfi Coast. This just scratches the surface though, and this should give you an idea of just what there is to do.
You can use our suggestions of tried and tested experiences below to help you plan your trip and we’ve tried to include as many helpful tips as possible to make sure it goes smoothly. With a little bit of planning, Amalfi is an amazing destination and a wonderful experience in amongst the loud, busy, unapologetic feel this place has. You won’t forget this place easily!
Watch our video below to get a look at some of our highlights along the Amalfi Coast, many of which are included below:
1. Tour the Amalfi Coast Road (Amalfi Drive)
If you have a car for your trip, one of the best things to do in Amalfi Coast is to drive along the coast road – it’s something you really need to experience! We found ourselves stopping as often as possible to take photographs when we did this and loved every second of it – it’s absolutely stunning. It’s crazy, busy and utterly overwhelming but it’s also amazing.
If you’re up for a long, windy road with very little in terms of straights along stunning cliffsides, then you’ll love the Amalfi Coast Road. The SS163 Amalfitana runs from Sorrento to Salerno. It can be very narrow in places, and can be extremely chaotic, but if you’ve got some experience of driving mountain passes, then you will be ok! Obviously, this will be based on your experience levels and confidence, but just be mindful of this as you need to try and keep your cool and be reactive at all times.
The views are mesmerizing, and you’ll be able to stop off along the way in the various towns, at the hillside shops and pull in spots to take in the views. You should give yourself a whole day for this as the traffic can make it very busy.
We only had the opportunity to make a visit to the Amalfi Coast in early July as this opportunity just came up and we couldn’t not. So, we did experience the coast road being very busy. However, it was manageable. There were some delays and traffic on route, but we didn’t find it too bad. Though we’re sure if we’d been there a week later in July and throughout August, it would be another issue entirely.
Depending on when you decide to visit, there may also be a license plate system in place to help ease congestion along the Amalfi Coast. This was introduced in 2023 and is regulated over the SS163 from Positano towards Vietri sul Mare and includes Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento, Sant’Angelo, Meta and Vico Equense.
This is done by using an alternating license plate system. If your vehicle’s license plate ends with an even number, you are forbidden to drive this route on even numbered days. If your license place ends with an odd number, you are forbidden to drive this route on odd numbered days.
This is in place in high traffic periods like summer or other holidays such as Easter. You can find information about this from the local authority in advance to help you plan and what exemptions are in place. The rules are usually valid from 10am until 6pm. This is usually in place for Easter weekend, from June until the end of September it’s active every weekend. For August it is usually active every day.
If you are staying in accommodation along the Amalfi Coast Road, you are allowed to get to your destination and leave as normal. But once you are there, you must abide the rules if visiting within these times. Here’s a map of the Amalfi Coast Road:
2. Visit the Amalfi Coast Towns
One of the things that makes the Amalfi Coast so stunning are all the little towns and villages dotted along the cliffsides. They are so unique; made up of buildings that are often painted gorgeous pastel shades that complement the coast line so beautifully you’ll feel as if you could burst.
Looking around some of these little towns (and sometimes bigger towns) is one of the top things to do in Amalfi Coast. Places like Amalfi, Salerno, Sorrento, Positano, Vico Equense and Castellammare di Stabia all have really different feels to them and are well worth your time.
We would spend some time just wandering around the streets and enjoying coffee in some of the cafes that adorn the towns, going and looking at the views of the coast and checking out some of the beaches, which often come with a lot of steps! None the less, there is always a lot to do and even just people watching is such a nice thing to do to relax.
If you can, it’s best to travel between some of these locations by ferry, or even by train, especially if you just plan to look at one town at a time. We found that parking became extremely expense, extremely fast and it was hard to find places to park. The ferries were much more enjoyable!
The ferries themselves aren’t particularly cheap, but it does cut out a lot of the hassle. For example, there are various ferries from Sorrento to Amalfi a day and it takes roughly 1.5 hours one way. We’d say this is a great idea if you’re planning to hop from place to place on your trip and want to stay in several places. You can find out more about the ferries here.
3. Eat World Class Italian and Napolitan Food
It is impossible to come to this area of Italy and not rave about the food – in fact it’s one of the main reasons we wanted to visit. Of course, Italy is well known for its iconic food, but the dishes here and the produce available are next level – we even feel a little emotional thinking about it!
One of the best things to do in Amalfi Coast is to get well acquainted with the food. If you can move away from some of the tourist hot spots in the main squares of the towns you’ll visit, you’ll find little trattorias offering the best Napolitan pizza you will try, exquisite pasta (try the lemon pasta and thank us later) and so much more. Get some gelato or sorbetto too, you won’t regret it!
If you have time, we would really recommend heading to a local supermarket or deli to just be blown away by all of the produce (we can’t stop thinking about the peaches) and the incredible ingredients you can buy. We stayed in Airbnb’s whilst we visited the Amalfi Coast and spent hours looking around the supermarkets finding incredible delights to buy and eat that evening.
Eating out around the Amalfi Coast can get expensive, but the portions are always huge. One thing we did to keep costs down was to eat a decent breakfast at home and then eat out at lunch depending on our plans. We’d always get one main, big dish to share and something smaller. Then we’d usually eat in our apartment for dinner.
If you have a special diet, such as being veggie, vegan etc., you may be surprised to hear you will actually be able to eat pretty well. As a vegan, you’ll find a lot in the supermarkets that’s good for you and in restaurants, will be able to order pizza without cheese. There’s actually a lot of traditional Napoli pizzas that don’t even have cheese. Lots of vegetarian pasta available as well, so you won’t go hungry!
4. Enjoy Agriturismo in the Heart of the Countryside
Italy really cares about food – this has been so obvious to us every single time we’ve visited. What’s more, there is a real attention to where food comes from and the processes that are used to create it.
We really wanted to check out some places that offered ‘agriturismo’ experiences on the Amalfi Coast. This type of experience allows visitors to learn about farm or specialist production areas and the restaurants involved can be very farm to table. There are plenty of places like this in Amalfi!
One such place we were really interested to visit was Agricola Fore Porta which is set in the hills that adorn the land down toward Amalfi itself. Their whole concept, in both their small guestrooms and restaurant is that you can taste foods and creations within zero km.
This place was fantastic and offered a really great way to get away from it all in the depths of nature and taste the best of the best when it comes to organic produce. The restaurant sits within a picturesque medieval ruin, and we think this is one of the most unique things to do in Amalfi Coast.
There are of course many other locations along the Amalfi Coast offering similar experiences, but Agricola Fore Porta is truly special. You will not be disappointed if you decide to include this in your trip to Amalfi!
5. Visit Sorrento
When deciding what things to do in Amalfi Coast, we were keen to visit Sorrento. When we visited, we loved it and lived up to its expectations. Whilst it is touristy, it isn’t quite on the same level as Amalfi itself and offers a more spacious spread to explore, but is also very much doable in a day, making it a perfect spot in our opinion.
Whilst the main streets are a wash of touristy shops offering herbs, spices, lemons and limoncello, head to some of the backstreets that surround, and you’ll find great restaurants that have traditional dishes as well as mixed up modern cuisine. Whatever you order, you won’t leave hungry.
One thing to keep in mind about Sorrento is that it’s very hilly – if you want to go down to the beach, there are a lot of steps at pretty much any point as the town sits right on a cliff. There were also a lot of areas of beaches that were reserved for local residents only, so we actually avoided the beaches in Sorrento and concentrated on the town.
It isn’t big and you can just wonder around taking in the scenes you’ll see and letting yourself get lost in the atmosphere. However, we’d particularly recommend going to Villa Communale to look at the stunning views of the coast from above. You can also take a lift down to the harbor/boardwalk area if you want to walk along the bottom, which you do have to pay for (but isn’t expensive – a couple of euros max).
6. Visit Amalfi
The Amalfi Coast takes its name from Amalfi Town itself, and whilst it has been pretty much taken over by tourist hotspots, we think it’s still worth visiting as it has some pretty iconic views from it! If arriving by car, parking can be difficult as there are few and far between places that fill up quickly in the summer months.
As a barometer, when we visited by car in July, it took us nearly one hour to find parking and was 30 euro for the day). So, if you can, visit via ferry as it will just make things less stressful for you!
Once in Amalfi, you can head up the main stretch into the closed to traffic street where you’ll find endless restaurants and little shops selling souvenirs, sorbet and more. However, this can feel a little underwhelming as it’s pretty ‘samey’ and whilst the streets are gorgeous, it just feels like a tourist trap.
We think though that some of the best things to do in Amalfi town are actually off from the main streets. Head down from Piazza Flavio Gioia, and toward the Amalfi Terminal where you’ll find walkways out to view the town from the coast back to the town. You’ll get some amazing photographs from here!
You’ll also spot some great beaches you can use around here which are perfect for soaking up the Italian sun. One of the things that’s great about the beaches around Amalfi is that it’s pretty much flat to get to. So, if you have mobility concerns and want to visit the beach on the Amalfi Coast, you may find Amalfi a good option for you.
Walk further up the harbor out of town to the West, and you’ll also find Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which serves great food with gorgeous views out to the harbor. Just down from there is also Lido delle Sirene, which is a private beach area you can pay to use. We found this spot perfect from the hustle and bustle of Amalfi.
7. Take in the Best Views of Capri
One of the highlights of any drive along certain parts of the Amalfi Coast or in various picturesque towns you’ll visit is the stunning view out to Capri, which is a smaller island that sits just off the coast.
Capri sits just off the peninsula from Sorrento, and some of the best views out to Capri come from neighboring beaches and viewpoints along the way from Sorrento. When we visited Sorrento, we decided to try and find some other areas to explore and headed along the SP7 toward Sant’Anna.
Some of the best views we found were down from San Montano where we saw Capri framed with beautiful pink flowers, but it’s really fun to drive out around this peninsula area, check out some of the beaches that dot along it as well as checking out the amazing views of Capri and is one of the best free things to do in Amalfi Coast. There’s plenty of hiking trails around this area too.
8. Visit Positano
Positano is busy and bustling, and its size can’t cope with the amount of love it gets, especially in the summer months, so you’ll need to plan well to visit Positano. If you plan out in advance, you can have an amazing time and is an iconic part of the best things to do in the Amalfi Coast.
If you’re heading to Positano for the day, the first thing we’d suggest is going for a walk around the town. Be prepared for hills and steep staircases because Positano has these in plentiful amounts. We loved all of the gorgeous little galleries and cafes you find along the roads and they’re perfect for taking a breather!
If you’re planning to have lunch in Positano, you should be heading back down to the harbor in good time (if you haven’t made a reservation) to secure a spot. Some of the nicest places are along the seafront and have great views out. We’d recommend Ristorante La Marinella which is right next to Fornillo Spiaggia and feels a little more secluded than some of the other beaches around Positano.
Positano doesn’t have a huge selection of parking places, with the two main ones being at the far end of town away from the seafront and town itself. These are Parcheggio Mandara and Parcheggio Anna, which can both become overrun very fast in summer. So, if you can arrive by ferry, which is very possible, we’d advise it!
9. Try Proper Lemons
As soon as you spend any amount of time in Amalfi, you will see lemons everywhere. From the ceramic signs that adorn many of the roads to giant lemons that sit proudly on the benches of market stalls and street sellers.
We hadn’t tasted a lemon quite like it until we bought a giant queen lemon from one of the market stalls we came across in Sorrento and we don’t think anything will compare to it until we return to Amalfi again. If you’re looking for fun things to do in Amalfi coast, go exploring to find incredible lemons!
There are also plenty of places that offer lemon sorbetto inside a carved-out lemon. This novelty looks great, but we actually realized you get lots more if you get it in a tub rather than a lemon (plus it’s about half the price).
You’ll find lemon merchandise everywhere, particularly in Sorrento, such as lemon print bags, clothes and ceramics, which are touristy, but pretty stunning. We may well have come home with a lemon bag which we use for shopping and just makes us think of Italy.
10. Buy Fresh Produce from the Market Stalls
Italy is focused on food, there are no two ways about it and they’re proud of it too. When they have such amazing produce and make such great artisanal items, it’s easy to see why. We think one of the best things to do in Amalfi Coast is to check out the market stalls, smaller delis and supermarkets selling world class produce.
On Wednesday mornings, in Amalfi itself, you will find a street market that sells incredible goods down by the port area. You don’t want to miss this if you’re visiting on this day! Likewise, there is a similar market in Sorrento on Tuesday’s. This is held around Via San Renato.
There are of course plenty of other locations too, as well as supermarkets. We’d really recommend the chains Sole365 and Carrefour for the best quality ingredients outside of markets and smaller delis. You’ll find reasonable prices and deli counters in these supermarkets too.
11. Try to Find the Best Spots to See Vesuvius
Vesuvius dominates a lot of the landscape around Naples, and this also is the case around some areas of Amalfi too. If you visit around Castellammare di Stabia, or go to Pompei, you’ll no doubt see this incredible volcano towering up in front of you and it’s quite a sight to see.
You can of course take a trip to Vesuvius National Park itself, with hiking available to take in the crater up close and personal. It’s possible to explore the National Park by foot but there are also plenty of other places to see this magnificent mountain.
One area we loved was just outside of Castellammare di Stabia at Spiaggia di Pozzano.This beach area has staggering views out across the bay to Vesuvius. Likewise, we saw amazing views of Vesuvius towering off in the distance when we visited Pompeii. In fact, some of our favorite photos from Pompeii are ones with Vesuvius in. Vico Equense is also another great spot for taking in views of the volcano.
12. Take a Day Trip to Pompeii
Pompeii is truly wonderful, and we loved taking a day trip to explore this ancient Roman town that was decimated by an eruption from Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The ruins were discovered in the 16th century and the excavation began in 1738. Amazingly, it was first discovered when an architect called Domenico Fontana was in the process of building a tunnel to divert the river Sarno.
We think that it’s well worth spending some time visiting Pompeii – it’s just mesmerizing and the great news is that it’s easy to visit from Amalfi – in fact, we think Pompeii as a day trip is one of the best things to do in Amalfi. You can of course drive (it takes about an hour from places like Sorrento – 17 miles). There are plenty of parking garages along the main street in the modern area of Pompei. They vary in price, but generally cost about 10-20 euro for a day of parking.
You can also catch the train, this goes to various stations between Naples and Sorrento, and Pompei Scavi is a stop on this line. From here, it’s a super short walk to the ruins. Here is a link to a train timetable. It’s always best to carry cash for this as some of the trainlines operate with cash only.
The website for Pompeii said they’d advise to book your tickets in advance, but we chanced it and to be honest, we had no problem getting in other day. But for peace of mind, you may want to book in advance.
We would advise that you visit Pompeii in the shoulder seasons of either late April/early May or October. We found the heat almost unbearable in July and actually had to cut our time looking around short to find shade – as there is pretty much none at all in the area.
13. Go Hiking
The Amalfi Coast presents something pretty stunning – towering mountains to one side and beautiful, endless coastline to the other. This is one of the main reasons why the area looks so iconic and with that comes a vast network of hiking trails. These should only really be taken on when temperatures aren’t too high as the Italian sun is relentless.
If you’re visiting in late spring and summer, then you’ll likely want to hold off as temperatures can get pretty hot. However, if you’re visiting in shoulder seasons, late October and into November, then hiking is a great way to see more of this wonderful place and is definitely one of the more non touristy things to do in Amalfi Coast.
A lot of the trails are fairly hard and relentless, but well worth it for the amazing views. We’ve linked up to an AllTrails summary here with a number of trails to look at depending on where you’re staying. There’s also the iconic Path of the Gods to consider too. This is a great way to see some truly wonderful sections of the Amalfi Coast without the crowds.
14. Go to the Beach
You can’t visit the Amalfi Coast and not spend some time on the beach. Those iconic cliff views of the pastel-colored buildings look better from the beach and the sea anyway! There are so many beaches dotted along the coast, it would be impossible to list them all. One thing we love is that each one has its own vibe. Look for the word ‘spiaggia’ on a map and you’ll be on your way to finding the beaches on offer.
Spending time on the beach is a fine art in Amalfi, and many beaches either provide private rentals of sunbeds or an entry fee to use the beach. This can get quite pricey and can also become pretty overrun at peak times. So, if this is something you want to do, we would advise researching a beach that takes your fancy first to see if you need to reserve a sunbed in advance.
There are of course less well-known beaches, quieter areas, and even incredible caves to explore too. You’ll usually find these outside of the main towns and can involve a lot of walking up and downhill and steps, but if you’re up for an adventure then this is a great way to see all this amazing coastline has to offer.
15. Go Shopping
In pretty much every town you’ll visit on the Amalfi Coast, you will find shops adorning the town centers and these can be lovely places to pick up keepsakes. Whilst some of these shops do all seem to have the same things from shop to shop, and a lot of tourist orientated stuff, there are plenty of places offering artisanal products from local makers.
We found that the best way to find little shops and boutiques offering slightly more interesting fare was to divert away from the main streets and into the backstreets a little. We found some of the most beautiful pottery shops and artisanal truffle oils by doing this and they were so much better than the items found on the main streets.
You’ll find plenty of jewelry and smaller clothes designers too and this really is such a lovely thing to do when you’re looking around the towns. Especially if you want to do so at a slower pace just to enjoy the things to do in Amalfi and get into the swing of Italy that little bit more.
16. Take a Boat Tour of the Amalfi Coast
One of the best ways to see this amazing coastline is by boat and we’d say it’s by far one of the best things to do in Amalfi Coast if you want to see some of the sights that are impossible to see from anywhere else. In fact, it gives you a great way to see unique places, such as caves and grottos and head to secret beaches that would either be impossible or a lot of effort to get to otherwise.
Of course, there are ferries between popular places like Sorrento and Amalfi, but smaller boats allow you to head off on routes that you’ll miss out on bigger boats like the one mentioned above. Most of the towns have kiosks along the harbor offering boat tours, and this is a great way to find a tour that takes your fancy and can be tailored to your needs.
Whilst some of these are great as they support local businesses, they can also be expensive and not possible for everyone. Especially in the main seasons of July, August and early September when the prices are almost always inflated and demand for them is high. So, another great option is to book online in advance.
There are many places offering different boat tours. Some can be found on places like Viator, GetYourGuide and also Tripadvisor, amongst others. So, it’s worth doing some research to see what you can find in advance!
17. Taste Authentic Limoncello
As soon as you hit any of the main towns along the Amalfi Coast, you’ll see Limoncello. It’s pretty much unavoidable given its origin around the area of Amalfi! Limoncello shops adorn all of the towns. If you’re not aware – the sweet lemon liqueur is served chilled in a small glass and can be served as either an aperitif or a digestif. It’s delicious.
Whilst the touristy towns are all adorned with Limoncello, we think one of the best things to do in Amalfi coast is to go in search of off the beaten track sellers. We found an amazing little place selling homemade bottles for a lot less than we found in places like Amalfi town itself.
On a drive through the mountains from Castellammare di Stabia to Amalfi along the wonderful SS366, we found Cello, just outside of Sambuco, about 30 minutes’ drive (6 miles) outside of Amafi town itself. Their Limoncello was sharp, sweet and perfect. What makes this spot even better were the views out on the roadside and we were taken a back by the beautiful greenery and mountains. Here’s an approximate Google map location for them.
Of course, there are plenty of other spots like this along the coast – you’ll find many little Limoncello bars along the coast roads – and some notable favorites are along the coast road near and around Vico Equense and Sorrento. You’ll know them when you see them – they’re pretty hard to miss. They’re a good break from the hustle and bustle of the coast road!
18. Take a Trip to Capri
Whilst you’ve likely seen Capri, the island that can be seen out from around Sorrento, sitting in the distance looking beautiful on the horizon, it’s also possible to visit it and this is well worth doing! As with taking a boat tour, there are plenty of places around the ports in various towns offering day trips to Capri.
These can be inflated price wise in busy summer season. So, if you’re on a budget, you can look online in advance on websites like Viator, Tripadvisor and GetYourGuide. You can also stay for longer – and many people will take a trip out for a few days for part of their trip to experience Capri in its own right.
If you just want to go for the day, you will have to be really mindful that you won’t be able to do everything. There is quite a lot to do on Capri and we found it was actually a little overwhelming. If we returned, we would absolutely stay for longer and make a few days of it.
One of the things you’re most likely to have included if you take a day boat trip is to go to the Blue Grotto on the way (you can book a tour with or without it). When we were there, there was quite a wait to get in and you’ll be taken from the bigger boat onto a smaller row boat which you’ll stay on until you can enter. You are then taken through the grotto which only lasts for a few minutes. You can then get off the boat or stay on for more of a tour.
At this point you are dropped at Anacapri, you can then take the chairlift to Monte Solaro which is absolutely stunning and well worth doing to see some of the most mesmerizing sights off from the island. The chairlift takes ski lifts to a whole new level and feels very exposed. If you have a fear of heights, then this one might not be for you – Fay found it absolutely terrifying! Once finished you can head back down – we spent about an hour up here.
You can then spend the afternoon exploring Capri Town and stopping in one of the many restaurants and trattorias for some food. You’ll then take the funicular from Capri town back to Marina Grande where you’ll get your boat back. There may be a wait for this on busy summer days, so keep this in mind (we waited around 30 minutes).
Always book your boat trip to Capri in advance – even in the shoulder seasons these can be busy and if you don’t, you may find yourself disappointed. You also many find that you are limited to which boat time you can get to return with so to make the most of your time, just do a little research in advance. This can just be as simple as booking with an on the ground tour a couple of days in advance.
19. Visit Castellammare di Stabia
Whilst most people head for Sorrento, Amalfi or Positano, there is a whole wealth of beauty to explore in Castellammare di Stabia which is just on the edge of the Amalfi Coast and a 30-minute drive from Naples too. We actually stayed in Castellammare di Stabia for a good chunk of our trip to the Amalfi Coast, partly because it was cheaper, but we loved what we found!
Castellammare is great if you want to eat at some incredible places for a lot less than other, more touristy options along the Amalfi Coast. It’s worth checking out Piazzetta Milù for fine dining, Elixir for amazing pizza and Trattoria Pizzeria del Mare da Salvatore for all round deliciousness. It could be that you fit in a look around Castellammare either on route from Naples to the Amalfi Coast or if you’re visiting Pompeii by car.
Enjoy the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is an area that you will find hard to believe it exists – its noisy, busy, boisterous and always on the go between May and October, but it’s also amazing and will capture your heart like nowhere else can. It’s combination of special, indescribable comfort food alongside breathtaking mountain and coastal scenery and if you’re like us, you’ll find it hard to leave.
We had wanted to visit the Amafi Coast for years, and when the opportunity came up to do so fairly last minute, we jumped at the chance. We’re glad we did – as it’s a trip that will stay in our memories for a long time. We’re sure it will for you too.
We hope this guide to the best things to do in the Amalfi Coast give you some inspiration to get planning your trip and help you to know everything you need to know in advance to make sure it goes as smoothly as possible. One thing we can say for absolute certain after visiting here – you will never regret a trip to the Amalfi Coast.
FAQ’s
Is there much to do in the Amalfi Coast?
There is a lot to do in the Amalfi Coast – beautiful towns to tour, endless winding roads to explore with stunning cliff top views. Islands to go out to on boats, secret caves and grottos to explore, shopping in artisanal stores, endless beaches and food that will leave an emotional mark on you for the rest of your life. The Amalfi Coast packs an incredible punch when it comes to all the things to do!
How many days do you need in Amalfi Coast?
We had a week when we visited, and we felt like that was enough for our visit in the summer as it was so intense and busy that we needed a breather by the end! As we’ve said earlier, it wasn’t our first choice to come in full summer, but we did so because we had an opportunity come up and jumped at the chance.
If we visited again, we would come back in October and stay for 10 days to really slow down and make the most of everything and also add in lots of areas that we didn’t even get chance to see. We’d say that you want to give yourself a week to 10 days here ideally, but 4-5 days would allow you to see some of the main highlights.
How far is the Amalfi Coast from Naples?
The Amalfi Coast is roughly 53km/32 miles from Naples – this is assuming going straight from Naples to Sorrento. However, this would obviously be less if going to Vico Equense or similar.
Whilst this doesn’t seem like a long distance, it’s worth keeping in mind that this can take well over an hour to drive, especially in the busier seasons. But it’s also a stunning drive or journey however you do it, so you won’t be disappointed! We found from Castellammare di Stabia, where we stayed for some of our trip, that we could easily get into Naples to look around and some evenings to eat out in around 30 minutes.
Is the Amalfi Coast expensive?
The Amalfi Coast can be, but it doesn’t have to be with some adjustments. Sun loungers and beach access can become pricy, so one of the best options would be to find cheaper to access or free beaches that you can take a beach towel. This is what we did (as we never spend all day on the beach) and it saved us literally hundreds of euro’s.
You will also find that some of the restaurants in the main areas of Sorrento and Amalfi are overpriced for what they offer. Head out onto some of the quieter streets and you will find much cheaper options to suit a lot of budgets. We also ate a lot at home in our apartment which helped us save a lot of money!
In terms of accommodation, you can expect prices to be high in the spring and summer seasons in areas like Sorrento and Amalfi as well as Positano and these are likely to be picked over first. You can stay at incredibly expensive locations and villas here too.
If you want to keep it cheaper, opt for places a little bit further away but still doable without too much effort – this is one of the main reasons we stayed in Castellammare di Stabia for some of our trip as it offered us a much cheaper base – which we were barely in for most of the trip as we were out exploring anyway.
There are plenty of ways to do it so it doesn’t break the bank. You just need to think of a few adjustments to make to do the Amalfi Coast on a budget.
Can you visit the Amalfi Coast without a car?
You absolutely can visit the Amalfi Coast without a car, and if you are looking to stay put or just visit a couple of places and explore those more fully on your trip, then this could be a good option. Some of the best ways to get around Amalfi are by train or by boat (which we’ve outlined more earlier on in this article).
It has also become harder to access the Amalfi Coast Road in recent years, but it is also not impossible. We actually found driving was a great way to see the Amalfi Coast, and also gave us the opportunity to visit places that we may have struggled to if we didn’t have a car. So, it’s about working out what’s best for you and just being aware of any driving restrictions before you make the decision.