Travel guide · Italy
Amalfi Coast travel guide
Cliffside villages, lemon terraces and boat days on the Gulf of Salerno
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
The Amalfi Coast is a roughly 50 km stretch of the Sorrento peninsula's southern shore, where towns such as Positano, Amalfi and Ravello cling to cliffs above the Gulf of Salerno. Listed by UNESCO in 1997, it is linked by the winding SS163 coast road, seasonal ferries and steep stairways, with lemon groves and vineyards terraced into the slopes. Capri, Pompeii and Paestum are all within day-trip range. Plan 5 days for a first visit; the best months are May–June and September–October.
Key facts
- Country
- Italy
- Best time to visit
- May–June and September–October
- Ideal stay
- 5 days
- Main airports
- NAP, QSR
- Mid-range daily budget
- $220–$400 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Positano, Lemons and limoncello, Path of the Gods and Ravello's villas
Why visit Amalfi Coast
- Positano, Amalfi and Ravello each have a distinct character: pastel vertical village, historic maritime republic and quiet hilltop of villas and gardens.
- The Path of the Gods and the old mule tracks between villages offer some of Italy's most dramatic coastal hiking.
- Boat days show the coast at its best, with coves, sea caves and beach restaurants reachable only from the water.
- Sfusato lemons, Cetara's colatura di alici, fresh seafood and Agerola cheeses give the coast its own cooking.
- Capri, Pompeii and the Greek temples of Paestum are all reachable as day trips by boat, bus or train.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Neighbourhood · Positano
Positano and Spiaggia Grande
Positano's tiers of pastel houses descend a ravine to Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, where the majolica dome of Santa Maria Assunta glints above the sand.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Free
Religious site · Amalfi
Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise
A broad flight of steps leads up to the Duomo di Sant'Andrea, whose striped facade and bronze doors cast in Constantinople in the 11th century dominate Amalfi's main square.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Nature · Agerola
Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
The coast's most famous hike runs about 7 km from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle above Positano, following terraces and cliff ledges hundreds of metres above the sea with views across to Capri.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Free
- Iconic
Garden · Ravello
Villa Rufolo
Built by a wealthy Ravello family in the 13th century, Villa Rufolo has a Moorish-style cloister, a tall tower and terraced gardens looking down over the coast.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- History
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Experience · Positano and Amalfi harbours
Boat trip along the coast
Seen from the sea, the coast makes the most sense: towns, watchtowers and cliffside villas line up one after another, and boats can stop at coves, sea caves and beach restaurants unreachable by road.
- Time needed
- 3–8 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Garden · Ravello
Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity
At the tip of Ravello's ridge, a 15-minute walk through quiet lanes from the main square, Villa Cimbrone's gardens end at the Terrace of Infinity, a belvedere lined with marble busts hanging above the Gulf of Salerno.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Where to stay
Amalfi is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$$$ · Best for couples, luxury and beach
Positano
Pastel houses stacked down a steep ravine to a dark-sand beach
$$$ · Best for first-timers, families and culture
Amalfi
Historic maritime republic and transport hub around a cathedral square
$$$$ · Best for couples, quiet stays, luxury and culture
Ravello
Quiet hilltop town of villas, gardens and summer concerts above Amalfi
$$$ · Best for couples and quiet stays
Praiano
Spread-out village between Positano and Amalfi known for its sunsets
What to eat
- Limoncello — Lemon liqueur made by steeping the zest of sfusato amalfitano lemons, a protected IGP variety with thick, fragrant skin, in alcohol and sweetening it with syrup.
- Delizia al limone — A dome of light sponge filled and coated with lemon cream, created on the Sorrento peninsula in the late 1970s and now on dessert menus all along the coast.
- Scialatielli ai frutti di mare — Short, thick, slightly irregular strands of fresh pasta created on the coast in the second half of the 20th century, served with clams, mussels, prawns and cherry tomatoes.
- Colatura di alici — An amber anchovy extract made in Cetara by layering anchovies with salt in wooden barrels and collecting the liquid that drips out; a few drops dress spaghetti with garlic, olive oil and parsley.
- Ndunderi — Minori's old-fashioned dumplings of ricotta and flour, said to date back to Roman times, usually served with tomato sauce, basil and grated cheese.
- Sfogliatella Santa Rosa — A shell-shaped pastry of crisp, layered dough filled with semolina and ricotta cream and topped with custard and black cherries; it was created in the convent of Santa Rosa at Conca dei Marini.
When to go
The best months for the Amalfi Coast are May, June, September and early October, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable and ferries run full timetables without the peak crowds and prices of July and August. From November to March many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes close, so the coast is quiet but limited.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | March–May | Lemon blossom, wildflowers on the trails and hotels reopening; the sea stays cool until late May. |
| Summer | June–August | Hot, sunny and crowded, with the warmest sea, the Ravello Festival and the highest prices; boats beat the coast-road traffic. |
| Autumn | September–November | Warm sea into October and thinning crowds, then rain and seasonal closures from November. |
| Winter | December–February | Mild but wet and very quiet, with many hotels and ferry routes closed; Christmas lights and nativity scenes add some festive life. |
Getting there and around
Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main gateway, about 60 km from Positano and Amalfi: allow about 1.5–2 hours by private transfer, or travel by bus or train to Sorrento or Salerno and continue by SITA bus or ferry. Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport (QSR), which reopened to scheduled flights in 2024, is about 35 km from Amalfi.
Towns along the coast are linked by the SS163, a narrow, winding cliff road, by SITA buses and, from spring to autumn, by ferries. Within towns you walk, mostly on stairs. Amalfi is the transport hub, with buses to Positano, Ravello and Salerno and ferries along the coast and to Capri.
Plan your days
Three days allows Positano, Amalfi and Ravello plus a boat trip. Five days adds the Path of the Gods, a beach day and a day trip to Capri or Pompeii; a week lets you slow down in quieter villages such as Atrani, Minori or Cetara.
Practical information
- Currency
- EUR
- Language
- Italian
- Plugs
- Type C, F and L sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is generally safe to drink, though restaurants serve bottled water by default and many locals prefer it.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected and a coperto is often charged; rounding up or leaving 5–10% for excellent service in a smart restaurant is appreciated.
The main risks are physical: steep stairs, heat on exposed trails and swimming in rough sea, so check conditions and follow beach flags. The narrow coast road is dangerous for pedestrians, and pickpocketing can happen on crowded buses and ferry piers.
Flights to Amalfi Coast
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Amalfi Coast?
Three days allows Positano, Amalfi and Ravello plus a boat trip. Five days adds the Path of the Gods, a beach day and a day trip to Capri or Pompeii; a week lets you slow down in quieter villages such as Atrani, Minori or Cetara. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Amalfi Coast?
The best months for the Amalfi Coast are May, June, September and early October, when the weather is warm, the sea is swimmable and ferries run full timetables without the peak crowds and prices of July and August. From November to March many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes close, so the coast is quiet but limited.
+What is Amalfi Coast known for?
Positano, Lemons and limoncello, Path of the Gods, Ravello's villas, Boat trips, Cliffside villages and Vietri ceramics. Positano, Amalfi and Ravello each have a distinct character: pastel vertical village, historic maritime republic and quiet hilltop of villas and gardens.
+Is Amalfi Coast expensive?
Amalfi Coast is expensive for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $220–$400 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Amalfi Coast?
No. Parking is scarce and very expensive, the coast road is congested in summer and traffic restrictions for non-residents can apply in peak periods. Use buses, ferries and taxis instead.