2 days in Amalfi Coast

Day by day

1. Day 1: Positano and Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo beach

   Positano and Spiaggia Grande, Fornillo beach, Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise and Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), then Terrace of Infinity in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Positano and Spiaggia Grande

      Walking the lanes from the top of the town down to the sea is the classic introduction, past boutiques, lemon stalls and bougainvillea-covered terraces.

   2. Late morning

      Fornillo beach

      West of Spiaggia Grande, a 10-minute cliffside path past the Torre Trasita watchtower leads to Fornillo, Positano's second beach, a quieter strip of dark sand and pebbles with a few family-run beach clubs and a free public section.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Limoncello

      Offered after meals in many restaurants and sold in Amalfi and Positano; small producers often offer tastings.

   4. Afternoon

      Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise

      The visit includes the Cloister of Paradise, a 13th-century burial cloister with interlaced Arab-style arches, a museum and the crypt said to hold relics of the apostle Andrew.

   5. Late afternoon

      Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)

      It is mostly downhill in this direction; from Nocelle you can take a local bus or walk down more than 1,500 steps to Positano.

   6. Evening

      Terrace of Infinity

      Stand among the marble busts on Villa Cimbrone's belvedere in Ravello, high above the Gulf of Salerno.

2. Day 2: Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity

   Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity, Boat trip along the coast and Fiordo di Furore, then Sunset by boat in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Villa Rufolo

      Richard Wagner visited in 1880 and is said to have found inspiration here for Klingsor's magic garden in Parsifal; the Ravello Festival's concerts are held on a stage built out over the drop.

   2. Late morning

      Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity

      The gardens, remodelled by an English owner in the early 20th century, include a rose garden, small temples and long shaded avenues.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Delizia al limone

      Pastry shops in Amalfi, Minori and Maiori and most restaurant dessert menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Boat trip along the coast

      Shared and private trips leave from Positano, Amalfi and Praiano, and longer routes continue to Capri and its Faraglioni rocks.

   5. Late afternoon

      Fiordo di Furore

      Steps lead down from the coast road to the cove and a handful of old fishermen's houses, one of the most photographed spots on the coast.

   6. Evening

      Sunset by boat

      Charter a small boat for the evening and watch the sun go down over Capri from the water off Positano or Praiano.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Museo della Carta (Paper Museum) (Amalfi): Ask about the hands-on paper-making session, which children enjoy, and buy Amalfi paper in the shop.
• Swap in Vietri sul Mare ceramics (Vietri sul Mare): Many workshops ship purchases home; ask before you buy large or fragile pieces.
• Swap in Villa Romana di Minori (Minori and Maiori): Combine it with a pastry stop in Minori and the Path of the Lemons to Maiori.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 16–25 hours of visiting over 2 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.3 hours in December to 15.1 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

Getting between stops: Bus. SITA buses run along the coast road between Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, with branch lines up to Ravello and Agerola; they are inexpensive but crowded in summer, and full buses can pass stops.

More or fewer days

• One day in Amalfi Coast
• 3 days in Amalfi Coast
• 5 days in Amalfi Coast

Questions travellers ask