Things to do · Amalfi Coast · Italy
16 best things to do in Amalfi Coast
16 sights and experiences ranked for a first visit, with honest notes on time, cost and crowds.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
The essential sights in Amalfi Coast are Positano and Spiaggia Grande, Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise and Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei). Of the 16 picks below, 8 are free, 5 work on a rainy day and 3 suit children. Allow about 5 days to see the highlights without rushing.
Key facts
- Top sight
- Positano and Spiaggia Grande
- Free sights
- 8
- Good on a rainy day
- Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise
- Time to see the highlights
- 5 days
At a glance
| Sight | Area | Time needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Positano and Spiaggia Grande | Positano | Half a day | Free |
| Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise | Amalfi | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) | Agerola | 3–4 hours | Free |
| Villa Rufolo | Ravello | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Boat trip along the coast | Positano and Amalfi harbours | 3–8 hours | Expensive |
| Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity | Ravello | 1–1.5 hours | Low cost |
| Fiordo di Furore | Furore | 1 hour | Free |
| Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) | Conca dei Marini | 1 hour | Low cost |
| Valle delle Ferriere | Amalfi | 2–3 hours | Free |
| Museo della Carta (Paper Museum) | Amalfi | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Atrani village | Atrani | 1–2 hours | Free |
| Vietri sul Mare ceramics | Vietri sul Mare | 2 hours | Free |
| Path of the Lemons (Sentiero dei Limoni) | Minori and Maiori | 1.5–2 hours | Free |
| Villa Romana di Minori | Minori and Maiori | 45 minutes | Low cost |
| Arsenals of the Amalfi Republic | Amalfi | 30–45 minutes | Low cost |
| Fornillo beach | Positano | Half a day | Free |
The 16 best things to do
Neighbourhood · Positano
1.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. 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.
Get off the bus at the upper Chiesa Nuova stop and walk downhill through town to the beach, then leave by ferry to avoid the climb back up.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Views
- Photo spot
- Couples
- Free
Religious site · Amalfi
2.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. 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.
Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon, before and after the day-trip boats and buses.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- History
- Architecture
- Art
- Rainy day
Nature · Agerola
3.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. 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.
Start early to avoid the midday heat, wear proper shoes and carry water; there is little shade and few places to refill.
- Time needed
- 3–4 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Active
- Views
- Outdoors
- Nature
- Free
- Iconic
Garden · Ravello
4.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. 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.
Visit late in the afternoon, when the light falls across the tower and terraces and tour groups thin out.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- History
- Photo spot
- Iconic
Experience · Positano and Amalfi harbours
5.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. Shared and private trips leave from Positano, Amalfi and Praiano, and longer routes continue to Capri and its Faraglioni rocks.
A shared half-day trip on a small wooden gozzo gives swimming stops without the cost of a private charter; trips are cancelled when the sea is rough.
- Time needed
- 3–8 hours
- Cost
- Expensive
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Outdoors
- Iconic
Garden · Ravello
6.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. The gardens, remodelled by an English owner in the early 20th century, include a rose garden, small temples and long shaded avenues.
Walk out to the terrace first, then explore the quieter lower paths; late afternoon brings the softest light.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- Couples
- Photo spot
- Outdoors
Nature · Furore
7.Fiordo di Furore
Between Praiano and Conca dei Marini, a deep gorge cuts into the cliffs to form a tiny pebble beach beneath an arched road bridge about 30 metres high. 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.
There is almost no parking at the bridge, so come by SITA bus or by boat.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Photo spot
- Nature
- Free
- Views
Nature · Conca dei Marini
8.Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo)
This sea cave at Conca dei Marini glows green when sunlight filters in through an underwater opening. Visitors descend by lift or stairs from the coast road, or arrive by boat from Amalfi, then tour the cave in rowing boats past stalactites and a ceramic nativity scene set below the water's surface.
The colour is strongest around midday on sunny days; on rough-sea days, visits can be suspended.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Nature
- Photo spot
Nature · Amalfi
1.Valle delle Ferriere
A shaded path climbs from the top of Amalfi past ruined paper mills and old ironworks into a nature reserve of waterfalls, streams and rare ferns such as Woodwardia radicans, a relic of ancient subtropical forests. The lower trail is a moderate walk of a few hours; the innermost part of the reserve has restricted access.
Save it for a hot day: the valley stays cool and shady, unlike the exposed coastal paths.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Active
- Off the beaten path
- Free
Museum · Amalfi
2.Museo della Carta (Paper Museum)
Housed in a medieval paper mill in Amalfi's Valle dei Mulini, the paper museum shows how the town produced bambagina, a heavy handmade paper of cotton and linen rags, using water-powered hammers that still work. Guided visits demonstrate the process from pulp to finished sheet.
Ask about the hands-on paper-making session, which children enjoy, and buy Amalfi paper in the shop.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- History
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Atrani
3.Atrani village
Atrani's whitewashed piazza, Collegiata church and arched passages fill a narrow ravine just east of Amalfi, a few minutes away on foot. Its small beach and harbour feel far from the crowds, and the church of San Salvatore de' Birecto, where Amalfi's doges were once invested, stands just above the square.
Come for dinner in the piazza after day-trippers have left Amalfi, and walk back along the lit seafront.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Couples
- History
- Photo spot
Neighbourhood · Vietri sul Mare
4.Vietri sul Mare ceramics
At the eastern end of the coast, Vietri sul Mare has been a ceramics centre for centuries, and its streets are lined with workshops selling hand-painted tiles, plates and the yellow, blue and green designs seen all along the coast. The majolica dome of San Giovanni Battista and the Solimene ceramics factory, with its curving facade of pots designed by Paolo Soleri, are highlights.
Many workshops ship purchases home; ask before you buy large or fragile pieces.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Shopping
- Art
- Architecture
- Rainy day
Nature · Minori and Maiori
5.Path of the Lemons (Sentiero dei Limoni)
This old mule track between Minori and Maiori climbs through terraced groves of sfusato amalfitano, the coast's large, fragrant lemon, passing the hamlet of Torre with views over both towns. It takes about an hour and a half one way, with steps but no serious climbing.
Start in Minori, have lunch in Maiori and return by ferry or bus.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Free
- Active
- Food
Historic site · Minori and Maiori
6.Villa Romana di Minori
A 1st-century AD seaside villa excavated in the middle of Minori, with a garden courtyard ringed by porticoes, traces of frescoes and mosaics and a small antiquarium of finds. It shows that wealthy Romans were already holidaying on this coast two thousand years ago.
Combine it with a pastry stop in Minori and the Path of the Lemons to Maiori.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Amalfi
7.Arsenals of the Amalfi Republic
Two long medieval stone halls by Amalfi's seafront are what remains of the shipyards where the republic built its galleys. Today they hold a museum of the maritime republic, with displays on the Tavole Amalfitane maritime code, navigation instruments and costumes from the historic regatta.
It makes a short, shaded stop when the midday sun is strong, a few steps from the seafront bus and ferry area.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Rainy day
- Off the beaten path
Beach · Positano
8.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.
Arrive early for a spot on the free section, or rent loungers from a beach club that also serves simple lunches.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
Pick by interest
| Interest | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Art and museums | Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise, Museo della Carta (Paper Museum), Vietri sul Mare ceramics and Arsenals of the Amalfi Republic |
| History | Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise, Villa Rufolo, Museo della Carta (Paper Museum) and Atrani village |
| Views | Positano and Spiaggia Grande, Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity |
| Outdoors and nature | Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Boat trip along the coast, Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity and Fiordo di Furore |
| Food and markets | Path of the Lemons (Sentiero dei Limoni) |
| With children | Boat trip along the coast, Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) and Museo della Carta (Paper Museum) |
| On a rainy day | Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise, Museo della Carta (Paper Museum), Vietri sul Mare ceramics and Villa Romana di Minori |
Plan the rest of your trip
Questions travellers ask
+What is the number one thing to do in Amalfi Coast?
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.
+What can you do for free in Amalfi Coast?
Positano and Spiaggia Grande, Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), Fiordo di Furore, Valle delle Ferriere and Atrani village. More free things to do.
+What is there to do in Amalfi Coast when it rains?
Head indoors to Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise, Museo della Carta (Paper Museum), Vietri sul Mare ceramics and Villa Romana di Minori.