Comparison · Amalfi Coast vs Lake Como · Italy
Amalfi Coast vs Lake Como
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Bruno Rijsman, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
Choose Amalfi Coast for Positano, Lemons and limoncello, beaches and a milder winter; choose Lake Como for Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio. Day-to-day costs are similar, and the two are about 735 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 735 km
- Less expensive
- About the same
- Best time for Amalfi Coast
- May–June and September–October
- Best time for Lake Como
- April–June and September
Side by side
| Amalfi Coast | Lake Como | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Italy |
| Known for | Positano, Lemons and limoncello and Path of the Gods | Villa del Balbianello, Bellagio and Villa Carlotta |
| Best time to visit | May–June and September–October | April–June and September |
| Ideal stay | 5 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $220–$400 | $220–$400 |
| Cost level | Expensive | Expensive |
| Warmest month | July, 30°C (86°F) | July, 28°C (82°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 13°C (55°F) | January, 7°C (45°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 7 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | Spiaggia Grande, Positano | — |
| Airports | NAP, QSR | MXP, LIN, BGY |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Amalfi Coast for…
Positano, Lemons and limoncello, beaches and a milder winter. 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…
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Choose Lake Como for…
Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio. Lake Como is a deep, narrow glacial lake about 50 km north of Milan, shaped like an upside-down Y with the city of Como at the foot of the western arm, Lecco at the foot of the eastern arm and Bellagio on the point where they meet. Most visitors stay in the…
Top sights compared
| # | Amalfi Coast | Lake Como |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Positano and Spiaggia Grande | Villa del Balbianello |
| 2 | Amalfi Cathedral and Cloister of Paradise | Villa Carlotta |
| 3 | Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) | Villa Melzi gardens |
| 4 | Villa Rufolo | Bellagio old town and Punta Spartivento |
| 5 | Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity | Varenna and the Passeggiata degli Innamorati |
Food compared
| Amalfi Coast | Lake Como |
|---|---|
| Limoncello | Risotto with perch |
| Delizia al limone | Missoltini |
| Scialatielli ai frutti di mare | Lavarello |
| Colatura di alici | Polenta uncia |
Which is cheaper?
Amalfi Coast and Lake Como cost about the same: a mid-range day is roughly $220–$400 in Amalfi Coast and $220–$400 in Lake Como (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Amalfi Coast on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 735 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 10 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Amalfi Coast or Lake Como cheaper?
Neither is clearly cheaper: a mid-range day costs about $220–$400 in Amalfi Coast and $220–$400 in Lake Como (estimates).
+Is Amalfi Coast or Lake Como better for a first trip?
Pick Amalfi Coast for Positano, Lemons and limoncello, beaches and a milder winter, or Lake Como for Villa del Balbianello and Bellagio.
+How far is Amalfi Coast from Lake Como?
About 735 km in a straight line.