Amalfi Travel Guide: Things to Do in the Amalfi Coast
It’s official: I’ve been to heaven – aka the Amalfi Coast! A slice of paradise which consist in a collection of beautiful coastal towns nestled between the mountains and the sea, with pastel-colored houses and turquoise waters.
I was visiting with The Vespa Trip and I couldn’t imagine a better way to explore the area. The drives are so scenic and breathtaking, the towns are absolutely divine and nothing beats the comfort of exploring this area on a Vespa
Keep reading to find out all you need to know to plan your trip to the Amalfi Coast!
Visit all the beautiful towns in the Amalfi Coast
Positano
Positano is one of the most iconic places in the Amalfi Coast, or should I say in all Italy? Think about pastel colored buildings, impressive cliffs, lots of nature, clear waters… you won’t get near to imagine how good it is in real life.
The views are absolutely breathtaking from every angle. I totally recommend walking the whole town, swimming in the sea (day and night!) and surrender yourself into its delicious seafood pasta dishes and a glass of Aperol spritz.
You’ll find shopping, restaurants and beach clubs in Positano later on this article.
Amalfi town
Amalfi town hotspot is the main square where the cathedral is located. To get there, you’ll probably access via covered alleys and meandering alleys which are as charming as it gets to get to the main square, which is vibrant and lively.
My favorite activity in Amalfi town was having a quite expensive – yet delicious sorbetto di limone. That’s 9€ well spent on a hot summer afternoon for me! If you’re traveling on a budget, you can also refill your water bottle at the fountains in front of the cathedral.
When you’re done with Amalfi town, you can walk through the tunnel and get to Atrani quite easily on foot.
Ravello
Ravello’s main touristy spot is Terrazza dell’Infinito at Villa Cimbrone. It truly feels like heaven! Walking the gardens is so peaceful and relaxing.
I recommend visiting early in the morning, otherwise it gets really crowded. Entrance ticket is 10€ and can be purchase right at the entrance.
Apart from visiting Villa Cimbrone, we also walked around the town and discovered really nice ceramics shops and had an ice latte at one of the terraces in the main square. I believe this town deserves at least half a day in your itinerary!
Tip: if you’re using Google maps, you need to use Ravello’s Piazza del Duomo as your final destination and there you can park and start walking to the Villa. If you use Villa Cimbrone or Terrazza dell’Infinito as your final destination it will take you to the wrong location!
Fun fact: Ravello is also known as the city of the music and often features beautiful classic music concerts with a view to the Mediterranean Sea.
Atrani
Atrani is probably smaller than the other towns we featured so far, but for me, it’s one my favorite views in the Amalfi Coast.
The town is squeezed between the sea and the high mountains and invites you to get lost in its narrow streets, have a drink at its charming main square and spend the day at the beach.
Other places to visit: Pompeii, Capri and Sorrento.
There’s more places to visit in the Amalfi coast, however I didn’t have the time to explore all of them. If you have more than 4 days in the area, definitely check them out!
Where to stay in Amalfi Coast
There’s 3 hotels I visited in this area that I can recommend. You can choose your favorite depending on your itinerary and budget.
Where to stay in Positano: Hotel Marincanto
Hotel Marincanto is a 4* hotel with one of the best views in Positano.
If you feel like splurging on a 5* hotel, then you need to stay at the best hotel in Positano: Le Sirenuse.
Check rates & availability here:
Where to stay in Amalfi: Hotel Miramalfi
Hotel Miramalfi is such an incredible property.
We had lunch at their Restaurant Donna Emma and spent hours at their unique swimming pool. It’s a dream!
- Check rates & availability here: Hotel Miramalfi.
Where to stay in Sorrento: Hotel O Sole Mio
This is where we stayed at as part of The Vespa Trip.
The best thing about this place is its location. From here, you will be able to visit Amalfi coast, but also Pompeii and Amalfi inland. It’s the best option for explorers!
The staff was really nice and they include a very nice breakfast and a big parking space.
- Check rates & availability here: Hotel O Sole Mio.
Recommended foods & restaurants in the Amalfi Coast
These are the foods you need to try when in Amalfi Coast:
- Linguine vongole (pasta with clams)
- Gli scialatelli alla amalfitana (pasta with seafood)
- Mozzarella di buffala
- Pizza napoletana
- Pasta al limone
- Babá (lemon cake)
- Limoncello
- Sorbetto di limone
Tip: it’s absolutely recommended making a reservation for any of the restaurants.
Find below a list of my favorite places to eat in the Amalfi Coast:
- Ristorante Bruno: great seafood pasta, affordable prices and one of the best views to Positano.
- Li Galli Bistrot: a similar option to the previous one.
- Chez Black: by Positano beach, they have the most famous pizza in town.
- The Donna Emma Restaurant at Miramalfi Hotel: food & location couldn’t get any better.
- Terrazza Celè at Hotel Marincanto: amazing food and probably the best view in Positano.
- Rada Beach Bistrot: really good seafood.
- Franco’s Bar: a really nice option for sundowners with a view, however, you must wait in line. It’s first come, first served.
Beach clubs in the Amalfi Coast
Arienzo Beach Club
A complimentary shuttle boat service is available every day from/to Positano main pier.
Open from 10am to 6pm and prices starting from around 90€ per person, Arienzo Beach Club is the hotspot in the Amalfi Coast.
Depending on the package you choose and the price you pay, you’ll get different drinks and courses included. First row is the more demanded hence it’s more expensive.
L’incanto
L’incanto is the famous beach club in Positano with the blue umbrellas.
First row price is 35€, the rest of rows are 30€. This fee includes sunbeds, umbrellas and they will give you a bracelet so you can access their changing rooms and toilets.
La Scogliera
In a more private corner of the Positano beach, you’ll find La Scogliera, with sunbeds and umbrellas on top of the rocks, with direct access to the beach.
Their fees starts from 100€ for 2 people. This fee includes sunbeds and umbrellas but nothing else.
Their spots fill up quickly, so book your sunbeds well in advance!
Shopping in Amalfi Coast
- Summer dresses in colorful patterns: my favorite shops in the area are Antica Sartoria (price range between 50-100€) & Luisa Positano (price range for a dress is up to 300€).
- Ceramics: Ceramica Assunta is the most famous ceramics shop in Positano. You won’t miss it as it’s in a prime location down the steps from the church – it’s actually a famous instagram spot! You will also find some factories between Positano & Amalfi that may have a wider range of options.
- Limoncello: there are a few places offering limoncello tasting. My advice would be: taste it and choose the one you like the most to bring it back home as a souvenir!
- Footwear: while walking in Positano you will definitely step into artisanal leather shoemakers. I really loved the ones in the style of Hermès Oran.
Getting around Amalfi coast
Vespa
In my humble opinion, the best way to explore the Amalfi Coast is on a Vespa.
A Vespa is more comfortable than the average scooter, it will bring those Italian vibes to your trip and more importantly, it will be easier to avoid the crazy traffic and you won’t struggle with parking that much.
My first time in this area was as part of The Vespa Trip and our Vespa took us to all the beautiful places in the Amalfi Coast.
Car
If you don’t feel as comfortable with a Vespa and prefer the advantages of traveling by car, there’s still options!
You can definitely visit Amalfi Coast by car. The road is beautiful and driving here is unforgettable! However, the bad part about driving a car in this area is finding a parking space.
You will find more tips on driving and parking later on this article.
There are also private drivers available for a few hours. One of the most popular ones is the Fiat 500 photo tour!
Bus
Buses are probably the cheapest option to get around in the Amalfi Coast.
There’s a bus connecting all the towns. If you’re staying or parking in Sorrento or Salerno, this is also a great option.
Tickets are available in tobacco stores and bars.
Taxi
Taxi prices in the Amalfi Coast are ridiculous. A ride between Amalfi and Positano which usually takes up to 30 minutes, costs around 100€. It’s the most comfortable option, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you don’t have any other choice.
Boat
Another way to explore the villages is taking boats from one port to another.
Find below a list with all the prices and departures.
- Amalfi – Positano: €9 (20 minutes, departures every half an hour).
- Amalfi – Minori/Maiori: €4 (10 minutes, departures every hour).
- Positano/Amalfi – Island of Capri: €20-€25 (50-80 minutes, departures every half an hour).
- Sorrento – Island of Capri: €15-€20 (20–30 minutes, departures every half an hour).
- Positano/Amalfi – Sorrento: €17 (40–60 minutes, departures every hour).
- Positano/Amalfi – Salerno: €8-€12 (45–75 minutes, departures every hour).
- Positano/Amalfi – other towns: up to €10.
Private boats are also available.
Tips for driving in the Amalfi Coast
Finding a parking spot in the Amalfi Coast
Finding a parking spot in the Amalfi Coast can be a nightmare, especially if you’re going by car!
How to solve the parking situation? One of the perks of staying at a 5* hotel is that you can definitely park right there, even some 4* hotels have parking slots for their guests, so this may be a wise choice.
Parking prices:
- Public parking spaces cost around 3€ per hour.
- Private parking fees vary between 8-10€ per hour.
- If you want to park for free near Positano, you can do it in Montepertuso or Nocelle and from there, take a bus to Positano.
Parking fines
It’s very easy to get a fine in the Amalfi Coast as parking signals are quite confusing and parking spaces are not clearly marked. We actually got one fine in our first day there!
If you get a fine, you can either pay it at the machine right away or contact the local police to pay at the local station.
There’s also the option a bank number in case you prefer to do a bank transfer, but this will come with international transfer fees. Besides, if you pay within a few days you get a discount on the fine.
Amalfi Coast packing list
7 items you need to pack for your trip to the Amalfi Coast:
- Sunblock & aftersun
- Swimwear
- Sunnies
- Summer clothes
- Hat
- Beach towel
- Comfortable shoes
All the locations in the map
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