The Amalfi Coast is expensive, crowded from June to September, and slower to get around than its map suggests. One road links most of the towns, and on a summer afternoon the buses along it are often full before they reach your stop.
It's still one of the most striking stretches of coastline in Europe. UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage Site in 1997.
This Amalfi Coast travel guide is built from official sources, including the bus and ferry operators, the ANAS road rules and the towns' own tax pages, and from the questions first-timers ask us most. Which town should you sleep in? How many nights? How do you get there from Rome or Naples, and how do you move between the towns without a car?
Short on Time? Our Amalfi Coast Top Picks
- Budget base: Hostel Brikette, on Via Guglielmo Marconi, the main road through the upper part of Positano. Rated 9.2 on Booking.com when we checked.
- Mid-range base: Hotel Lidomare, on Largo Piccolomini in the center of Amalfi town. Rated 8.9.
- Splurge: Hotel Santa Caterina, a luxury hotel on the coast road at the edge of Amalfi town. Rated 9.5.
- Best first boat day: this small-group Positano and Amalfi Coast boat tour from Sorrento, rated 4.8 from 481 reviews when we checked.
- Best hike: the Path of the Gods guided hike with transfers, rated 4.8 from 644 reviews.
Where Is the Amalfi Coast, and Which Towns Are On It?
The Amalfi Coast is the southern shore of the Sorrento Peninsula in Campania, in southern Italy. It faces the Gulf of Salerno and runs from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare, next to Salerno, in the east.
Naples and Sorrento are on the other side of the peninsula.
The Amalfi Coast towns most visitors stay in are Positano, Praiano, Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, Minori and Maiori. Scala, Furore, Conca dei Marini, Cetara and Vietri sul Mare are smaller, and our guide to the Amalfi Coast towns covers each one.
Three places often get lumped in but aren't on the Amalfi Coast:
- Sorrento sits on the Bay of Naples side of the peninsula. It's the most common base for Amalfi Coast day trips, and the Sorrento travel guide explains why.
- Capri is an island in the Bay of Naples, reached by ferry from Positano, Amalfi or Sorrento. See our Capri travel guide.
- Cinque Terre is in Liguria, in the north. If you're choosing between them, read Cinque Terre vs Amalfi Coast.
Is the Amalfi Coast Worth Visiting?
Yes, if you come for the views, the sea and slow days, and you've budgeted for it.
No, if you want sandy beaches, cheap hotels or a car-based road trip in August.
The case for it is easy to make. Towns stacked on cliffs above clear water, lemon terraces, Ravello's gardens and a boat day that's simple to book.
The case against is just as real. Summer crowds fill Positano and Amalfi, hotel prices climb fast from June, the pebble beaches are often rented out by the lounger, and the single coast road, the SS163, jams at peak times.
Our verdict: go in May, June, September or early October. Sleep on the Amalfi Coast rather than day-tripping from Naples, and plan each day around boats and buses instead of trying to see everything.
Comparing coasts and lakes? We weigh them up in Lake Como vs Amalfi Coast.
How Many Days on the Amalfi Coast Do You Need?
Three to four nights is the sweet spot for a first visit.
That gives you a day for Positano, a day for Amalfi and Ravello, one boat day and a spare day for the Path of the Gods or bad weather.
- 1 day: possible only as a tour from Sorrento, Naples or Rome. It's a long day, mostly in transit.
- 2 nights: Positano and Amalfi, with a ferry between them. You'll skip Ravello or the boat day.
- 3–4 nights: the plan above, without rushing.
- 5–7 nights: add Capri, Pompeii or Paestum, or split your stay between two towns.
Our Amalfi Coast itinerary turns this into day-by-day plans.
Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast
Pick your base by how you'll get around (it shapes every day of the trip more than the view from your room does).
Amalfi town is the transport hub. Positano is the postcard.
Ravello is quiet and high above the sea, Praiano is calmer than its neighbors, and Sorrento is the practical base off the Amalfi Coast itself.
- Amalfi town, best for first-timers without a car: buses and ferries leave from the waterfront in several directions, including up to Ravello. Hotel Lidomare is right in the center.
- Positano, best for the classic view: steep, with steps everywhere, and the priciest beds on the coast. Hostel Brikette is the rare budget option here.
- Praiano, best for sunsets and value: between Positano and Amalfi, quieter and spread along the road. Hotel Le Fioriere, on Via Capriglione, is rated 9.2 on Booking.com.
- Ravello, best for couples: gardens, concerts and calm evenings once the day-trippers leave. Every beach trip starts with a bus down to Amalfi, though.
- Sorrento, best for a budget or a mixed trip: better connected to Naples and Pompeii, with Capri boats too. You'll spend more time on buses and ferries to reach the Amalfi Coast towns.
Our recommendation: for a first trip of three or four nights, stay in Amalfi town or Positano. Avoid hotels a long walk uphill from the bus stops unless you're happy with steps or taxis.
For the full comparison by area, see where to stay on the Amalfi Coast. For our hotel picks at every budget, see the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Torn between the two big names? Amalfi vs Positano and Sorrento vs Positano settle it.
Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast
Most of the best days here are simple. A boat, a walk, a long lunch.
Our full list of things to do on the Amalfi Coast has the detail; these are the essentials.
- Take a boat day. From the water you see the towns the way they were built to be seen, and you skip the road. The small-group tour in our top picks covers Positano and Amalfi from Sorrento, and our Amalfi Coast boat tours guide compares shared and private trips.
- Walk the Path of the Gods. The classic route runs from Bomerano, in Agerola, to Nocelle above Positano: about 7–8 km and 3–4 hours, with sea views most of the way. From Nocelle it's roughly 1,700 steps down to Positano, or a short local bus ride. You don't need a guide, but a guided hike with transfers solves the logistics. Details in our Path of the Gods guide.
- Spend a morning in Ravello. Villa Rufolo costs €8, or €6 for over-65s and children aged 5–12, and opens daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in season. Villa Cimbrone's gardens are a short walk on. See the Ravello travel guide.
- See Amalfi's cathedral. The striped facade and its steps dominate the main square, and the Cloister of Paradise and museum are a separate, ticketed visit. More in the Amalfi town guide.
- Go to Capri for a day. Boats run from Positano and Amalfi in season. A shared Capri and Blue Grotto boat tour from Positano, rated 4.8 from 285 reviews, is the easiest version. The grotto itself depends on the sea, as our Blue Grotto guide explains.
- Swim. Amalfi Coast beaches are mostly pebbles, with a free public stretch next to paid beach clubs. Our Positano beaches guide covers the main town's options.
- Visit Pompeii. It's on the Naples side of the peninsula, an easy half day from Sorrento. Start with our Pompeii guide.
Want everything arranged? Our Amalfi Coast tours guide covers day tours from Rome, Naples and Sorrento.
Where to Eat on the Amalfi Coast
Seafood, lemons and pasta are the backbone of Amalfi Coast cooking. Look for spaghetti with clams, fried anchovies, scialatielli (a thick local pasta) with seafood and lemon desserts.
Cetara, at the eastern end, is known for its anchovies and colatura, a fermented anchovy sauce.
Two things catch first-timers out. Many restaurants close one day a week or for the winter, and the popular terraces in Positano and Ravello book up in summer.
Reserve dinner a day or two ahead from June to September. For named places in the busiest town, see the best restaurants in Positano.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
There's no airport or train station on the Amalfi Coast itself. You'll come in through Naples or Salerno, then finish by bus, ferry, transfer or car.
Our step-by-step guide is how to get to the Amalfi Coast.
From Rome to the Amalfi Coast
Take a high-speed train to Naples (a little over an hour) or to Salerno (about 1 hour 40 minutes on Italo's fastest services).
Then switch to a ferry or bus.
Omio's Rome to Salerno page compares Trenitalia and Italo side by side. From Salerno, ferries run along the coast to Amalfi and Positano in season.
Our Rome to Amalfi Coast and Rome to Positano guides compare every option.
From Naples and Naples Airport
Naples Capodichino is the main airport for the Amalfi Coast. The Curreri bus runs from the airport to Sorrento for around €13, taking about 75–90 minutes, and SITA buses continue from there to Positano and Amalfi.
With luggage, a pre-booked car is much easier. Welcome Pickups meets you at arrivals and drives you to your hotel, or as close as the road allows.
From the city, ferries run to Positano and Amalfi in season, and the Circumvesuviana train reaches Sorrento in roughly an hour and a quarter. See Naples to Positano, Naples to Sorrento and our Naples travel guide.
Naples airport also has runway works scheduled for late 2026, with flights moved to Salerno while it's closed. If your trip falls then, check which airport your flight uses.
Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport
It's closer to Amalfi than Naples is.
But it has a much shorter list of flights, mostly within Italy and mostly in summer, so check routes before you plan around it.
Getting Around the Amalfi Coast Without a Car
You don't need a car, and most first-timers are better off without one. Buses and ferries cover the main towns; taxis and private drivers fill the gaps.
- SITA SUD buses: the blue buses run along the SS163 between Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, with a branch up to Ravello. A 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket costs €10, or €12 including Positano's local buses; single tickets are priced by distance. Buy before boarding where you can, and expect standing room only in summer.
- Ferries: from about April to early November, several operators link Positano and Amalfi in roughly 20 minutes, for around €10–€14 one way. Routes continue to Salerno, Sorrento, Capri and Naples. Boats are the best way to avoid the road, but they're cancelled in rough seas.
- Walking: the towns are vertical. Expect steps between almost everything, and pack light.
Driving is possible but hard work.
The road is narrow, and parking is scarce and expensive (and often a long walk from your hotel).
There's also a plate rule. From spring to October, on peak days set by ANAS, cars on the stretch from Vietri sul Mare to Positano are restricted between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.: plates ending in an odd digit may drive on odd dates, even on even dates.
Residents, taxis and hire cars with drivers are exempt. Hotel guests may drive on their arrival and departure days. Rental cars aren't on the exemption list, so check your dates before you book one, and read our driving in Italy guide first.
Our recommendation: no car while you're on the Amalfi Coast. If you want one for the wider region, pick it up on the day you leave.
Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast
May, June, September and early October are the best months. It's warm enough to swim, opening hours are long, and crowds are thinner than in July and August.
Average highs in nearby Salerno run about 19°C (66°F) in April, 29°C (84°F) in July and 23°C (73°F) in October. The sea is warmest in August, at about 27°C.
July and August are hot, busy and the most expensive (and the beach clubs are at their fullest).
From November to March, many hotels, restaurants and boat services close.
Winter is quiet, but limited. Our best time to visit the Amalfi Coast guide goes month by month.
How Much Does an Amalfi Coast Trip Cost?
More than most of Italy, mainly because of hotels.
Getting around is cheap by comparison: a day of unlimited buses is €10, and a Positano–Amalfi ferry is about €10–€14.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| SITA SUD 24-hour bus ticket | €10, or €12 with Positano's local buses |
| Ferry, Amalfi–Positano | about €10–€14 one way |
| Curreri bus, Naples airport–Sorrento | around €13 |
| Villa Rufolo, Ravello | €8 |
| Tourist tax, Ravello, April–October | €3–€5 per person per night, first 7 nights |
| Tourist tax, Positano and Amalfi | up to €5 per person per night, by hotel category |
The tourist tax is charged by each town, per person and per night, and paid at your hotel. In Ravello it applies from April to October for the first seven nights, and under-16s are exempt.
For the bigger picture, see our Italy trip cost guide.
Amalfi Coast Vacations and Holidays: Package or Do It Yourself?
Package deals bundle flights, transfers and a hotel.
They make sense if you'd rather not deal with buses and ferries at all.
Doing it yourself takes less effort than it looks. A train to Salerno or Naples, a transfer or ferry to your hotel, and boats booked a day or two ahead.
UK readers planning Amalfi Coast holidays face the same choice and the same route: fly into Naples, then transfer, ferry or bus to the coast. For a honeymoon, see Italy honeymoon ideas; for weddings, our Amalfi Coast wedding guide.
Is the Amalfi Coast Safe?
Yes. The bigger risks are practical rather than criminal.
That said, a little care goes a long way.
Watch for slippery steps, traffic on stretches of road with no sidewalk, strong sun on boat days and the occasional pickpocket on packed buses and ferries. Keep your phone and wallet zipped away in crowds.
Our is Italy safe guide covers the rest.
Entry Requirements for US Travelers
US citizens don't need a visa for short tourist stays in Italy. Since April 2026, the EU's Entry/Exit System has registered non-EU travelers at the border with a face scan and fingerprints, so allow extra time on your first entry.
ETIAS, the EU's planned travel authorization, has no confirmed start date yet. Check the official EU site and the State Department before you fly, and see our Italy travel requirements guide.
Amalfi Coast Mistakes to Avoid
- Don't make a day trip from Rome your whole visit. You'll spend most of it on the road.
- Don't rent a car for the Amalfi Coast in summer. Between the plate rule, the traffic and the parking, it costs time and money.
- Don't book a hotel far uphill without checking the steps. Look at the map, not just the photos.
- Don't count on the last bus. In summer buses fill up, so have a taxi number or a ferry plan.
- Don't assume ferries run in winter. Most routes stop around November.
- Don't treat Sorrento as an Amalfi Coast town. It's a fine base, just on the other side of the hill.
Booking Checklist for the Amalfi Coast
- Accommodation: book early for May to September. Our top picks are Hostel Brikette, Hotel Lidomare and Hotel Santa Caterina.
- Train from Rome: compare times and fares for Naples and Salerno on Omio.
- Airport transfer: pre-book a driver from Naples airport with Welcome Pickups.
- Boat day and hike: the Positano and Amalfi boat tour, the Capri boat tour and the Path of the Gods hike, all linked above.
- Ferries: buy coast and Capri tickets a day or two ahead in summer, from the operators or at the pier.
- eSIM: maps, timetables and ferry tickets all live on your phone. Yesim sells Italy eSIMs you can install before you fly.
- Travel insurance: compare plans for your trip with Visitors Coverage.
Planning more of Italy? Pair the Amalfi Coast with our Rome travel guide, day trips from Naples or a southern Italy itinerary.
Frequently asked questions
Is Sorrento on the Amalfi Coast?
No. Sorrento is on the Bay of Naples side of the Sorrento Peninsula, while the Amalfi Coast is the southern shore facing the Gulf of Salerno, from Positano to Vietri sul Mare. Sorrento is still a popular, practical base: buses and boats link it with Positano and Amalfi, and it is better connected to Naples and Pompeii.
How many days do you need on the Amalfi Coast?
Three to four nights is right for a first visit. That covers Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, one boat day to the coast or Capri, and a spare day for the Path of the Gods or bad weather. Two nights works if you skip Ravello or the boat; five to seven lets you add Capri or Pompeii.
Do you need a car on the Amalfi Coast?
No, and most first-timers are better off without one. SITA SUD buses and seasonal ferries link the main towns, and taxis or private drivers fill the gaps. The coast road is narrow, parking is scarce, and on peak days from spring to October an odd-even plate rule restricts cars between Vietri sul Mare and Positano.
Where do you fly into for the Amalfi Coast?
Naples Capodichino is the usual airport. From there, the Curreri bus reaches Sorrento in about 75–90 minutes for around €13, or a pre-booked transfer takes you straight to your hotel. Salerno Costa d'Amalfi Airport is closer to Amalfi but has far fewer flights, mostly domestic and mostly in summer.
Is it better to stay in Positano or Amalfi?
For a first trip without a car, Amalfi town is the easier base: buses and ferries leave from its waterfront in several directions, including up to Ravello. Positano has the famous view, but it's steeper, pricier and more crowded. Pick Positano for the scenery and Amalfi for getting around.
Is the Amalfi Coast expensive?
Yes, mainly for hotels, which climb fast from June to September. Getting around is cheap by comparison: a 24-hour SITA SUD bus ticket costs €10 and an Amalfi–Positano ferry about €10–€14. Positano, Amalfi and Ravello also charge a tourist tax of up to €5 per person per night, paid at your hotel.
When should you not go to the Amalfi Coast?
Avoid July and August if you dislike crowds, heat and peak prices, and avoid November to March if you want the full experience. In winter many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes close, so the coast is quiet but limited. May, June, September and early October are the best balance.
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