The Amalfi Coast looks like one long postcard, but a day on the Amalfi Coast is really a chain of small decisions: which bus, which boat, which staircase. This list is built around those decisions. It's grouped by area, so you can pair stops that sit minutes apart instead of zigzagging along the Amalfi Coast road.
Most lists of things to do in Amalfi Coast towns stop at Positano, Amalfi and Ravello. This one goes further, to the lemon terraces, the ceramics town and the pastry counters, and it tells you plainly what to skip.
We built it from official ticket and timetable pages, a read of what the top-ranking lists leave out, and the questions travelers ask Google most.
We haven't walked every step of it for this edition, and we won't pretend we have. What you get is current numbers, checked in October 2026, and a verdict on every stop.
Updated October 2026 with current ticket prices, winter hours and ferry seasons.
Short on Time? Don't Miss These
- Best 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.
- Best taste of the Amalfi Coast: an Amalfi cooking class and farmhouse visit with a meal, rated 5.0 from 489 reviews.
- Best day beyond the coast: a skip-the-line Pompeii express tour by train, rated 4.8 from 2,912 reviews.
- Best free thing: the evening walk along Via Cristoforo Colombo in Positano (item 2).
Things to Do in Positano, Praiano and Furore
1. Swim at Positano's Spiaggia Grande
Positano is the Amalfi Coast's postcard, and its main beach is the front row: a pebbly shore, rows of umbrellas and the village stacked up the hill behind. Roughly half of it is paid loungers and half is free, and the free stretches sit by the ferry pier and at the far western end. They fill by about 11 a.m.
Beach clubs start at around €50 for an umbrella and two loungers (prices vary by club and month).
Our verdict: worth a dip, not a beach day. The pebbles are hard going on bare feet, so pack water shoes. Our Positano beaches guide covers the quieter options.
Cost: free section, or from about €50 for loungers.
2. Walk Via Cristoforo Colombo at Sunset
This cliffside street gives you the view everyone photographs, without paying for it. The classic angle is the stacked houses tumbling to the sea, and the whole walk is free.
Get there about 45 minutes before sunset, then stay for the light. Bars and restaurants along the street will sell you the same view with a drink, which is fine, but you don't need to.
Tip: it's a climb, with steps, so wear proper shoes. For where to eat afterward, see the best restaurants in Positano.
Cost: free.
3. Hike the Path of the Gods
The Sentiero degli Dei is the Amalfi Coast's best-known walk: about 7.8 km (4.8 miles) along the cliffs from Bomerano, in Agerola, to Nocelle, above Positano.
Allow three to four hours. It's free, with no permit, and officially open from April to November.
The sting comes at the end. From Nocelle it's roughly 1,700 steps down to Positano, which takes 30 to 45 minutes, or a local bus for about €1.30.
You don't need a guide, but a guided hike with transfers solves the logistics of getting to Bomerano and back. Details in our Path of the Gods guide.
Tip: start early. The route is exposed, and midday in summer is punishing.
4. Swim in the Fiordo di Furore
A narrow gorge cut by a river, a stone bridge high above and a tiny pebble beach at the bottom. It isn't a true fjord (glaciers make those), but it looks like one.
The SITA bus stops right on the bridge.
From there, about 200 steps cut into the rock lead down to the water. The cliffs mean the sun reaches the cove for only a few hours, which keeps it cooler than the other beaches.
Our verdict: go for a swim and a photo, not a long beach day. There's little space down there, so bring water.
Cost: free.
Tip: Buy the 24-Hour Bus Pass
You'll use the blue SITA SUD buses constantly.
A 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket costs €10, or €12 if you want Positano's local buses too. It isn't sold on board, so buy it before you board. A single Sorrento–Positano ticket is about €2.40 and takes roughly 50 minutes.
Things to Do in Amalfi and Atrani
5. Climb the Steps of Amalfi Cathedral
The striped facade and the long staircase up to it dominate Piazza del Duomo, and climbing them is the one thing nobody skips. At the top you get the whole square at once.
The ticket is the surprise. For €3 (€1.50 reduced), one ticket covers the Cloister of Paradise, the diocesan museum, the Basilica of the Crucifix and the crypt, which is far more than most old guides mention.
Hours shift with the season.
Local listings give roughly 9 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. from March to June and to 7:45 p.m. in July to September, with a shorter, split day from November to February, so check before a winter visit. Cover your shoulders and knees.
Our recommendation: go early, before the tour groups arrive, and see the cloister while it's quiet. If you only have half a day in town, do the cathedral, the paper museum and a pastry on the square, then walk over to Atrani. More in our Amalfi town guide.
Cost: €3.
6. Learn About Paper at the Museo della Carta
Amalfi was a papermaking town long before it was a holiday town, and this small museum on Via delle Cartiere tells that story. It's the best wet-weather stop in town.
Entry is about €4.50, or €2.50 reduced. Hours differ between listings, so check the museum's own site before you go.
Our verdict: short and charming, but not a headline. Skip it if you're short on time, and do the cathedral cloister instead.
Cost: about €4.50.
7. Walk Over to Atrani
Ten minutes on foot from Amalfi's center, Atrani is often called the smallest town in Italy. Its beach is a sliver of sand squeezed between two cliffs, with a row of arches behind it and a church above.
It's quieter than Amalfi even in August. Have a coffee or a late lunch beside the beach, then walk back along the sea.
Cost: free.
8. Hike the Valle delle Ferriere
A shaded valley walk behind Amalfi, from the hamlet of Pontone down toward town. It's a gentler day than the Path of the Gods, and the valley is cooler in summer.
Plan on three to four hours.
Sources differ on the exact distance, which depends on where you start. Entry to the fenced nature reserve is by guided visit, about €5, booked through the reserve's own site.
Our verdict: the best answer to "I'm tired of crowds." Skip it after heavy rain, when the path gets slippery.
Cost: about €5 for the reserve.
9. Visit a Lemon Farm Above Amalfi
Lemons are the identity of the whole Amalfi Coast: the big, knobbly sfusato amalfitano, grown on stone-walled terraces that look like green stairs. A tasting is the easiest way to see the terraces up close.
This vertical lemon farm tour with tastings and a rural museum in Amalfi is rated 4.8 from 291 reviews. A small family producer in the center of Amalfi, Antichi Sapori d'Amalfi, also runs limoncello tastings (confirm prices with them directly).
Our verdict: worth it for the terraces and the tasting.
Things to Do in Ravello
10. See the Gardens of Villa Rufolo
Villa Rufolo is the postcard view above the coast: a 13th-century estate with a cloister, a tower and terraced gardens, and the one view of the sea framed by a pine tree and a church dome.
Admission is €8, €6 for over-65s and children aged 5 to 12, and €7 for groups of 15 or more.
Tickets are sold on site only. In season the villa opens 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; from 3 November it's 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., last entry at 4:30 p.m.
Our verdict: the best-value ticket in Ravello. Allow an hour, and go late in the day when the light softens. Our Ravello travel guide explains how to reach it from Amalfi by bus.
Cost: €8.
11. Stand on Villa Cimbrone's Terrace of Infinity
The Terrace of Infinity is a ledge lined with marble busts, with nothing in front of it but sea and sky. Of the paid viewpoints on the Amalfi Coast, it's the one that most justifies its fee.
The gardens cost €10, with discounts for groups and children under 12.
Hours conflict between sources, from about 9 a.m. to 5 or 6 p.m., so check the villa's own page before you go.
Our recommendation: if you can only afford the time or money for one villa, pick Cimbrone for the terrace and Rufolo for the cloister and gardens. Most first-timers should do both, because they're a short walk apart.
Cost: €10.
12. Catch a Ravello Festival Concert
Every summer Villa Rufolo's belvedere becomes an open-air stage over the sea. The 2026 Ravello Festival, its 74th edition, ran from 4 July to 5 September, with tickets from about €20 to €60 and cheaper under-26 seats (confirm the next edition's prices and dates).
Our verdict: a lovely night out in July or August, and one to book weeks ahead. In winter, skip it; there's nothing to see.
Cost: about €20 to €60 in 2026.
Things to Do in Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri
13. Walk the Sentiero dei Limoni
The Path of the Lemons links Maiori and Minori through lemon terraces, about two to three kilometers each way (1.2 to 1.9 miles) depending on the source.
Allow one to two hours. It's free, mostly paved, and full of steps.
It suits families and anyone who wants a walk without the Path of the Gods' commitment. Carry water, because there's little shade at midday.
Cost: free.
14. Eat a Delizia al Limone in Minori
The delizia is a lemon cream dome on a limoncello-soaked sponge, and Minori is considered its home. Pasticceria Sal De Riso, at Via Roma 80, is the name most guides point to.
Our verdict: the one sweet you should plan a stop around. Have it with an espresso and nothing else on the plan for half an hour.
Cost: a few euros for a single pastry.
15. Taste Colatura in Cetara
Cetara is a working fishing village, best known for anchovies and colatura di alici, a dark, fragrant anchovy sauce. The village's colatura holds EU protected status (DOP, approved in 2020) and is a Slow Food presidium.
Order it tossed through spaghetti, or buy a small bottle. The new batch is typically ready in December.
Tip: Cetara is a bus or ferry ride from Amalfi, so it's an easy add-on to a day in Maiori or Vietri.
16. Shop for Ceramics in Vietri sul Mare
Vietri, at the eastern end of the coast, is the ceramics capital: painted tiles, plates and mugs in the bright coast colors, sold along Corso Umberto I. Prices here run lower than in Positano or Amalfi, so this is the place to buy.
The provincial ceramics museum in Villa Guariglia, at Raito, is listed as open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., and free. Confirm that before making the trip.
Cost: free to browse.
Things to Do on the Water
17. Take a Boat Day Along the Coast
The Amalfi Coast towns were built to be seen from the sea, and a boat day is the single best use of a free day. You skip the Amalfi Coast road, swim off the boat and see Positano, Praiano and Amalfi from below.
This small-group Positano and Amalfi Coast boat tour leaves from Sorrento and is rated 4.8 from 481 reviews. Staying on the Amalfi Coast itself? Compare shared and private trips in our Amalfi Coast boat tours guide, or browse the full Amalfi Coast tours roundup.
Tip: boats run in season and can be cancelled in rough seas, so keep your plans flexible.
18. Hop Between Towns by Ferry
The cheapest boat trip is the public ferry.
Positano to Amalfi takes about 20 to 25 minutes and costs from €10 with Grassi Junior, Lucibello, Travelmar and Alicost, €12 with Alilauro and Gescab, and €14 with NLG. Services run from about April to early November.
Our recommendation: use the ferry for at least one transfer. It's a better view than the bus, and usually less crowded. Ferries reach Capri and Salerno too, so see our guide on how to get to the Amalfi Coast.
Cost: from €10.
19. Take a Day Trip to Capri
Capri is the classic add-on to an Amalfi Coast trip. From Positano the ferry costs roughly €27.50 to €30 each way and takes 40 to 50 minutes. Boats also leave from Amalfi and Sorrento.
For the Blue Grotto, budget €19 in 2026: €13 for the rowboat plus €6 for entry.
Hours run 8:30 a.m.
to 6 p.m. in April to September, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the first half of October, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. from mid-October to March.
The grotto closes when the sea is rough, so never build a whole day around it.
This shared Capri and Blue Grotto boat tour from Positano, rated 4.8 from 285 reviews, bundles the crossing. Our Blue Grotto guide, Capri travel guide and list of things to do in Capri go deeper.
Our verdict: skip Capri on a first trip of three days or fewer. It's a full day of ferries and queues, and the Amalfi Coast itself has plenty to fill the time.
Cost: about €55 to €60 return, plus €19 for the Blue Grotto.
20. Visit the Grotta dello Smeraldo
The Emerald Grotto, at Conca dei Marini, is a sea cave lit green by sunlight filtering through the water. You reach it from the coast road by stairs or a lift, or by boat from Amalfi.
Sources disagree on the price (about €10 on one local site, €6 to €7 on another) and on the hours, and we found no 2026 notice either way. It also shuts in rough seas.
Our verdict: skip it unless you're already nearby and the sea is calm. Confirm the price at the ticket window.
21. Watch the Sunset from a Boat
Boats out of Positano catch the light on the cliffs at the end of the day. This shared Positano sunset cruise is rated 4.8 from 313 reviews.
Tip: pick this on a day when you've not booked a full-day excursion. It's a gentle way to end a hiking day.
Eat and Cook
22. Take a Cooking Class
A hands-on class is the easiest way to learn scialatielli, the thick hand-cut pasta from Amalfi, and the local lemon dishes.
This Amalfi cooking class and farmhouse visit with a meal is rated 5.0 from 489 reviews. The page notes it's often unavailable, so book as early as you can.
Our verdict: the best rainy-day plan on the coast, and a fair choice for couples.
23. Have a Sfogliatella Santa Rosa for Breakfast
The sfogliatella Santa Rosa is a shell-shaped pastry filled with cream and topped with a cherry, created in the 17th century at the Santa Rosa convent in Conca dei Marini. Pasticceria Pansa, on Piazza Duomo in Amalfi, has been selling pastries since the 1830s. Order one at the counter with a coffee.
Cost: a few euros.
Things to Do Beyond the Coast
24. Spend a Day at Pompeii
Pompeii is a full day, not a stopover, and it has its own page: see our Pompeii guide. The facts first.
Official prices from January 2026: Express €20 (city only), Plus €25, and a three-day pass €30.
Tickets are named and capped at 20,000 a day, and online sales run through the official ticketing site. From 16 March to 14 October the site opens at 9 a.m. with last entry at 5:30 p.m.; in winter, last entry is 3:30 p.m. Bags can be at most 30 by 30 by 15 cm.
From Sorrento, take the Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi: about €3.30 and 40 minutes, with trains every 30 minutes. A skip-the-line Pompeii express tour by train handles the tickets and the route.
Our verdict: worth a full day, but not from Amalfi by bus. Base yourself in Sorrento for it.
Cost: €20 to €25.
25. Climb Mount Vesuvius
Gran Cono crater tickets are sold online only, at about €10 (€8 reduced) according to a regional events site, so check the park's website for the current price. The park closed paths on several days in October 2026 for weather alerts, so look again the morning you go.
A full-day Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius tour from Sorrento is rated 4.7 from 403 reviews. See our Mount Vesuvius guide.
Our verdict: skip it on a cloudy day. You'll walk to a crater full of fog.
26. See the Greek Temples at Paestum
South of Salerno, Paestum is famous for its three Doric temples, among the best preserved Greek temples anywhere.
The ticket is €15 from March to November and €10 from December to February, and covers the museum and the Velia site for three days.
The park opens 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with the ticket office closing at 6:30 p.m.
It's reached by regional train on the Naples–Salerno line, so it fits as a day trip from the east end of the Amalfi Coast.
Our verdict: the best answer to "I've done Pompeii, what next?"
Cost: €15 (March to November).
How Many Days Do You Need on the Amalfi Coast?
Choose your things to do in Amalfi Coast towns by base, not by list length.
Three to four nights is right for a first visit to the Amalfi Coast. That's enough for Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, one boat day, and a spare day for the Path of the Gods or bad weather. Two nights works if you skip Ravello or the boat.
If you're booking one of the Amalfi Coast holidays that package operators sell, check which town the hotel is actually in.
"Amalfi Coast" on a package can mean Sorrento, which sits on the other side of the peninsula. Our Amalfi Coast itinerary turns this into day plans.
What to do in Amalfi Coast towns when it rains: the cathedral cloister, the paper museum, a cooking class and the ceramics museum.
Getting Around the Amalfi Coast
Buses and ferries link the main Amalfi Coast towns, so you don't need a car. The 24-hour bus pass is €10, and the public ferries start at €10 for a hop.
Driving is possible, but hard work. The coast road is narrow, parking is scarce, and landslides and traffic rules can close or restrict stretches of it. In busy periods the authority has used odd-even plate restrictions, so check the current rules before you drive. Our driving in Italy guide covers the rental side.
Coming from Rome?
Take a high-speed train to Naples or Salerno, then a bus, ferry or transfer.
Omio's Rome to Salerno page compares Trenitalia and Italo. See Rome to the Amalfi Coast for the full options.
Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast
May, June, September and early October are the sweet spot: warm, open and less crowded than July and August. Many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes close roughly from November to March, so winter is quiet but limited. Our best time to visit the Amalfi Coast guide goes month by month.
Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast
Amalfi town is the easiest base for a first trip without a car, because buses and ferries fan out from its waterfront. Positano has the view, but it's steeper and pricier.
- Amalfi, mid-range: Hotel Lidomare, on Largo Piccolomini in the center, rated 8.9 on Booking.com when we checked.
- Amalfi, splurge: Hotel Santa Caterina, a luxury hotel on the coast road at the edge of town, rated 9.5.
- Positano, budget: Hostel Brikette, on Via Guglielmo Marconi, rated 9.2.
- Praiano, calmer: Hotel Le Fioriere, on Via Capriglione, rated 9.2.
For the full comparison, see where to stay on the Amalfi Coast and the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Torn between the two big names? Amalfi vs Positano settles it.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Amalfi Cathedral complex | €3 (€1.50 reduced) |
| Villa Rufolo, Ravello | €8 |
| Villa Cimbrone, Ravello | €10 |
| Museo della Carta, Amalfi | about €4.50 |
| Blue Grotto, Capri | €19 (rowboat plus entry) |
| Pompeii (Express / Plus) | €20 / €25 |
| Mount Vesuvius crater | about €10 |
| Paestum (March to November) | €15 |
| 24-hour SITA bus pass | €10 |
| Positano–Amalfi ferry | from €10 |
| Positano–Capri ferry, one way | about €27.50 to €30 |
Plan Your Amalfi Coast Trip
- Hotel: book early for May to September; see the four picks above.
- Train from Rome: compare Naples and Salerno options on Omio.
- Airport transfer: pre-book a driver with Welcome Pickups.
- Tours and tickets: the boat day, the hike, the cooking class and Pompeii, all linked above.
- eSIM: maps, timetables and ferry tickets all live on your phone. Yesim sells Italy eSIMs you can install before you fly; see our Italy eSIM guide.
- Travel insurance: compare plans for your trip with Visitors Coverage.
Want the bigger picture? Start with the Amalfi Coast travel guide, then read about Positano, Sorrento and Naples. For a honeymoon, see Italy honeymoon ideas.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast?
Walk the Path of the Gods, take a boat day past Positano and Amalfi, climb Amalfi Cathedral's steps and visit Ravello's villas. Add a lemon tasting, a ferry hop and a pastry in Minori, and Pompeii if you can spare a day. This list covers 26 stops, grouped by area.
How many days do you need on the Amalfi Coast?
Three to four nights covers Positano, Amalfi and Ravello, one boat day and a spare day for the Path of the Gods or bad weather. Two nights works if you skip Ravello or the boat. Add days for Capri, Pompeii or Paestum.
Is the Amalfi Coast worth visiting?
Yes, if you come for views, sea and slow days and have budgeted for it. It's crowded and expensive in July and August, and the pebble beaches are often rented by the lounger. May, June, September and early October are the best balance.
What can you do in Amalfi town in a day?
Climb the cathedral steps and see the cloister (one €3 ticket), visit the Museo della Carta, have a sfogliatella at Pansa, then walk 10 minutes to Atrani. If you have energy left, add the Valle delle Ferriere walk or a lemon farm tour.
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. Many hotels, restaurants and ferry routes close in winter, so the coast is quiet but limited.
Is it better to stay in Positano or Amalfi?
For a first trip without a car, Amalfi town is easier: buses and ferries fan out from its waterfront, including up to Ravello. Positano has the famous view but is steeper, pricier and more crowded. Pick Positano for scenery, Amalfi for logistics.
Can you visit the Amalfi Coast without a car?
Yes, and most first-timers should. SITA buses and seasonal ferries link the main towns, a 24-hour bus pass costs €10, and a Positano–Amalfi ferry starts at €10. The coast road is narrow, parking is scarce, and odd-even plate rules are used on busy dates.
What are the free things to do on the Amalfi Coast?
Walk Via Cristoforo Colombo in Positano, hike the Path of the Gods, swim at Furore, walk the Sentiero dei Limoni and wander Atrani. Positano's free beach stretches and Vietri's ceramics street cost nothing either. Entry to the villas and cathedral cloister is paid.
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