Travel Guide · Italy
Amalfi Coast
Cliffside villages, turquoise water, and the most beautiful coastline in Europe. Italy at its most theatrical.
At a Glance
Best Season
May – June · Sept
Ideal Duration
5–7 days
Budget
$$$–$$$$$
Vibe
Romantic · Scenic · Culinary
Fly Into
Naples (NAP)
Currency
Euro (€)
The Coast
Why the Amalfi Coast Endures
The Amalfi Coast is a 50-kilometre stretch of the Sorrentine Peninsula in southern Italy — a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most visited coastlines in the world. The question is whether it lives up to the reputation. The answer is yes, but only if you know how to experience it.
The coast is best seen from the water. The villages — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Praiano — look entirely different from a boat than from the road, and the sea caves, grottos, and hidden beaches are inaccessible by land. A day on a private boat is not a luxury; it is the essential Amalfi experience.
The best version of the Amalfi Coast is found in May, June, or September — before and after the summer crowds. The light is extraordinary, the water is warm, and the restaurants are at their best. This guide will help you find that version.
Day by Day
The Perfect 5-Day Itinerary
Day 1
Arrive in Positano
Fly into Naples and transfer to Positano — the most photographed village on the Amalfi Coast. The drive along the SS163 coastal road is one of the great arrivals in European travel: hairpin bends, cliffs dropping to turquoise water, and the first glimpse of the pastel-coloured houses cascading down the hillside. Check in, walk to the beach, and have dinner at a cliffside restaurant.
Day 2
Boat Day on the Coast
Hire a private boat for the day — the only way to see the Amalfi Coast properly. Visit the sea caves at Conca dei Marini, swim in the grottos, and approach Positano from the water to understand why it looks the way it does. Lunch at a beach club accessible only by boat. Return to Positano for aperitivo at sunset.
Day 3
Ravello & the Gardens
Drive up to Ravello — the hilltop town above the coast with the finest views in southern Italy. Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo have gardens that have inspired writers and composers for centuries. Wagner finished Parsifal here. Gore Vidal lived here for thirty years. The Belvedere of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone is one of the great views in Europe.
Day 4
Amalfi Town & the Path of the Gods
Morning in Amalfi town — the medieval cathedral, the paper museum, and the narrow lanes of the old city. Afternoon on the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) — the clifftop hiking trail from Agerola to Nocelle with views across the entire coast. Allow three hours and finish with a limoncello in Positano.
Day 5
Capri Day Trip
Take the hydrofoil to Capri — the island off the tip of the Sorrentine Peninsula that has been a playground for the wealthy since the Roman emperors. Visit the Blue Grotto in the morning before the crowds, take the chairlift to Monte Solaro, and have lunch at a restaurant in the Piazzetta. Return to the coast by evening.
Accommodation
Where to Stay
From the legendary Le Sirenuse to a Michelin-starred hilltop palazzo — the Amalfi Coast has some of the finest hotels in Europe.
Cliffside Hotels & Palazzo Retreats
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Luxury Hotel
Le Sirenuse
The finest hotel on the Amalfi Coast, set in an 18th-century palazzo in Positano with views over the village and the sea. The pool terrace, the Franco's Bar, and the Champagne & Oyster Bar are institutions. The service is impeccable.
Best for: The definitive Amalfi Coast experience
Cliffside Hotel
Hotel Santa Caterina
A family-owned hotel carved into the cliffs above Amalfi town, with a private beach accessible by elevator and lift. The gardens are extraordinary, the pool is spectacular, and the restaurant is one of the finest on the coast.
Best for: Families & garden lovers
Boutique Hotel
Palazzo Avino
A 12th-century palazzo in Ravello, high above the coast, with a pool terrace that offers the finest views in southern Italy. The Rossellinis restaurant has a Michelin star and a wine list that draws on the best of Campania.
Best for: Views, wine & fine dining
Dining
Where to Eat
Campanian cuisine at its finest — fresh pasta, local seafood, buffalo mozzarella, and lemons the size of your fist.
Seafood, Pasta & Lemon Everything
Positano
La Sponda at Le Sirenuse
The restaurant at Le Sirenuse — candlelit, terraced, with views over the village and the sea. The cooking is a sophisticated take on Campanian cuisine: fresh pasta, local seafood, and the extraordinary produce of the Amalfi hinterland. One of the great dining settings in Italy.
Must order: The spaghetti alle vongole and the fresh catch of the day
Laurito Beach
Da Adolfo
A beach restaurant accessible only by boat, serving the freshest seafood on the coast. The mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves is a local institution. Arrive by the free boat from Positano, eat at a table on the beach, and swim between courses.
Must order: Mozzarella grilled on lemon leaves and the grilled fish
Ravello
Rossellinis
The Michelin-starred restaurant at Palazzo Avino, with a terrace overlooking the coast. Chef Pino Lavarra's cooking draws on the finest ingredients of Campania — buffalo mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes, local fish — with a refinement that matches the extraordinary setting.
Must order: The tasting menu with Campanian wine pairing
Experiences
What to Do
Private Boat Day
Amalfi Coast, Italy
Private Boat Hire
The essential Amalfi experience. The coast looks entirely different from the water — sea caves, hidden beaches, and the villages seen from the sea.
Ravello Gardens
Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo have gardens that have inspired writers and composers for centuries. The Belvedere of Infinity is one of the great views in Europe.
Path of the Gods
The Sentiero degli Dei — a clifftop hiking trail from Agerola to Nocelle with views across the entire coast. Allow three hours and finish with a limoncello.
Capri Day Trip
The Blue Grotto, Monte Solaro, and the Piazzetta. Take the hydrofoil from Positano and spend a full day on the island.
Amalfi Cathedral
The 9th-century Cathedral of Saint Andrew — a Moorish-Norman masterpiece with a cloister of extraordinary beauty. Free to enter and often overlooked.
Limoncello Tasting
The Amalfi Coast produces the finest lemons in Italy. Visit a local producer for a tasting — the difference between artisan limoncello and the commercial version is extraordinary.
Local Knowledge
Insider Tips
July and August are extremely crowded. May, June, and September are the ideal months — the weather is excellent and the crowds are manageable.
Hire a private boat for at least one day. The coast looks entirely different from the water, and the sea caves and grottos are inaccessible by road.
The coastal road (SS163) is narrow and extremely busy in summer. Consider hiring a driver rather than self-driving — the stress is not worth it.
Book Le Sirenuse six months ahead for peak season. It is one of the most sought-after hotels in Europe.
The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) is best walked from east to west — Agerola to Nocelle — for the best views throughout.
Is It Right for You?
Who the Amalfi Coast Is For
Romantics
The most romantic coastline in Europe. Cliffside hotels, candlelit dinners, and sunsets over the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Food & Wine Lovers
Campanian cuisine at its finest — fresh pasta, local seafood, buffalo mozzarella, and the wines of the Amalfi hinterland.
Boat Enthusiasts
The coast is best seen from the water. Private boat hire is the defining Amalfi experience.
Architecture & Art Lovers
Medieval cathedrals, Roman villas, Moorish cloisters, and gardens that have inspired artists for centuries.
Keep Exploring
More Travel Guides
From Santorini to the Serengeti — every destination, covered in depth.