The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful stretches of coast of Italy and of the entire world. It is crossed by a single curvy road built on the sea, the legendary state road n. 163, from which you'll enjoy breathtaking views that will remain on your mind and in your heart forever.

The villages along the road, all perched on rocky ridges with the sea in front and the mountains behind, are: Positano, Praiano, Conca dei Marini, Amalfi, Ravello, Minori, Maiori, Cetara e Vietri Sul Mare. A beauty after another, curve after curve !

What make this paradise even more enjoyable are its mild climat, the shiny sun, the deep blue see, a rich mediterranean vegetation, the lemon orchards, the handycraft shops and a culinary tradition that satisfies the most demanding palates.

Don't miss anything. Taste fried and grilled fish, homemade pasta with seafood, pizza with mozzarella from Agerola, granita with lemons, and all the special pastries made by the famous pastry chef Sal De Riso, who created the super tasty delizia al limone, a cream and lemon sponge cake.

You can get to Amalfy Coast easily by car, by high speed train freccia rossa from Milano and Rome to Salerno and by flight to Naples and Salerno airports.  Then you need to rent a car or get a  SITA bus.

You can buy your train ticket on the italian railway company website trenitalia. Down below the link to the timetables and do your booking:

Visiting the Amalfi coast is always lovely because there's a mild climat and the weather is often good. Anyway, the best season to go there is late spring and autumn, when it's warm and tourists are not so many as during high season.

In summer it's very hot and crowded and your holiday could be spoiled by traffic jams and stress.

Moreover, villages along the coast are tiny so parking your car could be a tricky issue because there are a few parking lots and they are very expensive. You could pay at least 5 euros per hour ! The best way to move up and down the coast is definitely using the SITA bus as they are useful and comfy even if not always on time because in high season they are affected by traffic too. Here the timetables:

You can't buy tickets on the bus but only in authorized vendors like tobacco shops. A ride costs a little more than 1 euro but there's the possibility to buy a daily ticket you can use for unlimited rides. 

1- Amalfi

Amalfi is a small and cosy pearl. Ancient maritime republic it preserves its pride and its open soul towards sea trades. It has a tiny old town with many characteristic alleys, many handcraft shops and many restaurants where you can taste the delicacies of the area.

The main attraction is definitely its Cathedral dedicated to Sant'Andrea, which rises up in the sky from Piazza Duomo with an imposing staircase.

The entrance is free during religious services, while with a 3 euros ticket you can visit it together with the museum and the cloister of paradise.

These are the opening hours:

Everyday from march to june: 9:00 am - 6.45 pm

Everyday from July to September: 9:00 am - 7:45 pm

Everyday  from October to Febraury: 10:00 am - 1.00 pm - 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm

If you are lucky enough to be in Amalfi during the historical regatta of the ancient maritime republics, don't miss it. It takes place every year on a different day, in a period between late May and July and it is hosted in turn by the towns involved.

This regatta, which takes place on rowing boats with 8 rowers, is the historical re-enactment of the rivalry between the maritime republics Amalfi, Pisa, Genoa and Venice, which fought for trade in the Mediterranean sea between the tenth and thirteenth centuries. Before the regatta, when it is organized in Amalfi, the costumed processions are held in Piazza del Duomo in memory of the significant events of those years. Really evocative are the layouts on the streets and the cheering of its inhabitants supporting the boat of their city.

2- Ravello

Among the Amalfi Coast towns, Ravello is definitely the most elegant and glamorous. Located at over 300 meters above sea level inland between Amalfi and Minori, it gives you the chance to enjoy a truly extraordinary landscape on the sea and on the coast.

Ravello, protected UNESCO heritage, is characterized by small halleys full of art studios and handcraft shops, but the two major attractions not to be missed are Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, with an exceptional architectural heritage and beautiful gardens.

In Villa Rufolo is held every July the Ravello music festival, where the greatest musicians all over the world play classical music and jazz music in a magical atmosphere of absolute prestige.

Villa Cimbrone is famous instead for its terrace on the infinite, a balcony from where you can enjoy one of the most amazing views in the world.

You can visit Villa Ruffolo every day from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm with last admission allowed no later than 6.30 pm. The adults ticket costs 7 euros while it costs 5 euros for kids under 12 and adults over 65.

You can visit Villa Cimbrone as well at the same price every day from 9.00 am to 8.00 pm in summer (last entrance 7.30 pm) and from 9.00 am until sunset in winter season.

3- Positano

Positano is a famous destination all over the world for its beauty. Perched against the mountain it stands out for its colorful houses, its stairways, the deep blue of the sea and a great vivacity.

Don't miss a walk through its alleys full of fashion shops, luxury restaurants and sandals shops made at the moment by the expert hands of local artisans. I suggest to wear comfortable shoes, as the roads are steep and narrow. Get to the Marina Grande beach. From there you can look up and admire the whole village. To get to Positano you can take a Sita bus as well as a rental car. However, parking lots are a big issue: scarce and expensive.

4-The gods' path

The ''gods' path" is an easy hiking trail that starts in Agerola, over 600 meters above sea level and ends in Nocelle, near Positano.

The path is about 7 km long and can be covered on foot in a couple of hours without any stop. It will take a little longer if you walk easy, taking all the time you need to admire the views, take pictures, rest a little bit and simply enjoy the wonderful nature along the way.

You can reach Agerola by SITA buses from Amalfi, Naples or Castellammare di Stabia. Once there, you will find the signs that, from the village center, will lead you to the beginning of the path.

Remember to wear light trekking shoes and bring with you water, sunscreen cream, sunglasses and if you need it, a hat to protect your head. In fact, in spring and summer the sun is very strong and the weather could get really hot.

Once arrived to Nocelle, above Positano, I suggest you to go on down a staircase of about 1,700 steps, which will lead you on Arienzo Beach, one of the most beautiful beaches in Positano.

After walking so much under the sun you deserve a refreshing swim in the blue sea and a good lunch at the Bagni di Arienzo Restaurant. In the afternoon you can sunbath on the beach or get a boat to Positano for a stroll.

At the end of the day you'll go back to your hotel by SITA bus.

5- Capri

If you are on vacation on the Amalfi Coast, take a day trip to Capri Island, in the Gulf of Naples.

Boats leave from Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento from April to late October with at least four daily trips, most of them in the morning. There are several shipping companies that cover the route and  tickets can be purchased at the ticket offices at the piers or online. The round trip costs about 25 euros and the ride takes 50 minutes. 

Once you reach the Marina Grande port, the funicular will take you directly to the center of Capri. The departures are every 15 minutes and the ticket costs 2 euros. You can find the ticket office on the right side of the port. If you want to visit the blue cave, famous all over the world for the color of its electric blue waters, you can buy your ticket at the port.

The most interesting things to see in Capri are the famous Piazzetta,  Camerelle road, the super posh shopping street with  fashion ateliers of the most important world-renowned stylists and designers, Tragare road, from where you can enjoy a breathtaking view on Faraglioni, the gardens of Augustus, from where you can enjoy both Faraglioni and the Krupp road, a scenographic all-curved road  closed at the moment due to the risk of landslides. If you like the mountains you can take an excursion to Mount Solaro, the highest mountain of Capri (586 meters above sea level), reachable by chairlift from  Vittoria square in Anacapri or on foot. The ticket costs 10 euros.

Whatever you'll choose to do you'll like Capri very much,  for its blue sea, its glamourous shopping roads full of tourists, the villas hidden in the lush Mediterranean vegetation and its steep roads from where enjoying breathtaking views on the coast and the entire gulf. A true paradise not to be missed.

6- Pompei

The archaeological site of Pompei is only one ore drive from Amalfi, so don't miss it.

Pompei is famous all over the world for being buried by a terrible eruption of Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Its population was not aware that Vesuvius was a volcano, so the earthquakes that had occurred a few days before had not worried them. The strong explosions and the rain of lava and lapilli that spilled over the town cought the Pompeians by surprise and those last moments of life have remained crystallized over the centuries.

The town was brought to light after decades of excavations and what the archaeologists gave us back is a surprisingly well-preserved town, with roads, squares, a theater, thermal baths and villas. That's why it was quite easy to find out a lot about life in Pompei and that of its inhabitants: their eating habits, political and commercial activities and leisure activities. Walking through the ancient Pompei with Vesuvius in the background will be a unique experience.

You can visit Pompei:

from the 1st of november to the 31st of march: every day from 9.00 am to 5 pm (last entrance at 3.30 pm)

from the 1st of aprile to the 31st of october: every day from 9.00 am (saturday and sunday from 8.30 am) to 19.30 pm (last entrance at 6 pm)

The archaeological site is closed the 1st of january, the 1st of May and the 25th of december

The entrance ticket costs 15 euros and it can be purchased at the main gates of Porta Marina, Piazza Anfiteatro and Piazza Esedra or online on  ticketone.

If you want to have a great day and enjoy your visit I suggest you to join a guide group. Ask for it at the ticket office in Porta Marina and Piazza Esedra. 

7- Beaches

Along the Amalfi Coast there are many hidden beaches that need to be discovered. As the villages are perched on Lattari Mountains, if you want to get to the seaside you need to go down steep staircases that can be tough, even more  when you have to go back upstairs.

They aren't long beaches, usually not long than 200 meters, with dark fine sand or little pebbles. They are all equipped with umbrellas, sunbeds and restaurants and there's the chance to rent some sport equipments.

The most famous beaches are: Marina Grande in Amalfi and Duoglio Beach outside Amalfi (at the 28th km on the state road) that you can reach going down 400 stairs; in Positano you can find Laurito beach, Arienzo beach, Marina Grande and Fornillo beach reachable from Marina Grande along a scenographic path. There are also Praiano beach, the Furore Fiord and one of my favourite places, Lido Capo di Conca at Conca dei Marini, a truly amazing site with concreet platforms built on beautiful rocks. The list ends with Maiori beach, the longest in Amalfi Coast.

There are also many other little beaches you can reach only from the sea. During the summer season there are sea-taxi services on, so from the most famous beaches you can let them bring you in one of those beautiful places.

As you can see you have a lot of choices and sea waters are crystal clear everywhere. 

8- The pleasure of eating

During a vacation in the Amalfi Coast, all your senses are touched, but taste is the one who can give you the most rewarding experience.

Thinking about Amalfi Coast what are coming up on your mind are lemons. The Ovale of Sorrento and the Sfusato of Amalfi are the best and famous qualities of lemon cultivated on terraces patiently obtained from the impervious slopes of this stretch of coast. Don't miss lemon granita, with real lemon juice squeezed at the moment, the "delizia al limone", a sponge cake with lemon  and cream make up by the pastry chef Sal De Riso, the Limoncello liquor, ravioli with lemon flavour and lemon icecream.

All the most famous dishes in Amalfi Coast have fish as main ingredient. It is caught fresh every morning and it ends on restaurants tables in the evening. So enjoy scialatielli (handmade pasta) with seafood, fried fish, marinara mussells , Cetara anchovies.

Among the delicacies of the area don't miss also  Agerola fior di latte, a kind of special mozzarella you can taste simply with olive oil or on top of pizza.

I fell like suggest you the restaurant “Le bontà del capo” in Conca dei Marini, one of the best along the coast. You will be able to dine on a beautiful terrace on the sea and an amazing view, in a simple but refined ambience. Prices are good and food quality very high.

Finding an accomodation in the Amalfi Coast can be more or less tricky depending on what is your budget and what are the features you are looking for.

By the way, the offer is huge and you can find good accomodations without spending a fortune.  What you need is taking my advice into consideration and a little bit of patience.

In my opinion an accomodation in Amalfi Coast  to be good must have some characteristic:

- the parking

If you are going to travel by car you need to find an accomodation with free parking lots. As I said before room for cars is not that much available and if you are lucky enough to find one you  should probably spend a lot.

After a day out, park your car in a reserved space is priceless. Think about it: no stress at all looking for a parking lot every night.

- the proximity to a SITA bus stop

Visiting the Amalfi Coast by bus can be a very smart choice because you don't have to worry about driving and looking for parking every time you want to stop somewhere. You can simply enjoy the view from the window and be toughtless. That's why it would be nice to have a bus stop near your hotel or apartment: you could avoid going up and down very long staircases to reach the main road and a bus stop.

- the view

You are in one of the places with the most beautiful view in the world. Why you should give up on having a room with a balcony and a great view ? It's nonsense.

- the position

It could be a good choice booking an accomodation as equidistan as possible from the main highlights. I chose Conca dei Marini because it is in a central position and far from chaos and crowd you could find instead in the most famous villages.

Some suggestions:

Albergo La Conca Azzurra

L'Antico Borgo Dei Limoni Bed & Breakfast 

Hotel Le Terrazze

Casa Mao Affittacamere

Il Gabbiano

If you prefer looking for your accomodation on your own check the box down here and make your booking.

To the next adventure