Visiting Amalfi Coast? Here’s Your Travel Guide

Amalfi Coast, Italy

This breathtaking stretch of Italian shoreline has become famous as the backdrop of countless Hollywood films. Upon first look, there’s no wonder the region has become the stuff of legends. Brightly painted fishing villages are stacked neatly upon rocky Lattari Mountain cliffs. Below, sandy beaches are shaded by countless colorful umbrellas and the deep blue Tyrrhenian Sea stretches endlessly into the horizon. Let’s visit Amalfi Coast!

Visiting Amalfi Coast?

Flanked by the larger towns of Salerno and Sorrento, the UNESCO world heritage Amalfi Coast is a destination for relaxation, scenic walks, and authentic food. If feeling adventurous, the white-knuckle drive of hairpin turns is one of the most stunningly picturesque drives in the world. Or, summon your inner movie star and relive scenes from countless Hollywood classics filmed here, including “Beat the Devil” and “Under The Tuscan Sun.”

The Must-Do List!

Visiting Amalfi Coast? Take a Ride on the Ferry

Jump on the ferry at any port, sit back, and relax. A ferry ride down the Amalfi Coast will get you fantastic views of the region’s colorful cliffside towns. This is not only a means of transportation, but a must-do while visiting the Amalfi Coast.

Visiting Amalfi Coast? Walk from Ravello to Minori

While we highly suggest taking long walks through every charming coastal town, you simply must experience the breathtaking walk down ancient winding stircases from mountain top Ravello down to the seaside Minori. For more details, check out this article and see why this walk is an absolute must.

Visiting Amalfi Coast? Drink Limoncello

That’s right, the Amalfi Coast is home to limoncello, and the neon yellow after-dinner drink is wildly popular here. Found at stores and restaurants from Salerno to Sorrento, this liquor is made with gigantic local Sorrento lemons, and can be sipped to help settle your stomach after that big Italian meal.

Getting to the Amalfi Coast

Getting to the Amalfi Coast: TRAIN

Trains throughout Europe are a great option. You’ll avoid lines at the airport, enjoy beautiful scenery, and the trains are typically very comfortable. If you’re coming from any other city in Italy we highly recommend traveling by train. However, if you’re traveling from another European country, flying could save due save time and money.Fares & Schedules

Getting to the Amalfi Coast: FLY

The closest airport to the Amalfi Coast is in Naples, about 34 miles from Sorrento and 37 miles away from Salerno. Affordable international flights, like Madrid for $37, Paris for $31, London for $36, and Munich for $17 can be found on our favorite flight search site, Skyscanner.

Amalfi Coast Flight Deals

Getting around the Amalfi Coast

Bus

Available for purchase at tobacco shops, newspaper stands, and cafes, busing around the Amalfi Coast is an easy and affordable option. Buy 90-minute tickets for about $3.50 or a 3-day ticket for around $17.00.

Taxi

Can you find taxis on the Amalfi Coast? Yes, but they are expensive and there are far better and cheaper ways to get around the Amalfi Coast.

Ferry

Certainly the most scenic of options, although they are bit more expensive than the bus, a ferry ride offers a unique view of the towns dotting the Amalfi Coast. Depending on your route, ticket prices average about $11 per ticket.

Where To Stay on the Amalfi Coast:

Where To Stay on the Amalfi Coast: Towns and Villages

Choosing a town is an important part of Amalfi Coast trip planning that should not be overlooked! With about 10 larger towns and a handful of smaller villages along the Amalfi Coast, choosing where to spend your time and rest your head comes with many options. We’ve put together a list of some of the best, as the sun rises, from east to west:

Vietri Sul Mare

“The First Pearl of the Amalfi” is famous for ceramics, and this small fishing village is worth a visit. What to see:

Church of San Giovanni Battista
Provincial Museum of Ceramics

Cetara

This tiny, old school village is known as Amalfi Coast’s fishing capital and is considered THE place for fish, especially fresh anchovies and garum. Visit the charming town of Cetara for at least one delicious seafood meal. What to see:

Church of St. Peter the Apostle
Viceroy Tower

Maiori

Home to the largest beach on the coast and the set of many movies from the 40’s and 50’s. Visit Maiori to relax on the beach and take in the views. What to see:

Castle of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano
Church of Santa Maria a Mare
Santa Maria Olearia

Minori

This family-friendly, breezy town is known as the “City of Taste”. Rich in history, Minori has all the charm of the Amalfi Coast and is surprisingly less crowed than it’s neighbors. What to see:

Basilica of Santa Trofimena
Villa Marittima Romana
Saint Nicola Convent

Amalfi

Located in the heart of the Amalfi Coast is the town that started it all. Very popular with tourists, this town should not be missed. What to see:

The Chiostro del Paradiso
Shrine of Saint Andrew
Duomo di Amalfi

Positano

Lovingly called “Vertical Town”, this is easily the most popular town on the Amalfi Coast. Known for luxury shopping, glamorous clubs, restaurants, and bars, this chic town is where the famous come to play. What to see:

Santa Maria Assunta

Where To Stay on the Amalfi Coast: HOTELS

The Amalfi Coast offers a wide range of hotels to choose from. High-end hotels like Hotel Bellevue Suite in Amalfi or Albergo Pensione Riviera in Maiori run about $750 a night, while reasonably priced hotels like Positano Art Hotel Pasitea in Positano or Hotel Voce del Mare in Vietri Sul Mare go for about $95 a night.
When it comes to hotels, we recommend shopping Agoda.com, far and away the most competitive resource when searching for hotels in Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi Coast Hotel Deals

Where To Stay on the Amalfi Coast: HOSTELS

There are a limited number of hostels on the Amalfi Coast, and you should plan in advance to find one that suits your needs. Prices generally range from $20-$40 a night for accommodation in Positano, Amalfi, Minori or Maiori. Hostelworld is our recommended resource when searching for hostels on the Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi Coast Hostel Deals

Where To Stay on the Amalfi Coast: AIRBNB

We love Airbnb! From private rooms to entire homes, there are plenty of choices when visiting the Amalfi Coast. If you’re a first-timer with Airbnb, use this coupon and enjoy $35 off of your stay.

Amalfi Coast Travel Tips:

Amalfi Coast travel tips: Tipping

Tipping in Italy is appreciated but isn’t expected. Restaurants may charge a 10%-15% service charge, and some even additional fees for things like plates and silverware. Tip your taxi driver by rounding up.

Amalfi Coast travel tips: Money

Italy’s national currency is the Euro, which is currently exchanging at 0.96EUR to $1USD. Credit cards are accepted most places but you should always keep plenty of cash on hand. ATM machines are sparsely available in the smaller towns and are sometimes out of cash. If you see one, use it.

Amalfi Coast travel tips: Insurance

Traveling the Amalfi Coast is exciting and safe, but you never know when some good travel insurance could come in handy. World Nomads offers the best coverage in the business, is affordable, and is quick to act should something go wrong. For more info, check out our recent World Nomads blog post.