You Will Never Forget Your Travel On The Amalfi Coast
As spring approaches, we are thinking about our favourite travels for the spring and fall. We love to travel in Italy. There is so much to see and do. But our favourite trip involved travel on the Amalfi Coast. The scenery was stunning. Seafood was plentiful. Day trips let us explore the entire area.
There are many different spots along the Amalfi Coast to choose as your base. Ravello will put you high above the Amalfi Coast with great views. The town of Amalfi puts you in a smaller town. Positano is a photographer’s heaven. We used Sorrento as a base for 3 weeks for our travel on the Amalfi Coast. If you want an idyllic escape, head to the island of Capri.
Lets explore the magic as we travelled on the Amalfi Coast ….
Getting Around the Amalfi Coast
There was a direct train from Naples to Sorrento. It ran on a regular basis. Once we were in Sorrento, we could take a bus or a boat to travel on the Amalfi Coast. The bus station in Sorrento was close to the train station. When we travelled on by boat, we had to get down to the port. If we travelled light, we could roll your bags. Or there were taxis at the train station.
When we travelled for 10 weeks in Italy, we came to the Amalfi Coast from the Adriatic side. We had a car and drove to Sorrento. As soon as we got to Sorrento, we returned the car. We did not feel we needed a car to travel on the Amalfi Coast. Roads were narrow, drivers were crazy and parking was often hard to find. Taxis and buses were so much easier!
The Amalfi Coast bus was a great way to hop from town to town when you travel on the Amalfi Coast. There were stops in every little spot along the way. And it was really cheap! We used the bus for day trips regularly. In Sorrento there were also town buses that got us around this bigger town.
You could take a ferry directly from Naples. There were also ferries to take you between the bigger spots – Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Capri. When we were there the last time, we rented a small boat and travelled on the Amalfi Coast. This let us meander at our own pace and let us stop where we wanted. It was great!
Could Use Naples As a Base But …..
If you want to travel on the Amalfi Coast, you could use Naples as a base. It is a relatively short trip by train or ferry to the Amalfi Coast. But if you really want to experience the Amalfi Coast, I would not stay in Naples.
If you plan a few days in Naples at the start or end of your Amalfi Coast trip, you can explore the city. The old town was a great spot to wander by foot. Just be prepared for the massive graffiti that covers all of the old buildings including churches. The one thing I would absolutely recommend is the archaeology museum. If you plan to visit Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius, a visit to the museum will round out that experience.
Naples is the home of pizza so you can find great pizza anywhere you go. Like all of the Amalfi Coast, seafood is fresh and plentiful.
Sorrento Is a Larger Town To Use As A Base
We used Sorrento as our base and travelled on the Amalfi Coast. When we stayed in Sorrento for 3 weeks, we rented an apartment high in the hills just outside of town. We had the most amazing view every day of Mt Vesuvius.
We easily walked into downtown Sorrento. Or we caught the Amalfi Coast buses to get around for local day trips from Sorrento. In Sorrento we often just wandered the small streets, shopped in the market or found a great spot to eat. We grabbed a coffee in the main square and watched the world go by.
Many of the day trips we did took us to the water. There were many beaches where we could hang out with the locals. Most had restaurants close by so we made it a full day. The water season is long on the Amalfi Coast. We still swam on Halloween one year!
The Amalfi Coast is known for the lemon liqueur Lemoncello. We found it everywhere along the Amalfi Coast. But the taste does vary widely. So enjoy sipping many options as you travel on the Amalfi Coast.
A roof patio was a great spot to watch the sun sink over the Mediterranean. You can try my favourite orange drink. It was everywhere we travelled in Italy. Just ask for an Aperole Spritz!
The Hills of Positano
No visit to the Amalfi Coast is complete without a trip along the wild coastal road. Whether you drive or take the bus, the ride is an adventure all on its own.
When we headed along the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento, the first larger town we reached was Positano. You will immediately note that Positano is built up a hill. If you come in by car or bus, you will be at the top of the town. If you come in by boat, you are at the bottom. Everything we wanted to do required walking up or down very steep roads and stairs. That may make this a more or less ideal spot if you decide on Positano for your base.
Positano offered shopping, food and a beach to relax. As we wandered the town, the views offered classic images of a coastal town.
The Town of Amalfi
Amalfi is the town this region is named for. It is a small town and was easily walked on a day trip. We wandered the streets and shopped in the small markets.
The iconic image in the town is the Duomo di Amalfi.
Amalfi is a transportation hub to head high into the hills to Ravello or to other small town gems on the hillside. From Amalfi you can get a ferry to travel on the Amalfi Coast. Or you can transfer to Salerno to explore other regions of Italy.
Smaller Towns on the Amalfi Coast
All along the Amalfi Coast we found smaller towns.
On one visit we booked 3 days in the small town of Praiano. We stayed in a hotel on the cliff edge with a magnificent view. The little town had a few things to see. It was easy to hop the bus to head out for the day to travel on the Amalfi Coast. The church was a colourful sight whether you catch it from the road or the water.
There were 210 steps that took us down to the water at our hotel. Once there, we had a private area to lounge and swim. A short swim away we found an interesting grotto.
There was always great food in the smaller Amalfi Coast towns. Several of the better restaurants in Praiano were in the marina area. To get to the marina we needed to get down the cliff side to the water level. Either we walked down the stairs or took the steep road down. But once we got there, there were several restaurants on the water with a great view.
We liked the restaurants so much that we stopped at the marina for lunch one day when we rented a boat. It was great to approach this little Amalfi town from another perspective.
Head High Into the Hills To Ravello
On our first visit to the Amalfi Coast, we used Ravello as a base. On that trip, we got to Ravello through the mountains on a drive from Naples. It was a much different route than many people use to travel on the Amalfi Coast. But the views were awesome as we came in on the backside. It was a slower route as we often had to stop for goats crossing the road.
Ravello is a small town and can be done as a day trip. From Ravello we got amazing views of the Amalfi Coast.
As we wandered around, we found the small town, a beautiful cathedral, ceramic shops and the Villa Cimbrone. Don’t miss a chance to catch the sunset from the Villa. We stayed in Ravello and were able to attend an open-air concert at the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer.
If you are there in the fall, you may even get to experience the chestnut festival in Scala. If you love chestnuts, then this is your festival. It was an interesting walk through the mountains to get to the small town of Scala. If you don’t time the bus schedule right, be prepared to walk both ways.
The Island of Capri
Most people visit Capri as a day trip. There are ferries from Naples, Sorrento and Positano. If you leave early in the morning you can do a quick run through this awesome island.
The ferry lands at Marina Grande. Most people don’t hang around here. You can take little mini buses (10 passengers) between the various levels on the island of Capri. If you are energetic and fit, you can walk!
We used the funicular to get to the main level of Capri. The funicular climbed uphill through lemon groves and dropped us directly in the Piazzetta. At this level there was much to see and do. We found a vantage point for the views. Then we strolled through the trendy shops and visited the local sites. It was easy to find a restaurant with a great view.
If you want to the better views, take the mini bus up to Anna Capri. We wandered the small town and found great viewpoints.
For the best views, we took the chair lift up to the highest point on Monte Solaro. The ride up provided us with panoramic views and a bit of excitement. Once at the top, we stopped at the café or strolled along the scenic overlook for pictures
If you visit during the day you will find Capri to be a very busy tourist spot. The beauty of the island is tainted by the crowds. Everyone jostles for views, seats on buses or a seat at a restaurant. If you really want to see the magic of Capri, book a few days on the island. We saw the real Capri after the last ferry left. You could wander and join the locals.
Visit Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius
If you travel on the Amalfi Coast, a visit to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius is a great day trip. You can either take the train from Sorrento or arrange for a tour. The walk up to the crater will provided our workout for the day. But the views from the top of Mt Vesuvius were worth it. The volcano still emits steam from deep inside.
We were amazed at the size and breadth of the ruins at Pompeii. Half a day barely covered the site. We were sorry to have missed Herculeum for a different view of the devastation that happened the last time Mt Vesuvius erupted.
The Amalfi Coast Will Call You Back
There is a reason why the Amalfi Coast is on so many people’s “bucket list”. The images of the coast were stunning. The food was awesome. There were many little towns to poke into on our travel on the Amalfi Coast. Don’t miss the Amalfi Coast on a trip to Italy! One trip will not be enough!
Did you travel on the Amalfi Coast? What was your favourite stop? What is not worth the effort?
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Amalfi Coast indeed looks fascinating, no wonder you guys love it so much! I also love the fact that it’s so easily reachable by so many different ways…
The town of Amalfi is especially gorgeous with it’s lovely buildings, and all that good food to eat 🙂
The Amalfi Coast is absolutely one of our favourite spots to visit. We have stayed in different places along the coast and each has been charming in its own way. If you love seafood, you will never go hungry! Linda
We’ve visited the Amalfi Coast on day trips on cruises but now I want to actually stay and explore. Your photos are stunning! There are so many gorgeous views. I think everyone should see Pompeii, and we had pizza in Naples which was amazing!
Lois, We had too visited the Amalfi Coast by cruise ship and it got on the “to return” list. Many of the small towns become so much more charming after the crowds depart. If you stay for any length of time, you feel more like a local. We were very surprised with Pompeii and want to see the archaeological museum in Naples next time we visit. Having pizza in Naples did spoil us for life. We now will only eat Napoli certified pizza. Sometimes hard to find outside of Italy. But always worth it. You will love a longer return visit. Linda
Wow- 3 weeks based out of Sorrento sounds like an absolute dream! I love how you were able to use public transportation for day trips and even rent a boat to explore on your own by boat. I would be so nervous to rent a boat for some reason. And Mt Vesuvius is definitely a bucket list item for me. Sounds like an amazing time on the Amalfi coast!
Julie, It was great to rent a place and stay in Sorrento. It was a big enough city to have lots to keep us going for 3 weeks. Hubby used to be in the navy so he had no problem renting the boat. Of course, I couldn’t resist driving too! Definitely want to plan to see Mt Vesuvius. Don’t miss Pompeii. It was so much bigger than I expected. Linda
What a wonderful adventure! Ten weeks to wander Italy is just wow, a dream. I’m a fan of taking local buses as well and splurging on boats or trains from time to time. Such beautiful villages and architecture. I must go and stay!!
Elaine, This was definitely a dream trip to Italy. It was so great to finish in October on the Amalfi Coast. The weather was still beautiful. We often take local buses just to see local neighbourhoods. Even if we ride a full loop! The boat was a special treat on this trip. You should definitely plan a trip with time to stay on the Amalfi Coast. A day trip will only be a tease! Linda
I have spent a few days in Capri and absolutely loved it! I haven’t visited Positano and would love to spend some time on the coast. I laughed about turning in the car, no way would I attempt to drive those tiny roads!
Sherianne, I am sure you then know what I mean about Capri being such a different place after the last ferry departs. We were so glad we did that. We drove the car for several weeks without a ding. And then we scraped along a wall in Sorrento trying to turn around. That was the signal it was time in the car. Along much of the Amalfi Coast, you won’t need a car. Hope you get there! Linda
Thank you for the great advice! I love a good funicular ride, they’re a guarantee for a great view! The view of steaming volcano is stunning! And a great way to get some exercise. It looks like a great place to try all the different varieties of lemoncello. In the name of science, of course. We’ll make sure to avoid traveling by car too often, we wouldn’t want to get stuck behind a flock of goats!
Stevo, We did have so many fun memories travelling on the Amalfi Coast. Lots of opportunities to try different things. Glad you found some advice helpful for planning an Amalfi trip. Linda
It’s not hard to fall in love with Amalfi Coast – stunning sceneries, lovely towns, great food and natural wonders. A pretty laid back region but with so many activities to do. I would like to visit Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius in particular plus all those lovely coastal sights. Great to know that day trips are available to explore the entire area.
Ash, We did find it very easy to day trip along the Amalfi Coast – either by bus or by water. We love to just stay in one spot and venture out from there. But it was nice to actually stay in Ravello and then Capri to see the towns after dark. Linda
Ohh wow, I fell in love with Amalfi Coast,thank you very much for sharing this outstanding post. I am really amazed with the incredible sceneries, the lights the sunset even at day time, everything is perfect here. I really really love all of your photos, for this I should really add this to my list. Thanks again for sharing!
Ghia, I am glad I was able to share the beauty of the Amalfi Coast with you. It is one of our favourite spots in Italy to visit. Linda
Well your first phrase is correct. I last visited the Amalfi Coast ten years ago, and haven’t forgotten a thing about our wonderful time there! I agree that Sorrento is the perfect base for a leisurely exploration of this iconic part of Italy, and not just for the limoncello. 😉 Thanks for the trip down memory lane – we’ll have to plan a return there soon.
Claudia, I am glad this took you for a ride down memory lane. Sometimes I forget how awesome something is and I work through a blog post and the sights, smells and sounds come back so vividly. This was true for the Amalfi Coast. Hope you get back soon. Linda
OMG I totally agree that you’ll never forget a trip to the Amalfi Coast! I visited way back in 2007 now and I still remember it as one of my greatest travel highlights 🙂 We did stay in Naples and did a day trip down, but I would love to get back and actually stay in some of the Amalfi Coast towns. Capri and Pompeii were highlights of my trip too – your post has brought back so many fabulous memories!
Megan, I am glad this brought back great memories of the Amalfi Coast. Our first few trips were day trips too and they were not just enough. Staying in Capri and Ravello added such a magical element – when the tour buses and ferries left. It was great to have a base and just wander like locals for 3 weeks. Linda
I’m kind of interested in Pompeii based entirely on my Latin lessons with Caecilius. Jokes aside these are some beautiful images.
Annie, I hope you get to visit Pompeii one day. It was so much more interesting than we expected. Linda
This is easily my favorite spot in the entire world. If I had to pick one hotel there, Le Sirenuse is my favorite but they all have such great views. Definite next trip post pandemic!
Jamie, We too hope to head back to the Amalfi Coast when we can travel safely again. Sure miss those views! Linda
The Amalfi Coast is one of my favorite trips ever! I stayed in Naples and did one day trip to Sorrento and one to Capri. I didn’t have a long time there, but I loved it! Wish I could’ve visited Positano, it’s absolutely beautiful! And I’ll be putting Ravello on my list the next time I am able to visit. Love it!
Sarah, I sure hope you get to visit Positano and Ravello if you return to the Amalfi Coast. Can’t wait to get back. Linda
Would love to go to the Amalfi Coast. What an amazing looking place. Sounds like your travels were amazing. And all your photos are so stunning.
Angie, We sure did love our visit to the Amalfi Coast. But I am sure we will return and find more gems one day. Linda
Sounds fantastic – and yes, the Amalfi coast is definitely the epitome of Italian dolce vita. I wanted to visit when I was in Rome last year but then everything was a bit more complicated due to the corona restrictions. But I don’t really worry since I’m going to Italy on a regular basis, so one of the next trips will be also to Sorento 😉
Renata, I understand why it might be tough to visit the Amalfi Coast during the Corona restrictions. But hope you do get to Sorrento when things open up. We would go back in a heartbeat! Linda
Thank you some great tips here for when Italy eventually becomes a doable trip (due to get married there last summer and postponed till the end of august), I think I defintely need to revisit my itinerary for capri and book a few days like you mentioned. I am not a fan of crowds I want to just relax and eat good food lol.
Nicole, We loved staying in Capri for a few days. A great way to enjoy it when the crowds leave. A great stop on your planned trip. Linda
I love Amalfi Coast it’s one of my favorite places in Italy. I always drink lemon liqueur Lemoncello after dinner, when visiting Amalfi Cost. It’s so delicious. It’s a great guide and tips.
Agnes, I hope you get back to the Amalfi Coast. So many things to enjoy! Linda
Beautiful photos and great information. We made it to Naples and the coast only one day on a cruise we did years ago. Climbing Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii were buck list items for us at the time… we missed so much
I sure hope you get back to see more on the Amalfi Coast. We have been many times and there is always more to discover. Linda
Loved reading this post – it brought back so many fond memories from our visit to Amalfi Coast. We loved the relaxed vibe of the region, the fresh cuisine and the breathtaking views. We took the ferry from Sorrento to Capri back then but I really love your idea of renting a small boat and just exploring the coast at our own pace. Thanks for sharing such an informative guide packed with helpful travel tips and amazing photographs.
Aditi, We were so glad we actually had the time to explore the Amalfi Coast at a slower pace. I hope you get to visit and enjoy more of this wonderful spot. Linda
Thank you for sharing insiders tips on places to see and things to do in the Amalfi Coast. We were meant to have visited the coast sometime last year which got cancelled. I hope I will get the chance to explore this incredibly beautiful coast one day!
Anuradha, I do hope you get to visit the Amalfi Coast when things open up again. It is one of our favourite spots for a quick stop or a longer visit. Linda
The Amalfi Coast looks like a dream. I think you are right to advise against staying in Naples too long. I liked Naples, but it also left a bad taste in my mouth. It was the only city in the world so far where I felt unsafe as a solo female. And yes, the graffiti is off-putting. I’d love to spend an entire week really immersed in the Amalfi Coast, so likely Sorrento will be the perfect base!
Jacqueline, Naples really was such a disappointment for us. Even as a couple we felt unsafe after dark. I hope you do get to spend a longer stay in Sorrento. Linda
This brought back lovely memories from a day trip I did to the Amalfi Coast a few years ago with my sister & family. I would agree about not basing yourself in Naples. We did & it really limited how much we could see. Driving along the coast road was a pretty scary experience but I felt very brave to have earnt my stripes doing it. By the time we got to Ravello it was getting dark. We visited in November which meant very few tourists but unfortunately a lot of places were closed as a result. Especially in Capri. I would love to go back & spend more time there so will return to this guide when I do.
I know what you mean about things being closed in November! But even in the late fall, we loved enjoying the Amalfi Coast with the locals. I can’t wait to get back.