Region · 9 articles · 5 places
The Amalfi Coast is a narrow strip between the Monti Lattari and the Gulf of Salerno, where towns, gardens and stairways rise one above the other. If you want to experience it without rushing, travel by bus and ferry, choose your base with care and, ideally, leave the car behind.
The Costiera Amalfitana lies on the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula, whose mountains separate the Gulf of Naples from the Gulf of Salerno. Between Positano in the west and Vietri sul Mare in the east, Praiano, Furore, Conca dei Marini, Amalfi, Atrani, Minori, Maiori and Cetara follow in close succession, while Ravello, Scala, Tramonti and Agerola lie above them on the slopes. In 1997 UNESCO added the coast to the World Heritage List as a cultural landscape; according to UNESCO, the site covers 15 municipalities, agricultural land and three nature reserves.
UNESCO justifies the listing with the interplay of nature and human work: medieval town centres such as Amalfi and Ravello with buildings in the Arab-Norman style, narrow lanes and steep stairways, and on the slopes terraces of lemons, olives and vines, held up by dry-stone walls. In the Middle Ages Amalfi was the centre of a maritime republic, and seafaring, trade and farming still shape the look of the coast today.
For planning a trip, the coast can be divided into three sections. In the west lie Positano and Praiano, steeply built, lively and close to Sorrento and Capri, which make good excursion destinations. In the middle, Amalfi, Atrani and Ravello form the core with the most connections. In the east, Minori, Maiori, Cetara and Vietri sul Mare are quieter and quickly reached from Salerno; Vietri is known for its ceramics.
Above the coast run old connecting paths, the best known being the Sentiero degli Dei from Agerola to Positano. On the water, ferries link the towns, and boat trips reveal caves and coves that stay hidden from the road. The Sfusato Amalfitano lemon and the liqueur made from it are the culinary trademarks of the region, with more in the article on the lemons of the Amalfi Coast.
Places
When to go
The coast has a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and mild winters. At the Naples-Capodichino weather station the average daytime highs are 30 to 31°C in July and August and around 13°C in January. The sea reaches an average of about 26°C in August and is pleasant for swimming from June to October.
The best months for hiking and excursions are April, May, late September and October. July and August bring the biggest crowds, and buses and roads are then often full. Winter is quiet, and some hotels and operators take a break. The Best time to travel tool helps you choose the month.
Choose a month for details.
Trip planning
Travel and regions · Amalfi Coast
The coastal road SS163 is narrow, parking is scarce, and on peak days number-plate driving bans apply. With bus, ferry and train you can reach almost every village even without a hire car.
Where to stay
Hotels and hideaways · Amalfi Coast
Positano clings to a steep slope, Amalfi sits at the heart of the connections, Ravello high above the sea. Choose by steps, transport links and evening mood, and you will find the right place to stay faster.
Hotel · Ravello
Historic villa on the edge of Ravello with famous gardens, reached car-free along a paved footpath.
Food and wine
Food and wine · Amalfi Coast
The Sfusato Amalfitano grows on terraces under chestnut frames and has been protected as Limone Costa d’Amalfi since 2001. What the rules prescribe, when the season is and what must be on the label.
Food and wine
A glass before dinner with a few nibbles: how the aperitivo works, where vermouth, Spritz and Negroni come from, and what ends up in the glass in Tuscany, on Lake Garda and on the Amalfi Coast.
Experiences
Experiences · Amalfi Coast
The Path of the Gods leads from Bomerano, above Praiano, to Nocelle, almost entirely downhill and with views of the sea. How to get there, what to bring and when it is best to go.
Experiences
Agriturismo, cooking school, private chef or market tour: which kind of class suits you, what to ask before you book, and what ends up on the table in Tuscany, on Lake Garda and on the Amalfi Coast.
Experiences · Amalfi Coast
Scheduled ferry, shared tour or private gozzo boat: what each option offers, what you see from the water, what to check about the operator and safety, and when the sea plays along.
Experience · Amalfi
Guided tour through the organic lemon gardens of the Aceto family above Amalfi, with tasting and a small museum.
Experience · Positano
Family business from Positano since the 1940s: private boat tours, gozzi with a skipper and trips to the Li Galli islands.
Cooking school · Ravello
Family cooking school in Ravello: demonstration class in the morning, a walk through the garden and lunch on the terrace above the sea.
Way of life
Lifestyle and design
Ceramics from Vietri, paper from Amalfi and Lake Garda, leather and gold in Florence: where to experience workshops, how to recognise handwork and how to get your purchases home safely.
Lifestyle and design
Standing or sitting, pay first or order first, cappuccino in the afternoon: the most important habits of the Italian bar and the words that get you what you want.
Workshop · Vietri sul Mare
Ceramics workshop in Vietri sul Mare: tableware and tiles made by hand, in a factory building by Paolo Soleri.
Most travellers land at Naples-Capodichino. From there an airport bus runs to Sorrento, where the SITA buses via Positano to Amalfi begin; alternatively, take a bus to Salerno and continue by bus or ferry. By train you reach Naples and Salerno on long-distance services, and from Naples the Circumvesuviana runs to Sorrento. In summer 2026 there were also express buses from Salerno airport to the coast.
On site, buses and ferries are the best choice. The coastal road SS163 is narrow, parking is scarce, and on peak days a driving restriction by licence plate applies. All the details are in the article The Amalfi Coast without a hire car; the choice of base is explained in the article Positano, Amalfi or Ravello.
Since 1997. UNESCO inscribed the Costiera Amalfitana as a cultural landscape covering 15 municipalities, agricultural land and three nature reserves.
Without a car, Amalfi is the most practical, because bus and ferry lines meet there. Positano offers beach and nightlife, Ravello peace and gardens high above the sea.
For hiking and sightseeing, April to June and September and October; for swimming, June to September. July and August are hot and crowded.
No. SITA buses and ferries connect the towns, and on the narrow coast road driving restrictions by licence plate apply on peak days. A car is more of a burden than a help.
Images: AI-generated illustrative images by the editorial team. They show typical scenes, not specific houses or people.
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