- Fly to Naples, then transfer by bus, train and ferry or private car, allowing two hours or more
- Ferries are the easiest way to hop between towns but mostly stop running at the end of October
- Alternate number-plate rules limit driving on the coast road on set days from April to October
- Hike the Path of the Gods and take day trips to Capri and Pompeii
- Airports
- Naples (NAP)
- Best time to go
- May-June and September-early October
- Type
- Region
The Amalfi Coast is southern Italy at its most dramatic: a 50km stretch of the Sorrento peninsula where pastel villages cling to cliffs above a deep blue sea, terraced lemon groves climb the hills and a single winding road links it all together. Positano, Amalfi and Ravello are names that sell a dream, and in the right season they deliver.
It also takes some planning. Getting there and around is slower than the map suggests, summer is busy and expensive, and many hotels close in winter. Here is how to get it right. For the rest of the country, see our Italy guide.
Why go
Few coastlines in Europe are as beautiful. Days here are about simple pleasures: a swim from a pebble beach, a long seafood lunch over the water, a boat trip past sea caves and a limoncello at sunset. Walkers get some of Italy's most scenic trails, and history lovers can easily reach Pompeii and Herculaneum, while Capri is a short boat ride away.
Where to stay
- Positano – the most photographed village, with houses tumbling down to a busy beach. Glamorous and lively, but steep, crowded in summer and expensive.
- Amalfi – the historic heart of the coast, with a striking cathedral and the main bus and ferry hub. The most practical base for exploring without a car.
- Ravello – perched high above the sea, quiet and refined, with gardens and a famous summer music festival. Lovely views, but no beach and a bus ride to the coast.
- Praiano – between Positano and Amalfi, calmer and better value, with great sunsets.
- Atrani, Minori and Maiori – smaller, more local towns east of Amalfi; Maiori has the coast's longest sandy beach.
- Sorrento – technically just off the Amalfi Coast, but a popular, better-value base with a train line to Naples and Pompeii and ferries to Capri and the coast.
Almost everything here involves steps. If you have mobility concerns or heavy luggage, choose a hotel near a main road or bus stop, and ask whether porters can help from the drop-off point.
Top things to do
- Path of the Gods – the famous cliff-top trail from Bomerano (Agerola) to Nocelle above Positano, about 7-8km and three to four hours mostly downhill, with views all the way to Capri. Start early in summer and take plenty of water.
- Boat trips – a private or shared boat is the best way to see the coastline, the Li Galli islands and sea caves such as the Grotta dello Smeraldo.
- Amalfi's cathedral – the striped façade and Cloister of Paradise above the main square.
- Ravello's gardens – Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, the latter with its "Terrace of Infinity" over the sea.
- Capri – a day trip by ferry from Positano, Amalfi or Sorrento for the Blue Grotto, the chairlift up Monte Solaro and the Faraglioni rocks.
- Pompeii – the Roman city buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, about 30-40 minutes from Sorrento on the Circumvesuviana train. Herculaneum, smaller and better preserved, is on the same line.
- The Furore fjord – a tiny beach at the bottom of a narrow gorge spanned by a road bridge.
- Lemon groves and limoncello – join a tasting or walk the Path of the Lemons between Maiori and Minori.
If you are travelling without a car, our guide to the Amalfi Coast without a car explains buses, ferries and timings in detail.
Getting there and around from the UK
Direct flights reach Naples airport (NAP) from London and several regional UK airports in about two hours 40 minutes. From Naples you can take a bus to Sorrento and then the SITA bus or a ferry along the coast; take a train to Salerno and a ferry west; or book a private transfer, which is the easiest option with luggage. Allow at least two hours for any of them, and more in summer traffic.
Once there, ferries are the most pleasant way to travel between Positano, Amalfi, Salerno, Sorrento and Capri, and they avoid road congestion. Most services run from around Easter to the end of October and are subject to weather. SITA buses run all year along the coast road and up to Ravello and Agerola, but they are often full in summer, so board early or at the start of the line.
Driving is not recommended for most visitors. The SS163 coast road is narrow and winding, parking is scarce and costly, and an alternate number-plate scheme restricts traffic between 10am and 6pm on set days from Easter to the end of October (in 2026: every day in August and September, plus holiday periods and weekends in the shoulder months). On odd dates, cars with plates ending in an odd number are barred, and vice versa; hotel guests can usually reach their accommodation on arrival and departure days with proof of booking. If you do hire a car, read our car hire tips for UK drivers.
UK passport holders can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area, with fingerprints and a photo taken under the EU's Entry/Exit System on first entry. See our EES and ETIAS explainer.
Best time to visit
May, June and September are ideal, with warm sea, long days and more breathing space than high summer. July and August are hot and crowded, with peak prices. October is still pleasant, but ferries and many hotels and restaurants wind down at the end of the month. From November to March the coast is very quiet and many places close, though Amalfi and Sorrento stay open and prices are low.
Budget tips
- Most towns charge a tourist tax per person per night at your accommodation; rates vary by town and hotel category, so check when you book.
- Stay in Sorrento, Praiano or the eastern towns such as Maiori and Minori for better value than Positano.
- A SITA bus day ticket is far cheaper than taxis, which charge high fixed fares on the coast.
- Pack a picnic and use free public sections of beach rather than paying for sun-loungers every day.
- Book boat trips, ferries to Capri and private transfers well in advance for summer.
From Naples, Rome is around an hour by high-speed train, so it is easy to combine with a few days in the capital; see our Rome guide.
Top attractions in Amalfi Coast
NaturePath of the Gods
A spectacular cliff-top trail high above the Amalfi Coast, with views over Positano and out to Capri, that is free to…
LandmarkPompeii
The Roman town buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, Pompeii is the most complete ancient city in the world and an unforgettable…
Amalfi Coast on the map
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
Amalfi is the most practical base for buses and ferries, Positano the most glamorous, and Ravello the most peaceful. Sorrento is a good-value alternative with easy links to Pompeii, Naples and Capri.
Do you need a car on the Amalfi Coast?
No, and most visitors are better off without one. Ferries, SITA buses and private drivers cover the coast, while number-plate restrictions, narrow roads and expensive parking make driving stressful in season.
How do you get from Naples airport to the Amalfi Coast?
Take a bus to Sorrento and continue by SITA bus or ferry, take a train to Salerno and then a ferry, or book a private transfer. Allow two hours or more.
Is the Path of the Gods difficult?
It is a moderate walk rather than a technical one, mostly downhill if you start in Bomerano, but parts are rocky and exposed with steep drops, and the descent from Nocelle to Positano involves well over a thousand steps. Wear proper shoes and avoid the midday heat.
Written by
Anna Beach, family & practical travel editor
Anna knows which beach has shade at 3pm and which car hire excess is a rip-off. She covers sun, islands, family trips and practical travel tips.
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