The Amalfi Coast: a fantastic 4 day itinerary
Written by Madeline Jhawar
How much time do I need to see the Amalfi Coast?
…. is a question I get all the time.
It depends on your interests and travel pace, of course, but here are five things I would definitely include in an Amalfi Coast itinerary. All of this is feasible in about 4 days. Plug in some incredible hotels and restaurants and you’ve got yourself an unforgettable trip!
Which town should you stay in on the Amalfi Coast, you might ask? We have advice. Or, let us plan it all for you! Contact us to put together your custom vacation. We’d love to design a unique itinerary or just book the one below for your small group!
Visit the iconic towns of the Amalfi Coast
Spend time getting to know the picturesque towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello: walk through Positano’s narrow streets and get some custom leather sandals made. Walk along its main beach, the Marina Grande, or take the path to the less busy Fornillo beach. Visit the gorgeous Duomo di Sant’Andrea in the town of Amalfi; get a sense of the town’s history by visiting the paper museum; get lost in the small streets of Ravello while you browse ceramics stores and enjoy the views.
See the Amalfi Coast from the water
Take a boat between Positano and Amalfi to see the gorgeous coast from the water. Or, from Positano, just take a boat to Da Adolfo for lunch and then enjoy some beach time. There are lots of boats that run up and down the coast during high season, and of course you could even take the ferry to the island of Capri for the day. Or, book a full-day boat excursion that includes a few hours on Capri and lots of time exploring, snorkeling, and swimming in and around the gorgeous caves and coves on the Amalfi Coast.
Taste what the Amalfi Coast has to offer
There are so many ways to enjoy the tastes of the Amalfi Coast: take a cooking course in Ravello with the deservedly famous Mamma Agata. Sample local foods of Positano on a guided walking food tour (what’s a food tour? you might ask). Visit a limoncello producer who will take you on a tour of the orchard, show you how limoncello is made, and of course give you a taste or six! If you enjoy high-end dining with wispy sugar sculptures on your dinner plate, and multiple wine glasses and sets of utensils, book a table at Don Alfonso which has a couple of Michelin stars. Or, let me make you reservations at my favorite local places!
“Ravello” by Titus via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
See the iconic views of the Amalfi Coast
Don’t spend all your time down at sea level – go up those coastal hills to see the spectacular views of the coast from above. One of the most famous views is from the terraces of the gardens in the town of Ravello. We recommend starting with the gardens of the Villa Cimbrone and the Villa Rufolo.
Hike one of the many scenic trails on the Amalfi Coast
One of the most famous hikes on the Amalfi Coast is the 2.5 hour section of the Path of the Gods trail that goes between the towns of Bomerano and Nocelle, in the hills above Positano. I highly recommend this spectacular and relatively easy walk, but there are hundreds of paths in the area. Ex hiking guide Giovanni Visetti is a wonderful source of information: his website has detailed information, photos, maps and videos of many hikes — in English!
And…Visit the Archaeological Site of Pompeii
Pompeii is not technically on the Amalfi Coast, but it works well as a stop on your way. The Amalfi Coast is known for its coastal beauty and small towns, but the area is an archaeology buff’s dream. To get an idea of the sheer number of archaeological sites in this part of Italy, scroll down and look at the map on the Campania Arte Card website.
The excavation of Pompeii is the most-visited of all of these sites, with about 3 million annual visitors. (The equally impressive site of Herculaneum, which is virtually next door, gets one-tenth of that number. So if you want to avoid crowds, skip Pompeii and visit Herculaneum instead). Pompeii is a somewhat long day trip for travelers based near the towns of Amalfi or even Positano, but works well as a ~3 hour stop on your way to or from the Amalfi Coast. And they do have luggage storage.
An Amalfi Coast itinerary of about 4 days
Now let’s put that all together: spend a half day each in the towns of Amalfi, Ravello and Positano; a half day at a cooking class and a half day hiking; a day on a boat; some beach time near Positano, and visit Pompeii on your way in or out. Say it with me: fantastico!
Written by Madeline Jhawar
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