The Amalfi Coast off the beaten path

The towns on the Amalfi Coast are popular for good reason, but they can get busy in high season. It’s not hard to visit the Amalfi Coast off the beaten path: just head just a few miles down the coast for some impressive food and culture, and there’s no need to give up the incredible coastline or picturesque towns you wanted to experience. Below are five very worthwhile stops.

The ruins of Paestum

Famous for its Greek and Roman temples and painted tombs, Paestum dates back to the 7th century B.C. and is under two hours from the town of Amalfi. Spend a couple hours visiting this relatively small site, and then head to.. 

Visit a Buffalo Mozzarella farm

Did you know that the buffalo (bufala) part of the melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella di bufala, actually refers to water buffalo? Since the cheese-making process must start no more than 12 hours after the milking, you know that any production facility is going to have actual water buffalo living nearby. There are many producers near Salerno, though you should plan ahead if you want to see the cheese-making process, which is usually done only in the mornings. 

“Mozzarella Büffel” by yashima via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Shop for ceramics in Vietri Sul Mare

There are several great places to buy ceramics in Italy, and Vietri sul Mare is in the top few. The photo below is of the town’s famous landmark and ceramics factory, Ceramica Solimene. 

“Vietri sul Mare, Italy” by Kārlis Dambrāns via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0

Visit Cetara

If you just want a break from the tourists for a day or so, the town of Cetara is a great option. Easily accessible from the town of Amalfi, Cetara is known for its anchovies and is even considered to be the foodie capital of the Amalfi coast. But don’t just go for dinner. The town itself is really pretty, has a nice beach, and with few tourists. 

“cetara – torre saracena” by antolo licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)

The incredible coastline

The famous rugged coastline between Sorrento and Amalfi actually continues on down the coast. Not far from Paestum is the Cilento National Park with incredible beaches, views, and fantastic towns. Driving along coastal roads, it’s about a 2-hour drive from Paestum down to Palinuro point, pictured below. 

“Le cap Palinuro, pays des Sirènes de l’Odyssée ?” by Jean-Pierre Dalbéra via Flickr, licensed under CC BY 2.0

And just another hour or so down the coast gets you to this stunning scenery near Maratea:

“Maratea’s coastline” by Mozzercork licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

So there you have it: If you have already been to the Amalfi Coast, loved it and want more but different, this is for you. Or, if you want the Amalfi Coast but not the tourists, this is for you. These are also great stops on a Naples-to-Sicily driving route, which I’ve planned for Italy trip planning clients in the past.

Maratea coastline by Mozzercork; Cetara photo by Antolo