Travel Guide: The Amalfi Coast

Few places compare to the utter beauty that is the Amalfi Coast. In fact, this cliffside sliver of southern Italy is the most stunning I have ever seen. For years I dreamt of visiting, admiring photos of its sparkling waters and pastel-painted towns. This October, I finally got to experience its wonder in person—and let me tell you, photos do not do it justice!

Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast

As the first stop on a 10-day Italy excursion, I knew the Amalfi Coast would set the bar high for the rest of the trip, and boy, did it deliver! My husband and I stayed 5 nights in the town of Praiano, about 20 minutes south of Positano and 20 minutes north of the town of Amalfi. It was the perfect home base if you ask me—less expensive than staying in posh Positano, but easily accessible to all the hotspots. It was relaxing and serene, yet alive with rich culture and unparalleled cuisine.

We stayed at a bed and breakfast called the Locanda degli Dei, which I would definitely recommend. It was adorable, clean, and affordable, offering seriously amazing views of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Situated high atop the town of Praiano, the tranquility of it all had me constantly pinching myself to see if it was real. We were served an idyllic breakfast every morning on the veranda and worked off all the calories we consumed each day climbing endless steps to and fro. 

Our precious little bed and breakfast in Praiano

Although I truly can’t recommend Praiano enough, a few other areas to consider staying in are:

  • Positano: A top choice for obvious reasons, but very pricey and crowded!

  • Sorrento: Dramatic cliffside town with vibrant shopping and dining.

  • Amalfi: Colorful and bustling town about 30-40 minutes from Positano by car.

  • Ravello: Romantic and relaxing village with unforgettable views.

Where to Eat on the Amalfi Coast

Speaking of calories, we ate our hearts out, enjoying every single bite of every single meal. Seriously, there wasn’t anything we had that we didn’t love. We’re talking the freshest pasta, pizza, and cheeses you’ve ever tasted, robust wines and lemon spritzes (my personal favorite!), the creamiest gelato, and the tastiest tiramisu. And don’t even get me started on the spaghetti alle vongole, perfectly puffed pastries, and delicious cappuccinos. 

Melt-in-your-mouth stuffed gnocchi at Kasai

Pizza with anchovies? Why the heck not!

A few of our favorite restaurants and bars on the Amalfi Coast were:

  • Che Bontà: Ideal for a casual dinner in Praiano; their pizza is phenomenal!

  • Kasai: The cutest dinner spot in Praiano with some of the best food we had the entire trip!

  • Da Vincenzo: Michelin-star restaurant in Positano—definitely make reservations.

  • Saghir Ristorante Wine Bar: A small restaurant with big flavor in Praiano; the spaghetti alle vongole was divine!

  • Bar del Sole: The go-to happy hour, sunset-watching bar and cafe in Praiano.

  • Cafe Mirante: A lively little bar near OneFire Beach, Praiano overlooking Positano–need I say more?

Vino rosso, per favore!

Fresh tuna tartare at Che Bontà

A few other highly-rated restaurants and bars that we didn’t get to try are:

What to Do on the Amalfi Coast

When we weren’t eating, we were walking and exploring—a lot! No matter where you stay along the Amalfi Coast, you must be prepared for steps, steps, and more steps. It was a serious workout but 100% worth it for the views! We took day trips into Positano, Capri, Amalfi, and Ravello, and each town was truly incredible. Positano was vibrantly sophisticated and just as magical as you would expect. Capri was elegant and blissful. Amalfi was colorful and fantastic, and Ravello was romantic and picturesque. 

The chair lift in Capri—mostly fun, a little scary :)

From the lemon-lined souvenir shops of Positano and the shockingly blue-green waters of Capri to the lush gardens and captivating mountains of Ravello, I would absolutely recommend adding these towns to your bucket list. My only regret is not spending more time in them! Each place had nooks and crannies overflowing with rich history and culture, stunning architecture, and of course, fabulous food. 

It’s true what they say—the best view of Positano is from the water!

A few of our favorite day trips and activities on the Amalfi Coast were:

  • Positano (obviously!): Sipping a lemon spritz at Cafe Positano, overlooking the postcard-worthy cliffside was one of those “pinch me” moments! 

  • Full-day Capri island cruise: SO fun and a highlight of our entire Italy trip; the view of Positano from the water is jaw-dropping! We caught our boat from Marina di Praia—a quick drive from our hotel. Watch my reel for a taste of the magic.

  • Chair lift in Anacapri: ~13 minute ride to Monte Solaro (the very tip-top of Capri), offering the most amazing views—don’t miss this! 

  • Anacapri: This town is oozing with beauty (and wealth!). We munched on delectable sandwiches from a little cafe as we perused adorable shops. 

  • Giardini Principessa di Piemonte: A quaint little hillside garden in Ravello with views that’ll leave you utterly awestruck! 

  • Piazza del Duomo: This square (and its surrounding cobblestone streets) in Ravello was lively yet peaceful. We meandered past ceramic stores, sampled limoncello, and nibbled on pastries—it was perfection.

  • OneFire Beach: We made the most of our last day in Praiano by swimming and sunbathing at this gorgeous beach club.

The charm and beauty of Ravello was undeniable

A hot, happy day at OneFire Beach

When to Visit the Amalfi Coast

If you can avoid the most crowded summer months (June-August) on the Amalfi Coast, definitely do so! April-May or September-October are ideal times to visit with comfortable temperatures and fewer tourists. Early October proved to be the perfect time for us! The weather was extremely pleasant—70s and 80s with zero rain—and the summer crowds had lessened. Positano and Amalfi were buzzing with visitors, but not overwhelmingly so. Praiano was extremely laid back and relaxing and didn’t feel crowded at all—I’m so glad we chose to stay there. 

Moving to Ravello—ciao!

How to Get to the Amalfi Coast

Getting to the Amalfi Coast can be a bit tricky since there aren’t any direct public transportation routes. We decided to rent a car since it was the most direct option. If you’re not wanting to rent a car, though, you can take a train from Naples to Sorrento and then a ferry or bus to Positano. It’ll be a longer process and maybe a bit of a headache, but it’s definitely doable. 

Upon arriving in Rome, we picked up our car at the airport and drove the 3.5-4 hours to Praiano. Honestly, it wasn’t the easiest drive, mostly due to the venturesome drivers and very narrow, winding roads, but once we were in Praiano, we were glad to have our car. It made our various day trips much more convenient. It also made sense for us since we wanted to visit a few towns along the way to Florence, which was our next stop. 

We did end up taking the SITA bus from Praiano to Positano a few times, which I do suggest doing (during non-peak months at least) since parking in Positano is minimal and can be stressful and expensive. You can also catch the bus from Praiano to Sorrento and Amalfi. 

All in all, I would recommend renting a car—just be warned that the drivers and hairpin turns are not for the faint of heart! 

The most heavenly view from our bed and breakfast

Top Tips for Traveling to the Amalfi Coast

A trip to Italy takes plenty of planning—keep these tips in mind when venturing to the Amalfi Coast: 

  • Bring comfy walking shoes. Have I mentioned you’ll be climbing A LOT of steps? If there’s one thing you’ll 1000% need, it’s a good pair of sneakers!

  • Don’t overpack. The last thing you want is to lug heavy bags around, so bring versatile pieces you can re-wear and restyle as needed. 

  • Buy euros from your local bank before you go (for street vendors, buses, etc.). This way, you won’t have to waste time looking for an ATM and you’ll avoid withdrawal fees.

  • Purchase an international e-SIM card—chances are it’ll be more affordable than paying for an international plan from your phone provider. We used the Orange Holiday Europe e-SIM and had no issues.

  • Almost everyone speaks English in major Italian cities, which makes communication easy. We did try to use a few Italian words like “ciao” and “grazie” out of courtesy, though.

  • Always say yes to aperitivo. This is the Italian version of happy hour—buy a drink, and you’ll get a little spread of free snacks included!

  • Tipping isn’t expected at restaurants in Italy. However, most will charge a cover fee (coperto), which is usually only a few euros.

  • Public restrooms aren’t typically free, so do as the Italians do—buy a cappuccino from a cafe and then use their restroom. You’ll still be spending a few euros, but at least you’ll get some caffeine out of it!

  • Be open to everything! Try all the foods and splurge on all the activities. A trip to Italy might be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so make the most of it. 

Aperitivo with a side of sunset at Bar del Sole

Traveling to the Amalfi Coast was seriously like something out of a storybook. Every sight we saw amazed us, and I already can’t wait to go back to those color-coated cliffsides one day. It’s a place I think everyone should visit at least once in their life—just be prepared to fall in love with absolutely everything!

The next stop on our 10-day Italy excursion? Florence! Check out my Florence travel guide.

Ciao for now!

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