7-Day Itinerary // Amalfi Coast, Italy
Of all the places on earth, Italy’s Amalfi Coast is one of my favorites. With its stunning coastline, charming villages, and delicious cuisine, it has a magic that makes me want to return year after year. The photos don’t do it justice, though I would advise going off-season as the crowds can take away much of the area’s magic.
If you have a week in this beautiful place, here’s how you can spend it:
Day 1: Arrive in Naples
Most travelers arrive in Naples, which is the nearest city to the Amalfi Coast. There’s not much to see in Naples except from the pizza, which I highly recommend you try. M’s favorite is L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele (featured in Eat, Pray, Love), and I prefer Gino e Toto Sorbillo (slightly thicker crust, smaller pie). But they’re amazing here, and definitely worth a momentary stop.
From here you can take a private transfer or private driver to your accommodation, which is the quickest way to get around. You can also take a taxi or a bus to your hotel in one of the coastal towns such as Positano, Amalfi, or Ravello. Spend the rest of the day getting acclimated to the area and exploring your new surroundings.
Day 2: Positano
If you have to choose one place to stay on the Amalfi Coast, I’d recommend staying in Positano (hotel recs below) because it’s relatively convenient and the prettiest of the coastal towns (I think), with its colorful houses and steep streets that lead down to the sea. If you’re not staying here, head here after a breakfast, and spend the day exploring (there’s lots of great boutique shopping), relaxing on the Spiaggia Grand beach, and soaking up the atmosphere.
At night, visit Music on the Rocks, Positano’s one and only nightclub. If you like nightclubs, here is a list of 6 (including Music on the Rocks) you might consider while you’re in the area.
Day 3: Capri
Take a ferry to the island of Capri and spend the day exploring this beautiful island. Take a chairlift up to Mount Solaro for stunning views of the island and sea, visit the famous Blue Grotto, and stroll through the town’s winding streets. Make sure to check that the Blue Grotto is open though, as the wind and sea conditions can make them close it down. This website tells you whether it’s open or not (the morning of), so check it before you go.
For more details, I’ll be sharing a 1-day Capri itinerary soon!
Day 4: Amalfi
Head to the town of Amalfi for the day. Visit the stunning Amalfi Cathedral, which dates back to the 9th century, and enjoy a leisurely lunch at one of the town’s many seafood restaurants. Spend the afternoon on the beach or taking a boat tour of the coastline.
Day 5: Ravello
Take a bus or taxi up to the hilltop town of Ravello. This picturesque town is known for its beautiful gardens and stunning views of the coast. Visit the Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo gardens, both of which are breathtakingly beautiful. If you’re only spending a few days in the Amalfi Coast, you can definitely see Amalfi & Ravello in one day (see this group tour). Just make sure to leave room for a sunset boat tour! More details on that below.
Day 6: Pompeii
Take a day trip to Pompeii to see the ancient ruins of this famous city that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Walk through the preserved streets and buildings and imagine what life was like in ancient Rome. We got our tour guide through our driver, and we learned so much on our tour, so would highly recommend getting a guide.
Here is a guided tour option from Positano
Here are options for a tour of just Pompeii, or Pompeii & Herculaneum
If you’re looking for more adventure, you can also drive to the top of Mount Vesuvius and hike to the crater. If you have time and energy after your full day exploring ancient ruins, dine in Sorrento, to see the northern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula.
Day 7: Cooking class or Hiking the Path of Gods
On your last day, do something a bit more local. Take a cooking class and learn how to make some of the delicious Italian dishes that you've been enjoying all week. After enjoying the lunch with your fellow students, visit a local winery and enjoy some of the region’s best wines.
Alternatively, you can hike the Path of Gods from Bomerano to Nocelle, a 5 mi hike along ancient mule routes (guided tour option). Then return to Positano for a swim along Fornillo beach, or dine at Il Tridente or Le Sirenuse’s La Sponda Restaurant, where you should definitely make a reservation. Both of these restaurants have amazing views of the town.
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The Amalfi Coast is a truly magical place, and a week here is just enough time to explore some of the highlights of the region. Whether you're looking for relaxation or adventure, you're sure to find something that suits your tastes in this stunning part of Italy.
Where to Stay
If it’s your first time, I’d recommend staying in Positano so you can see it at night, when all the day tourists have left. I found it to be the most magical of the towns on the main coast. If it’s your second or third time, I’d recommend staying in Capri. It’s further away, but Anacapri is nice and quiet, and Capri has lots to do during the day.
Hotel Recommendations:
Alcione Residence (where we stayed)
What to Do
Private Boat Tour
If you don’t do anything else while you’re here, do a private sunset boat tour. The coast is totally different when seen by the ocean, and while the ferry between cities gives you a taste of the beauty, drinking champagne on a private tour while the sun is setting is an unbeatable experience. There are lots of companies along the piers at each of the cities that offer these tours, and they vary in quality (type of boat), length, and price. I would recommend getting a boat you will like to take photos on (if that matters to you), and that will actually allow you to see the sunset (sometimes they come in early). Find a bunch of numbers of boat operators online (or just by walking the pier and picking up flyers), then WhatsApp them all to see who has availability, making sure to ask about the time, length of the ride and the boat you will be on.
These boat tours are also offered in group rides, if that’s more in budget.
Take the ferry to other cities
While each town on the Amalfi Coast is amazing on its own, it’s more impressive to see them all and get context for the whole region. And the ferry is quite pleasant.
Relax at a beach club
The whole coast has beach clubs, so you can go to one in your town and relax, or take a boat ride to another, potentially more private one. We haven’t done this, so I can’t say how they are, but I would try this in a future trip!
Go shopping
The Amalfi Coast is famous for a lot of things, and one of those is shopping. In particular, you’ll find a lot of linen, lemon prints, and limoncello. As you wander around, you’ll find huge Amalfi lemons everywhere, and you should purchase a souvenir to remember them by!
What to Eat
For a full guide on what to eat in Italy, see my blog post on the topic, and check out the Campania (Naples, Amalfi Coast) section!
