Complete Amalfi Coast Itinerary (See the Best Places in 1 to 5 Days)
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Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most popular destinations and planning your first trip to the region might seem a bit overwhelming. What is the best time to visit? How many days do you need for Amalfi Coast? Which towns to visit? Where to stay when visiting Amalfi Coast? And finally, what’s the best Amalfi Coast itinerary?
Our guest writer Nicky from That Anxious Traveller answers all these questions in this suggested 5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary that covers all the best places you shouldn’t miss on your first visit.
Update: This article has been updated after our own recent trip to the Amalfi Coast and Naples region, to give you even more useful info and tips for planning your visit. Read on!
The area surrounding Naples in Italy is one of my favorite places in the world. Covering the busy city of Naples, charming Mediterranean towns, glamorous islands, and UNESCO world heritage sites, Amalfi Coast has something for everyone! But you do need to take your time to explore this beautiful coastline.
While you can see the Amalfi Coast itself in one day, there is so much more to this beautiful area than just the famous towns of Amalfi, Ravello, or Positano. Depending on your interests, I recommend at least 3 days in the area, but if you really want to see all the best places near the Amalfi Coast, it’s best to spend at least 5 days on the Amalfi Coast.
TIP: If you stumbled upon this post while looking for ideas for the Amalfi Coast itinerary, but you only have one day for it, I recommend checking this day tour from Rome that includes Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast. It’s run by a company that offers the best local experiences in Italy!
If you are staying in Naples or other nearby towns, you can find the best tour options here. Taking an organized tour is by far the best way to see the best of the Amalfi Coast in just a day.
Naples, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast Itinerary for 5 Days
Before we continue with the recommended Amalfi Coast itinerary, you should know that all the main sights along the Amalfi Coast can be easily visited from one central location. If you want to see the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and even places like Pompeii, we recommend staying in Sorrento. You can find more details and suggestions at the bottom of the post.
Depending on your destination for the day, you can either travel by boat, by public transport, or take organized tours.
You can also visit the Amalfi Coast by car. However, since there are now so many restrictions on who is allowed to drive where and at what time, we only recommend considering renting a car in the low season! See the best car rental deals here and rent the smallest car that will fit your group.
READ ALSO: Amalfi Coast Travel Tips for First-time Visitors
There are so many ways to make the best of your time on the Amalfi Coast – find out!
Below is my recommended 5 day itinerary for the Amalfi Coast. It doesn’t really matter which places you visit on which day, or how many days you have for the Amalfi Coast, just use it as an indication on what you can see on any given day. I suggest using these recommendations to create your own perfect Amalfi Coast itinerary, for any duration from 1 to 5 days. Find out!
TIP: Below are our suggestions for your Amalfi Coast itinerary, with the best areas grouped per day. If you have less time, just pick those places that interest you the most. That way you can easily create your own itinerary for a shorter trip by selecting the itineraries of those places that interest you most. Take a look!
Day 1 – The Amalfi Coast: Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi town
You could easily devote a full five-day itinerary to the villages of the Amalfi Coast alone, but that would be to miss out on everything else in the area. So this Amalfi Coast itinerary actually foresees one full day to the villages of the Amalfi Coast itself (and absolute minimum).
Take advantage of Sorrento’s close proximity to one of Italy’s most feted spots, and see the main highlights of the Amalfi Coast – Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello in just one day. Here’s how.
Start with Positano, the mainland’s equivalent to Capri. Glamour and picture-perfect sights are the order of the day here: from the perfect beach with its dramatic backdrop of houses clinging to a mountainside, to the rows of boutique stores offering some truly unique fashions.
You can even have your own custom-made sandals made here while you wait, before popping back into the sunshine for a freshly-made gelato.
Next is Amalfi, a town that was a trading superpower in the medieval age. It is much smaller these days, thanks to an earthquake in 1343 which caused most of the city to slide into the sea.
But some things remain: Amalfi possesses the absolute must-visit sight of the Duomo, the towering cathedral which dominates the main piazza of the town.
For a small fee, you can enter and see Roman sarcophagi in the cloisters, beautiful religious artifacts in the treasury, and the remains of a saint in the cathedral itself. It’s a wonderful building and a nice respite from the bustle of the Amalfi Coast’s crowds.
To finish off your Amalfi Coast trio, head to the mountaintop town of Ravello. Visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo and prepare yourself for one of the best views on the entire Amalfi Coast.
Head straight through the gardens until you reach the terrace and take in the beauty of blue skies meeting blue seas, whilst the towns of the coast tumble down the mountainsides.
Another must-see in Ravello is the garden of a 5* luxury hotel Villa Cimbrone. The views from Terrazza dell’Infinito are amazing and you can visit the gardens even if you don’t stay at the hotel.
If you like jaw-dropping sceneries (who doesn’t right?), make sure to check this out for some of the best views of the Amalfi Coast. One of the best ways to enjoy the jaw-dropping scenery of the Amalfi Coast is to hike the famous Sentiero degli Dei (the Path of the Gods).
Practical Information: Although you can take a ferry from Sorrento to Positano, the most budget-friendly option is going by bus. If you go to Sorrento’s train station and buy an all-day bus ticket from the tobacconist by the entrance stairs, you can take in all of the Amalfi Coast’s towns for a very reasonable cost of about 7 EUR.
Simply cross over the road outside the train station to catch a bus headed to Amalfi; Positano will be your first stop. When you’ve explored there, get back on the bus to go to Amalfi, and catch an additional bus from there to Ravello.
TIP: Remember to validate your bus ticket when you get on board. Also bear in mind that the buses get extremely busy in high season; the earlier you can get there, the better. And if you want really good views out of the window, sit on the seats to your left!
However – if you visit in the high season – the buses are often crowded and the traffic is really bad. Taking a boat is much more comfortable.
Tour suggestions: An alternative way to see the Amalfi Coast is by joining organized day tours. Here are some of the best options: a group tour from Naples, a private day trip from Naples, or the Amalfi Coast day tour from Rome.
TIP: If you are staying in Sorrento and just visiting the Amalfi Coast for a day, this full-day boat tour from Sorrento is one of the absolute best options to see all the top places in a day. Especially if you are traveling in the high season.
Day 2 – Sorrento
No Amalfi Coast itinerary would be complete without visiting Sorrento!
Take it easy on your second day along the Amalfi Coast, and explore the pretty town of Sorrento. It’s a beautiful place where you can find a more authentic Italian way of life. Scenic streets with their small shops and gelato parlors make Sorrento an ideal destination for serious shoppers and families alike.
Must-see locations in Sorrento include the Church of St. Francesco, which has a beautiful cloister area attached to the side of the church, the stunning views across the bay to Naples and Vesuvius, as well as the otherworldly ruined mill at the Vallone dei Mulini.
But Sorrento’s simple pleasures are the best: do some people-watching at Piazza Tasso, or stock up on lemon-flavored treats in the shopping streets to the west of the piazza.
Our personal favorite thing to do in Sorrento is enjoying an aperitivo and seafood dinner on the terrace of a small fishermen’s restaurant O’ Puledrone at Marina Grande. We also really enjoyed the visit to the lemon grove in the middle of the city, I Giardini di Cataldo. They sell all kinds of lemon delicacies, from ice creams and sorbets to marmalades and limoncello.
Practical Information: Sorrento is small and friendly. Unless you’re planning to explore the surrounding suburbs, you can easily explore the town on foot.
Be aware that if you want to go down to the port, you can either take the staircase at the north side of Piazza Tasso, or follow a longer, winding road. If mobility is an issue, there is a bus that you can catch at the port to bring you back up to town.
TIP: You may be tempted by the pizza in the cafes on Piazza Tasso, but you pay for the location. Go a little further down Corso Italia and check out Franco’s Pizzeria instead. It’s the best pizza outside of Naples, in a small and friendly restaurant, and at a fraction of the cost of the tourist spots.
Good to know: You don’t really need an entire day for Sorrento town itself. So take it easy, head to the beach, spend some time by the pool of your hotel, take a cooking class, go on a fishing trip, or book a sunset cruise. It will make your stay so much more enjoyable!
Day 3 – Capri
On your third day on the Amalfi Coast, spoil yourself with a trip to one of the world’s most glamorous locations, Capri island. It’s another location you must include in your Amalfi Coast itinerary!
Capri is a jewel of an island in a sapphire-blue sea. Synonymous with the rich and famous, it’s been visited by everyone from Emperor Tiberius, to Jackie Onassis, to Taylor Swift…
You can while away the hours doing serious damage to your bank account in the designer-laden shops, or taking in the natural beauty on some glorious hiking trails.
Blue Grotto is top of most visitor bucket lists: a cave located just off the sea, where the water turns a brilliant, luminous blue. Also popular are boat tours around the entirety of the island’s coast, a highlight being the Faraglioni rocks, where your boat passes through a natural tunnel at the base of the towering rocks.
You can arrange a tour at the Marina with various local companies, or avoid disappointment and book one in advance. Here’s the best price/quality Capri Island boat tour that I found (it includes both, Blue Grotto, as well as Faraglioni rocks).
If you don’t want to stay at sea level, catch a bus from Capri Town to Anacapri. It takes just 10 minutes and costs around 2 EUR.
Once there, you can get a chairlift up to the summit of Monte Solaro, the island’s highest point. Here you can soak in one of the finest views you’ll ever see, of the lusciously green isle surrounded by sparkling blue seas.
TIP: Capri tends to be expensive, but you can get one of the island’s finest sights for next to nothing. Walk through Capri Town, and navigate your way to the Giardini di Augusto. The entrance cost is just 1.5 EUR and you can enjoy stunning views of the blue waters underneath the snaking footpath of Via Krupp, or the Faraglioni rocks in the other direction.
Practical Information: To reach Capri, go to Sorrento’s Marina Piccolo (don’t be confused by the names of Sorrento’s marinas – Marina Piccolo is the big one, Marina Grande is the small one!), and buy a ticket from any of the booths which are marked with “Capri”. The journey will take about 20-30 minutes, and cost anything from 20 to 35 EUR, depending on the time of day. Earlier in the day tends to be cheaper.
LEARN MORE: How to Visit Capri from Sorrento
Tour suggestions: You can also visit Capri with organized tours. Here is one of the best-rated options from Sorrento: Capri full-day small-group boat tour.
READ ALSO: Best things to do in Capri & Things to do in Anacapri & Where to Stay in Capri
Day 4 – Pompeii
It would be wrong to visit the Naples region and not visit its most famous historic site! The Roman town of Pompeii was destroyed in 79 AD when the nearby volcano of Vesuvius erupted, causing a chain of events so destructive that they wiped out the town’s population and buried it under a thick layer of solidified ash.
Visiting Pompeii is the closest you’ll ever get to traveling back in time, as you walk over the same cobblestones and enter the same temples and amphitheaters as the ancient Romans did.
It’s extremely easy to reach Pompeii from Sorrento. You can take a 30-minute train from Sorrento’s train station, which is located just off the central Corso Italia. You can catch any train heading to Napoli and alight at Pompei Villa Dei Misteri station. It’s a short walk from here to the site’s entrance; just follow the row of souvenir stalls.
Practical Information: If you don’t want to waste your time standing in line, you may consider buying fast-track tickets for Pompeii in advance. Also, prepare to get hot! Pompeii is notoriously unforgiving in the sun, and the savvy traveler plans accordingly.
Take plenty of water (there’s a cafe on site if you do run out), use plenty of sunscreen, and wear a hat and sunglasses. There’s very little shade in Pompeii. You can hide from the sun inside the cafe or in one of the few buildings with a roof. It’s also advisable not to wear heeled shoes – the Roman cobblestones and pavements are awkward to walk on even when wearing flats. Your ankles will thank you for it!
TIP: Don’t push yourself too hard in trying to see all of Pompeii in one day – I’ve been three times, and still haven’t seen it all! Plus, you may not want to spend the whole day here either, especially if it’s hot.
You’ll be given a map with your ticket: identify the key things you want to see and treat everything else as a bonus. Make sure not to miss the Forum, the Villa of the Mysteries, the House of the Faun, the Cave Canem sign, the Lupinarium, or the amphitheater.
PRO TIP: If you want to see the musts of Pompeii in just a few hours, I highly recommend joining a guided walking tour with an archeologist. It covers all the highlights in the most efficient way – you would never see (or understand) half as much on your own. You can still explore a bit more of the site on your own after your guide leaves you at the end of the tour. This is what we did – using additional tips our guide gave us.
Tour suggestions: Pompeii is also a popular destination for organized day trips. Ideally, you combine with Mt Vesuvius – it will make your day more diverse. You can visit Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius with these highly-rated tours from Naples or Sorrento or from Amalfi Coast, and even from Rome.
READ ALSO: How to Visit Mount Vesuvius
Day 5 – Naples
Some people are put off Naples by the city’s reputation of being dirty, unfriendly, and crime-ridden. Don’t believe the rumors – if you pass up on Naples, you’ll be missing out on one of Italy’s most authentic cities. It’s a must if you have 4-5 days at the Amalfi Coast.
Napoli might have a few rough edges, but after five visits there, I’ve never once had any problems. The people are friendly (especially if you attempt to speak in Italian!), the historic sites are world-class, and the scenes are far prettier than some would have you believe. Not to mention that the food in Naples is out of this world!
A definite must-visit is the Archaeological Museum. If you have an interest in Roman history – or if you acquired one during your visit to Pompeii – then the National Archaeological Museum is one of the foremost places of study in the world.
You’ll be able to see the original artifacts discovered in Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were removed and kept in the museum for their own preservation. Most notorious is the Secret Cabinet room, where you can see some of the more erotic discoveries! Add to that the famous Farnese Marbles statue collection and a huge array of Egyptian artifacts, and you have a full day for any fan of classical history.
Another sight you won’t forget in a hurry is the Church of Gesú Nuovo. Entry is free, and a building that looks curiously plain and rectangular from the outside will suddenly bloom into a riot of color when you step inside. Take in the beautiful blues and golds of the ceiling, and the religious artworks which line the walls.
Just nearby, check out the monastery of Santa Chiara – its gardens and cloisters are among the most beautiful places in Naples!
For the best views of Naples, take the funicular up to Castel Sant’Elmo.
READ ALSO: One Day in Naples (what to see and itinerary)
Some other popular things to do in Naples include the Naples Catacombs, an underground tour, food tours, and pizza-making classes. And if you have more time, visit the Royal Palace of Caserta, a bit outside the town.
If you like history, then don’t miss the Herculaneum archeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s most preserved ancient cities.
LEARN MORE: Best Things to Do in Naples & Where to Stay in Naples
No visit to Naples would be complete without tasting the world-famous pizza of Naples!
The reputation for having the best pizza in the world is absolutely accurate: with tomatoes that have been freshly picked from the rich soil around Mt Vesuvius, mozzarella cheese that is made nearby, and the expertise of generations of Neapolitan pizzaiolos, you won’t find a better one.
TIP: My favorite pizza is to be found at L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele, not far from the Central station. Just make sure to get there early to avoid the inevitable queues!
Practical Information: All trains from Sorrento station have a final destination of Naples, so you really can’t go wrong. I personally like to catch the train to Naples in the morning, then head down to Molo Beverello port and catch the ferry back to Sorrento in the afternoon. You avoid the crowded rush hour on the trains and put your feet up on the ferry’s more comfortable seats after a day’s walking.
Practical tips for visiting the Amalfi Coast
Best time to visit Amalfi Coast
With its mild-Mediterranean climate, Amalfi Coast is a year-round destination. Visit in spring or autumn for nice weather for sightseeing and fewer crowds, or in summer for the beaches.
READ ALSO: Best Time to Visit Europe
Where to stay when visiting Amalfi Coast
Although I usually like to backpack my way around an area and stay in a different hotel every night, I don’t recommend this strategy for Amalfi Coast. Instead, I find it far better to take advantage of the reasonable accommodation costs and transport links of Sorrento, which sits right in the middle of the region.
Staying in Sorrento allows you to make day trips with short journey times to all of the local areas of interest, whilst keeping a ‘home base’. Furthermore, it’s much cheaper to stay in Sorrento than in the little villages of the Amalfi Coast itself, not to mention Capri.
Best hotels in Sorrento. Sorrento has hotels and accommodations for all types of travelers: from high-end hotels to B&Bs and hostels, as well as local agriturismos out in the hills surrounding the town. Here are some suggestions for all budgets:
- €€€€€ Hotel Belair – luxury cliff-side hotel with amazing views.
- €€€€ Grand Hotel Riviera – a more affordable luxury with a fantastic location, beach access, and amazing sea views.
- €€€ Hotel Sorrento City – mid-budget hotel in the city center.
- €€ Ulisse Deluxe Hostel – the best-rated budget hotel in Sorrento.
My experience & recommendation: One of my favorite places to stay in Sorrento is the Hotel Del Mare at Marina Grande. This charming little fishing harbor is one of the more local parts of Sorrento. It’s about 20 minutes walk from the central station or 15 minutes from the main harbor, but makes a great base for exploring the Amalfi Coast region!
READ ALSO: Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast (detailed info about all the best towns)
How to get to Sorrento from Naples
Most people arrive at the Amalfi Coast via Naples airport. Here’s how to reach Sorrento from Naples:
- Private taxi pickup. A number of local companies offer private transfers. You can book your transfer here – it’s usually much cheaper than having your hotel or accommodation arrange it for you. This is where we booked all our transfers on the most recent visit to the Amalfi Coast.
- Train. Catch a shuttle bus or taxi from the airport and travel to Napoli Garibaldi station. Get on a Circumvesuviana train which has Sorrento as its final destination. The journey will take about an hour and ten minutes.
- Ferry. Catch a shuttle bus or taxi from the airport to Molo Beverello port in Naples and take a ferry to Sorrento. The ferry trip takes 40 minutes.
READ ALSO: How to get from Naples to the Amalfi Coast
So here it is, my suggested 5 day itinerary for the best of Amalfi Coast. There’s so much to see in the Naples – Amalfi Coast region that you could easily spend much more time here and never get bored.
Once you’ve been there, you’ll see why it’s one of the most-visited regions in the world. With a rich mix of culture, food, history, fashion, glamour, and amazing scenery, Amalfi Coast truly has something for everyone. You’ll definitely want to come back very, very soon!
TIP: If you have the time, plan a few more days in the region! That way, you can see everything at a more relaxed pace, take the time to explore deeper, and enjoy the scenery, the beaches, and local foods! Take a look at our 10-day Naples, Amalfi Coast, and Capri itinerary for more information and inspiration for a longer trip.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Amalfi Coast vs. Cinque Terre
About the author. Nicky Cade spent too many years not traveling thanks to crippling travel anxiety, before finally defeating her fears. She now runs That Anxious Traveller, a blog devoted to travel and how to overcome travel anxiety, chronicling both her rediscovery of the world and her inevitable embarrassing travel fails.
Thanks again to our guest writer Nicky for these great Amalfi Coast itinerary suggestions. This article has inspired us to explore this beautiful part of Italy as well, and you can now find many more guides to the Amalfi Coast, Capri, and Naples area on our blog.
TIP: If you are planning a trip to Italy, make sure to also check our Italy travel guide. It covers lots of amazing destinations all over Italy and is filled with trip inspiration, itineraries, and practical tips for your visit.
READ ALSO: Most Beautiful Towns and Cities to Visit in Italy
More tips for your trip to Italy:
- Where to go: Best Places to Visit in Italy
- What to eat: Traditional Italian Food by Region
- Rome: Tips for Planning a Trip to Rome & Must-see Sights in Rome & Hidden Gems of Rome
- Venice: Best Things to Do in Venice & Tips for a Gondola Ride in Venice & 1 Day in Venice
- Florence: Best Things to Do in Florence & 1 Day in Florence & Florence Rooftop Bars & Hotels
- Cinque Terre: Practical Cinque Terre Guide & 1 Day in Cinque Terre
- Tuscany: Best Towns in Tuscany & Tuscany Itinerary & Siena & Montepulciano
- Garda Lake: Best Things to Do in Lake Garda & Lake Garda Itinerary
- Milan: Best Things to Do in Milan & One Day in Milan
- Como Lake: Best Things to Do in Lake Como & Bellagio & Como & Varenna & Where to Stay in Lake Como
- Dolomites: Best Hikes in the Dolomites & Best Places in the Dolomites & Best Lakes in the Dolomites & Dolomites Itinerary & Where to Stay in the Dolomites
- Emilia Romagna: Bologna & Rimini & Ravenna & Emilia Romagna Itinerary
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Hello there,
My husband & I are planning a trip to Amalfi coast on the 1st week of June. We are coming from Rome arriving in Naples & then straight to Sorrento. Do you think staying two full days is somehow doable enough? Like our first full day would be to visit Positano, Amalfi & Ravello(can we do this in a day?) and second full day would be half day with a tour guide going to Capri and remaining half day exploring Sorrento. Is this a good itinerary or you suggest to add one more day?
Pls advise! Thank you!
Hi Marie, it all depends on what you expect of the Amalfi Coast. If you just want to see the highlights, then yes, you can do it in a day. From Sorrento, you could take a bus or a boat and plan it all yourself or book one of the guided tours (in most cases, they just arrange transportation making sure you can maximize your time, and give you free time in towns).
A day trip to Capri is definitely worth it too and you will likely need a big part of the day for it (most tours take 7-8 hours and they are well organized, so you can’t do it much quicker yourself either). Please also see this guide for more information: How to Visit Capri from Sorrento.
If you can, I would absolutely add one extra day and visit Pompeii and maybe Mt Vesuvius.
There is a train from Sorrento to Pompeii, but for the visit itself, I highly recommend this guided tour – the site is huge, and it’s easy to miss the main sites on your own. If you also want to visit Mt Vesuvius on the same day, you can take a bus transfer from Pompeii. If you need more info, please see our guide to visiting Mt Vesuvius. Or skip Vesuvius and spend more time in Sorrento if it’s too much for 3 days for you. With the rest of your time in the evenings, you can explore Sorrento itself.
Hope this helps. Whatever you decide, book everything in advance!
This post was so useful, thank you so much!
I am getting married next Saturday (7th October) and we’ve left organising a hobeymoon to the last minute, partly because we’ve got a 7-month-old baby.
Do you think the Amalfi coast would be a good place for a honeymoon with a baby at the end of October/beginning of November? (I am a teacher so constrained by term dates.) One thought I had was we could perhaps stay a bit longer than five days, under the assumption that we’d probably achieve less in each day than your blog suggests as babies can be a bit time-consuming!
Any ideas or feedback you have would be hugely appreciated 🙂
Hi Jack, first of all, congratulations.
As for the Amalfi Coast, I’d have a few concerns – the season (it’s the end of it, so places might start to close (also ferries, etc.) plus the weather uncertainty). Second, unless you are planning on using a baby carrier, it’s going to be difficult with a stroller. Not just on Amalfi Coast, but also in Capri or if you want to visit places like Pompeii or Mt Vesuvius.
But apart from that, it’s a wonderful area and I’m sure you’ll love it. You just need to do a bit more research so that you know exactly what to expect from the practical side.
Hope this helps a bit.
Hi, i trying to follow a few of your itineraries, I’m planning to go to Italy 2024 October, for 3 weeks; planes are arriving in Naples for two days and then staying in Sorrento for the Amalfi Coast ( 4 days), flying to Roma for four days, Tuscany for 2 weeks o more depended if I can find painting classes in acrylic, and finish with Venice and Milan, to fly back home. It is too much around? or do I need to start in Rome o Venice and then come back down?
Hi Elisabeth, you can start/end anywhere you like depending on the flights you find. Just do not fly within Italy, e.g. from Naples to Rome, or Rome to Florence or Venice – it’s so much easier by train.
You can find a sample 2-week Italy itinerary here, and you can easily reverse it too. If you are traveling in October, it would probably be wise to start in the north and end in the south – that way, you have more chances of better weather everywhere throughout your trip (but that is, of course, never guaranteed).
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga
I find your articles on travelling to naples and amalfi coast very helpful and interesting. It has helped me in my planning for the oct 2023. However i would appreciate if you could comment or advise me on my itinerary to fine tune my trip. I have 21 days to play around. Fly in on oct 8 rome and leave rome on oct 29. Here is my itinerary
Rome 4 days
Naples (via train) 3 days
sorrento (via train) 4 days ( to see sorrento, capri, positano and almalfi based in sorrento )
Milan (via train) 3 days ( with day trip to lake como )
Venice ( 2 days )
The remaining days i am thinking of going to alberobello but dont know how to fit it in. Is there a way to do it? i have already been to florence and bologna and cinque terra. Would appreciate if you could give me some suggestions .
thank you so much.
Hi Felicia, unfortunately, I really have no time to help our readers with individual itineraries. There are just too many factors to consider.
Just one thing – why would you go the south (Naples), then north (Milan – Venice), and then south (Alberobello) again? It’s much more logical to start with one region and end in the other instead of going up and down. Taking into account the season when you travel, I’d start with the north first and then go south. You could even fly bigger distances (Venice to Bari for example).
Good luck with the planning!
Thanks for your suggestion and I will make the necessary changes.
Hi Jurga,
Really enjoying reading this article, my husband and I are going on a cruise for 10 days in June leaving from Barcelona and stopping in the following ports in Italy: 2 days in Livorno, 1 day in Rome and 1 day in Naples, what activities do you recommend for us to do. We also stop in Marseille, Cannes, Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza. I appreciate your suggestions.
Hi Olga, all these areas have so much to offer that it’s really difficult to advise. Everyone has different interests. You can stay in Naples the whole day and still not see everything (take a look at this 1-day Naples itinerary), or you can take a tour to Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius, or visit Capri, or go to the Amalfi Coast. The choice is really difficult and there is no way to see ‘everything’ in a day, not even in a few days.
So you’ll have to pick one place based on your interests. A shore excursion like this one can be a good way to quickly get a glimpse of some of the most popular places in just a day.
In Rome, I’d definitely just stay in the city. You can hire a guide with transportation from the cruise port, or make your own way to the city (see the options here) and use this 1-day Rome itinerary and plan your day.
It’s similar for pretty much any other port on your cruise itinerary… You can’t see it all, so just focus on the areas/sights/attractions that interest you the most.
Hope this helps.
Hi!
I am traveling with a friend and 2 adult children to Italy in high season, July. We will stay in Sorrento for 2 days, travel to Capri for 2 days-boat or ferry over from Sorrento and then move on to the Amalfi Coast for 4 days or so and then move on to Rome. Trying to figure out a central place on the Amalfi Coast to stay and then travel up and down the coast, day-tripping. Not sure if this is wise. Wanting to stay possibly in Ravello. Is this an OK idea? We would sightsee from here.
We are interested in a cooking class and going to a winery you wrote about in the mountains. Can you give us any advice?
Hi Lisa, Ravello is ok, but it’s on the hill so you’ll need to take a bus/taxi to Amalfi town every time you want to go somewhere. Amalfi town might be a bit easier for excursions, but if you don’t mind that extra step, Ravello is beautiful.
You can find more information and things to consider in our guide on where to stay on the Amalfi Coast. Since you are already staying in Sorrento and in Capri as well, I’d indeed spend a few days on the Amalfi Coast itself.
As for tours, here are a few recommendations:
* Mt Vesuvius winery tour (you’ll need your own transport for this one)
* Mt Vesuvius wine tasting tour from Pompeii (you can easily get to Pompeii from Sorrento by train)
* Walking and winery/cellar tour from Agerola (you can get there by bus from Amalfi town).
* Many more options for winery tours here.
* Cooking class in Amalfi.
* More cooking classes in that area – see here.
Hope this helps.
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this. I’m trying to plan a trip for the first time April 2024.
I think this may have helped me plan out my day’s. Would love to get your feedback.
Day 1 Positano (visiting Ravello, and Amalfi)
Day 2 Sorrento
Day 3 Capri
Day 4 Pompei
Day 5 Naples
I’m assuming the best way to fly in would be Rome?
Hi JoAnn, your plan looks good.
A few things. You don’t really need an entire day for Pompeii, so you could e.g. combine it with a visit to Mt Vesuvius. There are tours that do both in a day, or you can do it on your own (by car or public transport). See our guide to Mt Vesuvius for more info. An alternative is to also visit Herculaneum on that same day. It’s a bit like Pompeii though, but much smaller.
Purely for sightseeing, you also don’t really need the whole day in Sorrento town. Also, if you base yourself there, you will already see most places on the other days. But if you spend some time at the beach, have long meals, maybe take a fishing tour, a sunset tour, or so, or visit a few places nearby, etc., you could definitely fill a day or even a few.
It really depends on your interests.
As for where to fly, Rome is ok, but you can also fly to Naples which would be much easier. It depends on where you are coming from and which flights you can find.
Good luck with the planning and don’t wait too long to book if traveling in the summer!
Really enjoyed reading the article on Amalfi. Great information and the details were on point and helpful.
Glad to help, Karan. Have a great trip!
Hello –
Please, we would love your insight and help with our Rome to Amalfi Coast Itinerary and travel recommendations to avoid motion sickness if possible.
We originally planned (prior to covid) to arrive in Rome for 1 day/night then take the highspeed train to Naples –
From Naples we intended on getting a driver to take us to Ravello to relax for two night anniversary celebration
From Ravello we planned on going down to Sorrento to stay for two nights while visiting Pompeii and Herculaneum during the daytime.
From Sorrento we then planned on taking highspeed train back to Rome for two more nights.
Let us know if there is a better way to route this trip and recommendations for least windy road and or travel from Rome to Ravello.
Gratzi!
Hi Linda, the roads on the Amalfi Coast are indeed a bit winding and you can get a bit car sick. I am also prone to car sickness and didn’t feel great when driving around Positano, but I have had much worse experiences than that in other places.
Why not just take a motion sickness pill if you’re worried about it? The roads are really not that bad, but the right medication should definitely do the trick.
I am not sure how you could get to these places otherwise, but you can always ask the driver to stop here or there to get some fresh air.
It would never occur to me to change a trip itinerary to the Amalfi Coast because of something like that. It’s not like you’re crossing the Drake Passage to Antarctica or so ;).
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga,
My partner and I will be in Ravello in early may for 3 days for a wedding and wanted to extend our trip for little longer to explore Positano and Capri but I’m a bit unsure on where is best to stay/ how long for, what would you suggest is enough time in both locations?
Also, do you have any hotel recommendations for Positano? I’ve already checked out your post about Capri and will likely book the Relais hotel.
Would really appreciate your help/ suggestions.
Thank you so much!
Jayde
Hi Jayde, you may want to read this guide to the best places to stay on the Amalfi Coast. It should give you a better idea of how all these places compare. You’ll also find some hotel suggestions in that article. Keep in mind that Positano is a very hilly town, so choose your accommodation wisely depending on what you want to see and do.
For Capri, I recommend at least 2 days (ideally 3 nights), there’s a lot to see and it’s amazing in the evening when most tourists leave. See our guide to the best of Capri and the best of Anacapri.
For Positano itself, a few hours are enough. It really depends on your overall plans. If you want to spend some time at the beach, Positano can be a nice choice.
Or you could do something like this:
* A few days in Ravello (visit Ravello and Amalfi, maybe hike to Valle delle Ferriere and/or Path of the Gods if interested).
* Take a bus/taxi to Amalfi and then a boat from Amalfi to Positano. Potentially spend a night there (stay close to the harbor).
* Ferry from Positano to Capri and spend a few nights there.
* End with a few days in Sorrento and/or Naples from where you can visit Pompeii, Mt Vesuvius, etc. (See our guide to the best day trips from Naples – many of these will work from Sorrento too).
Remember that there is not one ‘best’ way to do this, so just look at what interests you the most. You may want to also read our guide with useful tips for visiting the Amalfi Coast.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi,
So glad I found your site. I am going to Italy in May. Here is a brief outline of my trip. I would like to extend it another 4 days. What do you recommend. I am totally confused as to what to do and see. Do you recommend staying 4 more days in the Amalfi coast or visiting a new area. We did not book our flights yet. We will either fly into Rome and out of Naples or the other way around. We have already been to Tuscany, Venice, Florence and Rome.
Debbie
Here is the tour that we already have booked.
1 night Naples
3 nights Sorrento
3 nights Ravello
Boat tour of Amalfi coast, cooking class in Sorrento
Boat tour of Capri and Anacapri
Tour of Pompei
Hi Debbie, it all depends on your interests and if you like to spend more time in the same area or explore something new.
You could easily add at least a day in Capri and a few days in Naples to this itinerary. There are some nice additional day trips you can do from Naples too (+ many more options not mentioned in that article).
If you want to explore another area, you could visit Matera, Bari, Trulli houses in Puglia, etc. But that’s quite a bit out of the way from all the rest, so you’d need several days for that area alone.
My personal preference based on the trip we did last spring would be to simply add more time in Naples and Capri and explore the region deeper.
Good luck with the planning!
Jurga,
This is awesome. We are planning a trip to Sorrento for next March 23 thru 30th. I noticed the 2 coastal hotels you recommended (Belair and Grand Riviera) don’t have any availability until April 1st? Will a lot of hotels/restaurants/etc be shutdown until 4/1/23? Any other recommendations?
Hi Jamie, indeed, many hotels in the area only reopen for the season from April 1, some even a bit later.
But there are still plenty of other choices. Here are a few that I see are available for your travel dates: Hotel Continental, Imperial Hotel Tramontano or on a lower budget Orsola Suites. There are a quite few others too, and also some privately-rented apartments. Just insert your travel dates and group size on Booking.com and you’ll see what’s available.
Hope this helps.
Thank you! SO very helpful! We are visiting the Amalfi coast in May and hoping you can help with a question…do you have any suggestions for the best way to get to Sorrento from Bari?
Hi Doreen, unless you have a car, the easiest way to travel from Barri to Sorrento is by bus to Naples (SITAsud) + train to Sorrento.
If you just google ‘Bari to Sorrento’, you’ll see the best options. You can also use Google Maps for that and choose the little train icon for the best public transport options.
@Jurga, Thank you! That’s what we actually came up with, but a tour operator in Bari said to take the train to Naples then a bus to Sorrento (pretty much the opposite) but that option just didn’t look that appealing.
I am so happy I saw this. Thank you. I want to take my 2 daughters for their 30 th birthday but I’m a teacher on a budget. Do you think 2 days in Rome and Amalfi coast could be done? Any suggestions?
Thank you!!
Barb😀😀
Hi Barb, I’m not sure I understand your question – 2 days in Rome and 2 in the Amalfi Coast? Or 2 in total?
The first one, yes, is definitely doable. Rushed, but doable.
The second option would mean that you only have 1 day in Rome and 1 for the Amalfi Coast. That’s really rushed, but can be done too. If that’s your plan, then take a look at this 1-day Rome itinerary and then book an organized tour that brings you to the Amalfi Coast on day 2. The tours are not really cheap, but if you try to visit Amalfi Coast from Rome in a day on your own, it will also cost you a lot and you won’t have much time to actually see anything.
If you only have 2 days in total and are traveling on a lower budget, why not just stay in Rome. There’s so much to see and do in the city and it will be much more relaxed too. Take a look at our 2 days in Rome itinerary for recommendations on what to do.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga! Thx so much for for the great article! Please help! I am researched out!! We are arriving Sept 27. We have 11 nights. We are staying on Ischia for first 3 nights, then Rome 1 night, Venice 1 night, then flying out of Venice to Naples to explore the Amalfi coast. Interests are…swim in the sea from the gorgeous cliffs, visit Fiordo di Furore, do the Path of gods hike from Bomerano, take a boat tour?, we found a great Pompeii tour that includes Vesuvius horseback ride then dinner at an estate! Would love to rent Vespas, or take a Vespa tour of the coast, see Capri? I’m all over the board! Where to stay? Sorrento or Amalfi town? I would love a hotel or B&B that has restaurants or bars so we wouldn’t have to take private taxis because they are so expensive. Do you suggest getting around in Vespa’s during the days or too dangerous? And I just don’t know what order to do the things I want to do. Would absolutely appreciate if you had time to answer and help me…thank you in advance! Shannon
Hi Shannon, first, I think your itinerary for Rome and Venice is crazy rushed (you’ll be traveling all the time with not much time to see anything). But if your flights are already booked, it is what it is.
With 5-6 days left for Naples/Amalfi Coast and taking into account what you say you want to see, I think that Sorrento is indeed a good base (unless you want to stay in two places different places). But staying in one location gives you the advantage to adjust your plans a bit depending on the weather. It will also take away all that stress you have trying to plan it all. Just book your accommodation and then figure out per day what you want to do. The details in this article should help you decide where to go each day.
When we were in Sorrento this spring, we stayed in Marina Grande, which is the old fishermen’s harbor. It’s like 15-20 minutes walk from the busy center (and about 20-25 minutes from the railway station). But if you don’t mind that, in general, it’s a very nice place to stay. There is also a small shuttle bus that you can take to get to the station or the center and it costs around 1-2 euro.
We were a bit uncertain about this area when we got there, but it quickly became one of our favorites of the entire trip. It’s a more local side of Sorrento with lots of restaurants. We loved the family-run O’Puledrone restaurant right next to our apartment and dined there every evening. We stayed at this apartment, but if you don’t need that much space, I’m sure you’ll find plenty of smaller ones just nearby (use the map function to search).
Anyway, you’ll find plenty of accommodations in the center and close to the station too, if that’s your preference. Sorrento has plenty of restaurants, bars, cafes, and you can easily walk everywhere without having to take a thousand stairs like in Positano, for example.
You can take a bus or a boat to the Amalfi Coast, and also take a train to Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum (from where there is a bus to Vesuvius if you rather not take a tour). And there are boats from Sorrento to Capri Island too. You’ll also find plenty of tours. For example, this guided tour is the easiest way to do the Path of the Gods hike from Sorrento and saves you a lot of trouble looking for transport.
For Fiordo di Furore, the best way to get there is by bus (the public bus between Sorrento and Amalfi). That way, you are right where you need to be. Going there by car, you can’t park nearby, and with a Vespa – maybe, but the road is narrow and I’m not sure how parking next to the road would be for a scooter.
I’m not sure what to say about driving Vespas – it depends on how confident you are. The traffic can be very busy and parking is a mess.
For additional tips and info, please see our detailed articles for each place:
* What to do in Naples + 1-day Naples itinerary.
* How to visit Mt Vesuvius
* How to get to Capri from Sorrento
* Path of the Gods Hike
* Best things to do in Capri
… and many more.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
@Jurga, thank you so much for taking time to help! I will definitely use all of your suggestions to the fullest!
I appreciate this write up tremendously! I am finding a lot of conflicting information and its hurting my brain! I am flying into and out of Rome, I’d like to minimize the amount of time spent on transportation daily, but want to do all the main cities/sites in the area: amalfi, positano, perhaps pompei or capri. (Going in beginning of Oct.)
I see the benefits of Sorrento outlined here, but am a bit concerned with the amount of time it requires to be spent on public transport to get to the Amalfi coast- and the amount of time it takes to get there from Rome.
I was wondering if you have any opinion on Salerno? There is a direct train there from Rome which seems convenient. However, I read it is a bit more subdued city and wonder if its not the right vibe for a first time trip. But I also see they have daily ferries which seem like quicker options to Amalfi.
Hi Cheyenne, if you want to see all the places you mentioned from one base location, Sorrento is really the best option. Especially if you can find a place to stay not too far from the railway station and from the lift to the harbor (the harbor is much lower than the town center). Something like Hotel Sorrento City (or others nearby) could be a good option.
Amalfi and Positano can easily be visited in a day from Sorrento. You can join a nice boat tour like this in October as well, or otherwise, take a bus.
Capri is really easy to reach from Sorrento as well, it’s less than half an hour by ferry. You can find more information here: how to visit Capri from Sorrento.
And Pompeii is just a short train ride from Sorrento too – couldn’t be easier.
To get to Sorrento from Rome, you just take a train to Naples, and from there – a train to Sorrento. It’s just one place where you have to switch a train and there are lots of trains throughout the day, it’s really not difficult.
If you stay in Salerno, you’ll be closer to Amalfi town, but further from Capri, from Positano, and from Pompeii. So I don’t think you’ll save any time on transportation at all; quite the opposite.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, Thank you so much!
Thank you very much for this write-up, it was extremely useful
Glad to hear that, Andy. Have a great time on the Amalfi Coast!
Hi JU. We are from Australia ant want to travel to the Sorrento area in mid January for about a week, as have really enjoyed the Cinque Terre at this time of year.
It must be a special experience traveling to these areas in the winter, but it sure has its advantages and you can soak up the more local atmosphere. Just be prepared for the fact that some places will be closed and some activities (like boat trips) might not be available.
For Naples, Pompeii, etc. it shouldn’t matter that much at all, just fewer tourists everywhere.
Have a great trip!
Hi, my husband want to travel to south of Italy In June for 6 days. From maple to amalfi and capri . We like live places with lots of restaurants and bars and beach. What’s your suggestion
Hi Sheila, there are lots of places with amazing restaurants and beach bars in this area. As for beaches, it really depends. Most of them are rather small or rocky – no long stretches of sand. And even if there’s sand, it’s dark and rocky – not a tropical beach in any way.
One of the best beaches in this area is probably that in Positano on the Amalfi Coast. We just stayed there two weeks ago and it was already quite lively in April. July will be very busy.
On Capri island, there are a few rocky beaches where you can swim and so, but not much sand either except a little bit near the Marina Grande.
With 6 days for the area (not counting the time in Naples or Pompeii), I’d likely split your stay between Capri and Positano.
However, if you also want to do some sightseeing like Pompeii and other places in the area, then you could also stay in Sorrento and just make day trips everywhere. Sorrento is a bigger town, has a tiny beach at Marina Grande and a bit of a ‘beach’ at Marina Piccola. It has good train connections to Naples and Pompeii, and you can take a boat/bus to the Amalfi Coast and a boat to Capri.
There’s really no one right answer to this – depends a lot on what you want to see and do. If it’s just swimming, eating, and enjoying life, then go for Positano and Capri. Prepare to do lots of stairs in Positano, unless you stay down by the water (check out this hotel). In Capri, all the beaches are also below whereas most places to stay are higher up the mountain, so you’ll likely need to take buses or walk a lot too. Even if you stay at Marina Grande (check out this hotel) and go to the beach there, you’ll still want to see the rest of the island, but it’s easy to get around.
Keep in mind that Positano and especially Capri will be more expensive than e.g. Sorrento and incomparably more expensive than Naples.
Good luck!
We are planning a road trip through Italy and will be turning in our car at Naples or Sorrento and then taking a train to Rome before flying home. My husband wants to drive the Amalfi coast. Would it be better to drive it on Sunday or Monday? What time of the day would be less crowded. We will be there the second week of September. Can we drive from Sorrento along the coast and then drive back another way? Also can that be done in one day?
We are just back from the Amalfi Coast and if there’s one place in Italy where I wouldn’t recommend renting a car, it’s definitely here (and any of the big cities). Especially in the high season – which September definitely is… To give you an idea, driving from Sorrento to Pompeii (which is like 25km – 15miles) in the first week of April (which was still a rather low season) took us about 1.5 hours. And this was every day, no matter the time of the day or week. Locals told us that just this one stretch of road can take 3 hours in the summer. Madness. Much faster and more relaxing by train.
The Amalfi Coast is not better (likely worse) – the roads are narrow, parking impossible to find and if you find it, it’s very expensive (like 6 EUR per hour for the smallest car). Unless you just plan to drive without stopping much and don’t mind going slow and just enjoying the scenery while you’re stuck in the traffic, I wouldn’t recommend this. Also, you won’t enjoy much of the scenery because you’ll constantly have to look at the road and try to pass others without hitting a wall, another car, or one of the Vespas around you.
Just take a boat and visit the towns – so much more relaxing! Or take a public bus (cheaper, but it will take much longer and won’t be as comfortable as the boat), get a day ticket, and hop off at the towns you want to see.
And if you still decide to drive, definitely avoid Sundays. There are some local taxi companies that don’t even take any clients on Sunday afternoon for leaving the Amalfi Coast because the traffic is usually horrible.
In general, yes, you can drive from Sorrento to Amalfi and back on the same day, but I’d just take a boat (or a boat tour) and visit Positano, Amalfi, and from Amalfi you can also take a bus to Ravello (since it’s not by the sea, you can’t get there by boat, but it’s very close-by and the bus or the taxi shouldn’t take too long).
If you absolutely want to see the coast from the car rather than from a boat, there are also lots of organized tours (group or private) available – at least you don’t have to worry about driving or parking.
Hope this helps.
Hello Jurga, nice article thank you for the info!!
Me and my boyfriend are planning to visit Amalfi coast during July , but there are so many villages around and I was wondering which one do you think is the best and closer to Amalfi to stay in.
We’re flying to Naples we are going to stay there 2 nights and then take the train or bus, stay on the Amalfi coast for 3 days and then go back to Naples again for another 2 days because our flight is from there.
I saw you are suggesting Sorrento but is also a bit far away, we were thinking to stay in Amalfi or Ravello that seem to be closer
What do you think?
Hi Effie, we are JUST back from this region and I have to say that Sorrento is indeed one of the best places to base yourself for pretty much everything – the Amalfi Coast, Capri Island, and possibly also places like Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mt Vesuvius (although these can also be easily visited from Naples). Just DO NOT rent a car – traffic is a nightmare even now in the low season; in the summer – it’s totally worthles and will just make things more difficult. Also, you can easily get to Sorrento by train from Naples, which is much easier, quicker, and cheaper than getting to the Amalfi Coast villages.
If, however, you are only interested in the Amalfi Coast itself and potentially Capri (so no Pompeii, etc.), then you can also stay on the coast. In that case, base yourself either in Amalfi (relatively flat) or in Positano (prepare to do lots of stairs). Positano is more central, however; also if you want to visit Capri, it’s closer from there AND it has somewhat of a beach if that interests you. I wouldn’t stay in Ravello if you plan to do many excursions since you’ll have to take a bus down to Amalfi every time and back to Ravello in the evening. It’s better to just visit Ravello for a few hours from Amalfi.
Hope this helps.
Great article.!!! We have been to Sorrento, Positano and Capri before! We are on a cruise in the summer and we’re going to be in Naples for only 1 day. We were thinking of doing a boat tour of the amalfi coast or Ischia and Procida. We just want to take in the views do some swimming and a bit of site seeing in town (atleast lunch). Any thoughts you have on what we should do would be great!!
Hi Ray, we are JUST back from this part of Italy and – taking into account the places you already saw and the fact that you only have 1 day – I’d say visit either Pompeii and Mt Vesuvius (there are lots of tours that organize a day trip like that) OR simply spend a day in Naples. There’s so much to see/do in the city itself too. But, of course, it will be hot in the summer. Still, you can easily fill a day in the city without going anywhere else. And if you actually take a boat tour anywhere it will be stressful to get back in time, not even to mention having any time left to explore the city.
On our last day in Naples, we visited the catacombs with this Holy Mile tour (perfect when it’s hot too!) and it was so interesting! Also, the National Archeological Museum is an absolute must. And pizza, of course! 🙂
Take a look at some recent pictures we posted on Facebook from our trip and maybe it will give you some inspiration and help decide on how to spend your day.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga! First I just want to say that I find your article amazing and very helpful!
We are a group of friends (9 people) who are making a similar trip this summer. We will have 2 days for the Amalfi coast and then around 4 days in Naples. Since we do not have that much time in Amalfi, we are looking for a boat/ship tour so we can see the best views of the coast. We will probably skip Capri. I find only small boats for no more than 10-12 people, with a duration of 8 hours. They are private tours and quite expensive – 80-100euros per person. Do you have information on whether there is a cheaper alternative? Maybe like a public tour similar to this one – for more people or fewer hours? Or if there isn’t another way, should we book a tour now, or wait to go to the harbor and book at the exact moment, maybe there is an opportunity to negotiate the price? I will be very thankful if you have some time to answer me! 🙂
Hi Yoanna, we are also planning a similar (but somewhat longer) trip to the Amalfi Coast at the moment, and there’s one thing I learned quickly – unless you take public transport, it’s a really expensive area. To give you an idea, I asked a few companies for a quote for some transfers in the area and they quoted me e.g. 180 EUR for a transfer from Naples to our accommodation in Positano. I ended up booking this private transfer via GYG for about half the price. There are even cheaper ones if you don’t need such a big car. I’m not sure why such big price differences, but it sure makes sense to do some research before you go.
I don’t have any experience with private boat tours, but one of the cheapest boat tours I saw when doing my research is this boat tour from Sorrento (so you’d need to get there first somehow since they only offer a pickup from Sorrento). And then you have a pretty much identical tour that costs about twice the price… No idea why.
Anyway, for our own trip, we are booking as much as we can via GYG website since I find the best deals through them, and you know exactly what you get, can read reviews, etc.
I don’t think you can count on just finding a ‘cheap’ anything upon arrival. That’s not my experience, anyway. Might depend on the season, but – in general – when you contact a few suppliers for anything, you see that their prices are pretty much the same. So they clearly have standard rates. It’s an expensive area and it sure pays to research and book in advance.
If you are looking for a cheaper way to travel, you can also just take a ‘regular’ ferry between various towns. But depending on the boat and the distance you travel, I think the tour I linked to above comes out cheaper.
Also, with 2 days for the Amalfi Coast, you could indeed do a boat tour one day, and maybe visit Capri on the other day. Or do a boat tour one day and then spend the next day in Sorrento + take a train to Pompeii from there. It all depends on your overall schedule.
Hope this helps a bit.
PS If you have a half-day/ day to spare when you are in Naples, visit the Royal Palace of Caserta (you can get there by train). We booked a guided tour for our trip too, but you can also just visit on your own. And here are some other things we’re doing if it interests you:
Pompeii (with a guide. While there are also tours that include everything, we opted for just a guide at Pompeii so that we can afterwards explore longer)
Herculaneum and Vesuvius (probably by car)
In Naples, Naples Underground + Catacombs
We also booked this food tour in Naples.
And on the Amalfi Coast, the Path of Gods hike (best with a guide since it’s a one-way hike and getting there on your own without a car will cost a fortune too).
We’re doing more, but these are some of the main things I prebooked.
Good luck with the planning!
Hello Jurga. You recommend Sorrento as a home base rather than Naples. Any particular reason? We arrive in Rome stay 3 days , then will drive to Naples area, where we’ll spend 4 days before flying out of Naples. We couldn’t decide where to take a hotel as home base. I guess I worry Naples could be a bit chaotic for the whole 4 days. What do you think?
Hi Dorothy, you’ll be fine in either – Naples or Sorrento, or any place in between too (if you have a car). It’s just that Naples is a really big city and a bit further away from everything on the Amalfi Coast than Sorrento. Take a look at the map – Capri and the Amalfi villages are much closer to Sorrento. So you’ll also spend more time in commute every day if you stay in Naples. But you can visit everything from Naples as well. And if you take tours, there will be plenty of options from Naples too.
I guess what you could do is try to first figure out what it is exactly that you want to visit and how you are planning to get there (car, tours, public transport), and then based on that, it will be easier to decide where to stay.
If you don’t have a car, I think I’d stay in Naples and take some day tours (Capri, Amalfi, Pompeii). Otherwise, stay in Sorrento (or the area nearby) and make your way to Naples at the end, a day or two before your flight (depending on how much time you want to spend in the city itself).
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga,
I am “supposed” to be flying into Naples on 9/6 and will depart naples on 9/15. I am planning naples, capri for a day, and the rest of the time in Almafi. Would you recommend taking the train to Rome for a few days, I don’t want to get bored in Almafi but I also do not want to feel rushed.
Thanks
Hi Chelsea, with 9-10 days, you could definitely include Rome in your itinerary. It really depends on your interests. There’s plenty to see and do in Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and the nearby islands, so you won’t get bored. But if you want to make the most of your trip and see more places, then Rome is an excellent choice. Plan at least 2-3 days for Rome to enjoy it!
Have a great trip!
We plan on returning to Amalfi in late November/early December for 3-5 days. Had great time there in 2019 with the festival of Saint Andrea. Do you know if the festival is planned on 11/30/21 with all the Covid restrictions?
Hi DJ, unfortunately, I can’t help you with this. It’s also practically impossible to say how anything will be in a few months from now – the situation and the rules all over Europe are still changing almost daily. So even if something is planned, you won’t have 100% certainty that it will actually take place…
Hi loved reading ur story, I’m planning to book a trip for May or June 2022. Travelling solo for 7 or 8 days. Will it be easy for
Me to get around without a car and any more suggestions for my trip? First time in Italy
Hi Karen, if you only have 7-8 days in Italy, you’ll likely focus on the biggest cities and in that case, you can visit most places by public transport. Train connections between the main cities and bigger towns in Italy are good.
It’s really hard to suggest much else not knowing what your interests are. You can spend a week at the Amalfi Coast alone or you can see 3-4 different cities in that time if you are ok with rushing from one place to another just to ‘see it all’.
With 7 days, you could spend 3 days in Rome and the rest of the time at the Amalfi Coast and I’m sure you’ll have a great time. Or you can start in Venice for a day, then go to Milan, then Florence, then visit Cinque Terre from there by taking a tour, then spend at least 2 days in Rome, and potentially just take a day tour to the Amalfi Coast. There are really endless possibilities on how to spend one week in Italy and whatever you choose, you’ll want to come back for more. So if you can, try to plan at least two weeks for just the most famous places.
Good luck!
Hi Jurga
My husband and I were planning on traveling to Italy this November. We may have to wait till next year because of travel restrictions this year. But we have 3 weeks November 15th – December 6th and were planning on flying into Naples and traveling along the Amalfi Coast for about 5 – 7 days. I keep reading that a lot is closed this time of year. Is it worth visiting this late in the season?
Hi Kelley, it’s really hard to say how this fall will be, but I think that travel will be possible by that time. On the other hand, I also understand if you want to postpone because the uncertainty is big at the moment.
As for the Amalfi Coast in November, I really don’t know what to say. I guess it all depends on what your expectations are. It can be nice to visit busy places in the offseason, but I also know that not everybody likes that. Yes, there will be some business closed and boat tours probably won’t run that time of the year. But locals still live there, year-round, so you can get around and visit most places just as in the high season. As for the weather, you’ll probably get quite some rain in November, but that’s difficult to say. I think that 5-7 days might be a bit too much for the Amalfi Coast that time of the year. Maybe plan one day for Naples, one for Pompeii, and 1-2 extra days for the coastal areas. But it also depends on your interests, of course.
If you haven’t seen it yet, please also check our article about visiting Italy in November. It might answer some of your questions.
Hope this helps.
Jurga
Hello. We are traveling from Rome for 4 days in early July to the Almalfi Coast. Do you recommend Train to the main station in Sorrento? Also, with it being peak travel season in the area over the summer months, do you recommend different types of transportation or pre-planning? Does the area have Uber/Lyft services?
Thank you, your blog is wonderfully helpful.
Hi Jennifer, you can just search on the internet for ‘Rome to Sorrento train’ and you’ll see schedules and all the info. From what I see, it departs from ‘Roma Termini’ station. I think you’ll have to change trains in Napoli or you can also take a ferry from Napoli.
I’m not sure about Uber, you’ll just have to check once you get there. More and more places in Europe forbid them, but usually only in big cities. I really don’t know.
As for what transportation to use, I think it all depends on what you’re planning to do. Keep in mind that it can also be very hot in July.
Jurga,
We cannot find a bus/van tour of the Amalfi coast. We have one full day in May.Can you suggest?
Thank you,
Tony+ Diane DiMartino
Hi Tony, here you can find a big selection of tours of the Amalfi Coast. It’s hard for me to suggest anything specific as I have no idea where you’ll be starting from or what your interests are.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga, let me let you your blogs are really helpful while planning Italy trip. I am travelling Amalfi with my wife & daughter (9yr old) For 3 nights ( 23,24,25 February) our stay base in Salerno. As of now we are planning to explore Salerno in first day & second day visit to Amalfi coast. Can you please suggest on 3rd day is worth to visit Capri via car. Because on boat sites is showing no ride.
Can you please suggest me plan with your travelling experience to make my 3 days fruitful.
Thanks
Dear Mayur, Capri is an island. So no, you cannot get there by car if there are no boats and ferries.
That being said, people live there the whole year round, so there should definitely be boats.
Also, this popular day trip from Sorrento to Capri runs at the end of February and there are a few others. So you can definitely get there.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga my husband and I arrive in Naples 5:30pm in April, staying overnight Naples; then traveling to Sorrento by train via Pompei (hoping to leave luggage in locker); sorrento 2 nights; 1 day to visit Capri and the following day by bus/driver from Sorrento to Positano to Amalfi; the next day we train to Rome. Just wanted to run the itinerary past an expert (yourself) to see if it is doable and Enquirer on the last night should we stay overnight Salerno to rail to Rome?
Hi Helen, I don’t really have the time to check all the details and individual itineraries, but at first view, it looks ok. You may want to foresee some time for potential delays, so maybe not take the last train of the day and things like that, but for the rest, it should be fine.
If you are visiting Amalfi and Positano on the last day, then I’d probably sleep in Sorrento rather than going to Rome. I think it will be more relaxing and enjoyable. Then go to Rome the next morning.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga
A very insightful look into the Amalfi coast. Im planning a trip in June for 5 nights. I was thinking of making Positano my base for the 5 days. Just wanted some advise on that. Thank you.
Hi Mohamed, it’s really your personal preference. If you have a car, then it’s easy enough to stay anywhere. If you rely on public transport, you should check how connections are. If you want to do lots of sightseeing and take tours, it looks like there are many options from Sorrento, but for the rest it doesn’t matter much. Positano is a beautiful place and a great location to stay and enjoy what the Amalfi Coast has to offer.
Have a great trip!
Hi there! I love your itinerary! My friend and I were trying to plan a trip to the Amalfi coast for 1 week. We are both college students so we are on a budget but we do have room spend more if need be! I saw a bunch or really nice AirBnBs so i think that might be out primary option where we might stay but I did see your recommendations for the hotels! I just wanted to ask, realistically how much would be the cost of the trip? As in how much did you have to spend? (i know we would probably do different things) but i i were to stick to your itinerary then i just need an idea of how much to expect i would be spending?
Hi Anjali, I really cannot answer this. Any decision you take – from accommodation options to transport, to restaurant or tour choices… will greatly influence your travel costs and there is really no way for me to estimate this. Furthermore, it’s also different per season, etc.
I see that there are indeed quite some Airbnb’s in Sorrento, so you can start from there. Check what an accommodation of your choice would cost for your travel dates, and then you’ll have a good idea of what to expect.
Sorry, but there is really no way for me to give you any reliable estimate.
Hi we plan to visit the Amalfi coast in September from 19th and have 7 -10 days to do it.Any suggestions and would you recommend a car to get get around more than public transport?
Regards
Don
Hi Don, it really depends on your interests. If you like to do a lot of sightseeing and get a bit off the beaten path, then a car is more convenient. Car rental in Italy is usually quite cheap, definitely if you book in advance. However, the roads on the Amalfi Coast are narrow and packed, plus, it will not be easy to park (and very expensive). In addition, you’ll need to look for accommodation with car parking and that limits your options even further.
Also, there are some really nice islands to visit (Capri, Ischia) and you definitely don’t need a car there.
As for what to do, use the suggestions in the article and expand a bit. I think I’d go to Capri for at least one night, maybe even two – that way you can explore a bit without the crowds of day tourists. Maybe visit Isola d’Ischia for a day. And – if you like hiking – do the Path of Gods hike.
Hi Jurga
Thanks for the advice.Just wondering how reliable/convenient trains and buses are from one town to the next .
I think that everything is reliable in an Italian way. One day everything runs perfectly and the other – maybe not so much. We have experienced very timely schedules when traveling in Italy, but we also had quite some canceled trains and had to wait an hour longer. So you never know. My best advice is to always anticipate this and never rely on the last train, for example.
Hi Jurga,
Thanks so much for sharing this – it’s very helpful. Do you have any experience with Luggage keeps/storage at Airports (NAP) and Train Stations (Pompeii)? We’re flying into Naples (in the afternoon) and then wanted to store our luggage at possibly the airport or the main train station for a few hours while we explore a little of Naples (aka eat as much Pizza as we can) before heading to our base in Sorrento. When we’re leaving the Amalfi region, we wanted to go from Sorrento to Pompeii and store our luggage somewhere as we will be heading to Rome once we’re done exploring Pompeii… so some information (if any) on Luggage keeps would be super helpful. Thanks!
Hi Amisha, I have no experience with this, but in general, all bigger train stations have luggage storage facilities. I don’t think airports have this though…
If you want to be sure, why not just search on the internet for ‘Naples luggage storage’ or ‘Sorrento station lugagge’ or similar. I’m sure you’ll find some useful info and maybe even some private companies offering this service.
Sorry I can’t help more. Enjoy your trip.
Jurga What an amazing itinerary ! Stumbled on to your amazing blog while planning our amalfi coast planning. Its our 2nd time in the country and we want to have a 8 day trip (excluding travel) in the area. If I am ok with changing towns, do you recommend other towns apart from sorrento to stay in? Also since we will be there for 8 days, what additional sights , activities and trips do you recommend ?
Hi there, with 8 days in the Amalfi Coast (and assuming you are traveling in the warm season), I think I would definitely spend a few days on Capri. Then take the time tp explore the other places one by one. You could potentially split your stay between Sorrento, Capri, and one of the smaller towns of the Amalfi Coast itself. Or just Sorrento and Capri? Not sure – I guess it really depends on what you like to do, but it seems to me that a place like Capri can best be enjoyed in the mornings and evenings when there are no day tourists, so staying there could be really nice.
Enjoy your trip!
Well thanks, I now have had to extend my planned 3 day trip to the peninsula to 4 days! And it should be longer; What a great job you have done presenting it all. I feel that for my family of 5 (now all adults) that we should rent a car vs public transportation. Do you agree? And one other question, if I spend the time here at the Amalfi coast, is it worth touring Cinque Terre? Thanks again!!!
Hi Joseph, as a family of 5, we also always prefer to just drive vs. using public transport. When we visit Italy, we always go by car from home. The only challenge is to park it (we have a big family van). So yes, you can definitely do that, just beware that it will be busy, many roads will be narrow, and parking might be a big challenge in some places.
As for Cinque Terre, yes, I definitely think that it’s worth visiting. The good thing with 5terre is that it’s much more compact than the Amalfi Coast and if you are short on time, you can see all the best places in a day. Here you can find more information about visiting Cinque Terre, here you can find suggestions on how to see the best of Cinque Terre in 1 day, and here you can find suggestions on where to stay in Cinque Terre.
Hope this helps. You’ll love Italy and no matter how long you’ll stay, you’ll want to go back for more. 🙂
I am a solo 60 year old woman. I am doing a tour in Tuscany (flying into Florence) for a week but I want to venture out on my own by train or bus for another week (or two) to Venice, Rome and wishful thinking – The Amalfi coast.
I have never travelled solo on my own and is it safe for a woman to walk around sightseeing or should I look at another tour? I was thinking of staying at hostels as well. Is the bus and train to these locations easy to figure out on my own? I speak no Italian at all.
I am going on the tour in Tuscany from April 13-21 and then totally on my own after that. I may stay till April 27 or May 1. But any advice would be so helpful as I have never been to Europe before. Thank you.
Hi Denise, don’t worry- you’ll be just fine and you’ll love Italy. I’m here right now and it’s simply amazing and never feels unsafe to me, even at night. It’s just like anywhere else in the world- use common sense, don’t wander around places you don’t know well at night (ask the locals if it’s safe, if you’re not sure), and watch out for pickpockets in the busy tourist areas or on public transport. For the rest, enjoy it.
I don’t speak Italian either, but always find my way around. A smile and a few simple words like hi or thank you in Italian will always help. You’ll be fine. We have many blog posts on so many areas in Italy, so read them, figure out your itinerary, and book accommodations in advance.
Hope this helps.
Thankyou Nicky perfect guide for Amalfi coast
Hi Jurga!
Is sightseeing & exploring the amalfi Coast stroller friendly??? We’re planning a trip with our 1 year old & with all the steps & hikes I’m not sure if it’ll be smart to bring a stroller or not…
Hi Yusara, just as anywhere else in Italy (and especially in the coastal areas), you can expect a bit of both – flat and hilly surfaces. Even the flat ones are usually cobblestones, so if you take a stroller, take one with big rubber wheels. If you can avoid taking the stroller, I think it’s better not to – you’ll be much more flexible in where you go and will have one thing less to worry about. Maybe try a baby carrier if you are up to it…
On the other hand, you can use the stroller at the airports and maybe some of the places, so why not just take it. You can always leave it at the hotel for the day too and only use it when it’s really easy.
PS When our kids were in strollers and we really couldn’t carry all three of them, we took big strollers (with big wheels) to Italy and always took bicycle locks with us as well. Often, when we had to take some stairs or wanted to climb a tower, we would leave the strollers behind and lock them up with the bicycle lock. Still, it also meant that there were quite some places we couldn’t visit. I remember that in Venice, we turned around at the first bridge (they all have stairs) and brought the strollers back to the car. The kids had to walk and were exhausted a few hours later, so we ended up taking a taxi boat back to the car. With one child, things are much easier though, so I’m sure you can make it work.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much for your response, that really helps! ??
Hi Jurga
Thank you so much for your 5-day itinerary; we are spending 8 days in the region from 07 Sep 2019. in/out of Naples Airport and have hired a car. We will use your recommendations for 5 days and just chill for the remainder (I owe my wife the downtime although I am likely to get bored after an hour or so).
We have booked a hotel for the first 5 nights in Massa Lubrense (west coast 6km from Sorrento) and just considering options for the next 3 nights (the hotel in Massa Lubrense was not available for longer)
Regards
Hi VJ, why don’t you try the Positano area or Amalfi for the last three days. That way, you can explore places that are closer to there without having to drive from Sorrento area all the time. Not that it’s that far from each other, but still, with the narrow roads and all, it might be nice to stay in two different areas.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga, is it possible to see the Amalfi Coast in one day? My friends and I are planning a day trip(we only have one day) to Amalfi from Rome. So from Rome take a train ride to Naples, then what do you suggest is the best way to reach Amalfi from Naples?
Hi Rowo, the best way to do that in just a day is by taking an organized tour. However, it’s not cheap.
The best alternative to this is taking a private driver from Naples to the 3 nicest Amalfi Coast towns. It costs much less that way and they can pick you up/drop you off at the railway station in Naples.
Otherwise, if you take a train, you’ll waste too much time on trains/buses and won’t see much I’m afraid. Or you just go to Naples OR Pompeii OR Sorrento and see that one place. I think that trying to see more than that as a day trip from Rome by public transport isn’t really easy. This is, of course, my personal opinion as we rather see fewer places and actually see something than just tick boxes…
Hello Jurga, I am planning a trip to the Amalfi coast next May 2020 to celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary.
So far I have us flying into Rome and spending 1 night to get our land feet then taking the fast train to
Naples and spending 1 or 2 nights there to see the sites. We have already seen Pompeii and Mt. Vesuvius on another trip. Leaving Naples and taking the ferry to Ischia island for 2 nights, then to Sorrento for 4 nights as our base. I have booked hotels in Ischia and Sorrento. Now I am looking at what to do next. I would love to see the Trulli area but don’t know how to get there or how far it is. We will not be renting a car so plan to do everything by ferry, train or bus. Or should we just stay on the Amalfi coast before going back to fly out of
Rome? I am figuring 12 to 14 days including flights. (I looked up the hotels you mentioned in Positano and they were already booked for our dates and the one in Capri too.) Should I book tours now? Thank you for your help. Renée
Hi Renee, I have not been to Trulli (is it even a place?), so I can’t comment on that, but visiting those white cute houses is something I’ve been looking at myself. Looks really nice, at least in the pictures.
If you have about two weeks and spend about half of it at the Amalfi Coast, why don’t you go and visit Tuscany afterwards. It’s so beautiful! We have some articles on the blog: best towns in Tuscany and Tuscany itinerary. From there, it’s also very close-by to Cinque Terre and the Ligurian Coast. Also Rome itself is worth a few days, even if you have visited before… Or, indeed, the Puglia region, which is closer to the Amalfi Coast. The possibilities are endless.
I am not sure if you need to book tours now already, but if you have your travel dates fixed and the tours are available to book, why not. The links on our site are usually linking to tours that have free cancelation for up to 24 hrs before the tour, so you have nothing to lose. One thing you should book asap is the hotels. I can’t imagine many will be fully booked already, but it’s possible that some hotels have minimum stay requirements and thus show as unavailable if you are just looking to book for 1-2 nights. Italy is so popular and the main tourist places are already in peak season in May, so many vacation-type hotels require minimum stays of 3-7 days.
Good luck with the planning!
Do you think it’d be possible to do your 5 day itinerary then add in Capri and / or Ischia? Will only have 10 days total – including travel to and from the states
Hi Lali, this 5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary already includes a day in Capri. If you also want to add Ischia, I think, it’s best to plan an extra day for it. That’s 6 full days. With the rest of your time, I assume, you’ll want to see the main highlights of Rome and 2-3 days is about the right amount of time in the city. So I think that it could work out, including travel times and all. I mean, on the days when you travel between Rome and Naples, for example, you still have enough time to see some of Naples upon arrival, etc.
^__^ Can you give some tips about the public transport? because I will hop on hop off a lot during this trip. how to make it cheaper? is there any 1 day ticket or weekly ticket for the whole napoli and amalfi coast that can cover Sita bus and Train? about Ferry to Capri, should I buy it when I arrive in the port or is it better to buy now? and for Pompeii, I would like to go on the First Sunday of the month so I can have free pass. Do you think it is a good idea? Do I have to do something to get the free pass (maybe booking or something) or I can just go there directly?
Hi David, I don’t have any experience with any of the above, so I can’t help you. I am sure you can find a lot of all this info on Google, but often it’s easier to just ask about public transport options at the local tourist office or your hotel once you get there.
If you aren’t doing any tours and just taking buses/ ferries, normally you can get tickets there. In the worst case, if it’s very busy, you may have to wait for another boat, but I am not sure how much of an issue that would be in the region? I assume, a lot depends on when you travel – which season, but also the time of the day. The best way to avoid crowds is to start your day as early as possible.
Enjoy your trip!
I want to be there 🙂
I’m traveling to Amalfi Coast Oct 15 2019 and staying for a week. I’ll be doing a lot of hiking so I’m wondering what sort of weather and landscape to expect.
Also I’ve read that many restaurants,
shops and attractions close up shop in early October. Do you think that is true?
Thank you for your guide. It is very helpful.
Hi Sandra, I really cannot tell you how the weather will be – nobody can. We once visited Cinque Terre at the end of October/ first week of November and had beautiful sunny weather, warm enough to wear a t-shirt… But it can also be rainy and cold there that time of the year. The same counts for the Amalfi Coast. But, in general, I think that mid-October can still be quite nice.
I think it’s safe to say that there will still be many places open. Most of the places we visited in Italy, consider April to October to be their prime season, so – in general – it’s still very lively in October. Even if a few places will be closed, I don’t think you’ll have difficulties to find an open restaurant. If anything, it will be more enjoyable because there will be fewer tourists.
As for the landscape – you can see the pictures. It’s a stunning coastline with beautiful hills and also some beaches.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi my name is Cora. Your post has been very helpful. My family and I are traveling to Amalfi Coast in August. Our first stop is Rome and then spend 3-4 days on the Amalfi Coast. What is your advice as for as traveling. Should we catch a train or bus, or what do you suggest.
Hi Cora, you can take a train from Rome to Naples and then another train to Sorrento. Alternatively, you can rent a car. Having a car might look more convenient, but you have to drive narrow busy roads and try to find a parking spot, which is not always easy on the Amalfi Coast.
If you just take a train, you can base yourself in Naples or in Sorrento and then take buses and boat trips from there. There are also lots of guided tours in the area too, depends on what you want to visit. It’s really a personal choice of how you like to travel.
Enjoy your trip.
Thank you for sharing this itinerary 🙂 . If we only have 3 days to spend in the region, what would you recommend keeping/taking out? Our next stop is Rome for a wedding – Thank you!
Hi Gida, unless you’re very much into history or like big towns, I think I would go with the first three days from our itinerary – so a day in Sorrento, a day trip to Capri, and a day exploring Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi.
Enjoy your trip.
Hello
Thank-you for this amazing itinerary. my husband and I would like to do your 5 day itinerary and then we want to spend 3 days just relaxing on the beach somewhere on the Amalfi Coast, where would you recommend we stay area wise? someone quaint and not so busy but also not too far off the beaten track.
Hi Cherilyn, if you want some beach time and stunning views, then maybe try Positano hotels. I think it ticks all the boxes of what you mentioned.
Hi, we are finishing off a Europe holiday with the Amalfi Coast, travelling directly from Rome. We have 4 nights before travelling back on the 5th day to fly out of Rome. Can we take a train directly to Sorento or would we need to go to Naples by train & then by bus to Sorento? Thanks for your suggestions re. visiting a different town each day, & highlighting the must see places.
Hi Tracie, from everything I see, you have to switch trains in Naples. Just google ‘rome to sorrento train’ and you’ll see the schedule.
Enjoy your trip.
Jurga
Flying from Los Angeles to do a 7 day Amalfi Coast travel (my husband and I) which towns would be the nicest and not so expensive to choose for overnight stays while traveling? We originally were going to major positanto our base point but after reviewing your 5 day suggested tour it seems Sorrento May be the best option for base stay? Appreciate your recommendation
Hi Brenda, Sorrento is one of the best options if you are planning to do lots of sightseeing. It’s well-located for public transport, but also for organized day trips or boat trips. Also, it seems that there are more accommodation options and therefore also more affordable places to stay. Just don’t let this mislead you – Amalfi coast is extremely popular so if you’re traveling in high season (May-September), you best book your accommodations asap. Here you can find some of the best deals for Sorrento accommodation.
PS if you rather just have a beach holiday, then Positano might be nicer, or you can also stay on Capri island for a few days. But if you rather just stay in one place and not change hotels too often, then I think Sorrento is the best option for you.
Thanks for the itinerary for 5 days in Amalfi Coast.
I certainly will make use of the useful recommendations during my 3 days trip tp the area.
I was thinking of making Sorrento the “base camp” and now I know that I am on the right path.
I have one question about the trek on the Path of Gods. Can you recommend any shared guided trekking tours.
Hi Guven, here is the cheapest (and well-rated) Path of Gods hiking tour that I was able to find AND it leaves from Sorrento (the others are crazy expensive). Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga,
thank you for the 5 day guide. exactly what I am looking for for 5 days there. arriving on 9/9/2019
I like driving my own car and be free with my time
do you recommend renting a car?
if so, where is the cheapest to rent. is it Napoli airport?
please let me know
really appreciated
Arsan
Hi Arsan, I guess it depends on what you are planning to do. We always travel to Italy with our own car and while driving and especially parking isn’t always easy, it gives us a lot of freedom. That said, I wouldn’t want to drive (or try to park) in the Amalfi Coast in the high season.
Hi Jurga,
Thank you so much for the recommendation. You are right, this looks like the best option.
Hi, I will have a week in the area, would you recommend to stay in ischia for few nights? Is it easy to arrive from sorrento? Thanks, yana
I haven’t been there, but it looks really nice. So if you have a few days extra, why not. There are no bad places to visit in Italy 😉
As for how to get to Ischia from Sorrento, there seems to be a direct ferry in summer.
Hi,
We’d like to rent a car during our five day stay in Sorrento,
is it easy to get around?
Thanks for any information you can provide.
Hi Lella, if you are ok with driving narrow busy roads, you’ll be fine. Just keep in mind that parking can be really tough, especially if you go in high season.
I suggest you take the smallest car that fits your group- we travel by a big 7-seater van and it’s never fun to try to park it in small Italian towns…
Hello!! What’s best Airports to fly into?
Naples International Airport (NAP) is by far the closest. But, depends on where you travel from, it might be cheaper to fly to Rome (FCO) or to Bari (BRI), which is known for cheap airlines. Both of these are at least 2-2,5hrs drive away though.
Thanks for a great itinerary for 5 days in Amalfi Coast. I was thinking of staying in Positano and Capri, do you have recommendations on hotels?
Hi Ingrid, it’s really hard for me to say as I have no idea what you’re looking for and what your budget is 🙂 Also, these are popular places, so you’d have to see what’s still available for your travel dates.
Anyway, here is a really nice hotel in Positano and here is an affordable hotel with nice views in Capri.
Hope this helps.