While I’ve visited Italy countless times and even spent a semester studying abroad in Florence, there was one place that I had never gotten the chance to visit… until recently! The Amalfi Coast is widely known as one of the most picturesque places in Europe and I spent one week exploring this fabulous stretch of coastline in southern Italy.
The Amalfi Coast is known for its rugged cliffs dotted with colorful seaside towns overlooking the sparkling blue water of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site and gets about 5 million visitors per year!
After spending one week on the Amalfi Coast, I can certainly see why it’s so popular — from sailing the coast to exploring the cobblestone streets of Positano to relaxing on the beach in Capri, the Amalfi Coast is just magical. So, are you ready to experience La Dolce Vita?
Here’s the perfect 7 day Amalfi Coast itinerary!
When to Visit the Amalfi Coast
The most popular time to visit the Amalfi Coast is between June and August which offers the absolute best weather but can also be the most crowded. During these months, it can be tough to find last minute hotel bookings or beach club and restaurant reservations. So, if you’re planning a trip during high season, make sure to book far enough in advance!
Visiting during the Spring and Fall shoulder seasons can be a good option if you’re looking to avoid the crowds and traveling on a lower budget (hotels will be less expensive if traveling off-season!). April is the month that the Amalfi Coast officially reopens for the season: hotels, restaurants, and shops are ready for the tourist season, and ferries begin their high season schedules with routes connecting to the towns along the coast. The beach season ends in October with most of the beach clubs closing on October 15th.
How Many Days Should You Spend on the Amalfi Coast?
This totally depends on how much time you have and how much you want to see! Some visitors even travel on day trips from Rome for a taste of the Amalfi Coast.
However, I think a week is an ideal amount of time for your first visit to the Amalfi Coast. When planning my trip, I knew I wanted to see several towns along the coast as well as some of the small islands off the coast which definitely necessitates more than a few days!
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
The closest international airport is Naples International Airport Capodichino but visitors traveling from the US or other non-EU destinations often opt to fly into Rome since it can be less costly and easier to fly into (fewer layovers!). From Rome, the high speed train can take you to Naples in just over an hour!
Once you arrive in Naples, there are a few options for getting around the Amalfi Coast. Renting a car will mean that you don’t have to rely on public transportation but note that the roads can be very crowded, narrow and with countless hairpin turns. That being said, the views will be terrific!
If you aren’t up for the adventurous ride, public transportation is another great option! From Naples, you take can the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento, Salerno or Vietri sul Mare, and then take a Sita bus to the nearest Amalfi town. From Salerno or Sorrento, you can also take a high-speed ferry to Positano, Amalfi or Sorrento as well as the nearby islands of Capri or Ischia if you’re traveling in the high season.
7 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary Overview
For this one week Amalfi Coast itinerary, we began in Naples (where we flew into) and took off for the islands of Ischia and Procida. We then went on to the coastal towns of Positano, Amalfi and Ravello and ended the trip on the relaxing island of Capri. However, the order of this itinerary could easily be rearranged depending on your preference!
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Day 1: Naples
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Day 2: Ischia
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Day 3: Procida
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Day 4: Positano
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Day 5: Amalfi
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Day 6: Ravello
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Day 7: Capri
Day 1: Naples
We started off the trip in Naples as we had traveled from Malta and flown into the Naples International Airport. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to spend much time in Naples as we had a jam-packed itinerary already!
I’d absolutely love to go back and explore more of the city and the surrounding attractions like Mount Vesuvius and Pompeii. If you’re interested in history, I would definitely consider spending your arrival day (if flying into Naples) exploring the city or nearby Pompeii!
Where to Stay: Romeo (Luxury) | Grand Hotel Vesuvio (Luxury) | Renaissance Naples Hotel Mediterraneo (Mid-range) | Rinuccini Relais (Mid-range) | Artemisia Domus (Mid-range) | B&B Sweet Sleep (Budget)
Day 2: Ischia
Ischia is the largest of the islands in the Bay of Naples and is known for its lush green hills, thermal spas and Castello Aragonese, a medieval castle set on a small islet off the coast of Ischia.
While this volcanic island definitely sees quite a few tourists during the summer season, it is a bit lesser known than nearby Capri… but is still definitely worth a visit!
We spent our first day relaxing at the beautiful Giardino Eden, a hotel, beach club and restaurant set in the Bay of Cartaromana overlooking the Castello Aragonese. We spent the day swimming in the sea, drinking Aperol Spritz and taking in the views. It was the perfect start to our trip!
→ Read Next: How to Spend One Day in Ischia
That evening, we had booked a special dinner at Daní Maison, a two star Michelin restaurant set in a lovely garden up on a hilltop on Ischia. And to say it was a special dinner is an understatement! With countless courses, we were continually surprised and delighted by the incredible food and beautiful and fun presentation of each dish. If you are celebrating an occasion or just want to have a special dinner while visiting the Amalfi Coast, definitely don’t miss dining at Daní Maison!
→ Read Next: Dining at Dani Maison in Ischia
Another fantastic dinner option, if you’re looking for something a little more traditional and low-key, is Trattoria Il Focolare. We actually visited Ischia again at the end of our Amalfi coast trip and dined here and were not disappointed. It’s a family-run restaurant with traditional cuisine and we were treated like family there.
The restaurant’s owner gave us a personal tour of the historic cellar and poured us homemade limoncello while proudly telling us about the restaurant’s traditions (and even taught us a song!).
Where to Stay: Mezzatorre Hotel & Thermal Spa (Luxury) | Grand Hotel Il Moresco (Mid-range)
Day 3: Procida
While planning our trip to Italy, I came across some photos of the island of Procida, located next to Ischia. It looked absolutely stunning but I was curious why I hadn’t heard of it. Procida is a tiny island with a colorful fishing village and is often overshadowed by its neighboring islands, Ischia and Capri. But, it turns out, Procida is a total hidden gem!
As soon as we arrived, we were charmed by the pink, orange, yellow and blue painted town set on small harbor with a collection of colorful fishing boats.
We spent the day exploring the charming town at of Corricella at Marina Grande and couldn’t understand why it was so empty of tourists!
→ Read Next: How to Spend One Day in Procida
One of our favorite stops was the pastel yellow church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, built in 1679, and worth a peak inside. The other highlight was walking up to Terra Murata, the fortified medieval stronghold at the highest point of the island. At the top, you can take in the panoramic views of the Bay of Naples as well as the colorful town and marina below.
And, while we didn’t get to visit, we heard Spiaggia Chiaia beach was a nice place to spend the afternoon and also overlooks the colorful marina town and Terra Murata.
Procida has been named Italy’s Capital of Culture for 2022 which means it may not remain tourist-free for long!
Where to Stay: San Michele (Mid-range) | Maresia Rooms (Mid-range)
Day 4: Positano
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Positano was the stop I was looking forward to the most because I had heard so much about it! Yes, it’s crowded, touristy and glitzy with high-end shops and hotels. But stepping onto the main beach area and looking up at the hillside town, it really is impressive how this gorgeous town was built cliffside and the whole place really does have a magical feel to it!
→ Read Next: 15 Things You Can’t Miss in Positano
We spent the day exploring the winding streets of the town, shopping for souvenirs and stopping for lemon flavored desserts.
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In the late afternoon, we went to Franco’s Bar at Le Sirenuse hotel for sunset. Watching the sun set over Positano was incredible and made even better by the buzzy atmosphere and great cocktails at Franco’s!
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We continued the evening by having dinner at the hotel’s restaurant which was also incredible with sweeping views of Positano. After dinner, we went to Music on the Rocks, a night club that has been carved out the rocky coastline — one of the most unique night club settings ever!
Where to Stay: Le Sirenuse (Luxury) | Il San Pietro di Positano (Luxury) | Villa Giusy (Mid-range)
Day 5: Fiordo di Furore & Amalfi
On our way from Positano to Amalfi, we stopped at the iconic Fiordo di Furore beach which is known for its arched stone bridge that goes over the tiny beach area.
Also nearby, we took a boat ride in the blue waters of the Grotta dello Smeraldo. This small cave has a few stalagmites and stalactites as well as a light entrance under the water making a beautiful blue effect. While I probably wouldn’t go out of my way to visit, it was a fun stop along our route and we still talk about the funny theatrics of our tour guide. Plus, it was only around €5 for the tour!
Once we arrived in the town of Amalfi, we checked out the beaches dotted with colorful umbrellas and wandered the town area with its impressive Duomo di Amalfi church.
Where to Stay: Hotel Santa Caterina (Luxury) | Hotel Marina Riviera (Luxury) | Hotel Residence (Mid-range)
Day 6: Ravello
I had heard that the hilltop town of Ravello was charming but I had no idea just how beautiful it would be!
Exploring the main town square, Piazza Vescovado, was our first stop of the day! The town is tiny but quaint with a couple of souvenir shops, hillside views and a little church in the piazza.
We had a special lunch reservation planned at the beautiful Belmond Caruso hotel in Ravello, just a short walk from the main square.
The hotel is located in a former 11th century palace with dazzling views of the coast, and the food is incredible!
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After lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the gardens at Villa Rufolo. We didn’t initially didn’t plan to stop here and I’m so glad we did. The gardens and architecture of the villa were just stunning… and the views of the coastline took my breath away!
→ Read Next: How to Spend One Day in Ravello
Where to Stay: Belmond Caruso (Luxury) | Palazzo Avino (Luxury) | Hotel Villa Cimbrone (Luxury) | Villa Piedimonte (Mid-range) | Gala Residence Villa Giovanna (Mid-range)
Day 7: Capri
On our last day, we had plans to visit the famous La Fontelina beach club. When arriving, we first spotted the iconic blue and white umbrellas that dot the rocky “beach” club. There is actually no traditional sand beach here, the beach club is set on a rocky cliff surrounded by turquoise waters and unbelievable views of Capri’s Faraglioni, towering rock formations that jut out of the water and have become an icon of the island.
→ Read Next: How to Spend One Day in Capri
We spent a glorious day here, swimming in the sea and sipping on more Aperol Spritzes.
Later in the afternoon, we went into town to walk around the Piazza Umberto I and explore the Giardini di Augusto.
These lush gardens are perched high on the cliff looking over the sea and Faraglioni. It was just jaw-droppingly beautiful, I would highly suggest adding this stop to your Capri bucket list!
For our final evening, we had dinner at the Ristorante Panorama which was a wonderful place to watch sunset and take in the views while dining.
Where to Stay: Hotel Mamela (Luxury) | Casa Morgano (Luxury) | La Residenza Luxury Hotel (Luxury) | Capri Tiberio Palace (Luxury) | B&B Palazzo a Mare (Mid-range)
PS – For even more Amalfi Coast travel inspiration, check out my Story Highlights from the trip!
There are many car services (private or shared) that you can arrange easily online from Naples train station to the Amalfi coast. It is low stress and affordable. We took a shared ride to Positano, the best stop on the Amalfi coast.
Love that! What was the name of the service that you used?
This is so helpful! With this itinerary did you stay in one place or change hotels every day?? If one town, which did you stay in. I know you’ve mentioned Positano (nor sure if you stayed there though?) but it tends to be the most expensive from what I hear.
Thanks!
Hi Haley,
I’m so glad you found the post helpful! 🙂
The question of where to base yourself really depends on your travel preferences and budget! My first question is, do you plan on renting a car for your trip? If not, Positano is a great place to base yourself because the town is walkable and is home to lots of hotels and restaurants. It’s also very well-connected by ferries meaning it’s easy to hop on a ferry to Amalfi, Capri, Ischia, etc. The town of Amalfi is another great option, for the same reasons (convenient to ferries, lots of hotel + restaurant options). Not to mention they are both beautiful towns!
For these reasons, Positano and Amalfi tend to be more expensive in terms of hotel rates and dining. If you’re looking to save a bit of money on lodging, Praiano is a nice option — it’s conveniently located between Amalfi and Positano. Just note that you would need to hop on a bus or rent a car to get to the ferry terminals from here.
My next question is: are you OK with moving hotels every couple of days or do you prefer to stay in one place for a week? If you don’t mind taking the ferry to and from each destination, then you could just base yourself somewhere in the Positano / Amalfi / Praiano area and do day trips from there. For reference, the ferry from Positano to Amalfi takes about 15 – 25 minutes, the ferry from Positano to Capri takes 30 mins – 1 hour, and the ferry from Positano to Ischia takes 1 hour 40 minutes.
For me personally, I don’t mind switching hotels every few days so my ideal Amalfi Coast lodging looks like this: 2-3 nights in Ischia (where you could day trip to Procida), 2-3 nights in Positano (where you could day trip to Amalfi and Ravello), and 2 nights in Capri.
I hope that makes sense and is helpful. Have a fabulous time on the Amalfi Coast!
Wow , thank you for this post . Such great information
Came across your page and it’s been the most helpful so far! My husband is trying to push for somewhere different because he says the almafi coast is too crowded in June. Are the crowds bearable? Or is he right?
Hi Keily,
I’m so happy you found the post helpful… I know planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast can seem a bit overwhelming at first, so hopefully this itinerary made it a bit easier! 🙂
I visited the Amalfi Coast in mid-June, and while it was crowded at times, I found that it was definitely bearable… Plus, it’s so beautiful, I understand why people flock there 😂
In my experience, Positano and Capri were bustling but not in an overwhelming way. The town of Amalfi was the most crowded (walking around, the streets were pretty jam-packed). Ravello was surprisingly uncrowded and one of my favorite stops. And, Ischia and Procida were pretty mellow as well… Although, we did make reservations at Dani Maison and Giardino Eden a couple weeks in advance… not sure if we would’ve been able to walk in!
All in all, I would absolutely visit in June again. I’ve heard July and August can get pretty packed so I’d probably avoid those months if you’re not a fan of the crowds… Although I’m sure it varies (based on weather, events, weekdays vs weekends, etc!).
Hope that helps!
I just returned from a week on the Amalfi coast and it was magical! We flew in to Naples and the first weekend stayed at the Santa Catarina which was amazing! It has a Michelin star restaurant and a great beach club located right on the sea.
We visited a lot of the same places you highlight and because it is the shoulder season it was less crowded. The weather was perfect 75 and sunny although I advise to pack at least one or two long sleeved shirts as it does get chilly at night.
We rented a boat from Praiano to Capri for the day, best decision ever! We shopped and swam it was the perfect day! I also highly suggest private transportation for exploring the coast.
I also suggest the lemon tour and lunch in Amalfi! It was fabulous🍋🍋🍋
Sounds like an amazing trip!! I’d love to visit during the shoulder season to see Positano without the crowds sometime! Such a beautiful part of Italy 💙
How did you get reservations to the beach club? We will be on the Amalfi coast for eight days. We’re taking a cooking class and I also wanted to see about maybe doing a wine tasting or something else I’m going with my 22-year-old daughter. It’s her mother daughter trip.
Hi Lori!
Most beach clubs should have availability if you arrive on the early side. If there’s a specific one you definitely wanted to go to, I’d check their website or call ahead to see if you can reserve spots there for a specific date — if not, just plan on showing up at opening time and you should be able to get a spot 😊
We only made reservations at one beach club — La Fontelina in Capri. We called a few weeks in advance to make reservations for lunch (as well as sun loungers at the beach club) for our larger group… plus we arrived right at opening time to ensure we were able to choose loungers near the water front. I’m not sure if they’ve changed their reservation policy but it could be worth looking into if you’d like to go there as it is certainly a popular spot in Capri!
I hope you enjoy your trip to the Amalfi Coast with your daughter… It’s such a beautiful place! 💙
– Laura
hi you have not mentioned how you moved round between towns? can we do this without private transport?samina
Hi Samina!
Depending on where you base yourself, there are a couple different options for transportation! If you don’t plan to rent a car, the best options for transportation are train, bus and ferry. Each of the islands are of course reached by ferry, and, during the peak season, ferries run frequently between all of the major destinations along the Amalfi Coast. There are a few different ferry options: a slower ferry (generally cheaper) and the faster hydrofoil (more expensive).
Positano is a great base for exploring the Amalfi Coast as it’s centrally located so you could easily ferry to Capri or Amalfi and take the bus to Ravello, etc.
Hope this helps and have a wonderful time in Italy! 💖
Thank you so much. U helped us decide finally where we can stay ☺️
Was so confused between all the beautiful towns. Positano it is!
Hello dear,
Thank you so much for all the details. Truly you’re a life saver!
Since it is my first time visiting Amalfi Coast. Is it best to stay in one hotel, roam around the island and go back to my hotel at night? or it is better to move around (checking in and out) I just don’t know if it’ll be hectic to check in and out? or going back home (to my main hotel) will be much of a hassle.
Pls let me know what would you recommend.
Appreciate your response.
If you don’t want to hop around too much, I’d recommend basing yourself in Positano since it’s centrally located and there are ferries that depart to all the other major Amalfi Coast hot spots from there 🙂