AMALFI COAST

The Amalfi Coast is located in southern Italy, in the Campania region, and is made up of a series of coastal towns famous for their beauty, incredible food, and stunning sea views.

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Some of the most well-known places are:

• Sorrento
• Positano
• Amalfi
• Capri

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Another town often mentioned when talking about the Amalfi Coast is Ravello, famous for its gardens and panoramic views. On this trip, however, we chose to prioritize the coastal towns and the sea.

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In this guide we’ll show you how to plan your Amalfi Coast trip, which towns to visit, where to stay, and how to get around to make the most of your time.

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How to Explore the Amalfi Coast

One of the most common mistakes travelers make is changing accommodation every day.

Sometimes the best way to truly enjoy a destination is to travel slowly and without rushing, and trust us, the Amalfi Coast is meant to be experienced that way.

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Our recommendation:

Choose one base and explore the rest of the coast with day trips.

 

This way you’ll enjoy each place more and move around much more comfortably. Also, as you’ve probably seen in photos, the Amalfi Coast is full of stairs, steep streets, and cobblestones, so returning to the same accommodation every day will save you from dragging suitcases up endless staircases.

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Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast

If you want to explore the Amalfi Coast comfortably, Sorrento is one of the best places to stay.

It has:

• Direct train connection with Naples (Circumvesuviana)
• Frequent ferries to Capri, Positano and Amalfi
• Much flatter streets than most Amalfi Coast towns (huge advantage!)
• A wider range of accommodation and restaurants
• Often more affordable prices than Positano or Amalfi

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Looking back, after seeing many travelers dragging their luggage up endless staircases in other towns, we realized this detail can make a big difference in your trip.

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How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast

 

⛴️ Ferry (Our favorite option)

For us, this is the best way to get around for several reasons:

• It’s fast and punctual
• It avoids traffic (very important in high season)
• The views of the coast from the sea are spectacular

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From Sorrento, ferries depart daily to Capri, Positano, and Amalfi.​

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🚌 Bus

Buses are cheaper, but:

• They are often very crowded
• Routes can be slow with many curves
• Not very comfortable in high season

 

If you’re still considering this option, here’s how it works:

 

SITA Public Buses

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Public transport on the Amalfi Coast operates mainly through SITA buses, which connect the main towns along the coast.

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It’s a good budget option for travelers.

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COSTIERA Ticket

There is a pass called COSTIERA, which costs around €10 and allows unlimited travel for 24 hours on SITA buses along the coast.

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Important things to know:

• Tickets cannot be purchased on the bus
• They must be bought in advance at:

– Train station ticket offices (such as Salerno)
– Tabacchi shops (marked with a “T” sign)

 

Like everywhere along the coast, buses can be very crowded in high season and travel times may be longer than expected.

 

🚗 Car

Renting a car is possible, but we don’t recommend it.

 

Like in many parts of Italy:

• Streets are extremely narrow
• Traffic can be intense during high season
• Parking is limited and usually expensive

 

In addition, many towns, especially Amalfi and Positano, have ZTL zones (Limited Traffic Zones) in their historic centers, where only authorized vehicles can enter and fines are issued automatically.

Because of this, driving can easily become more stressful than convenient for a trip that’s meant to be relaxing.

 

If you still prefer to rent a car, the best place to do it is Naples or Salerno, where there are more rental agencies and better prices.

 

🛥️ Boat Tours

Another popular way to explore the Amalfi Coast is by boat tours, either group or private.

They’re perfect for seeing the towns from the sea and accessing small coves and quieter beaches along the coast.

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Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is mainly a summer destination.

 

☀️ June – September (Best season)

• Perfect weather

• The sea is at its best

• All services and ferries are running

 

What about May?

A great option if you prefer fewer crowds and milder temperatures.

 

and October?

Still possible, but:

• There may be more rain
• Temperatures start to drop

 

Since this is a coastal destination, the weather plays a big role in the overall experience.

 

Our tip:Travel in summer, ideally at the beginning or end of the season, when the weather is great but crowds are slightly lower.