The Amalfi Coast is made for a relaxing holiday, so don’t rush your visit and take your time to watch the sunset, sunbathe, go hiking in nature, or stroll along the picturesque streets of the lovely towns overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
If you’re visiting Naples, you can surely plan a day trip to the Amalfi Coast: you can either slowly drive along the scenic drive winding above the sea or join one of the many guided tours available.
Anyway, the Amalfi Coast is best suited for a road trip of a few days or at least a weekend. In summer, you’ll be able to enjoy a traditional beach holiday with some trekking and some sightseeing too, but you can visit this area of Southern Italy in any season. Just keep in mind that the weekends are always extremely busy and chaotic, so you’d better plan your trip during the week!
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How many days on the Amalfi Coast do you need?
How to spend one day on the Amalfi Coast (Amalfi & Positano)
If you are based in Naples and you’re planning a day trip to the Amalfi Coast, you’ll have to only pick a couple of destinations. The unmissable towns are Amalfi and Positano.
This is an easy itinerary for your day trip:
- Take the ferry from Naples to Amalfi. The journey will take about 1h30, and it will be scenic and pleasant, allowing you to take plenty of pictures.
- Amalfi is the biggest town on the Coast, and its main landmark is the S. Andrea Cathedral, together with the famous Cloister of Paradise.
- Have a stroll along the picturesque streets of the old town
- Visit the Paper Museum to learn more about this local ancient processing. More information at Museo della Carta.
- Taste some local fried fish, take another ferry, and reach Positano in about 30 minutes.
- Take your time to explore the old town and take plenty of pictures
- Visit the beautiful church of Santa Maria Assunta with its iconic dome
- Head to the Roman Villa and the archeological exhibit. More information at Home MAR – Roman Villa Positano.
- Have a stop on the main beach of Positano: the glamorous Marina Grande!
- Take the ferry to Naples and enjoy the sunset from the sea!
- As an alternative, take a 1day guided tour like this one From Naples: Full-Day Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Tour,
How to spend 2 days on the Amalfi Coast (Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Maiori)
Staying overnight is the best option to visit a few towns at your own pace!
Day One
- Leave Naples early in the morning and reach Sorrento (1h drive).
- Visit Correale Museum to learn more about local history, from the Greek-Roman era to more recent times.
- Enter the Cathedral to watch its many works of art
- Have a stroll along Corso Italia and Tasso Square to take in some authentic local vibes
- Reach Villa Comunale and its belvedere
- Taste some gnocchi alla sorrentina for lunch!
- Drive to Positano (40min-drive)
- Enjoy some shopping and glamour in the trendiest town on the Coast. Among the best souvenirs, you can buy a bottle of Limoncello and some colorful pottery.
- Have a happy hour on Marina Grande beach
- As an alternative, spend the afternoon hiking the Path of the Gods. This panoramic trail connects Positano to Agerola, and it’s 10km long, but you can only walk for a couple of hours to take some pictures and enjoy the view without getting too far from Positano.
Day Two
- Enjoy a scenic 40min-drive and reach Amalfi
- Visit its Paper Museum
- Head to the Cathedral and visit the Cloister of Paradise too
- After lunch, drive to Ravello (20min-drive)
- Visit the beautiful garden of Villa Cimbrone and spend some time watching the sea from the famous belvedere named Terrace of Infinity.
- Spend the rest of the afternoon sunbathing on the beach of Maiori, the largest sandy beach on the Amalfi Coast (30min-drive from Ravello)
How to spend 3 days on the Amalfi Coast (Cetara, Vietri, Ravello, Amalfi, Positano)
A short vacation will allow you to see plenty of attractions on the Amalfi Coast!
Day One
- Leave Naples early in the morning and head to the scenic drive (Statale 163). Drive to Cetara (50min-drive from Naples)
- Have a stroll along the picturesque streets of Cetara, a lovely fishing village mostly famous for a prized gastronomic product: the anchovy sauce (“colatura di alici”).
- Visit the Anchovy Sauce Museum inside Vicereale Tower. More information at Torre di Cetara – Museo Civico
- Head to Vietri sul Mare (15 min drive) and have a stroll watching the colorful ceramics on the buildings and in the streets. This local form of art is famous worldwide, and it was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List!
- Relax on Crestarella Beach, a popular location for its pristine water and its iconic rock formations named “the two brothers.”
Day Two
- Head to Ravello (1h drive from Vietri)
- Spend the morning visiting the most famous villas on the Amalfi Coast: Villa Rufolo (more info at Scopri Villa Rufolo), right at the heart of Ravello, and Villa Cimbrone that’s actually a hotel, but whose gardens are open for visitors, thanks to the iconic belvedere named Terrace of Infinity.
- After lunch, you can reach Amalfi (a 20min drive)
- Don’t miss a visit to the Cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise too
- Visit also the Paper Museum
- Have a stroll in the picturesque old town and enjoy a seafood dinner by the sea
Day Three
- Head to Positano (45min drive), driving along the scenic drive and taking your time to stop and watch the landscape.
- Visit the church of Santa Maria Assunta. Its dome is visible from a distance, so you cannot miss it!
- Explore the old town and have lunch on the beach. Taste some fresh seafood or have a Neapolitan pizza!
- Visit the Roman Villa and the archeological exhibition
- Drive back to Naples along the scenic drive (1h20 drive)
How to spend 4+ days on the Amalfi Coast (Salerno, Minori, Maiori, Ravello, Amalfi, Positano)
A real vacation including the best attractions of this picturesque corner of Italy! Spending a few days on the coast will allow you to do some trekking and visit the countryside too!
Day One
- Start your road trip from Salerno to reach Naples on your last day. You can then spend a whole weekend exploring the third-largest Italian city!
- Before taking the scenic drive, visit the iconic Arechi Castle and its art exhibitions, and don’t forget to take some pictures from the belvedere!
- Drive to Minori (45min drive from Salerno)
- Spend the afternoon relaxing on the beach, then have a happy hour on the promenade
- Alternatively, visit the Basilica of Santa Trofimena, the Villa Romana, and the lovely old town. Don’t miss a stop to taste one of the best sweet treats of the Coast: the famous delizia al limone made by Sal de Riso, a famous Italian pastry chef whose laboratory is in Minori!
Day Two
- Enjoy some trekking in nature! Take the Lemon Trail connecting Minori to Maiori. The whole loop will take about 2h30, but you can spend some time on Maiori’s beach and go back to Minori later in the afternoon.
- Alternatively, you can hike to Ravello and reach the iconic Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. The hike is relatively easy, and you’ll reach Ravello in about 1h.
- Enjoy some wine tasting and a romantic dinner in the countryside.
Day Three
- Take the scenic drive to reach Amalfi (a 10min drive from Minori)
- Visit the Cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise
- Taste some scialatielli all’Amalfitana (pasta with fresh seafood) for lunch
- Spend the afternoon on Marina Grande beach
- As an alternative, join a boat tour leading you to discover the best grottoes of the Amalfi Coast. Amalfi Coast 6-Hour Private Grottoes Boat Trip.
Day Four
- Head to Positano (40min drive from Amalfi)
- Walk around Positano.
- Take your time to go shopping in the old town.
- Before lunch, squeeze in a visit to the church of Santa Maria Assunta
- Spend the afternoon on Fornillo Beach, the best spot to do some snorkeling or diving!
You might also like the following:
Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast
The best towns and villages to visit on the Amalfi Coast
Amalfi Coast in Winter
How to spend 5 to 7 days on the Amalfi Coast