How to Plan an Epic Amalfi Coast Itinerary | From 2 Days to One Week

If you are planning your Amalfi Coast itinerary, there are multiple ways to do it. For those on a whirlwind tour through Italy, you just may have a few days in the area. But if you are on a honeymoon or a longer visit, you might have more time, as much as week, to soak up the sun and the sights.

We have visited the Amalfi Coast two different ways. The first time was on a quick, 3-day visit to the area, and we were on a tight budget. We used Sorrento as a home base to get to Capri, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast and it worked wonderfully.

More recently, we spent 10 days on the Amalfi Coast, splitting our time between Positano and Sorrento. Staying in a town like Positano or Amalfi is much different than staying in Sorrento, and well worth it for reasons we will get into in a little bit.

How to Use this Guide

Since there are so many ways to plan your perfect Amalfi Coast itinerary, in this guide, we list several different ways to do it.

First, we start with an overview of the Amalfi Coast and essential things you need to know as you plan your trip.

Next, we list itineraries using Sorrento as a home base, and then itineraries using a town on the Amalfi Coast as a home base. These itineraries range from 2 to 10 days.

At the end of this guide, we list two different ways to spend one week on the Amalfi Coast (you can skip ahead to this now).

Simply pick the itinerary that fits your time frame, travel style, and budget. And if you have any questions or need help modifying an itinerary, let us know at the comment section at the end of this guide and we will be happy to help you out.

An Overview of the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is located in Campania, Italy. It is a stretch of coastline that runs along the Sorrentine peninsula.

There are 13 towns along this coastline, including Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Vietri sul Mare, and Praiano, just to name a few. Salerno and Sorrento sit at either end, just outside of the Amalfi Coast.

Some Amalfi Coast towns are located right on the water, like Amalfi and Positano, and others are located higher up on the hills, like Ravello and Praiano. For an overview of all 13 towns, plus a few hidden gems, take a look at our article Beautiful Towns to Visit on the Amalfi Coast.

Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast has all of the perfect ingredients for a beach holiday. Below we list the top experiences and you can read the more detailed list in our article Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast.

• Visit the Amalfi Coast Towns
• Take a boat tour of the Amalfi Coast
• Visit the villas in Ravello
• Visit a beach club
• Hike the Path of the Gods
• Tour the Amalfi Coast Wine Road
• Taste limoncello
• Visit the Emerald Grotto
• Visit Fiordo di Furore
• Go shopping
• Dine with a view of the sunset
• Day trip to Capri
• Spend some time in Sorrento
• Day trip to Paestum

The Amalfi Coast

How Much Time Do You Need on the Amalfi Coast?

At a minimum, we recommend spending three days on the Amalfi Coast. If you are traveling from Rome, it can take a half of a day to get here, and it can be a bit of a hassle, so you want to make sure you have enough time on the Amalfi Coast to make it worth it.

With three days, you can spend a day touring the towns on Amalfi Coast, a day in Capri, and a day split between Pompeii and Sorrento.

There is a lot to do on the Amalfi Coast, so if you can spend more time here, you can also visit the vineyards near Tramonti, hike the Path of the Gods, spend more time in the coastal towns, spend the day(s) at the beach clubs, have sunset dinners in Positano, explore the sea caves, and day trip to Paestum, the best place on mainland Italy to see Greek temples.

If you want to thoroughly explore and experience the Amalfi Coast, plan on spending 5 to 7 days here. To do everything we listed above, you will need a minimum of 5 days and you will be extremely busy.

Best Time to Visit the Amalfi Coast

The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is from late April through early June and mid-September through October, when the weather is pleasant and crowds are manageable. The busiest months to visit the Amalfi Coast are July and August and during this time, traffic jams along the Amalfi Coast are common and crowds are huge in the Amalfi Coast towns.

We first visited the Amalfi Coast in July, on our shorter trip. It was hot and crowded and we had long waits for the public buses when day tripping down the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento.

Our more recent visit was at the end of October 2022. What a wonderful time to visit the Amalfi Coast! For 10 days, almost every day, the average high was 27°C (81°F) and the average low was 15°C (60°F). A few days we had some clouds, but other than that, we had clear, sunny skies the entire 10 days. It was slightly warmer than average, but talking to many locals, this is the general weather trend for October.

To make our experience even better, crowds had really quieted down by this point. The downside of visiting the Amalfi Coast at the end of October is that the beach clubs close, so if that’s important to you, plan your trip for early October.

For more information, read our guide about what it is like to visit the Amalfi Coast in October.

Atrani

How to Get to the Amalfi Coast

Naples is the gateway into the region, especially for those traveling from Rome to the Amalfi Coast. From Rome, take the train from Naples.

From Naples, you can take a train to Sorrento or Salerno, but the train does not run to the Amalfi Coast towns. To get to the Amalfi Coast towns, you can drive, hire a driver, take a bus, or take a boat of some sort (usually a ferry).

Here are your options for getting to these towns from Naples. We have more information in our guide on How to Get to the Amalfi Coast.

Sorrento: Option #1: Campania Express train or the Circumvesuviana train; Option #2: drive or hire a private driver; Option #3: ferry from Naples to Sorrento

Amalfi Coast Towns (Positano, Amalfi, etc.): Option #1: first travel to Sorrento, and then take the bus, hire a driver, or take a ferry to the towns; Option #2: hire a driver to take you from Naples to the Amalfi Coast; Option #3: rent a car in Naples and drive to the Amalfi Coast (be aware of the alternating license plate system in the summer)

How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast

During the summer months, the best way to get around the Amalfi Coast is by boat (ferry, small boat tour, or private boat). The views are beautiful and you can avoid the traffic jams on Amalfi Drive.

From June through September, avoid driving the Amalfi Coast if possible, since traffic jams are frequent, parking is a nightmare, and rental car traffic is limited by the new alternating license plate system.

If you are traveling on a budget, travel by ferry or by bus.

If you want to get around the Amalfi Coast but avoid the bus and driving, the next best way to get around is by hiring a driver. Just be aware that you can still get stuck in traffic jams during the summer months.

We have a detailed guide about the Best Way to Get Around the Amalfi Coast and What to Expect When Driving the Amalfi Coast.

Amalfi Coast Drive

Where to Stay: Sorrento vs. the Amalfi Coast

Where to stay is a big decision in planning your Amalfi Coast itinerary. There are pros and cons to each location.

Sorrento is easily connected to Rome, Naples, Pompeii, and the Amalfi Coast by public transportation. You can get to Sorrento by train and ferry from Naples, day tripping to Capri is a breeze, and you have tons of public transportation and tour options for visiting the Amalfi Coast. However, you will be staying right outside of the Amalfi Coast.

It’s also a little easier to find cheaper accommodations in Sorrento, so if you are traveling on a budget, Sorrento is your best option.

To stay in an Amalfi Coast town like Positano or Amalfi, you’ll spend more time and money to get there. It can also be more challenging to day trip to Capri, depending on which Amalfi Coast town you choose. But overall, the vibe is amazing and the Amalfi Coast towns are gorgeous.

Staying in an Amalfi Coast town is best for those with at least 3 days in the area, those with more money to spend, and for those celebrating something special. Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Praiano are wonderful places to spend your honeymoon, a romantic getaway, a big life event, or to just simply relax and unwind.

We spent six days in Positano and it was one of our most memorable experiences in Italy. We splurged on a 5-star hotel and having this much time allowed us to visit a lot of places and still have plenty of leisurely time.

View from our hotel in Positano

Amalfi Coast Itinerary Options

Next, we list a variety of Amalfi Coast itineraries. These range from just a few days to an entire week.

Here is a list of the itineraries:

• 3 Days in Sorrento
• 4 or More Days in Sorrento
• 1 to 2 Days in Sorrento
• 4 or More Days on the Amalfi Coast
• 1 Week on the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast Itinerary #1: 3 Days in Sorrento

This is one of the most popular ways to visit the Amalfi Coast. In these busy three days, you hit the highlights of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

It’s a great itinerary for budgets of all sizes, but if you are traveling on a budget, this is the most budget friendly Amalfi Coast itinerary on the list.

This is what we did on our first visit to the Amalfi Coast. You can see a detailed version of this itinerary in our article Three Days in Sorrento.

Day 1: Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento

Take an early morning train from Rome to Naples (travel times range from just over one hour to two hours). In Naples, transfer to the Campania Express or Circumvesuviana and take this to Pompeii Scavi. At the train station, store your luggage (read how to do this in our Traveling to Pompeii guide) and visit Pompeii. Then, retrieve your luggage, ride the Campania Express or the Circumvesuviana to Sorrento, check into your hotel, and have dinner.

Pompeii

Day 2: Amalfi Coast Day Trip

Spend today on the Amalfi Coast.

On a day trip from Sorrento, you will only have time to visit a few towns. We recommend Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. If you love hiking, you could join a guided tour of the Path of the Gods hike (this eliminates the hassle of transportation) and spend the afternoon in Positano.

To visit the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento, you can hire a driver, use the public bus, take a tour, or hire a private boat.

For budget travelers, get around by bus, ferry, or group tour. We visited the Amalfi Coast by bus and had a terrible experience. The buses frequently run late and will get stuck in traffic jams in the summer. We recommend using the ferry to get around if you are on a budget.

If you have a little more money to spend, you can hire a driver (better in the spring and fall when the roads aren’t as congested) or hire a private boat. This gives you the flexibility to travel on your own schedule.

The Amalfi Duomo

Day 3: Capri Day Trip

Capri is a wonderful day trip from Sorrento. Learn how to do it in our Capri Day Trip guide.

The view from Monte Solaro in Capri

Amalfi Coast Itinerary #2: Four or More Days in Sorrento

If you have more time in Sorrento, then you have more time to visit the Amalfi Coast.

Here are two different itineraries with five days in Sorrento.

On the first itinerary, visit Pompeii in transit between Naples and Sorrento. This gives you more time on the Amalfi Coast.

Day 1: Travel from Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento
Day 2: Boat tour of the Amalfi Coast sights (Positano, Amalfi, Nerano, the Emerald Grotto, Atrani)
Day 3: Capri day trip
Day 4: Ravello and Tramonti (Amalfi Coast wine region), best by private driver or tour
Day 5: Path of the Gods hike

On the second itinerary, you travel directly from Naples to Sorrento on day 1 and then day trip to Pompeii on a different day. What you are giving up in this itinerary is additional time on the Amalfi Coast.

Day 1: Travel directly from Rome to Sorrento, afternoon in Sorrento
Day 2: Boat tour of the Amalfi Coast sights (Positano, Amalfi, Nerano, the Emerald Grotto, Atrani)
Day 3: Capri day trip
Day 4: Pompeii day trip + Vesuvius
Day 5: Ravello and Tramonti (Amalfi Coast wine region) or Path of the Gods hike

Path of the Gods hike

Amalfi Coast Itinerary #3: 1 to 2 Days in Sorrento

Is it worth day tripping to the Amalfi Coast from Rome? People do it and there are a lot of tours that get great reviews, but it is a long day. We don’t recommend it.

We think it is better to put three or more days into your itinerary to visit the Amalfi Coast region, to make it worth the time and money to get here.

Having traveled extensively through Italy, it’s better, in our opinion, to slow down a little, visit fewer places, and really get to know them, rather than checking a bunch of cities and towns off of a long list. I understand the appeal of taking a Rome to Amalfi Coast day trip if you have never been here before, but most of your day will be spent on a bus, train, or boat, and you have to make sure you are OK with that.

If you like the day trip idea, this is one of better reviewed tours.

Two Days in Sorrento

If you only have two days, your itinerary will look something like this:

Day 1: Arrive in Sorrento

If you are traveling from Rome, you will get here about midday, without stopping off at Pompeii. Spend the afternoon in Sorrento. You also have the option to visit Pompeii in between Rome and Sorrento, but you won’t have any time to explore Sorrento in the afternoon.

Day 2: Amalfi Coast day trip from Sorrento

What you lose is Capri, which may not be that big of a deal to some people. Of course, you could skip the Amalfi Coast and visit Capri instead.

Sorrento

Daily Itineraries on the Amalfi Coast

These daily itineraries are for those who plan to stay in an Amalfi Coast town, rather than Sorrento. We recommend spending at least four days on the Amalfi Coast in this situation, since it takes longer to get to and from these towns.

For this itinerary, I am using Positano as the home base, since that’s one of the most popular towns to stay in on the Amalfi Coast (and it’s what we did). Positano is also well connected by ferry, so if you want to get around the Amalfi Coast by ferry, and day trip to Capri, Positano works well.

Below we list 10 different ways to spend a day on the Amalfi Coast. You can simply pick out your favorite days and link them together, depending on the amount of time you have.

Day 1: Arrive in Positano

From Rome, the quickest way to get to the Amalfi Coast is to take the train to Naples and hire a private driver to get to your Amalfi Coast town. You can use Amalfi Driver or your hotel can also make recommendations for a driver and give you advice on how to get there.

Alternatively, you can take the train to Sorrento and from Sorrento, take the ferry, bus, or hire a driver to get to you Amalfi Coast town. This will take the majority of your day, just to get to Positano.

Positano

Day 2: Visit Several Towns on the Amalfi Coast

There are 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast. Some are fantastic and others are worth skipping. You can get more information about each town in our Guide to the Amalfi Coast Towns.

On this day, we recommend getting around by boat of some sort. Not only does it avoid the traffic jams but the views of the Amalfi Coast from the sea are spectacular.

By boat, the best towns to visit in one day are Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, Minori, and Nerano (a small town just outside of the Amalfi Coast but the food is amazing). If you are on a small boat tour or private boat, you can also visit the Emerald Grotto and Fiordo di Furore.

If you are traveling on a budget, use the ferry or join a small group tour, like this one.

If you have more money to spend, or if you will be traveling as a small group (so you can split the cost), consider hiring a private boat.

Prices for a full day cruise range from €800 to as high as €3000, depending on the boat and company you choose. If you are traveling as a group of four to six people, splitting the cost of a €800 or €1300 boat is not as crazy as it first seems, especially given the advantages that come with having a private boat.

Nerano

Fiordo di Furore

Positano

Day 3: Capri Day Trip

Capri is a popular day trip destination from both Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast. Of the towns on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is the easiest town from which to day trip to Capri.

To do this, you will take the ferry to Capri in the morning, spend the day on the island, and ferry back to Capri. It’s also possible to hire a private boat that will take you to Capri, circle around the island, and give you some time on land.

For full details on how to do this, read our Capri Day Trip Guide and Best Things to Do on Capri.

Via Krupp, Capri

Day 4: Path of the Gods Hike

The Path of the Gods (also called Sentiero degli Dei) is 5.6 km/3.5 mile one-way hike that is mostly downhill. It is located high in the mountains above the Amalfi Coast so the views are jaw-dropping. In fact, it is one of the most beautiful walks in Italy.

The logistics can be a little bit challenging, since you need to take the bus or hire a driver to get you to the starting point in Bomerano. Once you finish the hike in Nocelle, you can either walk to Positano or take a bus or taxi to wherever you are staying on the Amalfi Coast.

Path of the Gods

Day 5: Ravello + Tramonti

This was one of our favorite days on the Amalfi Coast. It combines a visit to one of the prettiest Amalfi Coast towns with one of the best off the beaten path experiences.

For this day, it is best to hire a driver. The wine region is not easily accessible by public transportation so the best way to get around is by private driver. If you have a car, you can use that, too, but since this day includes wine tasting, it’s best to have a driver, so you don’t get behind the wheel of a car at the end of the day.

Start in Ravello and visit the villas. Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone both offer stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. A visit here takes about 2 to 3 hours.

Villa Rufolo

Villa Cimbrone | Amalfi Coast Itinerary

In the afternoon, visit one or more vineyards near Tramonti. Tramonti is an Amalfi Coast town in the mountains above Ravello. This area is covered with vineyards and looks vastly different from the terraced, lemon tree covered slopes closer to the coast.We booked a lunch with wine pairings at Tenuta San Francesco.

We just happened to be here on the day when the grapes were harvested. Our visit started off by tasting grapes right off of the vine. After a quick tour of the cellar, we sat down to a delicious lunch with wine pairings. During lunch, we shared some wine with Gaetano Bove, one of the owners of the vineyard.

What we thought was going to be a quick lunch, followed by visits to other vineyards in the region, turned into a long, leisurely afternoon with fellow travelers and Gaetano (and a LOT of wine!), at this one vineyard. It was one of our favorite experiences on our most recent trip to Italy.

I don’t know if every visitor has that same personal experience with the owner or if we just got lucky, but all of the staff members were simply amazing and went out of their way to make sure that their guests had a top-notch experience.

Once finished at the vineyards, return back to where you are staying on the Amalfi Coast.

Day 6: Drive the Amalfi Coast

For some people, driving along the Amalfi Coast, past dramatic coastal cliffs, some of the most beautiful towns in Italy, and famous beaches, is a bucket list experience. You can either rent a car and drive the Amalfi Coast or hire a driver and sit back and enjoy the views.

We have driven the entire Amalfi Coast and found it’s a more frustrating experience than what you may read about online and definitely different from what you see in the movies. Traffic jams are a daily occurrence in the summer and there is now an alternating license plate system, which limits the days that you can drive. Plus, parking is nightmare, even during the off season.

Hiring a driver is the best way to go, since it eliminates some of the stress of the drive, and saves you from having to rent a car and then pay for parking. But it is a beautiful drive, and if you have a few days on the Amalfi Coast, we think it’s nice to see the Amalfi Coast both from the road and the sea.

Learn more in our article What’s It Like to Drive the Amalfi Coast?

Amalfi Coast

Day 7: Free Day

Rather than overloading your schedule with busy days, one of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast (and maybe the main reason why the Amalfi Coast is on your list) is to simply relax at the beach.

The “beach experience” ranges from free beaches in some towns to exclusive, VIP clubs where you spend several hundred euros per day to rent a lounge chair.

If you are staying in Positano, you can spend the day at Spiaggia Grande, the main beach in the center of town. This has both a free beach and a beach club, where you pay roughly €30 for a lounge chair and umbrella for the day. About a 10-minute walk from Spiaggia Grande is Fornillo Beach, a quieter beach in Positano with a beach club and restaurants.

On these leisurely days (you can have more than one, of course!), you can also go shopping in town, go to bar or restaurant in the late afternoon for a drink with a view, and then go out to dinner.

Spiaggia Grande, Positano

Day 8: Pompeii Day Trip

Pompeii is one of the most popular archaeological sites to visit in Italy. You can visit Pompeii as you travel to or from the Amalfi Coast (storing your luggage at the train station or at Pompeii), but if you do it as a day trip from the Amalfi Coast, it takes some more time, but you eliminate the hassle of traveling with luggage.

The best way to day trip to Pompeii is to hire a driver for the day or drive there if you have a rental car. From Positano, it takes about an hour to drive to Pompeii. Alternatively, you can take the ferry to Sorrento and the Circumvesuviana to Pompeii, but this will take longer (but it is a cheaper way to travel). You can also join this tour of Pompeii from Positano.

Day 9: Paestum

Paestum is one of the best places in Italy to see Greek ruins. Home to three ancient Greek temples dating back to 450 BC, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is often an overlooked destination in Italy.

Paestum

The ancient city of Paestum sits just to the south of Salerno and the Amalfi Coast. For those with an interest in history or archaeology, Paestum can be visited as a day trip from the Amalfi Coast. Learn how to plan your visit in our guide to Paestum.

The best way to do this is to either drive to Paestum (if you have a rental car) or hire a private driver. You can get to Paestum from the Amalfi Coast using public transportation, but you will have to string together several buses, which can be a big hassle.

However, it is a lot of driving, about 2 hours one-way, and it could be longer if there is traffic.

Day 10: Day trip to Sorrento

If you have no plans to stay in Sorrento but still want to see it, you can day trip from the towns on the Amalfi Coast to Sorrento by bus, private driver, and ferry. Check out our Guide to Sorrento for things to do and recommended restaurants.

Marina Grande, Sorrento

One Week on the Amalfi Coast Itinerary

Taking from the list of 10 days above, here are two different ways to spend one week on the Amalfi Coast.

#1: Staying in One Amalfi Coast Town

Below is an itinerary if you just stay in one town on the Amalfi Coast, such as Positano or Amalfi. You will stay in one hotel in one town for the entire week.

Day 1: Arrive on the Amalfi Coast
Day 2: Boat trip to the Amalfi Coast towns
Day 3: Leisurely day (beaches and shopping and dinner)
Day 4: Ravello + Tramonti
Day 5: Pompeii day trip
Day 6: Capri day trip
Day 7: Path of the Gods hike, free time in the afternoon

#2: Sorrento + One Amalfi Coast Town

Below is a one week itinerary if you stay in both Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

Day 1: Rome to Pompeii to Sorrento (stay in Sorrento)
Day 2: Capri day trip (stay in Sorrento)
Day 3: Morning in Sorrento, transfer to the Amalfi Coast town of your choice in the afternoon (by bus, driver, or ferry); stay in the Amalfi Coast town for the rest of this itinerary
Day 4: Boat trip to the Amalfi Coast towns
Day 5: Ravello + Tramonti
Day 6: Leisurely day
Day 7: Path of the Gods hike and free time in the afternoon

Boats in Capri

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days do you need on the Amalfi Coast?

At a minimum, we recommend spending three days on the Amalfi Coast. With three days, you can spend a day touring the towns Amalfi Coast, and day in Capri, and a day split between Pompeii and Sorrento.

However, there is a lot to do on the Amalfi Coast, so if you can spend more time here, you can also hike the Path of the Gods, spend more time in the coastal towns, visit the vineyards near Tramonti, and spend some time at the beach clubs.

Is it better to stay in Sorrento or on the Amalfi Coast?

Sorrento is easily connected by public transportation and it’s also a little easier to find cheaper accommodations in Sorrento. If you are traveling on a budget or have limited time, Sorrento is a better option.

Staying in an Amalfi Coast town is best for those with at least 3 days in the area, those with more money to spend, and for those celebrating something special. Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello are wonderful places to stay on your honeymoon, a romantic getaway, a big life event, or to just simply relax and unwind.

Is it better to stay in Amalfi or Positano?

Both are beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast. Positano is better connected by public transportation and has a longer list of hotels and restaurants, so Positano is our first choice when staying on the Amalfi Coast.

When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?

The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is from late April through early June and mid-September through October, when the weather is pleasant and crowds are manageable. The busiest months to visit the Amalfi Coast are July and August and during this time, traffic jams along the Amalfi Coast common and crowds are huge in the Amalfi Coast towns.

Conca dei Marini

More Information for Your Trip to the Amalfi Coast

We have a lot more Amalfi Coast planning information on our website.

PLACES TO GO: In our article Beautiful Towns on the Amalfi Coast, we give an overview to each Amalfi Coast town, plus a few hidden gems. For the top experiences, read our article Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast.

GETTING TO THE AMALFI COAST: Learn how to get from Rome to the Amalfi Coast and we also have a guide on how to visit Pompeii when traveling to the Amalfi Coast.

GETTING AROUND THE AMALFI COAST: We have a guide to the Best Way to Get Around the Amalfi Coast and what to expect when Driving the Amalfi Coast (and is it worth it).

WHEN TO GO: Learn why October is a great time to visit the Amalfi Coast (plus info on visiting in September and November).

WHERE TO STAY: For recommendations of where to stay, including Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, take a look at our Amalfi Coast Hotel Guide.

CITY GUIDES: We have detailed guides on the things to do in Ravello, Sorrento, and Positano.

PATH OF THE GODS: Get the full details on how to hike the Path of the Gods, one of the prettiest walks in Italy.

CAPRI: Check out our articles Best Things to Do in Capri and How to Day Trip to Capri.

If you have any questions about how to plan your Amalfi Coast itinerary, let us know in the comment section below.

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