One of the most famous travel destination from Italy is definitely Amalfi Coast, which has a length of about 50 km. The main cities from here are Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento. The small towns built on the steep coast, have a special charm, representing a mix of absolutely beautiful landscapes and breath taking views that make you want to move there permanently.
Although it's a region known for its lemon plantations and Limoncello production, the local economy of the Amalfi Coast is 97% based on tourism.
This destination was not on my bucket list and I have to admit that I hadn't thought I would have get there so soon. But as the pandemic overturned many plans, the Amalfi Coast quickly became an option, especially since I really wanted to visit the city buried alive of Pompeii, which is relatively close to the coast. I can say that I liked it so much, that if I'd had the financial means I would have moved there, without thinking twice, despite the fact that the place is a permanent chaos and it's very crowded.
HOW TO GET TO AMALFI COAST:
The nearest airport is the one in Naples, where many companies operate flights from various destinations. If you are lucky, you can find very good prices, because they have frequent flights to this destination. To reach the Amalfi Coast, from Naples airport, there are several options: - bus to Naples train station, then train to Salerno or Sorrento, depending on the town you want to reach. From both cities you have buses that run along the entire coast. - bus to Naples station, then bus from near the station to Sorrento; - minibus transfer, tickets and reservations; If you want to reach the Amalfi Coast for just one day, from Naples, by booking an organized one-day trip, I leave links to details and tickets: - excursion from Naples to Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi, 8 hours long, tickets here; - boat trip from Naples to the entire Amalfi Coast, 9-10 hours long tickets here; - trip from Naples to Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, 9-10 hours long tickets here;
RECOMMENDATION ABOUT TRAVELING TO AMALFI COAST, ITALY:
If you want to see as many things as possible in this amazing location, I leave some recommendation below, some things that I would have liked to know before booking a trip here:
1. Transport and how safe it is to drive on the Amalfi Coast;
If you have a driver's licence, I recommend renting a car. Yes, it is the most expensive option and, in my opinion, it will make a significant difference between a great vacation and a not so great one. However, I do not recommend paying a deposit. Ask for full cover insurance at the counter and in this way you will be exempt from paying any damage, of any type. I noticed that 99% of the cars there were scratched or hit, so you don't want to risk it. I leave a small guide for renting a car.
When I started planning on this vacation, I read recommendation and asked friends about the best option for transport and most of the recommendation were to not rent a car, because the streets are very narrow and there are not many parking spaces. I listened to their advice and after two days of stress with buses and taxis, I decided that is better to rent a car.
To make yourself an idea, parking costs between 3-6 euros/hour and there are not many free parking lots. There are plenty of parking spaces and if you come in the morning, you will get a spot, for sure. For example, in Positano there is parking near the beach in a kind of garage, so you will have to go downhill a lot. Don't be alarmed if you can't find a place in the parking on the side of the streets. If you want to park outside of parking area, make sure that the wheels of the car do not cross the marking line on the road, otherwise you will receive a fine. The cost of the fine is not much different from the cost of the parking, but you will lose time with its payment.
The traffic is not the calmest, but compared with big cities, even comparing with Naples, it is much easier, the only impediment are the streets, which are very narrow. If we compare the fact that big buses run there, for a small car it should be much simpler.
If you don't want to rent a car, other transport options are boat, scooter, taxi and bus.
Buses run every hour and if they are full, they don't stop, so it's possible to wait lots of hours in the heat until you manage to move from one location to another. Tickets can be purchased at souvenir kiosks or local shops and must be stamped when boarding the bus.
Taxi is extremely expensive, so unless you want to spend lots of money, not necessarily recommend it.
2. When to visit Amalfi Coast?
If you choose to go to Amalfi Coast in full season, July-August, you must take into account the millions of tourists, higher prices than in the rest of the year, but also the fact that, although the thermometer shows 30 degrees C, the temperature is much higher, and the fact that cities are mostly vertical, you will have to go up and down a lot of stairs, which will amplify that feeling of warmth, and can be an impediment in exploring and visiting as many places as you would normally do. I would recommend March-May and September- October. I wouldn't come here on winter either because it can rain a lot.
3. Where to stay?
Preferably, if you want to spend your vacation exclusively on the Amalfi Coast, I recommend Positano, it is the heart of the coast and the liveliest city. Unfortunately, cheap and good accommodations are sold out quickly, and in the middle of the tourist season it is almost impossible to find something at a decent price. If you don't have a spending limit, then don't hesitate. A cheaper option, on the coast, would be Sorrento. If you only want to take a day trip to the coast, then Naples or Pompeii can be taken into account. Positano hotels with the lowest prices on Booking and the highest ratings: Sweet Home Positano, Casa Simona, Villa Punta del Sole;
Another option close to the coast, would be in the town of Sorrento, I leave some recommendations: Agriturismo Primaluce, Sorrento Garden, Casa Mary Family Apartment, Sorrento ResArt Suite.
3. What can you visit on the Amalfi Coast?
Positano is the most famous of the cities on the Amalfi Coast and I must to admit that I was sceptical about this place. I expected to look good in photography and that’s all. It is one of those places that you see everywhere on social media and you wonder if it is really worth visiting. In my opinion, it is absolutely amazing, it deserves all the fame and is one of the most beautiful cities I have visited and would love to go back to.
Although it is not a very big city, it is one of the most touristic places in Italy, so prepare mentally for the crowds, at least during the summer. What you can do in Positano: - hiking on the path "Sentiero Degli Dei"; - visit the Santa Maria Cathedral; - don't miss a walk on the vertical streets; - shopping of traditional products; - try the traditional "Lemon Sorbet" dessert; - relax at the beach; - rent a boat;
- private cruise on a classic Italian 500 boat, details here; - old town tour with archaeologist guide, details here; - home cooking class for small groups with a local, details here; - Pasta and Tiramisu cooking class with wine, details here; - private sunset boat experience, details here;
The beach o Positano is very large and has both a towel area and a sunbed area. If you choose to stay in the towel area, you must consider that the beach does not have fine sand, but pebbles, which can be quite uncomfortable. For the sunbed area, the price is 45 € (price that may vary depending on the period you go), for an umbrella with two sunbeds, where you can order food and drink to be served on the beach, at a additional price.
Ravello is a small village, but very beautiful and quiet, and not to be missed. The town has existed since the 5th century and was economically important in the past, with wool dyeing as its main activity. Nowadays, in the historic center there are a number of shops with souvenirs and terraces and it represents an attraction for tourists. Also, the center is registered in the UNESCO heritage.
As activities, you can visit Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone.
Villa Rufolo is located right in the historic center of the town, and the entrance ticket costs 7 euros/person.
Although certain structures of the villa date from the 13th century, most of the building was built in the 19th century.
The most beautiful part of this villa is the view over the terraced hills. It is said that this place inspired Wagner, the German composer, to finish his musical work, Parsifal. Thus, the town of Ravello is considered the town of music, organizing, annually, various music festivals.
The garden of the villa is also quite interesting, on two levels, with colorful flowers and architectural details in the specific Italian style.
Vietri sul Mare is a fairly touristy town, although it does not have the notoriety that Positano has. It is known, in particular, for the manufacture of ceramic vessels, a tradition dating back to the fifteenth century.
The beach of this resort is one of the largest, compared to those on the Amalfi Coast. It is a beach with fine sand, smooth entry into the water and it has sunbeds and umbrellas for rent. The towel area is very limited.
I must admit that the reason that made me put this place on the list to visit, was the street in the image below.
If you like seafood and fish, this is the ideal place to try them. All terraces and restaurants have them on the menu.
A rather amusing little story about food in this city: after we asked at absolutely all the terraces we saw, if they’d had pizza and everyone said they hadn't had, although in the name of the restaurant was "pizzeria ", we saw the last terrace, somewhere near the beach, where we asked the same, if they have pizza, their answer was that" of course we have pizza, it's Italy "😂
Fiordo di Furore is a small beach, a piece of paradise, located between Positano and Amalfi. Although it is crowded during the day, it is a rather hidden beach between the high walls of the mountains and it gives you the feeling of intimacy. There are no parking spaces, we left the car in the parking lot of a restaurant and paid around € 30 for the whole day, a price that can be deducted from the bill if you choose to eat there.
I wrote a different article about Fiordo di Furore.
Praiano is a small town, which I did not manage to visit, I chose to relax at the beach, the temperature being too high to explore. The beach is not natural, it was built by humans and is very small, with pebbles and has both a sunbed and a towel area. There is also a restaurant/bar that manages the lounge area. Two sunbeds cost €30 and you have to get there very early to find spare seats. The same applies to parking, which is not free. I do not recommend parking in another area.
CONCLUSION ABOUT THE AMALFI COAST:
I went to this destination without much expectation and it turned out to be one of the most beautiful locations I have visited. I was fascinated by the landscapes of the Amalfi Coast, the vertical cities and the vibe of the area. Positano was the most beautiful place from all of them, and Italy is now on the top of my preferences. I will definitely come back to the Amalfi Coast, probably in a less crowded month, to really enjoy the beauty of the place, without the crowds specific to the hot season.
Also during this vacation, along the Amalfi Coast, I visited the Island of Capri, Naples and the archeological site of Pompeii.
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