First: Set Your Expectations
The Amalfi Coast is extraordinarily beautiful and genuinely difficult. The roads are narrow, the stairs are steep, parking is nearly impossible, and in summer the coastal highway jams to a standstill with tour buses. Understanding this before you go means you will spend less time frustrated and more time appreciating what the coast does best: views.
The Town Breakdown
Positano
Positano is the most famous and most photographed of the coast's towns. It is also the most expensive and the most crowded. Le Sirenuse remains the benchmark luxury property on the entire coast — a converted noble family palazzo with 58 rooms and possibly the finest pool view in Italy. Book 4–6 months in advance for summer availability.
Ravello
Ravello sits 350 meters above the sea on a ridge above Amalfi town. It is quieter, cooler in summer, and home to the famous Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo gardens. It draws a slightly older, more contemplative crowd — a feature or a bug depending on your priorities.
Praiano
Praiano is a small fishing village between Positano and Amalfi that most visitors drive through on the way somewhere else. It has a handful of excellent hotels, significantly lower prices than Positano, and the same views.
Getting There
Fly into Naples (NAP) or Rome (FCO) and drive — about 90 minutes from Naples on a good day. The ferry from Naples or Sorrento arrives directly in Positano and Amalfi town and is significantly more pleasant than the coast road in summer.
When to Go
- May–early June: Ideal. Warm, not overcrowded, full availability.
- July–August: Extremely crowded, hot, prices at peak.
- September: Excellent. Families head home, weather remains perfect, prices ease.
- October: Some hotels close but light is extraordinary and hiking paths are at their best.
Practical Tips
Take the ferry, not the bus. The ferry between Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno offers the coast's best views from the water. Walk the Path of the Gods. The Sentiero degli Dei from Agerola to Nocelle offers panoramic views with minimal crowds. Do it in the morning before it heats up.