The Amalfi Coast stretches along the southern edge of Italy's Sorrentine Peninsula and is known for its colorful houses, cliffs, and lovely towns, each offering something different to its visitors.
Knowing where to go and what to see can often leave you overwhelmed. We have compiled this seven-day guide to help you get the most from your trip, which will be full of food, historical sites, and adventures.
All the places in our guide are pretty close together. Therefore, you could base yourself in one place and return every evening or move around each evening. Naples will be the most economical as there are more options, but it might mean more traveling.
Day 1: Naples
Most people will start their journey in Naples, the largest international airport in the area, or they could take the train from Rome. Ideally, you would want to spend more than one day in this fantastic city, but with only seven days, you will want to budget your time.
Once you have picked up your luggage and checked in, it is time to explore Naples.
During your limited time in Naples, start by walking around Centro Storico, the historical center. Walk the winding streets and alleyways, then treat yourself to a coffee in one of the many cafes that line the streets.
After that, take the funicular up to San Martino. There's a beautiful romantic viewpoint here that's great for a photograph. Then, head over to Certosa e Museo di San Martino, a former monastery that now houses a museum.
All that travel and walking should be enough to work up an appetite. Naples is said to be the home of pizza. Here, they make Neapolitan Pizza, a classic, thin pizza that only takes a minute to cook. These are made with the best buffalo mozzarella cheese and fresh Italian tomatoes.
In the afternoon, head to the National Archaeological Museum, one of the most important museums in the world. It houses many Roman artifacts, including mosaics, sculptures, and treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum.
It’s time to take the evening train down to Positano for day 2 of your adventure.
Day 2: Positano
Positano is a beautiful town, and there is no better way to start the day than to head to the beach and enjoy a coffee overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
The town's streets are perfect for wandering about and getting lost. But after breakfast, head over to the center of Positano and visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. It's a fascinating place with a tiled dome roof that symbolizes Positano.
When all that walking around the town gets too much, head to Spiaggia Grande, the town's main beach. It's the perfect place for people-watching and topping up your tan. If that main beach is too crowded, you could take a short boat ride (or walk) to Fornillo Beach, which sits in a secluded cove.
As the sun sets, treat yourself to a cocktail at one of the lovely beachfront bars that line the front. Visitors highly recommend Le Sirenuse’s Champagne & Oyster Bar. Then head out for food, where you will be spoiled for choice. But be warned: These restaurants can be bustling, so make reservations if you can—just make sure you pick one with a good view. Scialatielli ai frutti di mare (fresh pasta with seafood) is one of the many local delicacies in the region.
After all that food, ensure you have an early night (don’t drink too much wine) as you will be hiking along the Path of Gods.
Day 3: Hike The Path Of The Gods
The Path Of The Gods might not be for everyone, as many of you go on holiday to relax, recharge, and eat lots of food. However, some of us enjoy outdoor activities and seeing a different side of an area, so we have included it.
To ensure you have enough energy, start the day with a decent breakfast from a local cafe or hotel.
Don’t start too early. You are on holiday after all! And remember to take plenty of water.
The most popular place to start this route is in the village of Bomerano, which can be reached by a short bus or taxi ride from Positano.
The trail offers some of the best views over the Amalfi Coast and a unique perspective that combines the sea's beauty with the mountains' rugged charm. It will also take you through vineyards, wildflowers, and ancient stone paths, giving you plenty of photography opportunities.
The hike is 7.8 kilometers/4.8 miles (Bomerano to Nocelle) and will take 2 to 3 hours, depending on how often you stop to take pictures and your fitness level.
Once you arrive in Nocelle, there are plenty of places to enjoy lunch with terrific views.
You then have two options: hike back or take a bus from Nocelle to Positano, which is our recommended way. Once you're back, see if you can grab a sun lounger for a few hours and maybe have a glass of wine or two—you deserve it.
Tomorrow will be a more relaxing day.
Day 4: Take a day trip to Capri
While on the Amalfi Coast, you must take a day trip to Capri. Most people go for only a day, but if your schedule allows it, you should try to stay for two days.
To get here, you can head to the Positano ferry terminal. We recommend catching the first one out to make the most of your day and then taking the last one home.
As your time is limited, you should head up to Anacapri, a town high on the island. You can get a bus there, and once you arrive you can go even higher by taking a funicular ride to the top of Monte Solar. Believe us, it's worth it for the amazing views you will get, but it's a chairlift, so your legs will dangle freely as you go up!
After that, it’s back to Capri town to explore more. As we said earlier, there's so much to see in a limited time, but head to the main square and grab lunch. If you have the budget, go to La Sponda, known for its Michelin-starred cuisine.
The Blue Grotto is probably Capri’s most famous attraction. It can only be reached by boat and can be busy, but it's worth it. The electric blue waters caused by sunlight passing through the water create a sight you won’t forget. Only do it if the weather's good, though.
Shopping should be next on your list. There are plenty of high-end boutique shops where you can buy designer clothes, souvenirs, or ice cream.
Day 5: Amalfi and Ravello
We have decided to combine Amalfi and Ravello in one day because we are short on time. These are small towns, and seeing the best of both in a day is possible.
Spending the morning in Amalfi would be our starting destination. Visit the stunning Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi), a fantastic building with its striking Arab-Norman facade. You’ll find intricate mosaics and relics of St. Andrew, the town’s patron saint. The cathedral’s cloister, Chiostro del Paradiso, is worth checking out for its beautiful arches and perfect garden.
After that, head through the busy Piazza del Duomo. This is a charming square full of local bakeries selling pastries and cafes where you can stop for a coffee. Did you know Amalfi is almost famous for Limoncello? You can buy that here as well.
In the afternoon, head to Ravello, which takes about 15 minutes by car or bus, which is why we combine them. Ravellio is set back from the coast, and the drive up here is considered one of the best in the world. You will see why when you drive up there.
Ravello has a different pace of life. It's not as busy and almost like a retreat from the busier towns along the coast. One of the buildings to check out here is Villa Rufolo, a 13th-century villa famous for its stunning gardens and panoramic views.
Grab some lunch at Villa Maria, which serves some fantastic food.
After that busy day, head back to your hotel. We are off to Sorrento tomorrow, somewhere we can't leave off our itinerary.
Day 6: Sorrento
We have saved the best for last, as Sorrento is one of the most amazing places. If you don’t want to follow anything listed below, one of the best things you can do is head off into the steep, hilly streets, explore without Google Maps, and see what you come across.
There are two marinas in Sorrento, the better one being Marina Grande. It's worth wandering about and admiring the boats. You can also get boats to many other places on the coast. If you want to chill out, there is also a good beach here.
The main square is Piazza Tasso, the perfect place to explore the town. It's full of cafes and hotels overlooking the sea and is a good place to watch the world go by. Visit the Cathedral of Sorrento (Duomo di Sorrento), a stunning 15th-century church featuring a beautiful frescoed ceiling and intricate wooden choir stalls.
If you have time, visit the Museum Correale di Terranova, which houses an impressive collection of Neapolitan art, decorative arts, and historical artifacts. The museum is set in a beautiful villa surrounded by gardens, providing a peaceful retreat from the crowds.
Ristorante Bagni Delfino is a family-run restaurant that comes highly recommended. Read the Trip Advisor reviews, and you will see why. It has fantastic sea views and is the perfect place to have one of the best meals during your trip. It isn’t the most frugal of places, but it's worth it.
After eating, walk down Corso Italia, Sorrento’s main street, which comes alive at night with street performers, musicians, and late-night bars.
Day 7: Head Back To Naples
Hopefully, you have booked a late afternoon flight home. That way, you can lie in bed after a busy seven days of traveling and enjoy one last morning on the coast before you have to fly home. It's just over an hour's travel time back to Naples from Sorrento, but there's also a chance you can base yourself in Naples for the whole week.
Final Thoughts
You will likely weigh a few pounds more than when you arrived due to all that lovely Italian food you have been feasting on. If you haven’t, then you are one of the lucky ones.
If you are only there for a week, you do need to have a plan for the Amalfi Coast. If you don’t, the days will soon pass, and you will realize you missed many places worth visiting. We are not saying you have to plan what to do in each destination, but just plan out what town you are going to that day.
Frugal accommodation might be hard to find here, so book in advance where possible. However, don't expect to find it as cheap as other places in Italy; it's that popular, so they don't need to lower the prices.
Just remember to take it all in while you are here. It's one of the best destinations in the world, and many people will never go there. Sip that wine, savor that gelato, and don’t live this trip through your phone. Just enjoy being in the moment.
I’m Steve. I’m an English Teacher, traveler, and an avid outdoorsman. If you’d like to comment, ask a question, or simply say hi, leave me a message here, on Twitter (@thefrugalexpat1). Many of my posts have been written to help those in their journey to financial independence. I am on my journey, and as I learn more I hope to share more. And as always, thanks for reading The Frugal Expat.