Every person with an Instagram would recognize Italy’s Amalfi Coast from the photographs of colorful cliff-side villages and shimmering turquoise waters that are on just about every travel page there is. The beauty of the 30-mile coastline is what attracts so many tourists and makes it one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations. It is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, said to be an outstanding example of a Mediterranean landscape.
It is possible to see the highlights of the Amalfi Coast and some of its nearby well-known tourist destinations in just over three days. However, the days would likely be fast-paced and packed with activities.
If you are not already staying along the coast or flying into one of the airports near Amalfi, it is easiest to start the adventure out of Naples. The city has an airport and train station that makes travel to this location easy and efficient for accessing the coast. If you are going to the Amalfi Coast from somewhere else in Italy, the timeliest and inexpensive option would be to purchase train tickets into Napoli Station. The tickets can be purchased on trainline.eu. Fast-track trains are an option from major cities such as Florence. It can get you from the northern parts of Italy to the southern regions in under two-and-a-half hours for round trips that will likely cost between 14 to 30 euros.
Upon arrival in Naples, it is best to go to a pizzeria and get a bite to eat. Naples is known for the having the best pizzas in Italy. Then it is time to head to Pompeii. The most inexpensive option is taking a bus. The bus ride takes 35 minutes and costs around three euros a person. The bus ticket can be purchased ahead of time on goeuro.com. A tour guide for Pompeii can be hired before entering through the gates or booked online beforehand at tourtravelandmore.com. A tour guide typically costs around 35 euros for two hours of exploring Pompeii.
After touring the ancient city known for being buried in ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 A.D., it is time to get to the coast. A one-way bus ticket from Pompeii to Sorrento costs less than 10 euros and the bus ride takes just over an hour. Sorrento is a gorgeous coastal city that is perfect to stay in. The price of accommodation is significantly less than it would be in Capri or Positano, two cities that can easily be visited from Sorrento.
For instance, hotels in Sorrento can be found for around 100 euros a night but in Capri the prices increase to around 200 euros a night.
In Sorrento, be sure to lay out at one of the beaches dotting the shoreline, shop at the clothing stores lining the main street and go to the marina at night for a delicious seafood dinner at one of the restaurants that are just steps from the water's edge.
After an afternoon in Sorrento, get a good night’s sleep and wake up early enough to catch a ferry for a full day of exploring Capri, a stunning island home to upscale hotels and yachts that dominate the shoreline. A round trip ferry costs around 40 euros and takes about 40 minutes each way. Ferry tickets can be purchased at the ticket station on the main pier of Sorrento, Marina Grande.
In Capri, there is no shortage of things to do. It is always nice to start with a group boat tour as it provides an overview of the island’s charm and dramatic landscape. The boat tours typically last between one and two hours and are around 17 euro per person. The boat takes you through the famous arch of Faraglioni.
After about one hour, you end up at the majestic Blue Grotto. It is a sea cave. Howard Lin, a student on the boat tour, explained that it is likely illuminated by sunlight that passes through an opening, capturing the colors of the blue water as it reflects throughout the cave. The paddleboat guide confirmed that this is correct.
"This is unreal," Lin said. "How can a place like this exist?"
To enter the cave, guides in small paddle boats, fitting four to five people, pick up tourists from the larger boats they arrived on. The tourists enter the small boats and are brought into the cave through a tiny opening for which they must duck down to get through. Once inside, it is possible to pay the guide five euros to go for a swim. It depends on the guide for if they will allow it or not.The water is often cold, but swimming in this other-worldly water is a once in a lifetime experience.
Back on land, there are plenty of other fun ways to pass the time in Capri. It is common for tourists to go to the bus ticket booth and purchase a round trip ticket for four euros that takes them to the other side of the island to a smaller town, Ana Capri.
Ana Capri is known for having more boutique stores and less touristy and tacky shopping options. In addition, it has a chair lift. For 11 euros round trip, you can get buckled into a seat and taken up to the top of one of the tallest peaks on Capri. The top offers views of both towns, Mt. Vesuvius and yachts in tiny coves with the most turquoise waters.
On the next day, Positano is a great option. A bus from Sorrento to Positano is around 11 euros round trip and the tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth by the train station in Sorrento. It takes about one hour to get to Positano. Once there, the food, cocktail bars and beach seem to be the main attraction. Groups of people, some having picnics, dot the beach with the pastel-colored city towering above them. Kayaks and paddle boards are available to rent from tourism booths on the beach. The typical price is 15 euros an hour to use any of the water toys. A private boat tour can be purchased for 120 euros an hour. It includes a view of Positano from the ocean and an opportunity to be taken to some of the best swimming and cliff jumping locations along the coast.
Before leaving the next day, it is convenient to stop by Mt. Vesuvius to do the 20-minute hike to the crater on the way to catch a train or flight from Naples. A bus to the top of the volcano usually costs around 20 euros. It can be booked on goeuro.com. It is often possible to have the hotel you stay at arrange the bus for you.
From strolling the streets of Amalfi’s unique coastal towns to cliff jumping and walking along volcanic craters, the Amalfi Coast offers an endless amount of bucket-list things to do. To fit in as much as possible without feeling rushed, it is essential to be well-planned and prepared for a dreamy weekend in one of the most scenic landscapes in all of Italy.