Amalfi Coast
Fifty kilometres of cliff-hugging tarmac between Sorrento and Salerno, past lemon terraces and pastel villages stacked like crockery.
- Best forCouples · Walkers & hikers · Photographers
- In September26°C · 10 rainy days
- Ideal stay4-5 nights
- Approx. flying time~12h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyEUREuro
- LanguageItalian
- Local time13:131h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / F / LBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+39
Why go
Fifty kilometres of road is cut into cliffs between Sorrento and Salerno, with lemon terraces stacked above and villages tumbling to small stony beaches below. Everything here is vertical: steps instead of streets, lifts inside buildings, gardens on ledges. Days split between boats, terraces and staircases, and the reward for climbing anything at all is a view straight down onto blue water. It is beautiful and it is busy.
Four or five nights is enough unless you plan to walk seriously. May, June, September and October are the months that work, while July and August turn the road into a queue and the beaches into a scrum. Naples, Pompeii and Capri are all within reach, and ferries make good sense in summer. Anyone with mobility difficulties will find the steps relentless.
- Ideal stay
- 4-5 nights
- The vibe
- Vertical, lemon scented, gloriously busy
From our guides
Fifty kilometres of corniche stitched into cliffs between Sorrento and Salerno, with lemon terraces above and fishing villages in pastel stacks below. The driving is slow, occasionally hair-raising and never boring; Positano and Ravello supply the espresso stops. Go shoulder-season — May or late September — when the road breathes. Alternatively, be chauffeured and just gawp.
Featured in Ten coastal drives for a honeymoon on wheels and Ten epic road trips for your someday list
Things to do
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Path of the Gods
A high level trail from Bomerano to Nocelle above Positano, roughly three hours, with the coast a long way below and shade in short supply.
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Ravello's garden terraces
Two clifftop villa gardens sit 350 metres above the sea, with a statue lined terrace looking over the whole gulf and a summer music festival.
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Amalfi's cathedral
A striped façade at the top of a long flight of steps, with an Arab Norman cloister behind it, in a town that was once a maritime republic.
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Fiordo di Furore
A narrow fjord under a road bridge, with a scrap of beach at the bottom and a former fishing hamlet clinging to the rock.
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Capri by boat
Ferries run from Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento, and going by sea saves the drive and gives you the island before the day crowds thicken.
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Lemons and what they become
Sfusato lemons grow on the terraces above the road and end up as granita, cake and limoncello sold from stalls the length of the coast.
Getting there
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Fly to
Napoli (NAP)
Nearest airport to Amalfi Coast, about 44km away as the crow flies.
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Then
To Praiano
Naples is the usual arrival, about two hours by car or private transfer. From Salerno's small airport (QSR) it is roughly an hour and a quarter west along the coast road, traffic permitting.
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On the ground
Getting around
The coast road is narrow, twisting and slow, and parking is scarce and expensive. In season the ferries between Salerno, Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento are faster and far more pleasant than driving.
Public transport: Buses run the full corniche and are frequent but crowded, and the seasonal ferries are the sane way to move between villages.
Flights
Los Angeles Amalfi Coast, Italy
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Roughly 12h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 13°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in November, with rain on about 15 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
September26° · rain 10 daysWarm with rain most weeks.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — June and July. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Cliff-clinging hotels and family-run pensioni, with apartments and B&Bs in the villages. Very few big resorts, almost no chains, and no room is far from a staircase.
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Best base overall
Praiano
Quieter than Positano and a good deal cheaper, midway along the coast road so both buses and ferries work. Steep steps everywhere, and dinner often means a climb home.
Find stays in Praiano -
Best with children
Amalfi town
Flat by local standards, with a proper beach, the ferry pier and shops in one place. It is also the busiest town on the coast in the middle of the day.
Find stays in Amalfi town -
Best for couples
Ravello
High above the coast, with garden terraces, concerts and the best views of the lot. Genuinely peaceful in the evening, but you descend by bus or taxi for the sea.
Find stays in Ravello -
Best value
Vietri sul Mare and Cetara
The Salerno end, still handsome, still on the ferry route, and priced like a normal Italian town. Further from Positano, and Cetara is tiny.
Find stays in Vietri sul Mare and Cetara
Worth knowing before you book: Rooms sell out for August by early spring, and many places set a three-night minimum in season. Ask about parking before you hire a car, as it is scarce and charged.
Our picks in this destination
Or search everything else in Praiano by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Driving
- The road is narrow, busy and often blocked by coaches. Summer number plate restrictions apply, parking is expensive, and the buses may be less stressful.
- Timing
- Go in shoulder season. May and October offer warm sea, open restaurants and a road that still moves.
- Pack this
- Shoes with grip for the steps and paths, plus a swimsuit you can walk to the beach in, as changing facilities are rare.
- Crowds
- Positano is at its worst late morning. Visit at either end of the day and consider staying in a quieter village along the road.
- Getting there
- Naples is the nearest airport, with trains and buses as far as Sorrento or Salerno, from where the coast road begins.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Ravello
Amalfi Coast, Italy · 9km away →
Procida
Italy · 60km away →
Ischia
Italy · 66km away →
Puglia
Italy · 164km away →
The Aeolian Islands: Lipari
Salina and Stromboli, Italy · 213km away →
Vis
Croatia · 290km away →Elsewhere in Italy
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Amalfi Coast?
For warm, mostly dry days, June and July. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 13°C in January to 30°C in July. Driest in July; wettest in November, with rain on about 15 days.
How long should I spend in Amalfi Coast?
Our suggestion: 4-5 nights.
How do I get to Amalfi Coast?
Naples is the usual arrival, about two hours by car or private transfer. From Salerno's small airport (QSR) it is roughly an hour and a quarter west along the coast road, traffic permitting.
Do I need a car in Amalfi Coast?
No. Buses run the full corniche and are frequent but crowded, and the seasonal ferries are the sane way to move between villages.
What currency and language are used in Amalfi Coast?
Currency: Euro (EUR). Language: Italian. Plugs: type C and F and L.
Who is Amalfi Coast best for?
Best for couples, walkers & hikers and photographers. In a phrase: vertical, lemon scented, gloriously busy.