The Amalfi Coast (Costiera Amalfitana) runs roughly 50 kilometers along the southern edge of the Sorrentine Peninsula in Campania, Italy, encompassing dramatic limestone cliffs, terraced lemon groves, and historic maritime towns that once formed the powerful Republic of Amalfi. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, the coast draws millions of visitors annually to its layered architecture, turquoise coves, and renowned cuisine rooted in Campanian tradition. Towns range in scale from the fashionable resort of Positano to the cathedral city of Amalfi and the hilltop garden village of Ravello.
What is the Amalfi Coast known for?
The Amalfi Coast is internationally recognized for its UNESCO-listed scenery of vertical cliffs dropping into the Tyrrhenian Sea, the medieval Cathedral of Sant’Andrea in Amalfi town, the terraced lemon groves producing the sfusato amalfitano lemon used in local limoncello, and the winding SS163 Nastro Azzurro highway that connects all major coastal towns. Positano is celebrated for its stacked pastel buildings and the black-sand beach Spiaggia Grande, while Ravello sits 350 meters above sea level with Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone offering celebrated sea-view gardens. The coast also preserves the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), a cliffside hiking trail running above the water between Agerola and Nocelle.
Best things to do on the Amalfi Coast
Visiting the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea in Amalfi, which houses the relics of the apostle Andrew and features a striped Arab-Norman façade, is a non-negotiable stop. Beyond the cathedral, key experiences include walking the Sentiero degli Dei between Bomerano (Agerola) and Nocelle above Positano, touring the gardens of Villa Rufolo in Ravello, taking a boat to the Grotta dello Smeraldo sea cave near Conca dei Marini, and exploring the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve above Amalfi town.
- Walk the Sentiero degli Dei from Bomerano to Nocelle for panoramic cliff views
- Visit Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone gardens in Ravello
- Tour the Cathedral of Sant’Andrea and its adjacent Museum in Amalfi
- Boat excursion to Grotta dello Smeraldo near Conca dei Marini
- Explore Valle delle Ferriere waterfall trail above Amalfi town
- Drive or ride the SS163 Nastro Azzurro between Positano and Vietri sul Mare
Where to eat on the Amalfi Coast
Authentic Amalfi Coast cuisine centers on sfusato amalfitano lemons, locally caught scialatielli ai frutti di mare (fresh pasta with mixed seafood), grilled fish, and buffalo mozzarella from the nearby Paestum plain. In Amalfi town, the area around Piazza Duomo concentrates trattorias serving scialatielli and frittura di paranza. Positano’s seafront restaurants along Via Positanesi d’America offer grilled catch-of-the-day with views over Spiaggia Grande. Limoncello produced from sfusato lemons is available at family-run shops throughout the coast, particularly in Amalfi and Minori.
- Scialatielli ai frutti di mare — fresh pasta with local seafood
- Sfogliatella and delizia al limone pastries in Amalfi town bakeries
- Grilled pesce spada (swordfish) at seafront restaurants in Positano
- Fresh mozzarella di bufala sourced from the Paestum plain
- Limoncello tastings at artisan producers in Amalfi and Minori
How to get to the Amalfi Coast
The most practical access points are Naples (about 1.5 hours by road) and Salerno (about 45 minutes), both served by Trenitalia rail from Rome and Milan; from either city, SITA Sud buses run the SS163 coastal route directly to Amalfi, Positano, and intermediate towns. The Circumvesuviana train connects Naples to Sorrento, from which SITA Sud buses and ferries serve the western coast. Ferry and hydrofoil services operated by companies including Travelmar and Alilauro link Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, and Capri seasonally, making boat travel the most scenic and often fastest option between coastal towns.
- SITA Sud buses along SS163 from Salerno or Sorrento
- Travelmar and Alilauro ferries between Salerno, Amalfi, and Positano
- Trenitalia to Naples Centrale or Salerno, then connecting bus or ferry
- Circumvesuviana Naples–Sorrento, then ferry or bus to coast
Best time to visit the Amalfi Coast
Late April through early June and September through October offer the best balance of warm weather, manageable crowds, and open businesses, with sea temperatures comfortable for swimming from June onward. July and August bring peak tourist volumes, road congestion on the SS163, and premium accommodation prices, though the Ravello Festival concert series in Villa Rufolo’s garden runs through the summer season. Winter months see many hotels and restaurants close, though the towns themselves remain accessible and uncrowded.
Where to walk on the Amalfi Coast
The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle above Positano is the coast’s signature long-distance trail, covering approximately 7.8 kilometers at high elevation with continuous sea views. In Amalfi town, pedestrian streets including Via Lorenzo d’Amalfi lead from the harbor past ceramic shops to Piazza Duomo. Ravello’s Via della Mensa connects the main Piazza Duomo to both Villa Rufolo and the path toward Villa Cimbrone through the old town.
