Amalfi Coast Road Trip
Your route
The itinerary
Italy's gritty, soulful gateway to the south. Naples pulses with energy—baroque churches tower over narrow lanes, street food rivals Michelin stars, and Mount Vesuvius watches over it all. Arrive here to feel the real Campania before the coast steals your heart.
You've touched down in Italy's most electric city. After landing at Capodichino, shake off the flight and dive straight into Naples' chaotic, beautiful embrace—narrow streets thrumming with life, the smell of pizza wafting from every corner, and that particular energy only Naples possesses.
- San Gregorio Armenobrowse this cathedral-like alley packed with handmade nativity figurines and local artisans; even if you're not buying, it's pure sensory theatre (allow 45 minutes)
- L'Antica Pizzeria da MicheleNaples' most legendary pizzeria where they've been making just two kinds of pizza (margherita and marinara) since 1870; arrive before noon to avoid the queue
- Spaccanapoli streetliterally 'Naples splitter,' this arrow-straight ancient Roman road cuts through the centro storico lined with baroque palaces, laundry strung between windows, and the daily theatre of real Neapolitan life
- Gulf views from Castel Sant'Elmoclimb to this 16th-century fortress for sweeping vistas over the bay, Vesuvius, and the city's terracotta rooftop sprawl (best visited late afternoon for golden light)
🏨 Stays in Naples
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The understated gateway to the Amalfi Coast, where a restored waterfront promenade meets pastel-painted alleys and a cathedral housing relics of St. Matthew. Less touristy than Amalfi but equally captivating, Salerno rewards wanderers with authentic trattorias and a relaxed southern pace.
After the drive from Naples winds through limestone cliffs and citrus groves, Salerno unveils itself gently along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Park your car (you'll barely need it here) and let the restored lungomare—the waterfront promenade—set the tone: unhurried, genuine, utterly southern Italian.
- Lungomare di Salerno (Waterfront Promenade)A mile of strolling perfection, lined with plane trees and pastel-fronted palazzos, best walked in early evening when locals emerge and fishermen tend their nets.
- Duomo di Salerno (Cathedral of St. Matthew)A Romanesque masterpiece housing the relics of the apostle himself; the cloisters are a tranquil escape from the bustle, and entrance is modest (around €3).
- Porto districtWeave through narrow lanes painted in faded yellows and blues, ducking into tiny alimentari and wine shops; this is where Salerno breathes without performing for tourists.
🏨 Stays in Salerno
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A vertical village of candy-colored houses tumbling toward emerald waters—the Amalfi Coast's Instagram darling and for good reason. Positano enchants with tiny beaches, vertical pizzazz, and restaurants perched above the Tyrrhenian Sea. It's theatrical, romantic, and utterly unforgettable.
Drive the legendary Amalfi Coast road from Salerno—all switchbacks, sea views, and mounting anticipation—before arriving in Positano, where pastel houses cling impossibly to cliffs above sparkling turquoise waters. This is Italy's most photogenic village, and it lives up to the hype.
- Spiaggia Grande (Main Beach)Positano's beating heart, a crescendo of colorful umbrellas and loungers nestled beneath the village's candy-striped façade; perfect for afternoon swimming and sunset watching (30 mins–half day).
- Via Pasitea (The Vertical High Street)Wander this impossibly steep, pedestrian-only main drag lined with boutiques, galleries, and gelato shops, each storefront a photo opportunity; best visited early morning before crowds (1–2 hours).
- Dinner at a clifftop restaurantBook a table overlooking the Tyrrhenian (like La Gavitella or similar) for handmade pasta, fresh seafood, and the kind of sunset that makes you understand why poets move here.
- Positano Ceramic Workshop or Gallery HopBrowse local artisan studios selling hand-painted majolica and linen; supports small makers and gives you genuine souvenirs with stories (1 hour).
🏨 Stays in Positano
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The jewel that gave the coast its name—a former maritime republic with a striking cathedral, lemon-tree terraces, and a waterfront lined with trattorias. Amalfi is larger and more worldly than Positano but keeps its charm, offering excellent food, ceramics shops, and access to hiking trails.
Arrive in Amalfi to discover where it all began—a former powerhouse republic that shaped Mediterranean trade routes. Your afternoon unfolds among lemon-scented terraces and beneath a cathedral that's part Arab, part Byzantine, entirely magnificent.
- Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo)9th-century masterpiece with bronze doors cast in Constantinople and a cloister full of chequered arches; allow 90 minutes to absorb every detail, and arrive before noon when light floods the bronze doors.
- Lemon shops along the waterfrontsqueeze-to-order limoncello and sfusato lemons (Amalfi's famous variety) in dozens of tiny, family-run botteghe where owners have made these liqueurs for generations.
- Sunset aperitivo at the main piazzaclaim a table where the cathedral facade glows apricot, order a spritz or local wine, and let people-watching replace your evening plans; best around 8 pm in summer.
- Walk through ceramics districthand-painted majolica in blues and yellows spill from shop windows; much cheaper than Ravello and utterly authentic—pick up a small dish as a souvenir.
🏨 Stays in Amalfi
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Perched 365 metres above the sea, Ravello is an artist's haven where classical music echoes through piazzas, villas bloom with bougainvillea, and sunsets are pure gold. It's quieter and more refined than the coastal towns—perfect for culture lovers and those seeking mountain air with sea views.
You've climbed away from the coast into a refined hilltop world where classical music drifts through ancient piazzas and every terrace frames an impossible sea view. This is where artists, composers, and contemplative souls have always come to create—and you'll understand why within minutes of arriving.
- Villa Rufoloa 13th-century palace with breathtaking clifftop gardens, hosting summer concerts and offering the most dramatic coastal panorama on the peninsula (30–45 minutes for gardens and terraces).
- Piazza DuomoRavello's heart, flanked by the geometric-patterned cathedral and lined with elegant cafés; sit with a limoncello and watch the light change across the Tyrrhenian Sea below (best in late afternoon).
- Villa d'Este (Villa Cimbrone)another clifftop gem with wild romantic gardens, a famous belvedere terrace at 365 metres, and a small museum; sunrise or golden hour is magical (1 hour).
- Local Food Trailhunt down sfusato lemons (Ravello's celebrated variety) in pasta, gelato, or as candied peel at family-run delis; ask your accommodation for recommendations to hidden osterie (eat with locals, not tourists).
🏨 Stays in Ravello
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The western anchor of the coast, famous for limoncello and family-run trattorias where nonna's recipes never change. Sorrento sits on a clifftop plateau with a charismatic piazza, ceramics workshops, and easy access to Capri by ferry. It's livelier than Ravello but more grounded than Positano.
You've traded Ravello's ethereal quiet for the crackling energy of Sorrento—a clifftop town where the Sorrentine Peninsula spirals down to the sea. This is where limoncello flows freely, ceramics glow in workshop windows, and the piazza pulses with life. Settle in, breathe the lemon-scented air, and let the evening ferry lights twinkle below you.
- Piazza Tasso and the historic centrethe soul of Sorrento, where locals gather among baroque architecture, pavement cafés, and that essential post-lunch espresso (best visited early morning or after 6 p.m. to dodge crowds).
- Limoncello tasting and production at a family distillerywatch lemons transformed into liquid sunshine, taste neat over ice, and understand why this liqueur defines the coast (allow 1–1.5 hours; book ahead).
- Ceramics workshops in Via Pietà and Via Fuorlovadoslip into hidden ateliers where artisans hand-paint majolica plates and vases with century-old patterns; many sell directly and offer short demonstrations (morning light is loveliest).
- Cliffside stroll to Marina Piccoladescend the ancient pathways (or take the lift) to the tiny port, where fishermen still moor boats and small restaurants serve the day's catch metres from the water (sunset swim possible; bring a towel).
🏨 Stays in Sorrento
checking live prices…What does the trip cost?
Typically $2,282.61–$3,097.83
🔄 Prices are indicative
Estimates are shown in your currency and are a guide only. Lines marked "live" use today's found prices; everything is confirmed on the provider's site.
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