Are you planning your 3-day getaway in the Amalfi Coast? Excellent choice! There is no doubt that the Amalfi Coast is a special place. This 3-day itinerary is perfect for discovering the best of Positano, Amalfi, Ravello and Capri. We’ll tell you through our beautiful experience some tips on what to do, what to see, what to eat and how to get around in this unique and picturesque part of Italy. So let’s start!
Where is the Amalfi Coast and how to get there?
The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of the Campania coast considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It takes its name from the town of Amalfi and is bordered on one side by Positano and on the other by Vietri sul Mare. In our itinerary, we also included the island of Capri which is not part of the Amalfi Coast.
The two closest airports are Naples and Rome. Naples is a little closer than Rome but many people choose Rome Airport because it’s cheaper. Both from Rome and Naples you can reach the Amalfi Coast by train reaching either Salerno or Sorrento. Then with the SITA bus, you can reach the various towns of the Amalfi Coast. You can also take the bus directly from the airport to get to Salerno or Sorrento but it will take longer.
An alternative is by sea from Molo Beverello in Naples to Positano or Amalfi with a stop in Sorrento.
The most expensive, fastest option, is a taxi or private transfer to Positano or Amalfi from Naples and vice versa.
From the port of Positano in half an hour, you can arrive by hydrofoil to the port of Marina Grande on the island of Capri.
We used our car to get around the Amalfi Coast but suffered traffic and parking costs. Of course, many tourists rent a car as soon as they arrive at the airport to visit this stretch of coast.
What will you expect to spend on the Amalfi Coast?
Definitely, the Amalfi Coast, especially Positano, is not a cheap place, but that shouldn’t deter you from coming.
Parking
One of the most expensive and crazy things is parking (if you travel by car like us). In fact, parking in Positano in a blue stripe costs about 4€/h, private parking costs 5-10€/h. Therefore, if you do the math the whole day costs 50-100€. Definitely not cheap! In Amalfi, we parked our car at Luna Rossa, a large private car park, which cost around 3.6€/h. The cheapest way to get around is by SITA bus. It costs 2-3€ for short routes and an unlimited daily pass is €10.
Accommodation
A hotel or b&b room in Positano is expensive. Therefore, the few at reasonable prices go very quickly sold out even in low season. A good solution can be to stay in one of the nearby towns, better between Positano and Amalfi. As a result, you can reach these two main towns in a short time. In Praiano and Conca dei Marini a hotel room costs less than in Positano. Maybe it may be a better choice if you travel on a budget. Of course, waking up in the morning in a dream hotel like Le Sirenuse and enjoying the view of Positano from your room is a unique experience!
Food and Drinks
Be prepared to spend a decent amount of money on food and drinks. In fact, there are not many economic alternatives, especially in Positano. Moreover, classic and cheap grab-and-go are few. However, we’ve always eaten well without spending a lot of money for lunch and dinner. Afterwards, we have mentioned all the places where we ate in those days.
Day One: Positano
Morning
After a hearty breakfast, we left our hotel in Conca dei Marini towards Positano. We arrived in Positano after 30 minutes by car at 9:30 am. Keep in mind that if you travel by car along the Amalfi Coast you have to wake up early in the morning to find parking. In fact, after 11 am the streets become very busy and the parking lots are full. The downhill road towards the centre, through small streets, gave us some beautiful views. After a few minutes, we arrived in one of the shopping streets full of pretty shops with clothes and souvenirs. It’s not difficult to find your way around Positano. In fact, after a while, we had already seen all the main streets.
We had lunch at Casa e Bottega, a restaurant located in Via Pasitea in the heart of Positano. A delightful design restaurant with an open kitchen, fresh products and special furnishing items. We loved its details and the combination of colours. We ordered a Caprese dish with buffalo mozzarella and two organic smoothies.
Afternoon
After lunch, we walked on the opposite side and found a picture-perfect spot with a beautiful view of the Spiaggia Grande at the bottom. We went back down and enjoyed a fresh ice cream at Bar Buca di Bacco near the famous church of Santa Maria Assunta and took another photo sitting on a bench. The whole area near the Spiaggia Grande is very touristy and crowded. However, it is also the most beautiful for many good reasons. The black sand beach of Positano is undoubtedly the most romantic place at sunset. We waited to take our first photo and then took another one in the evening with all the lights shining on the hill behind us, truly magical.
Alternatively, we would have liked to have a drink at the famous Franco’s Bar in Le Sirenuse with its beautiful views. We had planned to finish the day with dinner at the Saraceno d’Oro. In this restaurant, we ate a pizza Margherita, an eggplant parmigiana and a lemon sorbet ice cream. Everything was so good!
Read more: here you can find the list of the best insta-worthy spots on the Amalfi Coast.
Day Two: Amalfi – Ravello
Morning
Our goal of the day was to visit Amalfi in the morning and Ravello in the afternoon. We arrived in Amalfi around 8:30 am and parked the car in the Luna Rossa parking, the best choice in this area. This parking lot connects Amalfi and Atrani through an underground tunnel. In fact, these two villages are really close to each other. We immediately reached our first destination Piazza Duomo with the Cathedral. Before this place gets crowded, we took some photos on the beautiful staircase. After we visited the inside of the church, the entrance fee is about €3 and it was worth it. Amalfi is a very nice place and like Positano it’s full of tourists and pretty clothes and souvenirs shops.
Near the beach, you’ll find a pier with a beautiful view on both sides of Amalfi. In addition, it is a perfect spot for another photo. We had lunch in Atrani at Ristorante Savo located in the small square of this very nice town. Atrani has 842 inhabitants and it’s part of the club of the most beautiful villages in Italy. With its 0.1206 km², Atrani is the smallest Italian town by the surface. Nice, isn’t it?
Afternoon
After lunch, we took a bus to Ravello in Piazza Flavio Gioia. In 15 uncomfortable travel minutes, we reached the stop. Our first goal in Ravello was to visit villa Rufolo, the entrance ticket costs €7. This villa of medieval origin has really large and enchanting gardens, very well kept with lots of colourful flowers and has a magnificent terrace.
We waited for the sunset to visit another unique villa in Ravello called Villa Cimbrone. Currently, a luxury hotel is located inside the Villa Cimbrone building. Its gardens are open to the public at a cost of €7. The most beautiful thing about this villa is its terrace called the Terrace of Infinity. Overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, this terrace is considered one of the most romantic and breathtaking in the world. The terrace is truly picture-perfect and we took some great photos there! There was no better way to end the day with a delicious pizza at Mimì Ristorante Pizzeria a few steps from Villa Cimbrone, really recommended.
Day Three: Capri
Morning
For the third day, we only had one thing in mind: Capri! We woke up early and after breakfast from Conca dei Marini we reached Positano with our car. After that, we took the Alicost hydrofoil. In thirty minutes we arrived at the port of Marina Grande, we finally made it to Capri! If you are hungry when you get there we can recommend a small delicatessen that makes huge and very good sandwiches at cheap prices. We don’t remember its name exactly but it’s easy to find as soon as you get there.
Most of the boat tours start from Marina Grande and we rented a private boat (€30 per person, we were six friends in total). The tour lasted three hours. We saw the spectacular cliffs of Capri, the grottos, the famous Faraglioni rocks and of course we took a swim in the blue waters. If you come to Capri a boat tour is something you absolutely must do.
Afternoon
With the funicular, we reached in 5 minutes the central Piazzetta of Capri from Marina Grande and it only costs 2€. From there we started to explore the surrounding area. There are many pretty streets full of beautiful shops. One of these is the famous shopping street Via Camerelle with high-end designer stores.
After that, we tasted at Gelateria Buonocore the best ice cream on the island, really recommended. Moreover, if you are looking for a place to enjoy a breathtaking sunset with a view and tasty cocktails, Capri Rooftop is the place for you. After dinner, we went to Taverna Anema e Core. This disco is a true institution of Capri’s nightlife with Italian disco music from midnight to dawn.
A few final words
In conclusion, it’s impossible not to fall in love with these places. We hope you enjoyed our 3-day itinerary. However, you can opt for more days to better visit Positano, Amalfi and its surroundings. Moreover, you could take a boat tour and visit the hidden beaches (some beaches can only be reached by sea). Oh, don’t forget the incredible Fiordo di Furore! We loved every single moment on the Amalfi Coast with all its bright colours, its breathtaking views, its high cliffs, the delicious food and its huge citrons. Yes, you can find fruit and citrus vendors on the street. Therefore, if you have space in your suitcase we recommend buying a sweet souvenir from them to take home with you.
Before you go, check out the 8 Best Amalfi Coast Instagram Spots
