Ready to plan a trip to the delightful towns of Amalfi Coast? While some famous sites may come to mind first, every single stop along the coast has something to offer. We’re here to help you choose the stops that fit your interests best!
Traveling between the towns on the Amalfi Coast can be as beautiful as staying in them, making this area the perfect spot for an adventure. Whether you want to drive, bus, or ferry between the towns, or you prefer to stay in one place and explore on foot, the towns of the Amalfi coast offer beaches, charming town squares, delicious dining, and relaxing accommodations.
You can’t really go wrong with so many great possibilities. Let’s take a look at the towns you’ll find on the Amalfi Coast and the key attractions you’ll find there!
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi coast is located in the region of Campania, Italy. The coastline runs along the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Gulf of Salerno. It runs from Positano to Vietri sul Mare, with the historical Amalfi town towards the center.
The Amalfi Coast is frequently traveled by car, and its small towns and winding roads are easy to visit with the flexibility of a car. But public transportation isn’t impossible, either.
The city of Naples is located near the Amalfi coast and offers a well-connected train station and airport. You can take the train to Naples from most stations in Italy. There is also a train station in some of the towns on the Amalfi coast, including Vietri sul Mare, Amalfi, Salerno, and Sorrento.
Another option is buses. Between June and September, there is a bus from Rome’s Tiburtina train station to Positano and Praiano. You can search other routes from SITA bus and Flixbus.
The coastal towns and the island of Capri are also widely accessible by ferry, both from Naples and along the coastline. There are a few different ferry options: you can view the schedule of Alilauro, of Navigazione Libera del Golfo, and Capri.
Read more: How to Get to the Amalfi Coast – Complete Travel Guide
The 9 Most Wonderful and Luxurious Amalfi Coast Towns to Visit
There are 13 towns on the Amalfi Coast. While they share some similarities – charming ports, delicious seafood, and gorgeous beaches – they offer distinct attractions and ambiance. Check out these favorite nine, and what they have to offer!
1. Salerno
The town of Salerno is situated nicely on the eastern side of the Amalfi Coast, with Cilento National Park in the other direction. Salerno offers a helpful basepoint for travelers as an interesting and lively city in itself, as well as a well-connected transportation hub for trains, buses, and ferries. Museums, restaurants, nightlife, bars, and beaches await visitors! It also has one of the longest lungomare, a seaside walkway,in Italy. Be sure to check out the 12th-century duomo, the Diocesan or Provincial Museum, and the Castello di Arechi.
2. Amalfi
Rich in history, the town of Amalfi was one of Italy’s four “maritime republics” since the Middle Ages (along with Venice, Pisa, Ancona, Gaeta, and Genova). It’s so central to the importance of this region that the coast was named after it! In the famous port, you can view the medieval watchtowers and a museum located in the old town Arsenal. The piazzas, duomo, and fountain of Saint Andrea are the main highlights, but wandering the many alleys you’ll find lots of charming restaurants, shops, and cafes.
Read more: How Many Days in Amalfi Coast – A Mediterranean Escape
3. Vietri sul Mare
This “hidden gem” is much less likely to be packed with tourists than the more well-known Amalfi Coast towns. Vietri sul Mare is the ceramics capital of the region, and a visit to the ceramic museums – the Artistic Museum of Ceramics or to the Provincial Museum of Ceramics, or the Solimene Ceramics Factory – will fill you in on this rich 1000-year history. You can even take a ceramics class! Of course, Vietri sul Mare also has all the beaches, restaurants, colorful buildings, and churches (don’t miss The Church of San Giovanni Battista) that you could want.
4. Scala
The town of Scala is considered to be one of the oldest on the Amalfi Coast – it offered an important point of defense for the region, and in the mountains surrounding the town you can still spot ruins of the medieval walls that protected it and the town of Amalfi. The town is actually split into small frazioni towns (hamlets) across the mountainsides: Scala Centro, Minuta, Pontone, Campidoglio, San Pietro and Santa Caterina. Each one is centered around a church. Like Vietri sul Mare, Scala is less well known and so will offer a bit of respite even in the busy summer season.
Read more: Day Trips From Amalfi Coast – Our Top Picks
5. Furore
Oddly without the classic main piazza of most Italian towns, Furore can be easy to miss. This hidden town is a simple collection of houses and buildings scattered across the coast and mountainsides. Historically Furore offered a community to exiles of Amalfi or others who left the town for safety. The Fjord of Furore offers a natural port, and its residents were skilled fishermen and craftsmen – a visit to the Eco Museum will satisfy your curiosity about the pre-industrial crafts and agriculture of the region.
6. Positano
A tourist favorite, Positano offers the quintessential experience of an Amalfi Coast town. Colorful buildings, a variety of beaches, hillside buildings, and incredible views. As American author John Steinbeck put it, Positano “is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.” It’s been the location for countless movies, books, and luxury escapes. The town is built on the cliffs of two hills, with the port and beaches below and the hotels and restaurants in the hills above.
7. Praiano
Praiano is an interesting combination of a resort town and a sleepy fishing village. The name comes from the Greek pelagianum for “open sea.” It offers a less crowded option for a stop along the coast and suggests more quiet authenticity than its more popular neighbors. It has the laid-back feeling of a friendly small town but with the restaurants and shops of a beach resort. Praiano will leave you no shortage of churches and beaches to visit. In August, they celebrate Luminaria di San Domenico by lighting torches along the town’s narrow alleys.
8. Ravello
Known for its art, villas, and gardens, Ravello has been dubbed the “City of Music.” You can find all sorts of musical performances at the Ravello Festival. Be sure to check out the duomo (which offers a museum and art gallery inside!), and the gardens at Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. Besides fountains, trees, and glorious flowers, the latter has a special Infinity Terrace or Terrazza dell’Infinito which is lined with marble busts and offers spectacular views of the coast. To get there, you’ll walk along the poetically named Avenue of Immensity, or Viale dell’Imenso.
9. Sorrento
The sorrento is situated right on the coastline, over the sea. Its views sweep the Bay of Naples to Mount Vesuvius. The beaches of Sorrento draw crowds, but its marinas, seafood, and historic center are worth a visit, too. Marina Grande is the main seafood port, and Marina Piccola is the ferries’ docking place. Don’t miss the main Piazza Tasso, built above a “valloni” carved by streams running from the hills to the sea. Villa Comunale is a small but beautiful town garden, and you’ll find Piazza Vittoria in the historic center quite charming!
Specialties of the Amalfi Coast Towns to Know
The cultural ambiance of the Amalfi Coast towns is highly sought after by visitors from all over the world, and for good reason! With an environment so tranquil and luxurious, and such a high standard for quality of life – good food, slow living, close community – a visit to these towns is sure to delight your senses and make for an unforgettable vacation!
You Can Live “La Dolce Vita” Philosophy
The Italian philosophy of the “sweet life” was popularized by English-speaking audiences in the 1960 film La Dolce Vita. But the philosophy is much older in Italian. It refers to the lifestyle of Italian culture: sharing good food and drink, eating slowly with family and friends, surrounding life with beauty, keeping good health and a high quality of life. In the Amalfi Coast towns, you’ll find ample opportunities to manifest la dolce vita for yourself! From relaxing beaches to peaceful or bustling ports, to excellent dining and wine, the sweet life will find you, ready or not!
Sandy Beaches Everywhere
No matter which beach you choose in Amalfi Coast towns, you are going to find clear blue water and, often, sparkling sand nearby. Every beach looks like something out of a dream, with some even winning global awards for their clear and pristine water. Some favorite sandy beaches are Spiaggia Di Cauco, La Baia, Erchie, Maiori, Minori, and Marina di Vietri.
Read more: Amalfi Coast Boat Tours – Discover the Mediterranean Sea
Beach Clubs to Enjoy Amalfi Coast Towns
Private beach clubs are part of the luxury status of Amalfi beach towns. In some towns, up to 90% of the beach is private, accessible only by paying to enter a beach club. These private clubs ensure patrons well-kept, clean, and dedicated lounge space on the beaches. Beach Club Arienzo in Positano is exclusive and provides lunch or cocktails right at the lounge chairs. Also in Positano, La Scogliera offers a bit more privacy and tranquility, with private terraces built over the water.
Hotels to Stay in the Best Amalfi Coast Towns
There are tons of great options for places to stay in towns along the Amalfi Coast! All of the following options offer a shuttle from the Naples airport, making transport easy.
Stay in the center of Amalfi
Close to the Cathedral, Arsenale della Repubblica, and port, La Bambagina offers breakfast and all the comforts of home for your stay in town.
Apartment in the hills of Scala
Make the most of the coastline views of Scala! Rooms in the apartment complex The Little Tower of Minuta offer sea and mountain views, as well as patios with a view of the gardens.
Villa overlooking the bay of Positano
Villa Yiara is an 18th-century building that is home to an adults-only hotel. Every room has a terrace with a view of the sea!
What to See Nearby the Amalfi Coast
Pompei
While you’re visiting the Amalfi Coast towns, there are lots of great attractions in the area of Naples. The famed ruins of Pompeii – the ancient city destroyed by Eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. You can visit the ruins as well as a number of nearby museums housing artifacts.
Ischia
The island of Ischia is also worth a stop. Found at the north end of the Gulf of Naples, it’s the largest island of the Phlegrean Islands – a group of islands found offshore of Naples in the Tyrrhenian Sea. It offers volcanic thermal waters, ancient archeological sites, wines, castles, gardens, and villas.
Naples
Of course, the city of Naples and its suburbs are not to be missed. This city offers a lot more than just the airport! Famous for its classic pizza and passionate soccer fandom, Naples offers a brilliant combination of old town, modern city, music, rich local culture, Basilicas, street food, and ancient history. If you’re planning a visit to Naples, the Amalfi Coast also makes a great day (or a couple of days) trip. It’s easy to train from Naples to Vietri sul Mare, Amalfi, Salerno, or Sorrento.
FAQs about Amalfi Coast Towns
What are the Best Hiking Trails?
There are so many to choose from, how can you possibly decide? First of all, look for trails that connect the towns you want to visit, as you may be able to walk between them depending on the level of activity that you’re up for. If you just want to head out for a specific path, some top picks are the Path of the Gods (moderate difficulty), the Path of the Lemons (moderate), the Valle dei Mulini (easy), and Bay of Ieranto (easy).
What are the Best Beaches?
Most of the beaches in Amalfi are beach clubs, meaning that you have to pay to enter. That usually includes a lounge chair on which to relax. Il Duoglio Spiaggia (Amalfi), Marina di Praia (outside of Praiano), Bagni Regina Giovanna (a cove outside Sorrento), and Spiaggia Di Positano Marina Grande (Positano) are a few favorites.
