You never hear travelers talk about Atrani, Italy, but this small village is spellbinding, and it will leave you with seeing the real side of Italian culture. At the same time, it takes you off the main tourist trail away from the crowds and over to a more peaceful side of living.
Atrani, Italy, is a little village of 862 people, located on the Amalfi Coast. It is situated in the province of Salerno in the region of Campania in southwestern Italy. A small fishing village that continues in its medieval town structure. Atrani only sits 0.49 miles from Amalfi, leading some to believe that it once belonged to the larger city.
Especially if you’d like to learn more about what makes this charming little town so special, keep reading as we explore the best of Atrani.
Where is Atrani, Italy?
Atrani is situated on the Amalfi Coast in southwestern Italy, and it sits about 0.49 miles or 800 meters from Amalfi. You can easily spot Atrani from sea because of two distinct architectural features: First, you have an arched bridge running through town built in the 1800s. The other distinct architectural feature is the Collegiata di Santa Maria Maddalena, which sits overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea with its green majolica tile dome.
Related article: Where is the Amalfi Coast?
6 Things to Do and See in Atrani
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that you may wish to see Atrani. Despite its small population, this village offers an abundance to see for travelers who would like to escape the tourist trail.
1. Visit the Ziro Tower
You will hear it called La Torre dello Ziro, and it belongs to one of the many Saracen towers along the Amalfi Coast that once guarded towns and villages from the Arabs and Muslim pirates in the age of the Crusades. In the early 16th century, Giovanna D’Aragona and her children were locked up in the Ziro Tower after her husband accused her of having an affair with the butler. Some locals think the tower is haunted. Doing a walk here is one of the more pleasant things to do in Atrani.
2. Relax at the Beach
Spiaggia di Atrani Beach is a charming choice that sits right below the city, and the beach has break walls for calmer waters. This has made it a more popular choice for families with small children. Restaurants and snack bars sit right on the beach for convenience.
Read more: Best Beaches on the Amalfi Coast – A Seaside Dream
3. Visit the Church of the Saint Savior
Locally known in Atrani, Italy, as Chiesa di San Salvatore de Birecto, they built this church in the 10th century. It has a front porch and has been divided into 3 naves and barrel vaults. Getting a guide passionate about the history here will make the site come alive. Interestingly, they built this church on the foundations of a Roman temple.
4. Walk Along the Historic Center Square
You will see some of the best scenery in Atrani but without the crowds you’d encounter in Amalfi. Doing a walking tour with an experienced and knowledgeable guide will ensure that you experience the best that this village has to offer. The historic center square is referred to as Old Town, and it is the most important part of the village.
5. Explore the Masaniello Cave
Carved into rock 145 meters above sea level, Masaniello Cave sits near the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. You won’t notice how tired you feel because you will be enjoying everything on the path along the way. They named the cave after the Neapolitan leader who may have temporarily taken refuge here. Deeper inside the cave, you will see the remains of red and black painting that may suggest it was once used for ancient worship.
6. Drink Some Limoncello
A traditional sweet liquor of the Campania region, limoncello has a lemon zest steeped in alcohol. It’s one of my favorite drinks here. You might even hike a lemon grove here as a salute to the culture. Taking a tour of it, they might show you the cultivation process.
The Best Hotels in Atrani, Italy
Once you arrive, you will need to look at hotels in Atrani, Italy,and you may wonder about where you could stay here. There are more than a few good hotels.
Read more: Best Town to Stay on the Amalfi Coast – A Dolce Vita Escape
Luxury Hotels
Palazzo Pascal is one of the luxury hotel options in Atrani. In the morning, you can eat an Italian breakfast on the terrace with pastries and croissants. You will find a shared lounge with a fireplace and gardens. It was set up in an 11th-century villa in the city of Scala, Italy. It received a rating of 9.4 stars, and the prices range from $650 to $1,000, depending on the time of the year.
4 Stars Hotel
The SERHOUSE is located in Atrani and costs about $300 a night and has received a score of 10 out of 10. Many popular points of interest exist close to this hotel. This one comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a terrace overlooking the sea.
3 Stars Hotel/Apartment
One of the hotels in Atrani, Italy,if you’re looking for a 3-star hotel/apartment, the Vicolo 23 House comes with free Wi-Fi, and it scored a 9.8 out of 10. Price ranges anywhere from $200 to $400.
Pet-Friendly Hotel/Apartment
The Alfieri Rooms scored a rating of 8.7 out of 10, and they range in price from $100 to $200. Couples rated this hotel as 8.9 out of 10, and it’s one of the Atrani, Italy, hotels.
Romantique Hotel/Apartment
The Ravello Views Apartment is located in Ravello close to Atrani. They rated this one as 8.9 out of 10, and it costs from $300 to $400 a night. This apartment sits 984 feet from the Auditorium Oscar Niemeyer concert venue.
Family-Friendly Hotel
Located in Atrani, Italy, the Alfieri Rooms cost between $100 and $200 a night. You can have an Italian breakfast, but they also have a cafe located nearby worth checking out.
The Best Restaurants in Atrani, Italy
You can dine on some incredible Italian food in Atrani. However, as a newcomer to this hidden gem on the Amalfi Coast, you may wonder where you would find great food. Let’s take a look.
Le Palme
The pastas at Le Palme taste stupendous, but the all-star here would be the desserts. Eating the lemon blueberry cake, you will experience heaven. It’s a secret family recipe from the restaurant that everyone loves. To sum up how good it is, some people eat here the whole time that they stay in Atrani. The pasta, the ravioli, the pizza, the seafood, everything here takes cuisine to the next level. They rated this restaurant at 4.5 stars, and you can find it Via Supportico Marinella, 10.
Ristorante Savò
You can eat freshly caught fish at this restaurant. One of their specialties is grilled fish made in lemon sauce. Another good one to try here is the Fusilli pasta. It was rated at 4.7 stars, and you can find it on Via Supportico Marinella 6 in Atrani.
A’Paranza
Located at Via Comunale Traversa Dragone, 1, A’Paranza earned a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5. You’d visit this one for the incredible seafood like squid and grilled fish. This also happens to be one of the finest restaurants in A’Paranza with a Michelin-star rating.
How to Get to Atrani?
Let’s say that you land at the airport in Naples and would like to know how to reach Atrani. You can do it in a couple of different ways. Also, learn more about the closest airport to the Amalfi Coast.
Train
To hop on the train from Naples, you would take Alibus from the airport to Napoli Centrale Station. From there, you would want to ride Trenitalia to Salerno. The Circumvesuviana train that runs from Naples to Salerno is famously slow and crowded. After that, you’d ride one of the SITA buses to Atrani Amalfi Coast, Italy. The advantage is that the trains are frequent, and they’re a quick and comfortable way to ride. In some cases, you might pay more for a better ticket only to find that the service is better only marginally.
Bus
You can also take the bus to Atrani. After arrival at the airport, ride the Alibus over to Napoli Centrale Station. From there, you will ride a SITA bus to Sorrento, and you will take the second bus over to your final destination. Some buses only run from Monday to Saturday. It costs €3.30 one-way and takes about 70 minutes. The biggest advantage would be the cost, but you can expect this choice to be less comfortable than the others on this list.
Private Transportation (car)
You’ll pay about €50 to go from Naples to Atrani. Private transfer can either be done in a car or a minivan. The advantage is that the driver will deliver your luggage to your hotel. This is a one-hour trip. The cool thing about leaving this one to the driver is that you can just enjoy the views along the way. Also, they will have a better understanding of how to navigate roadways in Italy. You can drive yourself, but driving on the Amalfi Coast can turn into a hugely unpleasant hassle due to the lack of parking.
Insider Tip: The Best Option to Reach Atrani
Private transportation with a driver would give you the best option if you can afford it. It eliminates so much of the hassle. The second best is taking the train to Atrani, Italy, and the best for your budget is taking the bus. I would recommend private transportation with a driver because it’s the most comfortable, and you can sightsee along the way without the crowds. Are you coming from Tuscany? Here, we wrote about how to get to Amalfi Coast from Tuscany.
What to See Near Atrani
You have a couple of good sights near Atrani that you may want to check out as well. Let’s take a look.
Amalfi Coast Towns
Going just to Atrani Amalfi Coast, Italy,would be a shame since you have great towns all along the Amalfi Coast worth visiting. Some of the best include Amalfi, Positano, Sorrento, Ravello, Praiano, Maiori and Minori.
Read more: Amalfi Coast Towns – Coastal Charm and Luxury
Capri Island
Known as the luxury capital of the Mediterranean, Capri Island offers plenty to do. For example, you could visit the Blue Grotto or ride the chairlift to Monte Solaro.
Naples
From some of the finest pizzerias in the world to excellent museums, Naples has no shortage of things to do. The rich history here and the stunning scenery make for an exciting place to go on vacation.
Pompeii
Buried and forgotten beneath the volcanic ash until the 18th century, Pompeii gives us one of the finest glimpses into ancient Roman culture, art, architecture, and daily living because it was all preserved so well despite the great tragedy.
FAQs
We hear a lot of the same questions when asked about Atrani, which is why we figured to make a FAQs section to make it easier to answer the questions that we often hear.
Is Atrani Worth a Visit?
Atrani is often overlooked for the more famous cities on the Amalfi Coast, but especially if you’d like a lesser-known place to escape the crowds, Atrani is a perfect choice.
What is Atrani, Italy, Known For?
Most people know Atrani as more of a fishing village. It’s a maze of little alleyways and narrow stairs to explore. It only sits a short distance from Amalfi.
Is It Better to Stay in Amalfi or Atrani?
Neither Amalfi nor Atrani is inherently better than the other one. Instead, you should ask yourself of the things you might prefer. Amalfi tends to be more touristy than Atrani, but it offers more than Atrani in many ways due to it being larger.
Can You Swim in Atrani?
Atrani, Italy, offers a couple of good beaches with the most popular being Spiaggia di Atrani Beach. This is a good family-friendly beach to take small children.
Is Atrani Beach Free?
Only the part along the sandy beach is the free part of Atrani Beach. If you plan to use the umbrellas or the sunbeds, you will need to pay a fee for them.
