The Ultimate Guide to the Amalfi Coast
Where to go and what to do
The Amalfi Coast is many things: dramatic, fragrant, cinematic. But beneath its postcard perfection lies something quieter, more personal. This coastline is not designed to be rushed. Its beauty reveals itself in slow layers—lemon groves hidden down staircases, cliffside paths that dead-end in ocean views, tiled churches that glow just before dusk.
Here’s how to experience Amalfi beyond the obvious and what not to miss along the way.
Start Early in Amalfi Town
Begin your day just after sunrise, before the cruise day-trippers arrive. Amalfi’s main square is anchored by the grand Cathedral of Sant’Andrea—climb its striped steps, then lose yourself in the quiet streets behind it. This is the heart of a town that still feels lived-in, filled with paper makers, bakers, and soft-footed locals who move with ease through the early morning hush.
Don’t rush. Order a coffee at a marble counter. Listen to the clatter of deliveries. Watch the morning build.
Visit the Paper Museum
Amalfi has a rich history as one of Italy’s oldest paper-making towns. Tucked into a cool, shaded part of town is the Museo della Carta, a former paper mill turned museum. You’ll learn how paper was once made using linen rags and stone wheels powered by mountain water—and why Amalfi’s hand-pressed sheets are still among the world’s most coveted.
It's quiet, textured, and unexpectedly beautiful.
Take the Water Route
Driving the coastal road may be scenic, but traveling by boat is the most unforgettable way to experience the Amalfi Coast. Whether you charter a private wooden boat or take the local ferry, seeing the towns from the water allows you to feel the full scale and serenity of the coastline.
Sail from Amalfi to Positano, stopping for a swim near hidden grottoes or rocky outcrops. The sea here ranges from turquoise to inky blue, and the way it meets the cliffs never feels the same twice.
Visit Ravello for Perspective—Literally
High above the sea, Ravello offers a slower rhythm. Take the winding path or local bus up the mountain, and you’ll arrive in a town that feels detached from time. Visit Villa Rufolo, with its terraced gardens and panoramic balconies, then stroll to Villa Cimbrone and its famed Terrace of Infinity, where marble busts overlook the horizon.
Everything is slower here. The air is cooler. And somehow, the silence is part of the architecture.
Eat Where the Sea Meets the Plate
Lunch on the Amalfi Coast is long, sunlit, and unfussy in the best way. Ask what’s fresh, usually grilled fish, anchovies with lemon, or pasta with zucchini blossoms. Many of the best meals are found in small trattorias tucked into side streets or built into the cliffs.
Order local wine. Accept the bread. Finish with limoncello.
Later in the day, aperitivo is not optional. Choose a spot with a view, and order something bitter and bright—an Aperol or Campari spritz, or a crisp vermouth with ice. Let the hour stretch.
Climb, Wander, Get Lost
The Amalfi Coast isn’t made for rigid schedules. Many of its best moments arrive unscripted. You’ll find churches with centuries-old mosaics tucked into narrow alleyways. Fruit stands selling lemons the size of melons. Stairs that seem to lead nowhere, until they do.
Walk. Pause. Let the landscape rearrange your sense of pace. This is a coastline that rewards slowness and curiosity.
Bring Something Home That Doesn’t Feel Mass-Produced
Ceramics from Vietri sul Mare, handmade paper, olive oil pressed in family groves, or lemon-scented soaps made locally—there’s no shortage of souvenirs. But the best ones will remind you not of what you saw, but how you felt here.
