When to go to Amalfi and Ravello?
→ The detailed month-by-month page, with real weather records
Best time: May to June and September to October
At a glance
Why go to Amalfi and Ravello?
On the Amalfi Coast, Amalfi holds a special place. The town gave its name to the whole coastline, and with good reason: in the Middle Ages it was one of Italy's four great maritime republics, a rival to Venice, Genoa and Pisa. Its ships plied the Mediterranean, its merchants brought back fabrics and ideas from the East, and the famous Amalfi maritime code was the authority on the seas. Of this ancient glory there remains a silhouette clinging to the cliff, a maze of white lanes climbing towards the mountains, and a cathedral whose monumental staircase towers over the main square. People come here for this rare density: within a few hundred metres you go from the port to the limoncello stalls, from the lively piazza to the silence of a cloister.
The Amalfi Coast is often associated with Positano and its cascading pastel houses, but Amalfi offers another reading of the coastline, more historic and lively all year round. The town is explored on foot, looking up at bell towers and flower-filled balconies, and extends inland through the Valley of the Mills, a green gorge where the famous Amalfi paper was once made. Just above, clinging on at six hundred metres, Ravello plays a different tune: calmer, more refined, focused on its gardens and villas. The contrast between the bustle of the seafront and the serenity of the heights is what gives a stay in this corner of Campania its flavour.
The Amalfi and Ravello duo sums up the best of the coast on its own: heritage, panoramas and the art of living. You taste the huge lemons grown on terraces, drink ice-cold limoncello and wander aimlessly between viewpoints. The area suits a two-day break as well as a more contemplative stay, provided you accept its rhythm: that of hairpin roads, buses crawling uphill, and evenings when the light gilds the sea below.
Map of Amalfi and Ravello: what is where?
The map shows the 5 places covered in this guide, to picture the distances and plan your route.
- Sant'Andrea Cathedral
- Cloister of Paradise
- Villa Rufolo (Ravello)
- Villa Cimbrone (Ravello)
- Museo della Carta (Valley of the Mills)
How much does a trip to Amalfi and Ravello cost?
The Amalfi Coast is among the most sought-after and expensive regions of Italy, especially in summer. Price differences are huge depending on the season and the standard you choose. Here are some benchmarks per person per day, including accommodation, meals and local transport.
| Style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €70-110 | A night in a guesthouse in Atrani or Salerno, meals in trattorias, travel by SITA bus and ferry, and visits limited to the must-sees. |
| Comfort | €130-220 | Boutique hotel in Amalfi with a view, lunches and dinners in restaurants, a few ferries and entry to the Ravello villas without counting the cost. |
| High-end | €300 and up | Exceptional villa hotel in Ravello or on the seafront, gourmet restaurants, private boat excursions and tailor-made transfers. |
You pay in euros, and bank cards are accepted in most hotels and restaurants, but it is wise to keep cash for small shops, cafés and bus tickets. There are ATMs in Amalfi; they become scarce in the hilltop villages.
Is Amalfi and Ravello safe?
The Amalfi Coast is a safe, very touristy and well-organised destination. Precautions come down to those of any busy place: watch your belongings on crowded buses and at the piers, and be wary of traffic on narrow roads where pavements and verges are often missing. The real point of attention is physical: the countless stairways, slopes and gradients make the town poorly suited to people with reduced mobility and tiring in strong heat. Good shoes, water and a hat are usually enough for a relaxed stay.
What to see and do in Amalfi and Ravello
- Sant'Andrea Cathedral
- the Cloister of Paradise
- Ravello and Villa Rufolo
- the Terrace of Infinity
- Amalfi limoncello
Sant'Andrea Cathedral
You see it before anything else: its black-and-white striped facade, crowned with a golden mosaic that catches the sun, rises at the top of a grand staircase of sixty-two steps. Dedicated to Saint Andrew, the town's patron saint, the cathedral blends styles accumulated over the centuries, from Romanesque to Arab-Norman influence. The neighbouring bell tower, topped with glazed tiles, dates from the early thirteenth century. Inside, the crypt holds the saint's relics, brought back from Constantinople during the Fourth Crusade. The climb up the steps, a little steep, quickly turns into a lookout over the lively square below. It is the natural starting point for any visit to Amalfi.
The Cloister of Paradise
Adjoining the cathedral, this cloister built in the thirteenth century served as a cemetery for the town's notables. Its slender, white interlaced arches betray a clear Arab inspiration, a reminder of Amalfi's trade links with the East. The inner courtyard, planted with palms, offers a cool, quiet interlude amid the bustle. All around, you find fragments of ancient sarcophagi, frescoes and columns salvaged from older monuments. The light filtering through the arcades creates an almost unreal setting, much photographed. Entry is on the same ticket as the cathedral, and the visit flows naturally on to the crypt and the small diocesan museum.
Ravello and Villa Rufolo
Perched high above Amalfi, Ravello is reached in about thirty minutes by bus along a hairpin road. The village, quieter and more elegant than the seafront, is arranged around a shady square and two famous villas. Villa Rufolo, built in the thirteenth century by a wealthy merchant family, unfolds terraced gardens suspended above the Gulf of Salerno. Its flower-filled belvedere inspired Richard Wagner for his opera Parsifal. Every summer, these terraces host a renowned classical music festival, whose stage seems to float above the void. Even out of season, the view of the coast alone justifies the climb.
Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity
At the other end of Ravello, a path lined with gardens leads to Villa Cimbrone, remodelled in the early twentieth century by an English aristocrat in love with beauty. Its high point is the Terrace of Infinity, a long balustrade lined with marble busts opening onto a dizzying panorama. Sea, coast and sky merge into a single horizon line, earning the spot its reputation as the most beautiful viewpoint in Italy. The surrounding gardens, mixing temples, statues and shady paths, invite you to wander. The villa has charmed writers and artists, from Virginia Woolf to Greta Garbo. Take your time here, far from the crowds on the coast.
The lanes, limoncello and the Valley of the Mills
Behind the main square, Amalfi folds into a web of narrow lanes, stairways and vaulted passages best explored without a map. Along the way you pass limoncello stalls, selling the bright yellow liqueur made from the huge lemons grown on terraces on the slopes. The delizia al limone, a small dome of sponge and lemon cream, is enjoyed in the pastry shops of the centre. Heading up the Valley of the Mills, you discover a green gorge where paper mills once turned: the Museo della Carta tells the story of how Amalfi paper, renowned since the Middle Ages, was made. The walk, shaded and cooled by the stream, contrasts with the heat of the seafront. This is the town's secret, artisanal side.
How many days, and which itinerary?
Two days is the right format for Amalfi and Ravello without rushing. A full day lets you tour the lower town, from the cathedral to the Valley of the Mills; a second is needed to go up to Ravello and take your time with its two villas. Those who want to explore Positano, Sorrento or the hiking trails will do well to stay three or four nights.
🗺️ Day-by-day itinerary · 📓 Free printable Amalfi and Ravello guide (PDF) · 🌍 All of the Amalfi Coast
1 day
Start early with the Piazza del Duomo and the climb up the staircase to Sant'Andrea Cathedral, then move on to the Cloister of Paradise and the crypt. Next head down to the port and wander the lanes to taste a delizia al limone and spot the limoncello stalls. In the afternoon, walk up the Valley of the Mills to the Museo della Carta, cool along the stream, before returning for a drink facing the sea at sunset.
2 days
Devote the first day to Amalfi itself, as above, not forgetting a break on the small beach or a boat trip along the coast. The next day, take the morning bus to Ravello: first visit Villa Rufolo and its terraced gardens, then walk to Villa Cimbrone and its Terrace of Infinity. Have a leisurely lunch on the village square, calmer and more refined than the seafront, before heading back down to Amalfi in the late afternoon.
Getting there and getting around
The Amalfi Coast is usually reached from Naples or Sorrento. From Naples, you can take a direct bus, or combine the regional train to Sorrento with the SITA bus that runs along the corniche. In high season, the ferry remains the most pleasant and fastest way to avoid traffic jams: regular services link Amalfi with Positano, Sorrento and Salerno, with the bonus of arriving straight into the port at the foot of the town.
Once there, you mostly get around Amalfi on foot, as its centre is pedestrianised and riddled with stairways. To go up to Ravello, the SITA bus leaves from the main square and climbs in about thirty minutes; validate your ticket on board or buy it at a tobacconist before setting off. A car is not recommended: the narrow hairpin road, heavy summer traffic and scarce, expensive parking make it more of a burden than an asset. Stick to buses and boats.
Where to stay in Amalfi and Ravello?
Amalfi itself has the most practical accommodation, from small family hotels in the lanes to charming places clinging to the cliff with views over the port. Staying in the lower town lets you do everything on foot and enjoy the evening atmosphere once the day-trippers have left. Prices rise sharply from June to September, and the best rooms with a sea-view balcony go months in advance.
Ravello offers a quieter, more refined alternative, popular with those seeking calm and panoramas rather than seaside bustle. Villas converted into hotels offer exceptional settings, but often at high prices. For a more moderate budget, you can aim for neighbouring villages such as Atrani, a few minutes' walk from Amalfi, or stay in Salerno or Sorrento, better connected and more affordable, at the cost of a daily ferry ride.
Our places to stay, stop by stop, at three budgets →
What to eat in Amalfi and Ravello?
Local cooking revolves around the lemon, ever-present on the terraced slopes. You find it in limoncello served ice-cold at the end of a meal, in the delizia al limone, a soft dome of sponge and lemon cream, and even in pasta dishes scented with zest. The sea provides the rest: marinated anchovies, mussels, spaghetti alle vongole and fried small fish. Campania's tomatoes, mozzarella and olive oil complete a simple, sunny table.
To eat, it is worth leaving the more touristy main square for trattorias tucked into the lanes or the neighbouring village of Atrani, which has stayed authentic. In Ravello, a few elegant restaurants enjoy panoramic terraces, ideal for a leisurely lunch between villas. The pastry shops in central Amalfi make for a sweet break in the middle of the day, and a bottle of limoncello or a lemon soap is an easy souvenir to bring home.
Entry requirements
Schengen area: an ID card or passport for EU citizens, 90 days visa-free for UK, US, Canadian and Australian passports.
Rules change: check your own government's travel advice before you go.
Frequently asked questions about Amalfi and Ravello
How long do you need to visit Amalfi and Ravello?
Two days are enough for the essentials: one day for Amalfi, its cathedral and the Valley of the Mills, another to go up to Ravello and its two villas. A stay of three or four nights lets you add Positano, Sorrento or a few hikes along the coast.
How do you get from Amalfi to Ravello?
The simplest way is the SITA bus, which leaves from Amalfi's main square and climbs to Ravello in about thirty minutes along a hairpin road. Buy your ticket at a tobacconist or on board. A car is not advised because of the traffic and difficult parking.
When is the best time to come?
Spring, from late April to June, and early autumn, in September and October, offer beautiful light, pleasant temperatures and fewer crowds. July and August are very hot, very busy and much more expensive. Winter is quiet but many shops close.
Should you hire a car on the Amalfi Coast?
It is not recommended. The coast road is narrow, winding and often jammed in season, and parking spaces are scarce and expensive. SITA buses and ferries serve the main towns well and make a car more of a hassle than a help.
What should you bring back from Amalfi?
Limoncello, made from the region's giant lemons, is the most emblematic souvenir. You will also find lemon products, colourful ceramics and the famous Amalfi paper, handmade in the Valley of the Mills and sold at the Museo della Carta.
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