The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast, in a few days
From Naples and Pompeii to the cliff villages of Positano and Amalfi, then across the bay to Capri: the map, what is worth booking, everything that costs nothing, and where to sleep at three budgets.
- Day by day
- 1 Naples and Pompeii Days 1-2
- 2 Positano and Amalfi Days 3-4
- 3 Capri Day 5
- Worth sorting before you go
- Words that help
- The practical page
- Packing checklist
Day by day
Naples and Pompeii
A dense, loud and deeply lived-in city whose historic centre is UNESCO-listed, and the birthplace of pizza. Across the bay, Pompeii lies where Vesuvius buried it in AD 79.
- Pompeii with a guide3h · from €30Streets, houses, bakeries and frescoes of a Roman town buried in ash in AD 79, explained by someone who knows which doors to open.
- The historic centre of Naples
- Real Neapolitan pizza, where it was born
- The Lungomare seafront
Positano and Amalfi
Pastel houses stacked up the cliffs, coves at their feet and a road that bends every fifty metres. Amalfi was a maritime republic in the Middle Ages; the whole coast has been UNESCO-listed since 1997.
- Boat trip along the coast2h · from €45Positano, Amalfi and the sea caves seen from the water, the angle that shows how the villages cling to the rock.
- Positano
- Amalfi Cathedral and its great stairway
- The Path of the Gods
Capri
A limestone island at the mouth of the Bay of Naples, with the Blue Grotto at sea level and the Faraglioni rocks off its southern cliffs. Anacapri, higher up, is quieter than the port town.
- Round-island boat trip and the Blue Grotto2h30 · from €50A loop around Capri past the Faraglioni, then a small rowing boat, lying flat, through the low entrance of the Blue Grotto. It closes when the sea is rough.
- Anacapri and the Monte Solaro chairlift
Worth sorting before you go
Ferries, trains and the coast bus · Here a car is more trouble than help: the coast road is narrow, parking is rare, and in busy periods non-resident cars may only use it on alternate days by number plate. Take the Circumvesuviana train to Pompeii and Sorrento, then ferries and the SITA bus along the coast.
Online the moment you land, no roaming bill.
Get one · Holafly
Health, luggage, cancellation.
Cover it · Ekta
Compare the agencies before you land.
Compare · Booking
Pay at the real rate, with no exchange markup.
Open one · Revolut
A private car at a fixed price from the moment you land.
Book it · GetTransfer
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Flavours & local habits
🍽️ Worth tasting
- Neapolitan pizza: a soft, blistered base baked in about ninety seconds in a wood oven. The margherita is the test of any pizzeria.
- Sfogliatella: a shell-shaped pastry of crisp layers filled with ricotta and candied peel, for breakfast.
- Mozzarella di bufala: buffalo milk mozzarella from Campania, eaten the day it is made.
- Spaghetti alle vongole: pasta with clams, garlic, oil and parsley, the dish of the coast.
- Limoncello: a lemon liqueur made from the large local lemons, served ice cold after dinner.
⚠️ Best avoided
- Be wary of restaurants with picture menus and staff pulling you in near the big sights.
- Check the bill for the coperto (cover charge) and any service before adding a tip.
- Do not plan to drive the coast road in high season: check the number plate rules and use the boats instead.
- Cover shoulders and knees to enter churches, Amalfi Cathedral included.
Words that help
English ↔ Italian
| English | Italian |
|---|---|
| Hello | Buongiorno |
| Thank you | Grazie |
| Please | Per favore |
| Yes | Sì |
| No | No |
| Excuse me | Mi scusi |
| Goodbye | Arrivederci |
| Do you speak English? | Parla inglese? |
| I don't understand | Non capisco |
| How much is it? | Quanto costa? |
| Where are the toilets? | Dove sono i bagni? |
| The bill, please | Il conto, per favore |
| Help! | Aiuto! |
| Cheers! | Salute! |
The practical page
Scan to open this guide online, always up to date.
https://offwegooo.com/en/guides/amalfi-coast
Packing checklist
Have a good trip.
Guide made on offwegooo.com · Photos via Pexels · Details are indicative, check before you leave.