Top 15 Amalfi Coast Towns Worth Visiting!

Best Tips for visiting the Amalfi Coast Towns:

1. Book EVERYTHING in ADVANCE!
2. Pay attention to the location of your accommodation, the Amalfi Coast is steep! Lots of stairs!
3. Positano is Expensive! So is the parking, which is limited. And almost ferociously crowded.
4. Think thrice if you decide to rent a car, and when you do, take it SMALL!
5. Travel by private or group tour if you will be spending a day or two at the Amalfi Coast.
6. Wear comfy shoes if planning to explore the Amalfi Coast towns.
7. I highly recommend staying longer to explore more hidden gems and enjoy at a slower pace.
8. I’d recommend to pay a visit to Naples and if you have extra time, here are the best Day Trips from Naples Italy.

Why visit the Amalfi Coast Towns?

Few stretches of real estate in the world have what the Amalfi Coast has to offer. The 48 km long Amalfi Drive has deep ravines flanking high-altitude roads, all passing by ocean waters so blue they gave the name Tyrrhenian to the robes of nobility. And that’s not all. Towns and cities perched on the edges of cliffs so sheer you feel as if you are on the edge of two worlds.

You will be torn for choices if you are on a limited time and budget schedule. Some towns are right on the edge, like Amalfi and Positano, either on cliffs or sandy shores, and ready with everything from yachts and beach umbrellas to make your day. Others are higher up, like Ravello and Praiano, sharing exalted heights and airs with orange groves, solemn monasteries, and gorgeous villas.

The Amalfi Coast is one huge UNESCO World Heritage Site bundled together; an achievement worthy of the note. It is the culmination of hundreds – maybe thousands – of years of art, culture, and history. It is the land that has Pompeii, Furore Beach, and the Cathedral of San Pantaleone’s legendary bronze doors from fallen Constantinople. There are nature trails both high in the sky and deep in the water. For my part, it is the quintessential Mediterranean landscape, with the perfect ever-green climate, timeless architecture, incredible gastronomic delights, and visual vistas so panoramic it is as if everything was magically suspended just for you to experience.

Let’s hop on to it. It was costly, doing all this on a shoestring-like budget. But it was also worth it for me to get it all down and in and process it just so we can all get in on this deal!

ALSO READ: Colourful Places in Italy worth visiting

Amalfi Coast Towns Worth Visiting

1. Walking the Picturesque Town of Amalfi

I know I should start with either Sorrento or Salerno, but I learned long long ago that keeping to the main mission track is an impossibility. Besides, the entire stretch of drive is just 48 km long! So let us just start with Amalfi herself, then go on from there.

The town of Amalfi starts off with the sea wall leading up into the town. Then there is Amalfi Beach offering the most fantastic sea views possible. It is right in front of Piazza del Duomo, another of the Amalfi Coast towns must-see places, with enough sand space on the ends of the beach free to sit on.

Then there is the Cathedral, Duomo di Sant’Andrea, which just might be unique in Italy, with her bronze doors from Constantinople and the Dome covered in majolica tiles.

However, Amalfi town’s greatest draws to me were the Mediterranean Chiostro del Paradiso, and the Museo della Carta. One, at Via Salita Episcopio, 5, is a Moorish garden from the 13^th century. Some of the ancient frescoes remain, as do the 120 marble columns with Arabic arches on the top, to say nothing of its current form as the Basilica del Crocefisso with religious artifacts within. The other on the Via delle Cartiere, 23 another piece of history via its production of paper and again, something of a unique experience for me.

2. Marvel at the Emerald glow of the Grotta dello Smeraldo

Capri has the Blue Grotto, while the village of Conca dei Marini has the hidden grotto only recently discovered in the 1930s after millennia of secrecy.

The grotto’s hidden nature and eerie green lights were the stuff of legends for centuries, with most who stumbled or were dragged into the cave by tides brushing off the experience to dream and fantasy.

The karst cave is filled with stalactites and stalagmites, and the sunlight streaming into the cave’s blue waters becomes filtered, causing the greenish glow in the water.

Today, divers during Christmas seed the cave’s bottom with statues. The waters are clear enough to see through to the bottom, and for us on the boats, it feels like we can reach through and across some mysterious barrier to touch the ancient nativity scene created underwater.

3. Capturing the Picture-Perfect Positano

Positano’s houses are lovely to look at; they are built right into the cliff and vibrantly colored, and with all the green on the terraces, I feel as if they live in a fairy forest filled with butterflies and trees. As a destination spot for young couples and young families, it is this sense of openness and life that makes Positano one of the top places to visit in the Amalfi Coast towns.

So I noted that color is Positano’s main thing, with tourists drawn to the atmosphere and crowds in chic-fashioned dresses, colorful shirts, and towels draped around their waists.

But there are reasons for the older and less adventurous crowds to view Positano as one of the top places to visit on the Amalfi Coast towns.

Positano’s long history of settlement by a diverse culture of peoples is a huge draw for our socially conscious modern world. The dome of the Santa Maria Assunta is also colorfully coated in Majolica tiles, hinting at some Arabic influence. And in place of a bronze door – remember the one in Amalfi -, instead a Byzantine icon of Black Madonna. I couldn’t help but fantasize and wonder about Amalfi Coast’s role in the 1^st or 2^nd Crusade.

As one of the best places to visit on the Amalfi Coast, Positano comes with loads of sailboats, zodiacs, motorboats, yachts, and all manner of sailing craft. Cruising up the coast to Capri and Procida Islands are a main activity, as is renting a rowboat to slowly drift by the Amalfi Coast’s cliff-borne towns.

Remember that scene in Christopher Nolan’s Tenet where the female lead is on a yacht and leaps off from the boat? Yep, it was here! The aura and atmosphere of Positano’s waters are enough just for the sake of resting on the deck of a boat and taking in the beautiful views around.

For beach lovers, Spiaggia Grande is the best beach to visit while on a tight budget; while the beach is pebbly, the view is divine. At sunset, with Positano lighting up, you never want to leave. The Fornillo Beach in Positano is cheaper, more crowded, and quieter than Arienzo Beach Club and Laurito Beach Club, though you have to rent out umbrellas and lounge chairs from one of several beach clubs.

4. Breath in the Groves of Ravello

Ravello ranks highest on my list of places to visit at the Amalfi Coast because of her wonderful gardens and groves. The air here seemed filled with that sweet, citrus smell of freshness and health. The crowds are fewer as well, with people opting for the more famous Amalfi and Positano Towns. Plus, her Piazza del Duomo is heavily lined with restaurants and cafes, as if crowd-controlling what tourist numbers are there in the first place.

But these are not what drew me here.

Ravello’s history is filled with the rich, wise, creative, and noble who, drawn to her Mediterranean beauty, once made the little town home. We found that Villa Rufolo hosted notables from Neapolitan Royalty to Wagner. Villa Cimbrone‘s own panoramic view of the Bay of Salerno was majestic enough to make a man as contrary as Gore Vidal himself to concede to her beauty.

Ravello is also Italy’s City of Music, hosting many international music festivals here.

11^th August for 2024, see you there!

I especially love the mix and presence of Catholic and Turkish cloisters, seraglios, and baths in the town. Throw in San Giovanni del Toro’s Baroque structure with her Persian elements, and the Cathedral of San Pantaleone‘s massive bronze doors from Constantinople.All these are a testament to Ravello’s history of intermingling and evidence of her shared culture; no wonder this town is often filled with tourists who all look like they are from the same age groups!

5. Walking the Path of the Gods

Nature lovers and hikers, families, and adventurers all flock to Bomerano or Nocelle just to try out this 8 km long hiking nature trail every year. The best part about the Path of the Gods was that despite its attraction to so many different types of people, the trail is quiet and never crowded for some reason!

This is a big deal you know; on the Cinque Terre’s Via dell’Amore, you cannot help but get annoyed at tourists pausing for too long to take photos and selfies on the mostly narrow paths.

Not here!

The path is ‘almost’ lonely, walking a trail that high up in the altitudes. But that is as it should be; if you are on a spirit walk – like I felt I was walking this particular trail – it should be just you and the gods alone, seeking your soul’s ascension and wisdom.

The scenery we went through was more than worth the 3 hours on the trail. None of that cloudy, barely-see-where-you-are-stepping on-your-spirit-walk nonsense. The path’s footing is as clear as the bluest skies you ever imagined. There are terraces everywhere you throw your eyes, the hills contoured better than my hair ever could.

One of the reasons I agree this is one of the best places to visit at the Amalfi Coast has to do with these hills. From high up with the view of the Coast in panoramic hand, it feels as if the town is naturally built into the cliffs and hills. Some rocks seem to define property lines but these rocks are all limestone-white or granite-grey; altogether, no way they were put there by someone. So you see all these modern and ancient homes, walls, and buildings and you figure out they didn’t try to transform the world around them but chose to blend in themselves.

6. Revival in the Vallone delle Ferriere

The Valley of Mills is where green meets grey, and stone meets forest.

Named after the stone flour mills that used to grace the valley from the 13^th century, the historical and natural beauty spot has a curious history and origin, one strange enough that I thought it was an origin story of gods and devils in an eternal struggle.

So, 37, 231 years ago, give or take a few centuries, volcanic activity – Mt. Vesuvius is but 60 km away, though this time the culprit was the lesser known Campi Flegrei – created this natural spot of beauty and wonder.

Then in the 13^th century, the stone tufa was shaped into stone mills to grind grain. Over time, they would also turn to sawing trees for paper via technology brought over by Arabs. This time it would be the Congrega dei Cartari, a powerful guild of paper millers who would go on to put Amalfi on the map more prominently.

Then, in 1866 during the urban renovations and revitalizations of the decade, Piazza Tasso happened in Sorento, drawing away business people, and potential from the valley.

Almost a century later in 1940, the mill closed altogether, closing the chapter on man’s touch on the area.

Then over the following decades, Mother Nature brought back strange and unique plant species and little fauna. The place is deep, and the humidity is quite high.

All in all, a see-saw tale of turns and events, upheavals and renewals. I love such stories of transformations and re-branding, making Vallone delle Ferriere rank pretty high on anyone’s list of must-see places to visit at the Amalfi Coast. I cannot help but wonder what the next few centuries will tell of this valley’s transformations!

7. Cliff Jumping at the Fiordo di Furore

God must have been teasing us when He made Fiordo di Furore, making her look like Paradise even though we all know there are no seas in the heavenly abode.

As one of the most Googled places to visit on the Amalfi Coast, this Furore town’s Furore beach ranks high on the list for young families and the youthful crowd.

The beach is not that massive, being a fjord created by tectonic activity in the area. There is an awesome arch bridge over the beach, immediately bringing to mind those daring cliff jumpers and divers. And the best part about this beach spot is that the cliffs to the sides of the arch bridge have ledges at different heights, letting you slowly grow your courage and daring!

And it is not just the young and adventurous crowds that can enjoy their experience here!

To the sides of those very cliffs are some gracefully built buildings and architecture. They have limestone-white walls giving the place a sagely and ethereal feel. They have large circular windows and the steps leading down to the beach themselves must have been curved right from the rocky bedrock itself. Truly, I definitely think this place was the inspiration for Galadriel’s Lothlórien in the films.

Tip: Don’t drive to Furore town if you can, there is no car parking available and you will definitely spend a lot more time looking for one.

8. History Lessons in Salerno

Salerno is where the journey begins… ends… picks up…it all depends on how your adventure around the top places to visit at the Amalfi Coast begins.

I found that the crowds here were more calm and less adventurous.

Firstly, the Salerno Cathedral was an architectural marvel in my eyes because of its windows and arcades that definitely have some Arabic influences. Then there are the artworks from people of different ages as well.

Salerno also has remnants from the Romans via an aqueduct, and the massive yet destroyed now-turned museum Castello di Arechi.

Did you know that Pope Gregory VII died and was buried in Salerno? His epitaph, remarking on his exile reads, “I have loved justice and hated iniquity; therefore, I die in exile.”

This is the Pope who introduced celibacy among priests for one, and is likely the precursor for the idea of the Crusades as well. Little wonder there are so many Byzantine artifacts around so many places to visit at the Amalfi Coast!

9. Li Galli’s Sirens of Sirenusa

Homer, he of Troy and Achilles, saw the small islands off the Amalfi Coast just 6 km from Positano and, seeing Il Gallo Lungo sprawling shape on the sea’s water, thought it was a mermaid.

This small island archipelago is a gorgeous part of the world yet secluded from mere mortals.

There are several private villas on the island of Li Galli, and on a given sunny day, dozens of boats and party-goers are invited or chill just off the rocky cliffs of the island. As one of the most desired places to visit on the Amalfi Coast, Li Galli is a huge draw for the young and restless seeking the thrill of private boat rides and tours, swimming and diving in blue waters, or simply resting on deck, eyes fixed on the clouds sailing by high up in the sky.

10. The Ceramic Centre at Vietri sul Mare

As a gem hidden among the key places to visit at the Amalfi Coast, I actually heard of Vietri sul Mare’s ceramic wares while in the region. It is just west of Salerno on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria motorway or by train and I Borghi più belli d’Italia has gone as far as to call the little commune one of the most beautiful villages of Italy.

Two main charms make her one of the best places to visit at the Amalfi Coast in my opinion. The first, for most people, is the great spread of public beaches of sand and pebbles whose cerulean waters change in hue the deeper you go into the sea. This is because of the sheer drop of the coral so parents should be wary of their kids going off on their own.

The second – and my main draw – was the polychrome buildings and ceramic market there. I loved that some of the ceramic tiles are designed for kids and I wished I had another one little enough to buy for.

The storefronts have tiles of every color and design on display, and the streets themselves continue the motif. There is actually a Museum of Ceramics as well as a Ceramics Factory here.

Driving along the Amalfi Coast can be a lil bit tricky but definitely worth the views…if you make it out safe!

11. More Instagram moments in Atrani

It almost sounds like a broken record to talk about the beach in Atrani, but what can I do?? I sat on my comp for hours trying to distinguish what I felt was different about this beach and felt that the best I could give was to offer my own sight as I headed off into the sea for a dive.

If you happen to rent a boat and head off a little bit into the sea then look back, Atrani looks like a mirage. The townhouses are painted white, and with the combination of red brick roofing, seem to blend into the rocky cliff into their back.

The idyllic little town has been the sponsor of so many Instagram photos that I was not surprised to learn that the film starring Denzel Washington, Equalizer 3, was shot here as well! I think it is the ideal, picturesque atmosphere of Mediterranean weather that makes Atrani one of the go-to places to visit at the Amalfi Coast.

The little town square itself is no lightweight; you get to enjoy local dishes and drinks in an atmosphere of both medieval architecture and some of the most colorful houses in Italy.

12. Free Beaches in Praiano

Nestled right between Positano and Amalfi is Praiano, one of the best places to visit at the Amalfi Coast if you are looking for sandy beaches without the large crowds of the larger towns.

Praiano’s Marina di Praia was a definite attraction for me; it is a cove right under the towering cliffs of the town, as charming as blue, a public beach still holding out against the vile pressures of capitalism!

All jokes aside, Praiano deserves your recognition as one of the best places to visit among the Amalfi coast towns because of the small town’s white-washed houses seemingly dug deep into the cliffs. These buildings are man’s addition to the environment, but the way they seem part of the natural world is what makes them so attractive to the eye and heart.

So even with the Chiesa di San Luca Evangelista and the Torre al Mare’s, it is the majolica tiles on the floor of the church, and the artworks, terracotta figurines by a local artist, that are what make these transformations worth a visit. Using la spunga di mare [sea sponges] and plants to create his works, Paulo Sandulli enhances the natural beauty of the world in a way few things can.

13. Minori, the City of Flavor

For a moment, just a moment, you would think you were in Corniglia, in Cinque Terre…

These two twos look so alike; there are terraces of lemon groves all over Minori in this case, and Minori touches the sea, unlike her counterpart.

Yet both are so quaint and small and charming little towns to look at. From the hills across Minori, it feels as if you are spying on the secret little dramas of Hobbits in their green-covered homes in the earth. Instead of mead and apples and berries, it is locally made Gnocchi di Ricotta and scialatielli and Delizia al Limone, all prepared in one of the many restaurants here.

Yes, each of the other places to visit among the Amalfi Coast towns has its own food scenes where you can enjoy local flavors and recipes unchanged over generations. But I found the cooking classes in Minori a wonderful break from the norm in my travels, as were the wonderful homes perched on cliffs overlooking the coastal waters in all their beauty.

If I were looking for a small, quiet town to re-experience my youth and undying love, Minori is the place I would visit at the Amalfi Coast.

14. Shopping in Maiori

Shopping in Maiori is not something locals advise. Our guide actually told us to skip the little town and move on to somewhere bigger.

Glad we said to give it a try.

Sure, the local shops in Maiori sell stuff ‘only’ locals would need. But these ‘stuff’ are boutiques selling hand-crafted and beautifully designed ceramics! And let me not get into the genuine Italian shoes on sale here. These are the guys who would flood into Milan during Fashion Week and sell you at horrendous mark-ups there, while here you get sale prices and really good bargains!

Don’t skip Maiori, please.

And even if it was not shopping that drew you here, the art and historical architecture scene is more than worth the stop. From romantic towers crumbling after centuries of use to churches loaded with art pieces and culture, Maiori has it all.

15. Quiet Scala

Scala is literally one of the quietest places to visit among the Amalfi Coast towns and the oldest town on the Amalfi Coast, together with the hamlet of Pontone.

For one, she is perched higher up in the hills than Ravello, looking down on her larger sibling. Yet, unlike her larger sister, Scala is hardly hit by the mass crowds of tourists that you will find in Ravello or Positano or elsewhere.

Yet, Scala has all they have to offer and way more. Scala once hosted over 130 churches for one. The ancient Romans would use Scala as a pit-stop on their way to Byzantium and, grateful at the peace and success of their travel, leave something of themselves behind. Today, what remains include San Lorenzo Cathedral, Annunziata Church, Torre dello Ziro, and the Basilica of Saint Eustachio.

Scala is also wonderfully covered in chestnuts and sea lemon groves, making the air and scent up here something for nature and art lovers to cherish. The Valle delle Ferriere Nature Reserve is but 500 m away from the town.

For such a small town, Scala packs the best punch. Her arboreal and forest outlook is a draw away from the hustle and bustle of urban life, yet the remains of man’s touch on the natural world are a reminder of the inevitable fusion of our two sides.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Amalfi Coast

1. What are the best towns to visit at the Amalfi Coast?

The most popular towns are Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, while Atrani, Nerano, and Tramonti’s vineyards come in second. My personal list, however, ranks Scala and Furore town pretty high.

2. How much time should I spend on the Amalfi Coast?

2-4 days are a good schedule. You will cover much of this region, including Capri and Pompeii, in just 3 days. If you schedule the hikes on the Path of the Gods and look around vineyards and lemon groves well, you will definitely spend no more than 3 days in this part of Italy.

3. Best way to get around the Amalfi Coast?

Ferries, private boats, rented boats, and boat tours.

The Amalfi Drive is bound to be crowded with personal cars, delaying your itinerary. Plus, if you are driving safely, you are not watching the coast and sea below. A tour bus would be my best bet because even if your schedule is in the hands of others, they will time it to offer you the best first-hand experience.

4. What is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?

June – September will have really large crowds so avoid cars and rentals.

April – May, and September – October are when the Amalfi Coast is best for visiting.

July – August are the worst because of the crowds at this time of the year, high prices for everything, low parking opportunities, and traffic jams.

November is the best because of the low crowds yet the weather is nice…don’t know about you but the water is a bit chilly to swim in for me.

December – March , almost empty, cheapest time of the year, most shops and restaurants closed, water activities probably in good weather, pretty cold and damp… I wouldn’t.

5. What should I see on a single-day visit?

The Coastline via boat or ferry tour. These will hit the best places to visit on the Amalfi Coast and get to see almost all the Amalfi coast towns without sweating it out.

6. Which are the best towns to spend overnight?

Positano and Amalfi for the night scenes.

Maiori and Minori if with kids or looking for a quieter experience.

Sorento is what you are thinking about for day trips to Mt. Vesuvius, Pompeii’s ruins, and the ancient Roman town of Herculaneum.

7. What do I look for when booking a hotel at the Amalfi Coast?

A. Proximity to the sea.

B. Find out whether they are on a hill if you have lots of luggage and no private car.

C. Look for hotels with their own parking included, and make sure this is agreed upon.

8. How far in advance do we book a reservation?

Accommodations are available all year round. Try for Airbnbs and the smaller hotels.

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