The Ultimate 6 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary

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The Amalfi Coast is one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. If you are looking to spend ~6 days on the Amalfi Coast, this itinerary post highlights the top places I went & things I did each day I spent in southern Italy.

This post comprises my actual 6 day itinerary that I created for the Amalfi Coast. I wanted to see as much of the coast as I could while also getting some authentic Italian experiences along the way. Feel free to steal this exact itinerary for yourself to use to plan your trip!

This outline is written as a high-level overview of where I went each day on the Amalfi Coast and the things that I did or recommend doing. At the end, there will be a “pro-tip” section about each city. Jump to my 6 day Amalfi Coast Itinerary here.

• Pro Tip: IMO, the biggest drawback to visiting the Amalfi Coast is the transportation system around the coastline. Sometimes, transportation can be so crowded that you don’t always get to where you want to go on time. For this reason, I recommend reading my other blog post, The #1 Thing You Need to Know Before Visiting the Amalfi Coast.

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Website Disclaimer: I most recently visited the Amalfi Coast in May 2024. Although everything is accurate as of the publication of this post, it is important to keep in mind that prices, attractions, and other things may change with time.

Where is the Best Place to Stay in the Amalfi Coast?

After doing a LOT of research and talking to a LOT of people, I decided to use Sorrento, Italy as my home base for this trip. The main drawback about Sorrento is that it is technically NOT on the Amalfi Coast, but it is within close proximity. In fact, many people choose to stay here and commute to the different towns they want to visit.

• Pro Tip: Because I stayed in Sorrento during this trip, I will write this post as if that is also going to be your home base. I will also include how to get to each town I visit as if I was coming from there. If you choose to stay elsewhere, you can still likely use the same form of public transportation that I used, but the time it takes to arrive will be different.

How to Get to the Amalfi Coast

If you are flying from the United States or Canada, your best bet will be to first fly into Rome. If you are already in Europe, your best bet is to fly into Naples.

Before I flew to the Amalfi Coast, I was already in Paris, so I flew into Naples and then caught a bus to Sorrento.

If you want to book bus, ferry, or train tickets in advance, you absolutely can (I use the Omio app to book most of my European tickets!). However, I decided to wing it this time and see what was available at the airport to take me down to Sorrento.

In this case, I was glad I did. The train station in Naples is in the city center, and the line for the bus to get you from the airport into the city center was long. I was lucky enough to find a bus that was leaving directly from the train station to Sorrento.

• Pro Tip: If you book tickets in advance, pay attention to the location. “Napoli Centrale” means the train station in the city center; transportation from the airport will say “Aeroporto Internazionale,” etc.
• (Another) Pro Tip: My bus – like many buses on the Amalfi Coast – was cash only

What’s the Best Way to Get Around the Amalfi Coast?

There are 3 main forms of transportation on the Amalfi Coast:

• Ferry
• SITA bus
• Taxi/personal driver

The ferry and the SITA bus are the most popular forms of transportation because they are the cheapest. However, they can also be a nightmare to take, especially the SITA bus.

This is because the Amalfi Coast is so popular, and the bus only has so much space. Buses would drive past us as we waited in line because they were full. There were moments where I spent a lot of my time waiting hours for the bus to arrive. The ferry can get crowded, but overall, it is easier than taking the bus. Plus, the Amalfi Coast is gorgeous to see from the water!

Taxis are very expensive on the Amalfi Coast, because drivers know people do not want to wait for other forms of public transportation. They charge a lot of money simply because they can.

For a more in-depth transportation overview, read The #1 Thing You Need to Know Before Visiting the Amalfi Coast.

• Pro Tip: The Amalfi Coast DOES NOT have Uber or Lyft.
• (Another) Pro Tip: Pedestrians do NOT have the right-of-way in Italy; cross the street at your own risk!

What is the Amalfi Coast Known For?

• Limoncello (a sweet and fresh lemon liqueur)
• Custom-made sandals
• Handmade ceramics
• Gorgeous beaches, water, and cliffside buildings (and if you’re traveling alone, make sure to take this tripod to capture your best photos!)

My Pro Tips for Each City on the Amalfi Coast

Sorrento Pro Tips

• The drive from Naples to Sorrento was my first taste of the Amalfi Coast roads and the moment my biggest life regret became not packing Dramamine.
• I had to eat dinner a lot in Sorrento as opposed to the other towns I visited because the ferries/buses stopped running around dinnertime. My favorite meal was the one I mentioned at Museo Ristorante Caruso. They had 4 different tasting menus, and the Ingrate Heart was my favorite.
• Other places I went to eat were D’Anton Design & Bistro for cocktails and brunch, Mò Mò for coffee and pastries, and L’Antica Trattoria for dinner.
• I had someone recommend Soul & Fish to me for dinner. I never got to go, but it’s a local place that’s supposed to have really good seafood. If you go and love it, LMK in the comments!
• Check out Vallone dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) if you have spare time. This area of the city is near Piazza Tasso and contains modern ruins like an old mill in the crevice of a valley.

Path of the Gods/Pizza Class Pro Tips

• The trail for Path of the Gods can either run from Nocelle-Nocelle or Bomerano-Bomerano. You don’t make it to Positano, but you are able to see it from the top of the mountain.
• Total distance = 7.5 km or 4.6 miles
• This trail is rated as hard, and I would have to agree. Bring comfortable walking shoes. There were some high rocks that we had to climb over and some hills we had to go up. I would not recommend this trail to anyone with mobility issues.
• Our guide provided hiking poles!
• The views are incredible and my photos will never do it justice. It was a gorgeous hike. There is a spot where you see a panoramic view of the coast and it was stunning.
• Pizza class – honestly no pro tips except the ride up is windy, so you may feel a little nauseated. (Did you buy Dramamine yet?) Otherwise, I loved it.

Capri – Swimming, Boating, and Blue Grotto Pro Tips

• I would choose between a boat tour with swimming vs. a boat tour with seeing the blue grotto. There are boat tours where you can do both, but it would take up a lot of your day and you won’t have much time to explore the island. I did not see the blue grotto and chose a tour with swimming instead.
• Seeing the blue grotto is 100% dependent on the weather, so it is not a guarantee, even if you book a tour with a blue grotto option.
• I have had people tell me you aren’t inside the blue grotto for very long. There can also be a long wait since many people want to see it. When I was on my boat tour, our guide pointed out a large cluster of boats on the ocean waiting to get inside to see the blue grotto.
• You can NOT swim in the blue grotto
• If you choose the swim option, they do not provide towels; I like this towel from Amazon because the sand doesn’t stick to it!
• I wore my swimsuit and coverup to the boating tour and then brought extra clothes to change into. There will be a bathroom on the boat to change, but it’ll be small.
• Since you can only get to Capri via ferry, catch the earliest one to get a head start on your day.

Capri – Island Pro Tips

• When you get off at the ferry port, you can buy a ticket on the Funicular to go from the port to the main island. There will likely be a long line, so get there early!
• Capri is actually divided into 2 main separate towns: Capri and Anacapri. Capri is more touristy, whereas Anacapri is more laid back. I have heard many people say they actually like Anacapri better.
• You need a bus or taxi to get between Capri and Anacapri, but once you’re in each place, you can see everything on foot.
• Monte Solaro is the mountain that separates Capri/Anacapri. There will be a long line to get on the chairlift to see the top of Monte Solaro, but the views are worth it. There’s also a cafe at the top to get drinks and food.
• The last ferry usually leaves the island around 5:30-6:30pm (may be later during peak tourist season), and you can ONLY get to Capri via ferry.

Ravello – Pro Tips for Getting There

• Since Ravello is in the mountains, the only way to get there is by SITA bus or taxi. You cannot take a ferry directly to Ravello.
• I was advised to take a ferry to Amalfi and then catch the bus to Ravello (as opposed to taking the bus straight there from Sorrento). The bus station in Amalfi is at the ferry port and the line is more like a cluster. When the bus came, people were pushing and shoving their way on. I made it on the first bus, but this was the biggest downside of getting there.
• I would still choose this route as opposed to taking a bus straight from Sorrento to Ravello. The roads are extremely curvy, and you will be on the bus for a couple of hours. It can get pretty nauseating.
• In Amalfi, the bus for Ravello stops on the right side of the ferry port (different from where the Sorrento/Positano buses stop). Ask one of the SITA drivers where you should wait.
• The first bus stop in Ravello is right beside Villa Rufolo. From here, it’s a 1 minute walk to Piazza Vescovado/Duomo, and then a 10 minute walk to Villa Cimbrone. You will pass the Hotel Villa Maria restaurant on your way to Villa Cimbrone.
• From Sorrento, this will be your longest trip in terms of travel time.

Positano Pro Tips

• I would 10/10 recommend the cooking class at La Tagliata; however, it is VERY popular and books up months in advance.
• If you do get in to La Tagliata, I would recommend taking another day to explore the rest of Positano because you will be limited on time. The class runs from 10am-3:30pm, and you will be in a food and wine coma afterwards.
• Positano is VERY touristy and VERY crowded, especially at popular places like Spiaggia Grande. I have also heard horror stories about people waiting on transportation here in the summer, especially with the bus.
• There is a mobility bus that takes you around the city of Positano, along with two higher hamlets, Montepertuso and Nocelle. This is different from the SITA bus.  
• If you go to Positano outside of peak tourist season (June-August), you probably won’t get to see the sunset unless you stay the night due to the buses/ferries not running late. For tips, check out my post The Best Way to Stay in Positano.
• Everything in Positano is on a hill; bring comfortable walking shoes.
• I did not get to check out the nightclub Music on the Rocks and will have to live with that regret. If you go, tell me how you liked it in the comments! PS – The locals tell me not to arrive before midnight at the earliest.