If all you did on the Amalfi Coast was drink cocktails on the beach or eat pasta overlooking the ocean that would be enough, as its beauty speaks for itself. However, if you need more guidance on making the most out of your trip, these are my top five favourite activities.
1. See the coast with Frankie Boatours
If I could only recommend one activity to do in the Amalfi Coast it would be to explore it by boat. This is the best way to truly experience the scale of the coastline and be able to explore hidden grottos and beaches inaccessible from land. We booked a tour with Frankie Boatours – a local family run business that runs private tours from a small water taxi.
The guide Gennaro, or ‘Frankie’ as he’s known to friends, offers a range of half and full day tours. In addition to the Amalfi Coast, he does a full day Capri Island tour, and 1-2 hours trips to the Emerald grotto and private Li Galli islands. As these are private tours, there’s room to customise if there are specific places you want to visit.
We did the half day Amalfi Coast tour – four hours exploring Praiano to Maiori for €460. We saw most of the towns from the water, got great photos, and enjoyed stunning views with beer and champagne. In addition to this being a relaxing way to start our trip, it was also helpful in getting an idea of where everything is located and where to go back to during the trip.
As a Praiano local, Frankie gave us heaps of amazing recommendations for activities, must-visit places (and where to skip), and most importantly, where to eat. You’ll leave the boat with a greater understanding of the Amalfi Coast, gorgeous photos, and a notes app full of restaurants to try.
frankieboatours.com
2. Walk the path of the lemons in Minori
With stacked buildings various shades of orange nestled between lemon grove-lined mountains, the town of Minori is spectacular. It’s located between Atrani and Maiori and is only a short bus or ferry ride from Amalfi. My favorite activity in Minori was walking the ‘path of the lemons.’
Follow signs marked ‘Sentiero dei Limoni’ which direct you all the way to the nearby town of Maiori, with lemon trees and incredible views along the way. It’s not a long walk but, like most of the Amalfi Coast, be prepared for stairs. The view overlooking Minori with the contrasting colours of the town, mountains, and ocean are unbeatable.
The town of Minori is the perfect place to slowly wander around. Stop off at famous pastry shop Sal De Riso on the waterfront and choose from the huge cabinet of sweet cakes, or visit Minori’s major attraction – the ancient Roman villa in the centre of town.
3. Wander around Atrani
Atrani is the smallest town on the Amalfi Coast but one that shouldn’t be overlooked when planning your itinerary. It’s only a ten-minute walk from Amalfi so you can easily spend the day here or venture over for dinner.
The town is quiet and compact with tiny alleyways and stairwells that weave between the white buildings and a small but beautiful beachfront. The town has a lot of charm and we loved spending an afternoon here exploring with a gelato in hand.
4. Admire the views from the Terrace of Infinity in Ravello
Located high in the mountains, the town of Ravello is quieter than the other tourist spots below and offers sweeping views along the Amalfi Coast. One of my must-visit places in Ravello is Villa Cimborne – a historic five-star hotel surrounded by beautiful, lush gardens.
Most people visit Villa Cimborne specifically for the Terrace of Infinity, a large, paved balcony adorned with marble bust statues and a magical view. To your right are mountains with layers of green, to your left stretches of coastline, below you’ll find the long windy road connecting to Amalfi, and straight ahead is unobstructed clear blue ocean and sky.
It costs €7 to enter Villa Cimborne so it would be a waste to only visit the terrace. The gardens themselves are beautiful so spend a bit of time wandering around. Just don’t bother with the on-site café – the outdoor views are gorgeous, but you’ll end up paying too much on food or drinks to sit there.
Ravello was my favorite town to stay in the Amalfi Coast – read more about Ravello here.
5. Lounge at a beach club in Positano
Positano’s main beach Spiaggia Grande has arguably the most iconic view in the Amalfi Coast. You’ve likely seen photos depicting rows of sun lounges and striped umbrellas with a background of stacked colourful buildings etched into the side of a cliff. Get to the beach early to hire an umbrella and lounge and enjoy relaxing at one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I also liked Fornillo Beach – it’s about a ten-minute walk from Spiaggia Grande but is more tucked away and quieter. It doesn’t have the iconic view but because it’s away from the main part of town, it feels more exclusive. We stayed at Hotel Pupetto; the only accommodation located right on Fornillo Beach which was a great choice, so I’d recommend staying here while you’re in Positano.
Click here for a full rundown on Positano including the best photo spot in town.
Bonus recommendations
• Fjord Furore – You’ve most likely seen photos of this tiny beach nestled between towering cliffs and underneath a large bridge. To reach the beach, take the SITA bus and climb down the many stairs. Try to go early to avoid the crowds.
• Day trip to Capri Island – Based on the many recommendations we received for Capri, this likely would have been my top activity but unfortunately, we weren’t able to make it there. Visiting the Amalfi Coast in the shoulder season had its perks (cheaper, quieter, you can walk straight into restaurants), but it also meant hot sunny weather wasn’t guaranteed.
We planned to visit Capri on our last day and had even pre-booked our ferry ticket but there was a storm and rough seas so all ferries for the day were cancelled. However, all the locals we spoke to said Capri was a must-visit spot, so I’d suggest adding a day in your itinerary. Do a day trip when you’re staying in Positano – catch the first ferry of the day over there and the last ferry back, it’s only a 25-minute ride.
• Duomo di Amalfi – You can’t miss this cathedral as it’s located in Amalfi’s main square with large stone steps leading up to it. You can enter the church for free (as always, please respect other visitors there for mass) or pay €3 to enter the cloisters and the crypt which was a cool experience.
Whatever activities you choose, make sure that in between you eat everything! Click here for the best restaurants on the Amalfi Coast.