5-Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Positano, Amalfi, Ravello & Capri — A Coastal Escape

Transfer from Naples to Sorrento

Take the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Garibaldi station to Sorrento (every 30 min, ~70 min ride, €4.40). The train winds through Pompeii and along the coast. Alternatively, book a private transfer (~€60-80) for comfort after your flight.

Piazza Tasso & Centro Storico

Drop your bags and start in Piazza Tasso, Sorrento's buzzing central square named after the Renaissance poet. Walk down Via San Cesareo — a narrow pedestrian lane lined with limoncello shops, hand-painted ceramics, and lemon candy stalls.

Vallone dei Mulini

A 2-minute detour from the main drag brings you to the Vallone dei Mulini (Valley of the Mills) — a surreal collapsed gorge in the middle of town with an abandoned flour mill overtaken by ferns and moss. Free to view from above.

Marina Grande

Walk down to Sorrento's original fishing harbor, Marina Grande. It's a different world from the tourist center — colorful boats, fishermen mending nets, and family-run restaurants serving the day's catch.

Villa Comunale & Sunset Views

Head to Villa Comunale park for jaw-dropping views over the Bay of Naples. On a clear day, Mount Vesuvius looms across the water. The viewpoint is especially magical at golden hour.

Ferry to Capri

Catch the first fast ferry from Sorrento to Capri (departs ~8:15 AM, 20 minutes, ~€22 round trip). Arriving early is key — by 11 AM the day-tripper boats from Naples flood in.

Capri Town & Gardens of Augustus

From Marina Grande, take the funicular up to Capri town (€2.20). Stroll through the Piazzetta, Capri's glamorous little square, then walk to the Gardens of Augustus for spectacular views of the Faraglioni rock formations and Via Krupp's dramatic switchback path clinging to the cliff.

Boat Tour & Blue Grotto

Take a boat tour around the island (~€18-25, 1.5-2 hours). You'll see the Faraglioni up close, hidden sea caves, and the dramatic coastline. If conditions allow, enter the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) — the ethereal blue light inside is unforgettable. Entry is €18 (€14 grotto + €4 rowboat).

Anacapri & Monte Solaro Chairlift

Bus to Anacapri (€2.20) — the quieter, cheaper side of the island. Take the chairlift to Monte Solaro (€12 round trip, 12 minutes) — the island's highest point at 589m with 360° views of the Bay of Naples, the Amalfi Coast, and on clear days, Calabria's mountains.

Marina Piccola & Return

Head back to Capri town for gelato, then walk or bus down to Marina Piccola — the island's best swimming spot, a rocky beach beneath the Faraglioni. Catch the 5-6 PM ferry back to Sorrento.

Transfer to the Trailhead

Check out of Sorrento early. Take a SITA bus from Sorrento to Amalfi (~90 min, €2.40), then a local bus from Amalfi up to Bomerano in Agerola — the starting point of the Path of the Gods.

Path of the Gods Hike

The trail runs from Bomerano (650m) to Nocelle (440m) — mostly downhill, about 7.8 km, taking 3-4 hours at a relaxed pace. The path hugs dramatic cliffsides with jaw-dropping views of Positano, the Li Galli islands (where the Sirens supposedly lived), and Capri floating in the distance. In April the wildflowers are blooming and temps are perfect (15-20°C).

Descent to Positano

From Nocelle, take the famous 1,700-step stairway down to Positano (about 30 min, steep but stunning) or catch a local bus to Positano center. Your legs will thank you for the bus option after the hike.

Explore Positano

The Amalfi Coast's most photographed village — pastel buildings cascading down the cliff to Spiaggia Grande beach. Walk through boutique-lined streets (Positano is famous for linen fashion), visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta with its stunning majolica-tiled dome, and find a terrace for an Aperol spritz with sea views.

Ferry to Amalfi

Take the morning ferry from Positano to Amalfi (25 min, ~€10). The ride itself is spectacular — hugging the coastline past tiny coves and dramatic cliffs.

Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea

Amalfi was once a powerful maritime republic rivaling Venice. Start at the Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea — the 9th-century cathedral's ornate Arab-Norman facade dominates Piazza del Duomo. Climb the 57 steps to enter (€3) and explore the Cloister of Paradise (Chiostro del Paradiso) with its white Moorish arches. The crypt below holds the relics of Saint Andrew.

Amalfi's Historic Alleyways

Wander through the Ruga Nova Mercatorum, the old merchants' street. Visit the Museum of Paper (Museo della Carta, €4.50) — Amalfi invented its own paper-making tradition centuries ago, and this working museum inside an ancient mill shows the craft.

Bus Up to Ravello

Catch the bus from Amalfi up to Ravello (25 min, €1.30) — the road switchbacks through lemon groves with increasingly dramatic views. Ravello sits 350m above the sea, wrapped in an atmosphere of quiet elegance.

Villa Rufolo

Visit Villa Rufolo (€10) — its terraced gardens inspired Wagner's Parsifal. In summer, the Ravello Festival stages concerts on a platform cantilevered over the cliff edge. Even without music, the views alone are worth the entry.

Villa Cimbrone & the Terrace of Infinity

Walk 10 minutes through Ravello's lanes to Villa Cimbrone (€10). Follow the garden paths — lined with roses, wisteria, and classical statues — to the Terrazza dell'Infinito (Terrace of Infinity). Gore Vidal called this "the most beautiful view in the world." Standing at the marble-bust-lined balustrade with the entire coastline dropping away below, you'll understand why.

Grotta dello Smeraldo (Emerald Grotto)

Visit the Grotta dello Smeraldo — the Amalfi Coast's answer to Capri's Blue Grotto, but without the crowds. Located near Conca dei Marini between Amalfi and Positano, access is by elevator or stairs from the road, then a short boat ride inside (€5). The cave's emerald-green water, created by sunlight filtering through an underwater opening, is mesmerizing in morning light.

Praiano & Marina di Praia

Stop at Praiano — the quiet, authentic village between Positano and Amalfi that most tourists skip. It's where locals actually live, with real neighborhood bars and sea-view terraces. Walk down to Marina di Praia, a tiny cove beach tucked between dramatic cliffs — one of the coast's most photogenic spots and a perfect final swim.

Transfer to Naples & Departure

Head to Sorrento by bus or ferry, then take the Circumvesuviana train to Naples Garibaldi (70 min). From there, bus or taxi to Naples Airport (NAP). Allow 3 hours total from the coast. Or book a private transfer directly from your hotel to the airport (~€100-130).