7-Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Sorrento · Pompeii · Positano · Amalfi · Capri · Ravello

Arrive Naples & Transfer to Sorrento

Land at Naples airport and catch the Campania Express train to Sorrento (book ahead — comfier and faster than the Circumvesuviana). Drop bags at your hotel near Piazza Tasso.

Explore Sorrento Old Town

Wander the narrow streets off Corso Italia. Visit the Vallone dei Mulini — a hauntingly beautiful abandoned mill in a deep ravine right in the town center. Pop into a limoncello shop for a free tasting (they're everywhere).

Sunset at Villa Comunale & Dinner

Head to Villa Comunale park for golden-hour views over the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius in the background. For dinner, try Inn Bufalito for incredible buffalo mozzarella dishes or Ristorante Museo Caruso for a Michelin-quality experience.

Pompeii Archaeological Park

Take the early Circumvesuviana to Pompei Scavi (30 min from Sorrento). Arrive by 9am to beat the heat and crowds. Allow 3–4 hours for the highlights: the Forum, House of the Faun, amphitheater, Garden of the Fugitives, and the remarkably preserved thermopolium (ancient fast-food counter).

Sorrento Beach & Old Town

Return to Sorrento and head to Bagni della Regina Giovanna — a natural swimming pool in ancient Roman ruins, a 25-minute walk from the center. The crystal-clear cove is surrounded by the remains of a 1st-century villa. Then explore Sorrento's shopping streets for custom leather sandals and ceramic souvenirs.

Farewell Sorrento Dinner

Last night in Sorrento. Grab aperitivo at Fauno Bar on Piazza Tasso (the main square) for prime people-watching, then dinner at O'Parrucchiano La Favorita — a stunning garden restaurant since 1868, serving classic Sorrentine cuisine under lemon trees.

Ferry to Amalfi

Take the morning ferry from Sorrento to Amalfi (seasonal, ~€12, 75 min). The ferry route offers jaw-dropping views of the entire coastline — sit on the right side for the best photo ops. Check into your accommodation in Amalfi town.

Amalfi Cathedral & Town Center

Explore the Duomo di Amalfi (Cathedral of St. Andrew), a stunning 9th-century cathedral with Arab-Norman architecture. Climb the 62 steps for close-up views of the ornate mosaic facade. Inside, visit the Chiostro del Paradiso — a 13th-century cloister with Moorish arches and peaceful gardens.

Walk to Atrani

Follow the coastal path (10-minute walk) to Atrani — the Amalfi Coast's smallest and most authentic village. Where Amalfi gets cruise-ship crowds, Atrani stays blissfully local. Sit in Piazza Umberto I, watch old men play cards, and grab a coffee at one of the bars lining the tiny square.

Aperitivo & Seafood Dinner

Sunset aperitivo at A'Paranza in Atrani, then walk back to Amalfi for dinner at Trattoria da Gemma — a family-run institution since 1872 known for its zuppa di pesce (fish stew) and handmade scialatielli pasta with seafood.

Path of the Gods Hike

Take the early SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano (Agerola) — the trailhead for the legendary Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods). This spectacular clifftop trail runs 7.8km along sheer cliffs 500m above the sea with non-stop panoramic views of the coast, Capri, and the Li Galli islands. The trail ends in Nocelle, where you descend 1,700 steps to Positano.

Positano Exploration

After descending from Nocelle, you'll arrive in the upper part of Positano. Wind your way down through the colorful bougainvillea-draped streets to the beach. Skip the main Spiaggia Grande (overcrowded) and head left to Fornillo Beach — smaller, more local, and with better beach clubs.

Lunch at Da Adolfo

Take the free shuttle boat from Spiaggia Grande to Da Adolfo — a legendary, no-frills beach restaurant only accessible by sea. Fresh grilled fish, mozzarella on lemon leaves, and house rosé with your feet practically in the water.

Positano Sunset & Return

Golden hour in Positano is pure magic. Watch the sunset from the beach or splurge on a cocktail at Le Sirenuse Hotel's champagne bar — arguably the best view on the entire coast. Then catch the evening ferry back to Amalfi.

Ferry to Capri & Marina Grande

Catch the morning ferry from Amalfi to Capri (~€22, 80 min via Positano). Arrive at Marina Grande and take the funicular up to Capri town (€2.20). Start at the Giardini di Augusto for the most famous viewpoint on the island — overlooking the Faraglioni sea stacks and the serpentine Via Krupp below.

Anacapri & Monte Solaro

Take the bus to Anacapri (quieter, less glamorous than Capri town). Ride the single-seat chairlift to Monte Solaro (589m) — the island's highest point with 360° views of the entire Bay of Naples, Amalfi Coast, and on clear days, the mountains of Calabria. The 12-minute ride is thrilling and unforgettable.

Capri Town & Optional Blue Grotto

Return to Capri town and stroll the Piazzetta (the tiny, glamorous main square), browse the designer boutiques, and wander to the Arco Naturale — a dramatic natural stone arch. If you want to try the Blue Grotto, take a boat from Marina Grande (but be warned: long waits, expensive, and it closes with even slight waves).

Return to Amalfi

Catch the evening ferry back to Amalfi. Have a casual dinner at Lo Smeraldino on the Amalfi waterfront — good pizza and pasta without the fine-dining price tag.

Bus to Ravello

Take the SITA bus from Amalfi up to Ravello (25 min, €1.30). This hilltop town sits 350m above the sea and has been a magnet for artists, writers, and musicians for centuries. Wagner, Greta Garbo, Virginia Woolf — they all came here for the same reason: the views are absurd.

Villa Rufolo & Villa Cimbrone

Start at Villa Rufolo — 13th-century gardens that inspired Wagner's Parsifal, now host the famous Ravello Festival concerts on a stage suspended over the sea. Then walk 10 minutes to Villa Cimbrone for the legendary Terrazza dell'Infinito (Terrace of Infinity) — a belvedere lined with marble busts overlooking the entire coastline. It's the single most photographed viewpoint on the Amalfi Coast.

Lunch with a View

Lunch at Ristorante Salvatore in Ravello — family-run with a terrace overlooking the entire coastline. Their homemade pasta with lemon cream sauce is legendary. Alternatively, Cumpa Cosimo is a more casual local favorite with generous portions.

Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo)

Bus back toward Amalfi and stop at Conca dei Marini for the Emerald Grotto — a sea cave where sunlight filters through an underwater opening, casting an ethereal emerald-green glow on the water. You descend by elevator or stairs to small boats that take you inside.

Sunset Dinner in Praiano

Continue by bus to Praiano — a quieter, more residential town between Amalfi and Positano. Praiano faces due west, making it the best sunset spot on the coast. Have dinner at Kasai — an intimate terrace restaurant where you'll watch the sun melt into the Tyrrhenian Sea with a glass of local Furore wine.

Optional: Private Boat Tour

If budget allows, splurge on a private boat tour along the coast (€150–300 for a small boat, split among passengers). You'll see the coast from its most magical angle — hidden coves, sea caves, the Faraglioni from the water, and swimming stops in impossibly blue water. Many tours depart from Amalfi at 9am and return by 1pm.

Final Amalfi Stroll & Lunch

Last walk through Amalfi. Pick up handmade paper at the Paper Museum (Amalfi was a major medieval paper producer), grab limoncello souvenirs, and have a final lunch at La Pansa — the pastry shop/cafe on Piazza Duomo since 1830.

Transfer to Naples Airport

Ferry from Amalfi to Salerno (35 min, €8) then bus or train to Naples airport. Alternatively, ferry to Sorrento then Circumvesuviana to Naples. Allow 3 hours for the full journey. For a stress-free option, book a private transfer (€100–120).