What Is So Great About The Amalfi Coast?

And My Favorite Spots Along The Coast

The Amalfi Coast is BY FAR one of the most breathtaking and fascinating places, I have visited in Italy. Famous for its picturesque villages clinging to the dramatic cliffs, the Amalfi Coast will never fall short of moments to take your breath away. And as you walk around the villages, the scent of lemon groves and the warmth of the locals will undoubtably try to win over your heart. No wonder it has quickly become one of the most popular destinations in Italy for travellers from near and far!

Along the 50km stretch of the Amalfi Coast, there are at least 4 important villages to stop by: Sorrento, Positano, Ravello and Amalfi. And in my opinion, they all provide you with a completely different experience! To me, Positano is the very picture of the Amalfi Coast with colorful houses situated on the dramatic cliffs crawling towards the water. It is also very small and can easily be explored in a few hours!

Amalfi is a tiny bit bigger and mainly flat in the city center, but has amazing views from either side of the city. It also has some beautiful, historical buildings and was actually my favorite! Ravello lies just above Amalfi and is famously known for its old, historical town and its amazing views over the countryside. And Sorrento is the biggest city on the Amalfi Coast, with plenty of charm and cheaper accommodation and food options!

What Is The Best Way To Visit The Amalfi Coast From Naples?

Based On Season And Time Available

The best way to visit the Amalfi Coast from Naples will depend on several factors including: How long do you have to explore? Which season are you visiting Naples in? And are you looking to explore the most – or just get a taste of it?

Time: Although the beginning of the Amalfi Coast is only 50km from Naples, it can quickly become time-consuming to visit by vehicle. There is only one road to the popular village of Positano and it is windy, small and crowded by tourists from spring to autumn. And if you want to visit more sights on the coast, you will mostly spend around 1 hour driving between each! This is why joining a guided tour is one of the BEST options for you, if you are limited on time and money… And at the same time want to see as much as you can! Take a look further down this post for details.

If you on the other hand find yourself with plenty of time in Naples, you might want to visit a few of the villages on seperate daytrips by boat from Naples. In this way, you will have plenty of time to explore and indulge in their individual charm. But be aware! This is only possible during the summer season. Another option is renting a car and driving there yourself. Further down in this post, I will let you know why many advice against this.

How To Visit The Amalfi Coast On A Daytrip

And Why This Guided Tour Should Be High On Your List Of Possibilities!

Joining a guided daytrip is one of the BEST ways to visit the Amalfi coast from Naples! On my recent visit, I joined this 8 hour tour of the Amalfi Coast, which takes you to all 4 of the beforementioned villages and provides you with at least 1 hour to explore each on your own! While you are driving along the scenic coastal route, passing lemon-trees, olive farms and dramatic cliffs, your driver will give you plenty of interesting insight into this stunning region of Italy.

And after a long day of exploring, you will be transported right back to the center of Naples! I absolutely loved this trip, as it gave a quick insight into each village. It satisfied my long-term wish of seeing the Amalfi Coast. And if I want to stay at one of the villages for longer in the future, I now know which one I would prefer!

How To Visit The Amalfi Coast From Naples By Ferry

Only Possible During The Summer Season!

If you are visiting during the summer, one of the best ways to visit the Amalfi Coast from Naples is by boat! Arriving to Positano or Amalfi from the seaside will give you the most amazing views that money can buy. And whats even better is this: It is actually pretty cheap and easy! You can catch a ferry straight from the harbor of Naples to Amalfi or Positano in just 1 hour and 45/50 minutes. Or you canhop on a boat and reach Sorrentoin just 35 minutes! But be aware: the ferries only run from approximately april untill the end on november.

Also, it should be noted that timing the ferries can get quite tricky. Especially if you want to experience several of the villages and reach Naples before the last one! So another great (but slightly more pricey) option is to join a guided daytrip of the coast by boat! It has the same advantages as the driving tour mentioned above, but will at the same time give you those amazing views of the Amalfi Coast from the seaside.

How To Visit The Amalfi Coast From Naples By Driving

And Why Many Advice Against It!

Finally, it is possible to visit the Amalfi Coast from Naples by renting a car and driving there yourself. And even though this sounded like the best option for me before my research, I would actually advice against it now. And many others do too! But why, you might ask?

Firstly, as the small villages of the Amalfi Coast are situated on the edges of cliffs, every tiny bit of flat surface has been used up for housing and roads. And the roads are narrow enough as it is! This means that there is a very limited amount of parking options, especially in and near Positano.

Secondly, the driving in Italy is… what should we say… a bit different than most places in Europe. Cars, busses and bikes are all trying to fit within the same narrow spaces, rarely staying within their own lanes. Let me just say it can get very stressful very quickly. And you will likely find yourself stuck between tour busses without knowing what to do!

Lastly, the roads to Positano and Amalfi gets ridiculously busy as early as april with driving times doubling or even trippling to reach your destination. Now imagine what it is like in the hights of summer…

To sum it up, your adventure to the Amalfi Coast from Naples will be an adventure which ever way you choose to visit! If you are short on time, a guided tour of the coast will provide you with the amazing opportunity to visit 3 or 4 of the picturesque villages and viewpoints in just a day. But if you prefer to explore with the flexibility of your own itinerary – and you find yourself with more time on your hands – jump on a boat and start your adventure from coast to coast!