Sheer cliffs hang over the water here, with tiny bays below and terraces of vines, olive and citrus trees climbing the slopes. The coast runs from Positano to Vietri sul Mare and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Start with the gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, the cathedral and the shipyard in Amalfi, and the Path of the Gods above Positano.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone, Amalfi Cathedral, the Arsenale della Repubblica, the Path of the Gods
- Main access: SITA buses along the coast and Travelmar ferries
- Best time of day: Villa Rufolo’s ticket office is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day
- Best season to visit: May to June, with Amalfi highs of 77°F (25°C) to 85°F (30°C)
What are the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast?
Villa Rufolo, Ravello
The powerful Rufolo family built the villa in the 13th century, and the garden crosses terraces, cloisters and panoramic areas. It stands about 1,150 feet (350 m) above the sea. On May 26, 1880, Richard Wagner found here the “magic garden of Klingsor” of his Parsifal. The Scottish philanthropist Sir Francis Nevile Reid bought the villa in 1851, and Fondazione Ravello has managed it since 2007.
The villa is on Piazza Duomo in Ravello, and the ticket office is open every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are sold only on site, and no reservation is needed. Groups of at least 15 pay €7 each, and over 65s and children aged 5 to 12 pay €6. Children can enter the Torre Museo from age 5. Fondazione Ravello offers a free guided tour on the first Saturday of each month until March 2027. Sign-up is on site from 30 minutes before the tour, and groups close at 30 people, so arrive early on those Saturdays.
Villa Cimbrone and the Terrace of Infinity
Villa Cimbrone, also in Ravello, is known for its gardens and for the Terrace of Infinity. The Terrazzo dell’Infinito at Villa Cimbrone is a viewpoint over the coast. Ravello sits on a rocky spur about 1,200 feet (365 m) above the sea, and the view takes in the whole Gulf of Salerno.
Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone are both in Ravello, so they fit into one outing. Check Villa Cimbrone’s opening hours locally before you go. Plan the two gardens for the same day.
Amalfi Cathedral and the Chiostro del Paradiso
The Cathedral of St Andrew the Apostle dominates Piazza Duomo with its imposing staircase, and the Duomo dates from the 9th century. Next to it is the Chiostro del Paradiso, a 12th-century cloister annexed to the cathedral. Amalfi was a flourishing maritime republic from the 9th to the 11th century. It introduced the magnetic compass to Europe and created the Tavole Amalfitane maritime code.
Climb the staircase slowly and keep time for the cloister, which is attached to the cathedral.
The Arsenale della Repubblica and the Museo della Carta, Amalfi
The Arsenale is a medieval building and the only rock shipyard still existing today. It reopened to the public on Saturday, June 26, 2021. You can follow the making of Amalfi’s ancient Bambagina paper on a guided tour.
The Arsenale’s multilingual guided tours last about 30 minutes and are included in the entrance ticket. Tickets for the Museo della Bussola e del Ducato Marinaro are sold at the Arsenale infopoint. Atrani, Italy’s smallest municipality by area, lies less than a kilometer (about 0.6 mile) from Amalfi and makes an easy extra stop.
The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
Local people used this path for centuries as a communication route, and before the road between Agerola and Amalfi opened, trails and mule tracks were the only links between villages. The trail runs from Piazza Paolo Capasso in Bomerano, in Agerola (2,028 feet, 618 m), to Nocelle (1,378 feet, 420 m), a hamlet of Positano. The walk takes about 3 to 4 hours.
To reach the start, take Travelmar ferries to Amalfi, then shuttle buses to Agerola (Bomerano). Grotta Biscotto has a drinking water spring and Nocelle has a drinking fountain. From Nocelle, 1,700 steps lead down to Arienzo on the SS163 in about an hour. Wear shoes with grip, since the descent is steep. The path is shared almost only with other hikers, mostly foreigners.
When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast for sightseeing?
Spring is easy for sightseeing: May has a high of 77°F (25°C) in Amalfi and about four rainy days. July and August reach 91°F (33°C) to 92°F (33°C), the SS163 slows to a walking pace and SITA buses travel packed. From June to August, ZTL restrictions are active in Amalfi, Positano and Ravello, and a base that looks 20 minutes away on the map can mean an hour or more in traffic in mid-August. October brings about seven rainy days.
Beaches and outdoor things to do on the Amalfi Coast
There are no large sandy beaches on this coast. Expect rocky coves, pebble beaches and small bays. Marina Grande in Amalfi is sand and pebbles, with lidos, bars and restaurants, and it is often crowded in peak season. The small beach at the bottom of the Fiordo di Furore is a place to swim. The Spiaggia del Duoglio is reached by a green path and a flight of 400 steps, and the Santa Croce beach can only be reached by sea.
For walking, the Sentiero dei Limoni (Lemon Path) starts near Maiori and Minori. From Maiori to Minori it takes about 4 hours, with stairs and natural trail, and it is a simple walk. Near Amalfi, the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve is dotted with waterfalls and streams, and the walk takes about three hours. At Conca dei Marini, the Emerald Grotto can be reached by lift or small boats. Entrance costs ten euros and includes the small boat tour inside.
By sea, Travelmar’s Amalfi Coast Tour visits Positano and Amalfi, and its Dreamy Town Tour lets you explore three coastal towns in a single day.
- Marina Grande, Amalfi: in town · sand and pebbles, lidos, bars and restaurants, crowded in peak season · for anyone who wants services nearby
- Spiaggia del Duoglio: green path and 400 steps · reached on foot · for those who don’t mind the climb
- Santa Croce: by sea only · set apart from the road · for a boat day
With children or for comfort, Marina Grande has the services.
Day trips from the Amalfi Coast
A suggested route starts in Positano, continues to Amalfi, then stops at the Fiordo di Furore and Atrani. SITA buses connect the towns, including the Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento, Amalfi-Maiori-Salerno, Amalfi-Agerola and Scala-Ravello-Amalfi lines.
Check the current SITA timetables on the company website or in the Moovit and UnicoCampania apps.
What to eat on the Amalfi Coast
The lemon is everywhere: on every menu, as candied peel in shop windows and as limoncello, served at the end of every meal. The biscuits at Mamma Claus’s kitchen in the Fabbrica del Natale use lemon as the secret ingredient. In Cetara, colatura di alici is used mainly to dress spaghetti, and it appears on menus from Maiori eastward. Fresh anchovies are at their best in Cetara between spring and autumn.
Costa d’Amalfi DOC wine is on wine lists all along the coast and in Tramonti. In December the Christmas markets offer local crafts and traditional flavors.
Things to do on the Amalfi Coast at night
From June to September, the Ravello Festival fills the gardens of Villa Rufolo.
Things to do on the Amalfi Coast with kids
The Emerald Grotto is reached by lift or small boats, and the boat tour inside is included in the ten-euro entrance. The Valle delle Ferriere walk, about three hours, passes waterfalls and streams.
Travelmar’s Pompeii excursion runs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the visit lasts approximately 2 hours.
Sources
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- italia.it (https://www.italia.it/en/campania/costiera-amalfitana), checked 2026-10-30
- fondazioneravello.com (https://www.fondazioneravello.com/villa-rufolo/), checked 2026-10-30
- comune.amalfi.sa.it (https://comune.amalfi.sa.it/Novita/Comunicati/Il-Capodanno-piu-lungo-d-Italia-la-rassegna-InCanti-d-Autore-con-Neri-per-Caso-Gnut-e-Compagnia-Daltrocanto-Fabbrica-di-Natale-Mercatini-e-Gruppi-Folk), checked 2026-10-30
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- travelmar.it (https://www.travelmar.it/it/visita-la-costiera-amalfitana), checked 2026-10-25
- villarufolo.com (https://villarufolo.com/orari/), checked 2026-10-30