the ultimate four day amalfi coast itinerary
Last summer Payton and I spent two weeks traveling around Italy. Our favorite part of the trip was our stay in Cinque Terre. The colorful buildings, fantastic views and swimming in the ocean. We knew we wanted part of our next trip to Italy to include all of those things. We considered going back to Cinque Terre or Portofino, but we settled on the Amalfi Coast and I’m glad we did. We had a fantastic time.
From a points perspective, this wasn’t necessarily an easy trip to plan. There are a couple of points properties in Sorrento, but every other small village along the coast would be a cash or bank travel portal booking.
After polling my readers on Instagram, we decided to base ourselves in Sorrento and take day trips to Capri, Positano and Amalfi. If we had more time it would have been nice to spend at least one evening in Positano for the views and to experience it without the crowds, but logistically it would have been very difficult.
We ended up being very happy with our decision. Sorrento is bigger, flatter and has more shops and restaurants. We had access to everything we needed (including a laundromat) and we would stay there again.
OUR FOUR DAY ITINERARY:
Day One: Arrive in Naples, stop at Pompeii on way to Sorrento
Day Two: Ferry to Capri, explore, boat tour
Day Three: Boat tour to Positano and Amalfi with swimming
Day Four: Day trip to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
Day Five: Fly out of Naples
HOW TO GET HERE
We flew into Naples from Verona after spending four days in Northern Italy in the Dolomites. If you are visiting the Amalfi Coast from other points in Italy, you can arrive by train to Napoli Centrale Station or into Naples Airport.
If you arrive by plane into Naples Airport you can take:
Curreri Viaggi bus to Pompeii, the Sorrento train station or Positano. The bus runs hourly (€13 pp) and takes about an hour to get to Sorrento
Private transfer - this is very pricey but very convenient. (1 hour)
If you plan to take the train to Sorrento or the Amalfi Coast, you’ll need to transfer from Naples Airport to the Napoli Centrale Train Station via Alibus or taxi.
Mt. Vesuvius and Naples from our plane
Once you arrive at Napoli Centrale Station, you can take the:
Campania Express Train - (€15 one way or €25 round trip) This is a special Circumvesuviana fast train for tourists. It stops at Pompeii and at the Sorrento Train Station. You can purchase tickets up to 20 minutes before (with no reserved seat) or in advance on Trenitalia with a reserved seat.
This train is more comfortable, has air conditioning and plenty of room for your luggage.
This train does have a Hop On, Hop Off perk so if you want to stop at Pompeii on your way to Sorrento, you can do that and just get back on after your visit.
Please note that this train only runs four times a day so if your arrival doesn’t coincide with train departure you could be waiting a long time.
Circumvesuviana - (€3.60 to Sorrento) This is a local, slower train that departs every 30 minutes. Reservations are not possible so you just get on and you may or may not get a seat. It’s very hot in summer and there is no space for your luggage.
If you are traveling with a lot of luggage, be aware that there are no elevators/escalators to the train platform and that you may be standing for over an hour with your luggage on the way to Sorrento
Pickpocketing is very common so be aware of your surroundings if you choose this route.
Pro Tip: While train strikes in Italy occur often, they are always announced ahead of time so you should never be surprised by a train strike. If you’re traveling through Italy by train, make sure to check the Strike Schedule so you can plan ahead.
How we did it:
We booked a round-trip private transfer with Joe Banana Limo. They came very highly recommended. Our driver picked us up right after customs and helped carry our bags to the car. We paid an additional fee for our driver to take us to Pompeii on the way to Sorrento. He drove us right to the front entrance and we had two hours to explore while he waited in the vehicle with all of our stuff.
When it was time to go, he picked us up right in front and drove us to our hotel in Sorrento. It was expensive, but using points for flights and hotels means we can splurge on things like this. We were not sponsored but I highly recommend this if it’s in your budget. Oftentimes you can ask your hotel for recommendations on private transfers as well.
WHERE TO STAY
We stayed in Sorrento the entire four days based on recommendations from my Instagram followers. Sorrento is big and has more affordable lodging options and more to do in my opinion. It was the right decision for us.
If you have more time and don’t mind moving around, then pick one of the small towns along the Amalfi Coast and divide your time. I do think staying in Capri or Positano would be fabulous in the mornings and evenings before the hordes of tourists arrive.
Read how we paid just $100 to fly Emirates Business Class to Italy!
WHERE WE STAYED
We used points to stay four nights free at the Hotel Gardenia Sorrento. This hotel is a Choice Hotel property. Award nights were just 13k points a night during our stay. I transferred 52k points from my Capital One Venture X Rewards card to Choice Hotels to book. The cash rate was $1,741 for four nights on our dates. We had a room with a balcony and free breakfast. You can also earn points from the Capital One Venture Rewards card and transfer to Choice to book this room.
Pro Tip: Award nights at Choice Hotels open up 100 days in advance so make sure to set a reminder on your phone so you can book the day rooms become available.
GETTING AROUND
Marina Piccola in Sorrento
Depending on where your home base is, walking is going to be your best bet for exploring the town you're staying in. In Sorrento, the taxi prices were extremely high, so we walked everywhere.
Traveling between different towns along the Amalfi Coast:
Ferry: This is by far the best option. There are several ferry companies that provide transport from Sorrento to Capri and Positano. We used the Ferryhopper app and booked directly with the ferry companies. The ticket offices for all ferries are at the port near the dock. If you purchase your ticket online, you’ll need to get a paper ticket from the office in order to board.
Sitabus - (€10 for 24-hour pass) you can ride the bus between Naples and Sorrento, Salerno, Positano and Amalfi. Consider that during the high season, the buses can become very full, and you are not guaranteed a seat. You can buy tickets at a “tabaccherie”, kiosk or newspaper stand at the Sorrento train station. You cannot purchase tickets on the bus.
Private Transfer - most expensive and most convenient.
The busy ferry coming into Positano
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
CAPRI
In my opinion, you can do the Island of Capri in one full day if you arrive early. There is a lot of high end shopping (which we don’t do), restaurants and cafes and fantastic viewpoints. We enjoyed just getting lost down winding roads and cooling off with sorbet served in frozen lemons. Pair this with a boat tour around the island and some swimming and you'll have a fantastic day.
How to get there: From Sorrento we took a ferry to Capri. I recommend pre-purchasing ferry tickets the night before and taking the earliest ferry of the day to avoid the big crowds in the summertime.
When you arrive in Capri you’ll be at the port in Marina Grande. There are lots of restaurants and shopping here. The town of Capri is higher up the mountain and reachable by bus, funicular or taxi. Anacapri is even higher up the mountain and reachable by taxi or bus.
To get to Capri Town from Marina Grande you can:
Take the funicular (to the right after you exit your ferry) to the Piazette in Capri Town (€2.40)
Take the bus (€2.40) - you’ll pay extra if you have luggage
Taxi - you’ll see the taxi stand or open-air taxis as you exit your ferry. This is the quickest (and most expensive) way to get up the mountain. Cash required.
Suggested itinerary on arrival to Capri:
From Marina Grande, take a taxi to Anacapri
From Anacapri, take the chairlift (€14 cash pp) to Monte Solaro for amazing views
Then back down to Anacapri to explore
Then back down to Capri via bus/shared taxi to explore and eat
Then back down to Marina port via taxi/bus or funicular
The end of day ferries will be very, very busy. Arrive to the Marina early and hold your ground. It was chaos getting on.
You can take the Funicular for €2.40 between Marina Grande and Capri Town. It's to the right after you exit the ferry.
Take boat tour: We scheduled a two-hour boat tour with swimming around Capri and due to a water main break we were unable to take it. This tour included a cruise around the island and viewing the Faraglioni rocks, the Marvelous, White and Green grottos and the Love Arch for a photo.
The Blue Grotto: You can visit on a boat tour from the main Marina Grande or on a bus from Anacapri. Keep in mind that viewing the Blue Grotto is completely dependent on weather and sea conditions. If you chose the boat tour option, be aware that you will be on a smaller boat rocking back and forth. Make sure to pack Dramamine if you get seasick easily.
Visit POSITANO, AMALFI AND RAVELLO
We actually booked two different day trips to the Amalfi Coast from Sorrento. One was an all-day boat tour, and one was a day trip via shuttle van. I was worried that it would be very repetitive, but we were able to see two completely different parts of each city by doing it this way.
BOAT TOUR TO POSITANO AND AMALFI
Positano from the dock
This was the best day of our entire trip. We were picked up by the tour company from our hotel and taken to the Marina. It takes about an hour to get from Sorrento to Positano by boat, but the views are so great that time flies by. You will get splashed on the way, so dress appropriately. We had a fantastic crew that narrated “just enough”, stopped at various viewpoints along the way and then just let us enjoy our trip.
We got one full hour to explore Positano and Amalfi and about 45 minutes to swim on the way back. This is the tour we took, and I highly recommend it. The crew took great care to make sure that whoever was sitting on the back of the boat on the way there got to sit in the front on the way back. When we returned back to Sorrento, we were dropped off right at our hotel door. Don’t forget cash to tip your crew at the end.
DAY TRIP TO POSITANO, AMALFI AND RAVELLO
Visiting a ceramic shop with Positano in the background
This was a full day tour of the Amalfi Coast. It was different from the boat tour because we got to drive through every little town along the Amalfi Coast and stop at various overlooks and shops. We met our driver right in the Piazza Tasso in Sorrento (a short walk from our hotel) and there was only one other person on our tour, so it was basically a private tour.
Our driver/guide was very knowledgeable and funny. If you are traveling with mobility limitations, I highly recommend this tour.
In Positano, we were dropped off at the top of the city (which we hadn’t climbed up to see during our boat tour), so we got to see different parts of the city and the stunning, iconic views.
The Amalfi portion of the trip was very similar to the boat tour because Amalfi is mostly flat and very small. We took the opportunity to explore other parts of the town we hadn’t seen the day prior. Make sure to go inside the Cathedral of St. Andrew.
The drive to Ravello was stunning as it was higher up the mountain along winding roads. This was a new town on our trip and absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately, it started to rain very hard, so we weren’t able to explore much of the town. Ravello is known as the City of Music. If you are planning to visit, look to see if there are any concerts at the Oscar Niemeyer Auditorium. Other points of interest include:
Villa Cimbrone
Terrace of Infinity
Gardens of Villa Rufolo
Piazza Centrale - main square for lunch, drinks and people watching
RELAX WITH A BEACH DAY
If you have time, I highly recommend spending one day at the beach or at your resort pool. After all, you are on the Amalfi Coast and should relax and take in the sunshine a little bit. In Sorrento, there are various beach clubs that are easy to get to via elevator or walking down the path towards the marina. If you arrive early you can pay for two chairs and an umbrella.
Depending on the location on the beach in Positano and Amalfi, the prices will vary. Be aware that the beaches in Positano and Amalfi are rocky so bring beach shoes if your feet are sensitive. We purchased cheap towels and sunscreens at the local grocery store. Pro Tip: Keep your items safe and use the provided lockers when you’re getting in the water.
TAKE A COOKING CLASS
I think this is one of the most fun things to do on a trip. We did this in Florence, and it was a highlight of our trip. You can choose a class that’s casual and more suitable for kids or one that that’s geared more towards adults.
If you’re traveling with kids, select a fun cooking class like this pizza making class. This is something that will keep the kids engaged and it’s always fun to meet other families when we’re traveling.
La Tagliata
The most popular and priciest cooking class in Positano, La Tagliata, is worth it if it fits your budget. You must book this way in advance if you’re visiting in peak summer season. This class is about six hours long, it’s intimate with just 16 people and all the wine you can drink.
GO HIKING
One of the most popular things to do on the Amalfi Coast is to go hiking. Specifically hiking the Path of Gods. It takes about three hours. It’s rated as easy, but I read many blogs that said it was more difficult than they thought it would be. There’s little shade, so do this one early to avoid the heat if traveling in summertime.
GOOD TO KNOW
I’ve had a lot of readers ask if staying in Naples is a good idea and then visiting Amalfi as a daytrip and I just don't think it’s a good plan. You’ll spend at least two hours commuting there and back which leaves you barely enough time to see anything. You really need to give the Amalfi Coast more than 1-2 days. It’s not easy to get to, it’s expensive. I recommend making it a bigger part of your trip.
Visit Pompeii. This is fairly easy to do on the way from Naples to Sorrento and points onward. You can arrive in Pompeii via train from Napoli Centrale Station and they even have luggage storage. Pompeii is so huge that I regret not getting a tour guide. We just had no idea what we were looking at and their audio guides were android phones with no headphones that you couldn’t see in the bright sunlight. Definitely not the way to see Pompeii.
Weather: We visited at the end of June, and it was very, very hot. Everyone said it was cool compared to July temperatures. Plan accordingly. Wear breathable, moisture wicking clothes and hydrate, hydrate. A sun hat or umbrella for shade is recommended.
Have more time? Visit less crowded towns along the Amalfi coast like: Maiori, Atrani, Minori or Praiano.
Ferry Tickets: If you purchase your ferry ticket online, you still need to go to the ticket office to get a paper copy. Download the FerryHopper or Directferry app before arrival.
Bathrooms: All bathrooms in Capri and along the Amalfi Coast that we visited were €0.50 to use and none of them had a toilet seat. We carry travel sized tissue, wet wipes and hand sanitizer with us.
What to pack: sunglasses, hat, portable charger, motion sickness pills (for ferry/boat tour), euros to pay for bathrooms.
Laundry: There was a laundry facility two blocks from our hotel. It’s so hot that our sweaty clothes were starting to smell bad. It cost me €8 to wash and dry one load (including detergent) and took me about an hour. Not bad at all.
Happy Travels!
RECOMMENDED read:
Ten Days in Italy Itinerary and Guide
By clicking the links above, I may earn a small commission. Thank you!