The 4 days on Amalfi coast in Italy were strategically sandwiched between the hectic sightseeing in our classic Rome-Florence-Venice itinerary to Italy. And I can’t recommend it enough for Il Dolce Far Niente or ‘the sweetness of doing nothing’! This stretch of coastline from Sorrento to Salerno is blessed with the natural beauty of mountains, cliffs, and the sea. UNESCO lists Amalfi coast as a World Heritage site. And if you are looking for the best Amalfi coast itinerary for 4 days, look no further!
Discover the perfect 4-day Amalfi Coast itinerary, offering a blissful escape from the hustle of sightseeing in big Italian cities. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Positano, visit the picturesque town of Ravello, explore the enchanting island of Capri, and indulge in the region’s culinary delights.
We spent our Amalfi coast itinerary exploring the stunning towns that line up this coastline and the island of Capri. With narrow roads hugging steep cliffs and the inevitable summer traffic, we didn’t take our chances on driving a car. Instead, we largely depended on public buses, ferries and a lot of walking to move around this area.
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Amalfi Itinerary Overview
There are many other towns and villages that dot the Amalfi coastline – Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Furore, Praiano, Scala. And if I ever go back again, I would love to explore some of these. For the first visit to this stunning coast, do not miss out on Amalfi, Positano, Ravello and Capri in your Amalfi Coast itinerary.
How to get to Amalfi coast
To reach most of the Amalfi towns, you first need to get to Naples.
Flight and Car Transfer: The closest international airport to the Amalfi coast is in Naples. If you are flying into Naples, you can schedule a transfer from Naples airport to Positano or other Amalfi towns.
Train and Car Transfer: Most people prefer to fly into Rome. Naples is well connected to Rome, Florence, Venice and other Italian cities by train. Trains run frequently, operated by both Trenitalia and Italotreno. You can check train, bus and ferry schedules on Omio platform easily.
We used the good train connectivity in Italy to get from Venice to Naples. And then took a pre-booked taxi to reach Amalfi town. You can schedule a private car transfer from Naples station to Positano or elsewhere on Amalfi coast. If your final destination is Sorrento, there is a train option from Naples to Sorrento. You have to take the train marked Circumvesuviana from the main Naples train station (Napoli Centrale).
Ferry: There are ferries running between Naples to Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi town.
Best Time to visit Amalfi coast
Spring and summer months are a busy time for Amalfi coast. You need to plan and prepare for your Amalfi coast trip. Book everything way in advance if you are visiting between May and September, the busiest time of the year. Or visit during the shoulder season, which has also shifted to April and October. (May and September are as busy as summer time).
We explored the charming towns and breathtaking landscape of the Amalfi coast in 4 days, during early June. The June weather in Italy is great for Amalfi coast and the crowds are manageable.
Amalfi coast itinerary for 4 days
Day 1: Amalfi town
Amalfi is a historic town along the Amalfi Coast. Many travellers base themselves in Naples or Sorrento for better connectivity. However, our stay in Amalfi town away from large cities was exactly how we wanted this R & R sojourn to be.
The focal point of the Amalfi town historic center is the Piazza del Duomo, in front of a striking cathedral. We spent an afternoon exploring the cute little shops that are clustered around the piazza. After seeing the Duomo in Florence and the main cathedral in Venice, we decided to not go inside the cathedral here, but it is certainly worth a visit.
Amalfi has had a glorious history as a maritime republic, and we certainly used it proximity to the sea well. We took a hydrofoil from here to reach Positano the next day, and a large catamaran to reach the Capri island the day after. Amalfi is also well connected to Positano, Ravello and Sorrento by buses. We found it to be a good base for our Amalfi coast itinerary for 4 days.
The local products to buy here is something made of local lemons – soaps and other personal care products, limoncello and more. They make for great souvenirs from Italy. The fresh smell of these giant yellow orbs is everywhere in spring and summer!
Day 2: Positano
The jewel of Amalfi coastline favoured by the jet-setting crowd! Most travel brochures featuring Amalfi coast would feature multi-coloured houses stacked on top of each other – that’s Positano – and it features in any Amalfi coast itinerary.
Positano’s main beach – known as Spiaggia Grande – is very popular and you would see a series of deckchairs and red umbrellas lined up on the sand. We were happy to gaze at this busy scene from one of the many excellent seafood restaurants that are on the beach.
A hydro foil from Amalfi town got us to Positano, but there are several ways to get to Positano. We later climbed up to the main road and took a public bus to come back. Both were enjoyable adventures! You could hire a boat from Amalfi or Positano to take you along the Amalfi coastline and perhaps explore more of the nooks of this charming area. But a ferry ride on a glorious summer day with the blue sky and the shimmering ocean was enjoyable enough.
It was fun to climb up and down the narrow, steep streets in Positano. There are several locations in and around Positano teeming with stray cats, and they are also great places to go and visit if you have the time.
Look into some chic boutique stores that the town is famous for. Indulge in a linen dress or two for yourself! Window shopping and cafe hopping in Positano is what I would suggest everyone in their program for 4 days in Amalfi coast.
The ride back on the bus was no less exhilarating. There were moments when I thought the Italian driver was trying his best to plunge the bus down the steep cliff into the ocean below. But he managed to neatly swerve at each turn and stay on the road. Phew!
Day 3: Capri island
This is a favourite amongst the jet-setting crowd as well. You should experience Capri whatever your budget may be. Large catamarans unload truckloads of tourists at this island so that the cafes and streets facing the harbour are really busy.
We reached this stunning island via a ferry ride from Amalfi town without much of a plan. The summer rush to see the famous Blue Grotto was far too much for our liking and we decided to skip to altogether. It is a popular activity for many tourists.
We looked around the busy harbour and hired a private boat after negotiating with one of the locals. Best decision ever! He took us around the island, answering our questions on the local life and the island while also giving us space to just enjoy ourselves.
Take the bus to the smaller Anacapri for a quiter experience and to explore local restaurants and boutiques. You would get some stunning views on the bus ride back from Anacapri.
We had kept aside a full day to enjoy Capri, but if I plan to go again to Amalfi coast, I would love to stay overnight at this beautiful island. Whether you spend a day at Capri or more, it should feature in your 4 days in Amalfi coast plan.
If you prefer a day tour to Capri from Amalfi town, Positano or Sorrento, check out these options:
Day 4: Ravello
Head to Ravello for a very different view of the Amalfi coastline. Ravello is perched higher than all other villages and towns. We took the public bus from Amalfi town to drop us to the main centre of Ravello and then walked back downhill! The town with its large villas, churches definitely looks like the choice for the wealthy locals.
Ravello is known for its music festivals. If it coincides with your vacation, make sure you attend a local music event. Do visit the delightful Villa Cimbrone, not just for the stunning views but also for its beautiful gardens and charming ambience. For figuring on how to spend 4 days in Amalfi coast, I would recommend this delightful activity as an addition.
How to spend 4 days in Amalfi Coast
Most people pick between Cinque Terre, the coastal town in northern Italy, and Amalfi coast as part of their Italy itinerary. There is no one perfect answer, but in case, you have chosen the former, check out this Travel Guide to Cinque Terre.
Like in other parts of this compact country, there is so much that each region offers to see and do. So it takes time to finalise how to spend 4 days on Amalfi coast. Despite our interest in history and ruins, we couldn’t squeeze in a trip to Pompeii from Naples.
If one has more time, a Southern Italy road trip from Naples to Sicily would be a great idea.
It is not that you need a day each to explore the small towns and villages that dot the Amalfi coastline. But remember, this is your time to relax and savour the good life. So instead of flitting from one town to another in a frenzy, we explored the nooks and crannies in each town without much of a plan.
We took our time enjoying the fresh seafood at the local restaurants and just absorbing the stunning views during our 4 days at Amalfi coast. We stayed at the luxurious Santa Caterina in Amalfi, and made full use of its excellent restaurant to do nothing!
This Amalfi Coast 4-day itinerary offers a relaxing break from sightseeing in Italy. Discover charming towns like Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, stroll along picturesque beaches, and indulge in delicious local cuisine.
Travel Tips for Amalfi coast
Here are the travel tips to make the most of Amalfi coast:
Book early: If you are planning an Amalfi Coast Itinerary during spring or summer time, you must book accommodation, ferries, everything early. When you book in advance, you get the best options at the best possible price. The rates go up as the high season begins, and everything good gets sold out.
Don’t rent a car: We didn’t rent a car to spend 4 days in Amalfi coast, best decision ever! There is one main road that connects all the main towns in Amalfi coast. Driving in Italy is anyway not easy. And driving on this narrow cliffside road in peak summer traffic is just crazy. Plus, car parking is limited and expensive.
Where to base yourself on the Amalfi coast: This depends on your itinerary and budget. We had based ourselves in Amalfi town but our hotel hugging the cliffside was expensive. Plus, it had steep stairs going to the ocean below. We were prepared for a lot of climbing.
Sorrento offers better connectivity to towns and islands and lower accommodation cost that Amalfi coast towns. You can check out hotel options on the Amalfi coast here:
You can also opt for a day tour from Sorrento to Amalfi coast.
Avoid weekends: While planning your Italy trip, avoid spending weekend on the Amalfi Coast.
Start early: As with any crowded destination, you need to start exploring Amalfi coast towns early in the morning. This true for popular beaches to rent a beach chair or to hike a popular trail (avoid heat as well).
Wear flat shoes: There would be a lot of walking around and climbing stairs, and not just in the hilly area of Positano. So put on your comfortable shoes for walking around the Amalfi coast. If you are spending a longer time in Amalfi like 10-14 days, and going for hikes to Mont Vesuvius and the Path of the Gods, then don’t forget your hiking shoes.
Try the local cuisine: As with most parts of Italy, the best thing about your holiday would be the delicious local food. One dish local to this area is Pasta Puttanesca that tastes of the seashore. The coastal region offers some of the best traditional Italian food for you to enjoy.
Planning a trip to Italy? You may find these posts useful –
For a 2-week Itinerary: The classic two-week Italy Itinerary.
Italy has show-stopper cities: 4 days in Rome, One day in Florence, 2 days in Venice
Don’t forget Tuscany. Day trip from Florence soaking the beautiful Tuscan landscape.
Spend time in Lake Como in 3 days or experience Cinque Terre.
Take a day trip to Capri
Souvenirs: Good Souvenirs from Italy
Food in Italy: 21 of the Best Local & Traditional Italian Food you must try
[This post was originally published in 2019, and later updated in 2023.]
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Have you visited the Amalfi coast? Which is your favourite town or village there? Share with us in the comments below.
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I did Turino and Tuscany and couldnt do Amalfi coast and by the looks of it seems, that I must plan one soon. regards
Italy has so much to do and see, that you are bound to miss out on fabulous places. We couldn’t squeeze in Pompeii. Always another time.
yes agree