The Ultimate 3 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary

With its cascading cliffs, bright water, and postcard-worthy villages, it should come as no surprise that the Amalfi Coast tops bucket lists around the globe–and this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary is designed to help you experience the best of it!

With just 3 days on the Amalfi Coast (and nearby), you’ll have time to experience exactly what makes this part of the world so very special, and why it has captured the hearts of everyone from Roman Emperors to movie stars to hikers to artists of all flavors.

There’s no doubt that the Amalfi Coast is a special (and pricey!) place.

Here’s how to make sure your 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary shows you the best of the region–including some very special places to visit near the Amalfi Coast that you probably already have on your radar!

Where Exactly is the Amalfi Coast in Italy?

It may be one of the top places to visit in Italy among first-time visitors, but the Amalfi Coast is, physically speaking, a very small place.

The Amalfi Coast is the roughly 50-kilometer coastline that runs along the southern portion of the Sorrentine peninsula in the region of Campania, Italy.

It is framed by the Tyrrhenian Sea, or more specifically, by the Gulf of Salerno.

Campania, the region that the Amalfi Coast calls home, is located in southwestern Italy.

The capital of the region is Naples, and the city is a common launching pad to use in order to visit the Amalfi Coast (though we definitely recommend stopping in Naples at least long enough to eat some of the best pizza in the world, and possibly for longer).

Technically speaking, places like Capri, Sorrento, and Salerno are not part of the Amalfi Coast, and of course, neither is Pompeii.

However, the winding highway on the peninsula that runs from Sorrento to Salerno is considered the gateway to the Amalfi Coast.

Most travelers putting together a 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary expect to spend time outside of the “true” Amalfi Coast.

Sorrento is even frequently touted as the best base for first-time visitors to the area, despite not being on the Amalfi Coast at all!

For that reason, this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary is designed with a first-time visitor to the area in mind–in other words, someone who wants to experience both the Amalfi Coast itself and its incredibly famous surrounding sights.

For ease of writing, we’re going to stick with calling this an Amalfi Coast itinerary, but technically speaking, this is more of an Amalfi Coast region or coastal Campania itinerary.

The Perfect First-Timer’s Itinerary for the Amalfi Coast

Day 1: Explore the classic towns of Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello.

Where else to spend your first day on the Amalfi Coast than in the coast’s undisputed best-known towns?

There’s no better introduction to an Amalfi Coast itinerary than these places!

Positano

Start your morning in Positano and watch postcards come to life: this is probably one of the most photographed towns in all of Italy, and there’s a good reason why!

Browse through the many shops, grab a coffee overlooking the beach, and consider renting an umbrella and stretching out under the sun for a couple of hours.

If you can’t wait to jump into that gorgeous water, consider also signing up for a boat tour as part of your first morning on the Amalfi Coast (or just rent a small boat to captain yourself)!

Ravello

Perched high in the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast is Ravello, known for its beautiful architecture, stunning views of the sea and coast, and its quiet, lovely atmosphere.

When you arrive, make a beeline for Villa Rufolo and its incredible gardens, which boasts an absolutely amazing view of the Amalfi Coast.

If you have time, be sure to stop by Villa Cimbrone as well, as well as wander through Ravello’s beautiful streets.

Amalfi

It should come as no surprise that Amalfi, namesake of the Amalfi Coast itself, is the largest town along the coast, as well as one of the busiest!

Close out the first day of your Amalfi Coast itinerary here with a visit to the city’s gorgeous cathedral (just don’t walk up the many stairs hand-in-hand with your partner, or legend says you’ll never get married!).

While you’re in Amalfi, be sure to also consider visiting the lovely Chiostro del Paradiso, and exploring the town’s lovely streets.

As the largest and also one of the most level towns on the Amalfi Coast, it’s a less challenging exercise to meander here than, say, in Positano.

Want to make your first day on the Amalfi Coast easy and delightful?

Book an epic Amalfi Coast tour that covers Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi today!

Day 2: Take a day trip to Capri.

Glamorous Capri is among the best-known and most magnificent sights near the Amalfi Coast, and a 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary would not be complete without a trip there!

Day tours to Capri are an excellent value, and we highly recommend considering one (we took one similar to this from Sorrento and had a fantastic time), but whether you choose to go with a tour or visit independently, absolutely make sure that Capri is part of your Amalfi Coast trip!

Take a cruise around the grottos of the island (just don’t bother going inside the Blue Grotto–it’s an expensive time suck).

Instead, spend your time being awestruck by the views from Mount Solaro and the Garden of Augustus, sipping an Aperol Spritz in the Piazzetta, and strolling through Via San Michele.

We cover all the details about pulling off the perfect day trip to Capri in this blog post.

On a sunny day, it’s hard to imagine any place on this planet more stunning than Capri!

Book your organized day trip to Capri (complete with a boat tour) today!

From Sorrento | From the Amalfi Coast

Day 3: Hike the Path of the Gods + enjoy beach time OR visit Pompeii.

With only a few days in the area to work with, any 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary will require a little bit of sacrifice–so depending on your preferences, mood, and the weather, here are our best choose-your-own-adventure suggestions for the final day of your Amalfi Coast itinerary!

Day 3 Option 1: Hike the Path of the Gods and relax on (or near) the water.

If your idea of the perfect final day on the Amalfi Coast is to enjoy beautiful views and relax outside, we recommend starting your day by hiking the Path of the Gods from Bomerano to Positano.

Once you get down all those many, many stairs to reach Positano, reward yourself with a hearty seafood lunch, a sfogliatella or 3, and head either to the beach or out on the water to relax the afternoon away.

If you choose this option, we heartily recommend starting your hike as early as possible in the morning in order to avoid any congestion on the trail!

While you certainly don’t need to complete this hike with a group, if you’d rather not worry about transportation or finding your way, this guided hike of the Path of the Gods gets excellent reviews!

Day 3 Option 2: Explore Roman history at Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius.

If you’re more of a history buff than a hiker–or if you simply wake up to cloudy weather and less-than-ideal hiking and beach conditions–another fantastic option for closing out your Amalfi Coast itinerary is to pay a visit to Pompeii.

Pompeii is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world, and it truly defies words. You will not be squinting at ruins and imagining what might have been in Pompeii.

Instead, you will be strolling down roads as well maintained as many modern ones, walking in and out of intact buildings, and truly walking through a ghost town–a thriving city that one fateful day in 79 AD, simply stopped.

No day spent at Pompeii could ever be considered wasted, and if you get an early start, you’ll also likely have time to visit the crater of Mount Vesuvius (eerie and incredibly interesting, with stunning views of the coast), or Herculaneum (a smaller, wealthier city than middle-class Pompeii that met the same fate as its more famous neighbor, and is considered to be even better preserved).

This day trip is perfectly doable independently if you’re staying in Sorrento, but a guide truly does add so much context to these places.

A guided day trip of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius is definitely something you’ll get value out of, but even if you’d rather handle transportation yourself, we recommend considering touring Pompeii itself with an archaeologist.

Book your day trip to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius today!

Prefer to travel to Pompeii independently by train?

This Pompeii tour with an archeaologist will allow you to meet your guide at Pompeii!

Where to Stay When Visiting the Amalfi Coast

Deciding where to stay when visiting the Amalfi Coast is often one of the most difficult parts about booking a trip.

Not only is the area spread out and not incredibly simple to get around (it takes roughly an hour by bus to get from Positano to Amalfi, for example–it’s not exactly a hop, skip, and a jump away), and prices are high!

Sorrento is often touted as the best place for first-timers to the coast, and where we chose to stay on our first visit.

If you’re hoping to visit Pompeii or want to easily arrive independently from Naples via train, we would definitely recommend it–but looking back, staying right on the Amalfi Coast probably would have been a better fit for our needs.

If you want to focus most of your time exclusively on the coast, Positano and Amalfi are the most iconic (and easily accessible) places to stay on the Amalfi Coast.

Other spots like Praiano are also solid options, but be prepared to spend a lot of energy managing your transportation and/or renting a car for the duration of your stay.

I’ve outlined a few properties below to give you an idea of the kinds of prices and locations you’re looking at when visiting the Amalfi Coast–all of these places boast excellent reviews, but finding a location that is right for you is absolutely a matter of personal preference when designing your 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary!

A quick word of advice: given that the Amalfi Coast is a destination that trends toward small towns and small buildings–and therefore small hotels and boutique properties.

If you find somewhere you hope to stay, book it!

Popular hotels along the Amalfi Coast tend to sell out well in advance, especially during the summer in Italy, so if you have your heart set on staying in a particular property or town, we recommend staking your claim ASAP.

Budget

Ulisse Deluxe Hostel (Sorrento) — Though this property is called a hostel, it feels much more like a spacious hotel, with private rooms and a huge (but expensive) breakfast spread–especially by Italy standards.

This is the property we stayed at during our first trip to the Amalfi Coast, and overall we were quite satisfied–the customer service was great, the room spacious and clean, and the wifi decent.

It is a bit of a long walk (20 minutes or so) from the Sorrento train station, but the walk goes through the bulk of Sorrento and is pleasant enough!

Check rates and book your stay at Ulisse Deluxe Hostel!

Mid-range

Hotel Floridiana (Amalfi) — Located in the heart of Amalfi, less than a 5-minute walk from the ferry terminal, bus stop, and main square of the city, you couldn’t ask for a more central location in Amalfi than Hotel Floridiana.

Boasting near-perfect reviews and an excellent included breakfast, Hotel Floridiana is perfect for the mid-range traveler who is hoping to stay in the middle of the action of the Amalfi Coast without paying a luxury price tag.

Check rates and book your stay at Hotel Floridiana!

Luxury

Le Sirenuse (Positano) — One of the most iconic hotels along the Amalfi Coast, and arguably one of the most famous hotels in all of Italy, is the dreamy Le Sirenuse.

Home to truly magnificent views, a perfect location in Positano, first-class amenities, and the Michelin-starred La Sponda restaurant, Le Sirenuse is the perfect place to stay on the Amalfi Coast for those looking for a splurge.

If you’re planning your 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary as part of a honeymoon or anniversary trip, this just might be the hotel for you!

P.S. — If Le Sirenuse and La Sponda aren’t in the budget this trip but you still want to check out the views from this amazing property, head over to popular Franco’s Bar for a drink on their terrace!

Check rates and book your stay at Le Sirenuse!

Getting Around the Amalfi Coast

Somewhat surprisingly, given the general ease of traveling around Italy, getting around the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding region is a bit tricky to navigate.

Here’s the biggest thing to be aware of: trains do not exist on the Amalfi Coast.

You can take a train as far as Sorrento or Salerno, but from there, you’ll need to travel by bus, boat, car, or tour.

You can take the train (specifically the Circumvesuviana) from Sorrento to Pompeii if you’re planning on visiting Pompeii, but that will be the extent of train rides during this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary.

Also, sidenote: the Circumvesuviana train is a well-known pickpocket hotspot, and we’ve personally seen the aftermath of someone getting their phone taken there–so be very careful!

Here’s a quick overview of the pros and cons of the different ways to get around when visiting the Amalfi Coast!

Bus

A day pass (called a SITA ticket or pass) to ride the public buses along the Amalfi Coast for the day is the most cost-effective way to tour the coast… but it comes with significant drawbacks.

Not only do you have to be cognizant of the bus’ schedule (though the buses are notoriously late), but you also have to contend with the fact that the buses fill up and that you’ll often have to wait for several rounds (sometimes up to or over an hour) to actually board a bus.

And once you get on?

Standing room only is definitely a possibility.

Because of these challenges, with only a 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary to work with, we recommend looking into another option if it is available, especially when exploring multiple spots in one day along the Amalfi Coast.

Alternatively, wake up very early and get the bulk of your travel done before most visitors arrive for the day!

Boat

Ferries run between Positano, Amalfi, Capri, Sorrento, and Salerno, as well as other destinations along and near the Amalfi Coast.

However, the boats are season and weather-dependent, so double-check what’s running the day of your visit (and preferably have a back up plan, especially on the days you plan to arrive in and depart the area).

Reaching Ravello by ferry is, of course, impossible due to its location high in the cliffs.

You can browse schedules and compare prices for multiple ferry companies with Omio, which is a transportation aggregate we use across Europe (mostly for trains, but sometimes for buses and ferries too).

Browse ferries for your Amalfi Coast vacation today!

Car

Self-driving the Amalfi Coast by car (or even by Vespa!) is definitely an option–but only one we’d recommend to people who are very comfortable driving on narrow Italian roads with giant buses for company.

The Amalfi Coast itself is not an easy drive, and traffic gets extremely heavy.

In the surrounding area, Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius are (comparatively) easy to drive to.

If you hope to take a car to one of the outer islands, note that you cannot take one to Capri or Procida, but you can to Ischia (though check with your car rental company to see if they allow it).

Alternatively, if you want the freedom of a car but not the stress of driving, you can hire a driver to take you on a private tour via car during the day.

Shop rental cars to visiting the Amalfi Coast today!

Prefer to let someone else handle the winding road?

Book a private driver to tour the Amalfi Coast with instead!

Tour

Booking a tour to destinations on or near the Amalfi Coast is an excellent option if you don’t want to self-drive or navigate the area’s limited public transportation options (ie, risk waiting a long time for a bus and/or being stuck standing on a bus for an hour’s drive).

For the first day of this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary, for example, this tour is extremely popular, very well-reviewed, and is an excellent and easy way to see all Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello in one day.

Day trips to Capri also tend to be very good value, and we personally feel that Pompeii is best appreciated with an archaeologist along.

Book your Amalfi Coast tour that covers Positano, Ravello, and Amalfi today!

More Than 3 Days on the Amalfi Coast?

If you’re lucky enough to have longer than 3 days on the Amalfi Coast, you’re in for even more of a treat!

Consider adding a visit to Sorrento to your Amalfi Coast itinerary, which is a beautiful and relaxed town with incredible views of Mount Vesuvius.

You could also consider visiting Naples which, while fairly considered to be a far less luxurious location than the Amalfi Coast, is an interesting and vibrant city that we love dearly–not to mention the home of some of the best pizza you will ever eat in your entire life.

The islands of Ischia and Procida, though a bit lesser-known than Capri, are also both gorgeous nearby escapes that make fabulous day trips during your trip to the Amalfi Coast area.

And, of course, there are plenty of things to do on the Amalfi Coast itself, especially if you’re looking for a more leisurely trip!

Consider boarding a full-day boat tour of the Amalfi Coast for the day to snorkel, swim, and admire the famous coast from the water, soaking in the views from Praiano, or visiting Italy’s only fjord, the Fiordo di Furore.

What to Pack for this 3 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary

Travel Insurance — We don’t ever suggest traveling without travel insurance–anything can happen, and this is definitely a case of better safe than sorry.

Swim Goggles — If you’re hitting the beach, definitely add swim goggles to your Amalfi Coast packing list–they’re cheap, small, easy to pack, and make swimming so much more fun!

Comfortable Day Bag — We currently use Pacsafe’s sleek anti-theft backpack and love it, but if you don’t want to shell out the cash for this trip, that’s totally understandable.

Just aim for something comfortable to wear, not flashy, and medium-sized–we used my Northface Jester backpack leftover from my college days for years and loved it as well.

Money Belt — This is up to you: we no longer use one, but if you’re more comfortable having your passports on your person when visiting the Amalfi Coast, you can consider bringing one.

We used to use this one and had no complaints.

Dry Bag — Any trip that includes time on the water can benefit from a dry bag to keep your camera and cell phone safe (without leaving them behind)–and that definitely includes trips to the Amalfi Coast.

Sea Bands and Non-Drowsy Dramamine — If you’re prone to motion sickness like me, I strongly recommend adding Sea Bands to your packing list. I use them on all boats and the occasional bus, and if things get really bad, take some Non-Drowsy Dramamine as well.

I was thrilled to have these along both during our boat cruise around Capri and when riding the bus along the Amalfi Coast’s winding roads.

International Driving Permit — If you’re coming from outside the EU and plan to rent a car in Italy, you’ll need to make sure to acquire an International Driving Permit in your home country, before coming to Italy.

It is required for all car rentals in Italy, and while the rental company may not ask, it’s not worth the risk of being refused a car once you arrive or getting a fine if you’re pulled over to be without one.

Play it safe and if you plan to drive during your trip, add an International Driving Permit to your Italy packing list!

Travel Adapters for Italy — If you’re coming from outside of Europe, you’ll definitely need adapters for your electronics when visiting the Amalfi Coast.

Pacsafe — We can’t recommend our Pacsafe enough: this travel safe is affordable, sturdy, easy to pack, and will help keep your valuables safe in your hotel room (not that you should need to worry much about theft in Italy, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!).

Reusable Water Bottle — You’re definitely going to want to carry water with you as you explore the Amalfi Coast (especially during the hot summer). Cut down on plastic waste and bring a reusable water bottle instead!

Sunscreen — Because sunburns are never a good look in vacation photos, and definitely have no place in this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary!

Travel Journal — If you want to keep a travel journal, but can’t commit to a huge amount of writing each night, I can’t recommend the One Line a Day Journal enough–I’ve been using it for nearly 7 years now and adore it!

Read More About Visiting Italy

Have your Amalfi Coast travels all sketched out and eager to keep planning your trip to Italy?

We’d love to help here on Our Escape Clause!

You can browse our 100+ Italy blog posts here, or check out these guides:

• Our Delicious, Independent Naples Pizza Tour (Best Pizzerias!)
• How to Spend 2 Weeks in Italy (Itinerary for 14 Perfect Days!)
• 17 of the Best Coastal + Beach Towns in Italy
• How to Take the Perfect Day Trip to Lake Como From Milan
• 21 Essential Tips for Eating in Italy (+ How to Decode Italian Menus)