The colourful buildings of Positano on the Amalfi Coast as seen from above.

10 Wonderful Things to Experience on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast has drawn people from all corners of the world to its natural beauty for centuries. For generations, lovers and artists have gone there in search of beauty and inspiration and have undoubtedly left their mark on the picturesque towns like Positano or Ravello. With its proximity to the sea and a climate that allows for its vineyards, pastures, citrus and olive groves to thrive, there is no shortage of rich goods here. The Amalfi Coast is truly a feast for the senses. This sensual blend of cultural and natural treasures has earned the region a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. In this post, I list 10 wonderful ways to experience the Amalfi Coast.

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<3 Dominique

Taken at the vineyard of the agriturismo where I stayed along the Amalfi Coast.

1) Explore the coastal towns and villages

The colourful buildings that seemingly spill out from the dramatic cliffs over the Tyrrhenian Sea is the iconic image of the Amalfi Coast for me. It is definitely worth spending an afternoon exploring some of them for a truly authentic way to experience the Amalfi Coast.

A woman walks down dome steep steps towards the Amalfi Coast. — The descend from Ravello to Atrani.

There are 13 coastal towns and villages that dot the region and each has its own charm. The sophisticated resort towns of Positano and Amalfi need no introduction. The romantic town of Ravello has inspired many writers, musicians and painters for generations. These artists in turn have left their mark on this Amalfi Coast town and I recommend seeing its appeal firsthand. Quaint fishing villages like Atrani and Praiano offer a more leisurely and sleepy pace for those looking to soak in the local life.

A lady looks out from a terrace into a lush garden and she is framed by doors from a dark room. — Exploring one of Ravello’s picturesque garden villas.

Note that I recommend exploring the towns for an afternoon. The towns are pretty small and day trippers can crowd the popular tourist hubs like Amalfi and Positano. Unless you planned on shopping or have an unlimited budget for entrance fees and excursions, you might run out of things to do in these towns pretty quickly. I suggest an afternoon of exploring paired with another Amalfi Coast experience on this list.

A lady stirs a pool of gray water with a giant spoon. — Making world-famous Amalfi paper at the Paper Museum.

A lady smiles as she presents the Amalfi paper she just produced. — Making world-famous Amalfi paper at the Paper Museum.

Tip: to immerse myself in the local culture and get a taste of what it is like living on the Amalfi Coast, I did a local living small group tour with G Adventures. I loved this tour as I think it offered a more enriched experience than a day trip and at more reasonable price than if I had chosen to plan my itinerary independently. I highly recommend!

2) Go hiking

There are 124 numbered hiking trails in the region. These trails were converted from the ancient footpaths that once served as the only means to get from one village to another along the coast. Some of these trails date back to the Middle Ages. Today, these ancient footpaths serve as some of the most scenic hiking trails in the world. Undoubtedly, the Path of the Gods (Il Sentiero Degli Dei in Italian) is one of the most picturesque hikes in the world. You can find it on the Amalfi Coast!

A lady sits on the edge of a cliff looking at Positano from the Path of the Gods -one of many Amalfi Coast hikes. — At the apex of the Path of the Gods.

Don’t let the altitudes of the region intimidate you. There are plenty of easy trails to hike but there are also challenging trails that will reward you with panoramic views of the entire Sorrento Peninsula. Hiking is my favourite way to experience the Amalfi Coast.

A woman walks through trickling water in a cave. — The Valle Dei Mulini trail (which starts from the town of Amalfi) is one of the easy hikes along the along the Amalfi Coast.

For more information on hiking the Amalfi Coast, check out: 5 Breathtaking Amalfi Coast Hikes

3) Stay at some one-of-a-kind accommodations

The Amalfi Coast is expensive. The picture-perfect pastel hotels that dot the coastline come with a steep price and need to be booked months out in advance. There is no shortage of world-class hotels on the Amalfi Coast.

Looking out over the town of Pianillo from the agriturismo where I stayed during my Amalfi Coast visit.

Alternatively, I stayed at an agriturismo in the town of Furore. Agriturismos are formally regulated by Italian law and refers to any farming activity that brings people to visit a farm or ranch. If you’re looking for cheaper accommodations or to immerse yourself in local culture, I recommend staying at an independently-owned agriturismo.

A woman in a long dress walks down a stone path into a grove along the Amalfi Coast at sunset. — Walking down into the agriturismo’s garden and groves.

I stayed at the Agriturismo Sant’Alfonso. My accommodations (booked by G Adventures) included breakfast and dinner with ingredients sourced right from the agriturismo’s grounds.

A terraced garden at sunset along the Amalfi Coast.

According to the owners, the main building of this agriturismo was a communal farm built in the 16th century. Eventually, one family bought out the other families from the farm and became the sole proprietors.

By the 1800s, the heir of the farm became a priest. He converted the farm into a monastery dedicated to Saint Alphonsus Liguori. Eventually, the Redemptorists were relocated to a bigger monastery in another town. The current owner’s great grandfather bought the property from the church. The property remained essentially abandoned for 80 years.

A chapel bell at sunset — The old chapel of the Redemptorists.

The current owner and her father lovingly restored the farmhouse in 1996. And you can really feel that love everywhere on the property. My stay at an agriturismo gave me an authentic glimpse into local life on the Amalfi Coast.

A restored fresco surrounded by modern dry wall.

4) Take a cooking class and eat like a local

Food is my favourite way to understand the local culture and I especially love learning how the locals make it. I feel like I get a deeper understanding of the place when I learn an authentic recipe or cooking method. The Amalfi Coast is dotted with agriturismos with many offering cooking demonstrations that use ingredients sourced directly from their grounds. What’s a more immersive way to experience the Amalfi Coast than through all five senses?

She’s demonstrating how she makes her wonderful pasta.

Tip: If you’re not staying at a place that offers cooking lessons, check out this highly rated cooking class with a meeting point in Positano.

5) Visit Pompeii or Herculaneum

While Pompeii and Herculaneum are technically not on the Amalfi Coast, they are close enough to visit for a day. I included them here in case you’ve dreamed of seeing the world-famous archaeological sites. They can definitely be paired with an Amalfi Coast itinerary.

A lady walks into a square in Pompeii with mountains in the backdrop.

Pompeii and/or Herculaneum are must-sees for those interested in ancient Roman history. But I don’t recommend seeing both in one day. The Pompeii archaeological site can be viewed like a modern-day city, it is massive with key sites spread around its boundaries. It would be like spending a day exploring a big city and then the richer suburb afterwards. My recommendation would be to spend one day exploring Pompeii with a guided tour and then to see Herculaneum and the crater above Vesuvius in a different day.

Preserved frescoes and mosaic floors at Pompeii.

And if you are pressed for time and had to choose between Pompeii and Herculaneum, here are my thoughts… If you’re a Roman history buff, I think you would regret not seeing the world-famous Pompeii. But with that fame come the crowds. Herculaneum on the other hand would have less people, is better preserved and is a smaller site to explore. The eruption victims at Pompeii left behind a plaster cast of their final moments; the skeletons of the victims at Herculaneum are still waiting for salvation at their boathouses.

Tip: checkout this highly-rated Pompeii tour to skip the lines.

6) Relax at a beach

There are plenty of small beaches from which to experience the Amalfi Coast. You can people watch from Amalfi’s Marina Grande or lounge at the quieter Fornillo Spiaggia at Positano. There is a beach to match every vibe.

A lady looks down at her feet while standing in crystal clear water with Positano skyline behind her. — Fornillo Spiaggia was my favourite beach on the Amalfi Coast but it was the rockiest of the beaches I visited.

General tips for enjoying the beaches along the Amalfi Coast:

Bring water shoes! From my experience, all the Amalfi Coast beaches I visited are rocky AF. If you plan on taking a dip in the Tyrrhenian Sea, water shoes will make for a more comfortable experience.
Pack a microfiber beach towel. If you rent chairs and/or an umbrella from a beach club, you have access to their facilities. If no beach clubs are available, it is tougher to find change rooms. My microfiber beach towel came in handy for impromptu jumps into the Tyrrhenian after an afternoon of hiking. It’s big enough to change under, barely collects sand and it’s lightweight and barely takes up room in your bag.

7) Sample a signature cocktail

The Amalfi Coast is the main producer of limoncello so make sure to sample some while you are there. If you are a teetotaler, you can sample the flavour in gelato form. Aperol Spritz may be popular in Instagram posts geotagged in Costiera Amalfitana but it actually originates from Northern Italy. If you can find it, try Amalfi-Style Aperol Spritz. The secret ingredient is limoncello liquor. Limoncello Spritz was my poison of choice during my visit.

If you’re not partial to cocktails, try one of the local wines. The Amalfi Coast is home to some rare grape varieties! Look for the following grape varieties (the best-known ones in Campania): Fiano, Falanghina, Greco (white), Aglianico, and Piedirosso (red). Amalfi Coast grape varieties absorb the volcanic soil, sea breeze and solar radiation of the region, giving them a unique flavour profile. In essence, sampling a local wine (or two) would be a literal way to experience the Amalfi Coast.

A hand holds a glass of red wine at the top of a mountain. — Sampling one of the local wines after reaching the Monte Tre Calli summit. Probably the most Amalfitan experience I had on my visit.

8) Sail around Capri

A guided boat tour is another way to experience the Amalfi Coast. I suggest doing one around the Isle of Capri. On this tour you will hear fascinating stories ranging from Greek mythology (many of the landmarks mentioned in Homer’s Odyssey can be found in the area) to which celebrities own villas on the island. You will also get some Roman history lessons as the ruins of Emperor Tiberius’ villa is located in Capri.

A lady sits in a boat and looks back at the Isle of Capri marina.

A lady looks out at the Isle of Capri from a boat.

In fact, Emperor Tiberius used the Blue Grotto as his personal indoor pool. For an additional fee, you can go into the Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra in Italian) during your boat tour. Beware that there is often a lineup for this 3-minute tour. If you’re pressed for time or money, I recommend skipping the Blue Grotto. I found it underwhelming and too touristy.

Blue Grotto interior in Capri — Unedited photo of the interior of the Blue Grotto.

Blue grotto interior in Capri with tour boats inside. — Unedited photo of the Blue Grotto.

9) Eat at a restaurant with unbelievable views

Sample the local cuisine while taking in views of Tyrrhenian Sea. For me, this is the definitive way to experience the Amalfi Coast! The Amalfi Coast region is renowned for seafood and Sorrento lemons. To avoid disappointment make reservations ahead of time! I didn’t have an issue with reservations for lunch but dinner may be a different story.

A ceviche dish on a table with backdrop of the Tyrrhenian Sea. — Views from my table at *Salvatore* in Ravello.

10) Visit Paestum

Paestum is a lesser known archaeological site than Pompeii and Herculaneum but is worth highlighting as a wonderful way to experience the Amalfi Coast. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of the best places to see ancient Greek architecture in all of Italy. The original name of Paestum was Poseidonia and was a colony of the Greek city of Sybaris. The city flourished and was at one point the largest city in the Gulf of Salerno. Barbarians seized control of the city sometime after 510 BC, leading to the abandonment of Poseidonia

Paestum got its UNESCO designation as there are three ancient Greek temples on site that are in a perfect state of preservation.