Itineraries for Your Trip to Amalfi Coast
2 Days in Amalfi Coast for First Timers
It’s impossible to grow up in Naples, as I did, without spending a lot of time exploring the Amalfi Coast. The crown jewel of the Campania region, the famous coast, is a short drive from Naples. It is an immaculate stretch of Mediterranean shoreline, with bijou villages perched on cliff sides, nearly tumbling into the Tyrrhenian Sea.
I recently returned to Positano to hike the Path of the Gods, a mountainous trail from Pianillo down the vineyard-decked cliffs to the sea. It was a glorious hike, capped off with swimming at near-empty Arienzo Beach and dinner on the cozy waterfront. To help you have a successful trip and experience the coastline's dazzling beauty, here is a 2-day itinerary for first-time visitors.
The Amalfi Coast is breezy but warm—in summer and early fall, it’s always beach weather or hotter.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a hike along the Path of the Gods, also known as Il Sentiero degli Dei.
If you’re starting from Sorrento, take the SITA bus, which runs along most of the coast, to Amalfi, the namesake town about halfway between Sorrento and Salerno. Get your bearings by visiting the Almalfi Cathedral and the Paper Museum. If you have time, explore farther afield on walking tours that include neighboring towns, such as Atrani.
After Amalfi, it’s time to explore the other cliff-hanging villages along this lovely coast. A guided drive can help speed things up, ensuring you have time to see Ravello, home of Villa Rufolo, with sublime views of the coastline, and Positano, where shops along wisteria-scented lanes sell handmade ceramics and artisan sandals—and where you’ll spend the evening.
Make your first evening on the Amalfi Coast one to remember with a pre-dinner sunset cruise—board your boat from Positano’s little port and cruise along the coast with a glass of prosecco. Listen to your captain share local culture and history tidbits, and even stop for a short swim in the golden hour light.
Your second day is more physically challenging, with the whole morning dedicated to hiking the Path of the Gods. I recommend starting from the trailhead in Pianillo; reaching it on public transportation is possible but requires additional hiking or too-long bus-and-train journeys. You’re better off riding the SITA bus back to Sorrento and joining a guided tour.
Once you’ve completed the Path of The Gods (and cooled off with a dip at Arienzo Beach), reward yourself with leisurely tastings of bounties from this fertile coast. Focus on the region’s famous fruit, the lemon, on tours exploring lemon groves, teaching how limoncello liquor is made, and offering multi-course lunches on terraces or gardens.
On your final evening, skip the restaurant scene and learn how to prepare local specialties with a hands-on cooking class. These gatherings present the chance to connect with local chefs or families in their kitchens. They often offer instructions on preparing multiple specialties with ingredients from local gardens—and a beautiful setting to enjoy them.
