5-Day Amalfi Coast Road Trip Itinerary: The Azure Coast | Travileer

Five days on a coastline where every hairpin turn reveals another shade of impossible blue.

The Amalfi Coast is Italy operating at full capacity — lemon groves terraced into sea cliffs, pastel villages that spill down hillsides like watercolors left in the rain, and a kitchen tradition that treats simplicity as the highest art. This five-day road trip winds from Sorrento to Ravello, with a day trip to Capri and a hike along the Path of the Gods that will recalibrate your sense of what a coastline can be.

Trip details

  • Destination: Amalfi Coast, Italy
  • Duration: 5 days
  • Budget: luxury ($3,000 - $4,500)
  • Best season: May - June or September - October
  • Best for: Couples, road trip enthusiasts, Mediterranean food lovers, hikers
  • Interests: coastal drives, Italian food, hiking, beaches, history, wine

Day-by-day itinerary

Day 1: Sorrento: Arrival on the Cliffs

arrival & orientation

  • 10:00 — Arrive in Sorrento · Sorrento, Campania
    Whether you arrive by train from Naples (Circumvesuviana, 70 min) or by private transfer, Sorrento greets you with orange trees, cliff-edge views, and the faint smell of lemons. The town sits atop a tufa cliff with the Bay of Naples spread below.
    Tip: The Circumvesuviana train is cheap but crowded. Guard your belongings. A private transfer from Naples airport runs about $80.
  • 11:00 — Explore Sorrento old town · Piazza Tasso & Via San Cesareo, Sorrento
    Sorrento's historic center is a labyrinth of narrow lanes radiating from Piazza Tasso. Via San Cesareo is the main pedestrian artery — lined with limoncello shops, inlaid wood artisans, and gelaterias with queues out the door.
    Tip: Buy limoncello directly from the small producers, not the tourist shops. The wood inlay (intarsia) workshops are genuine and fascinating.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Inn Bufalito (mozzarella bar) · Inn Bufalito, Sorrento
    A mozzarella bar dedicated entirely to buffalo mozzarella from Campania. Burrata, mozzarella di bufala, stracciatella — served with local tomatoes, basil, and the kind of olive oil that ruins you for the supermarket stuff forever.
    Tip: The degustazione plate lets you try five varieties. Pair with a local Falanghina white wine.
  • 14:00 — Marina Grande fishing village · Marina Grande, Sorrento
    Walk down the steep path from Sorrento's cliffs to the old fishing harbor. Colorful boats, fishermen mending nets, and waterfront trattorias that serve whatever came in that morning. It feels like a different century from the tourist strip above.
    Tip: A hidden gem that most day-trippers miss. The walk down is steep — wear sturdy shoes or take the local bus.
  • 15:30 — Bagni della Regina Giovanna · Bagni della Regina Giovanna, Sorrento
    A natural swimming pool enclosed by Roman ruins at the tip of the Sorrento peninsula. The 20-minute walk from Sorrento passes through olive groves and lemon orchards. The pool itself is sheltered, turquoise, and worth every step.
    Tip: Bring water shoes — the rocks are sharp. The path is unmarked but follow signs for "Bagni Regina Giovanna." No facilities.
  • 18:30 — Aperitivo at Terrazza delle Sirene · Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento
    Sip an Aperol spritz on the cliff-edge terrace of Sorrento's grandest hotel. Vesuvius rises across the bay, the sky turns apricot, and you understand why every 19th-century writer parked themselves on this coast.
  • 20:00 — Dinner at Ristorante 'O Parrucchiano La Favorita · O Parrucchiano, Sorrento
    Operating since 1868, this restaurant sprawls across a lemon-grove courtyard under a canopy of vines and citrus trees. The cannelloni — their original recipe — is the star. The ambiance alone is worth the trip.
    Tip: Request a garden table. The cannelloni alla Sorrentina (their original dish) is mandatory. Reserve ahead in summer.

Dining highlight: Inn Bufalito — Buffalo mozzarella & Campanian, $20-35. A love letter to buffalo mozzarella. Five varieties on one plate, each more impossibly creamy than the last, paired with tomatoes that taste like they were grown in sunlight and nothing else.

Day 2: Positano: Pastel & Blue

beach town & beauty

  • 08:30 — Drive from Sorrento to Positano · SS163 Amalfitana
    The Amalfi Drive is one of the world's great roads — a narrow ribbon of asphalt carved into sea cliffs with hairpin turns and vertiginous drops. The 50-minute drive to Positano delivers views that will stop conversation mid-sentence.
    Tip: Drive early to avoid traffic. The road is single-lane in spots — buses have right of way. If you are prone to car sickness, sit in front.
  • 09:30 — Check in at Hotel Marincanto · Hotel Marincanto, Positano
    Perched on the cliff above Spiaggia Grande, Hotel Marincanto is Positano as you imagined it — bougainvillea cascading over white terraces, tile floors, and a view from your balcony that renders language inadequate.
    Tip: Request a sea-view room — the price difference is worth every cent here.
  • 10:30 — Wander down to Spiaggia Grande · Spiaggia Grande, Positano
    Positano is a vertical town — everything involves stairs. Walk down (you will walk up later, and it will be humbling) through the cascade of pastel buildings, boutiques, and ceramic shops to reach the main beach. The pebble shore frames the town like a postcard that refuses to be cliché.
  • 12:00 — Lunch at Da Vincenzo · Da Vincenzo, Positano
    A family-run restaurant that has fed Positano since 1958. The seafood pasta with cherry tomatoes is perfection — local prawns, vongole, and pasta made that morning. The terrace tables overlook the rooftops tumbling toward the sea.
    Tip: The lunch menu is better value than dinner. Order the catch of the day — it is always impeccable.
  • 14:00 — Boat to Fornillo Beach · Spiaggia di Fornillo, Positano
    Catch a small water taxi from Spiaggia Grande around the headland to Fornillo — Positano's quieter, more local beach. The water is clearer, the crowd thinner, and the beach bars (try Da Ferdinando) serve cold Peroni with a view.
    Tip: You can also walk to Fornillo in 10 minutes via the coastal path. Bring snorkel gear — the water visibility is exceptional.
  • 17:00 — Church of Santa Maria Assunta · Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, Positano
    The majolica-tiled dome is Positano's architectural signature — green, yellow, and blue tiles glinting in the afternoon sun. Inside, a 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna presides. It is the spiritual heart of the town.
  • 18:00 — Sunset aperitivo at Franco's Bar · Franco's Bar, Positano
    Tucked above the main road, Franco's offers one of the best sunset perches in town. Negronis, prosecco, and a soundtrack of Italian jazz as the sun drops behind Li Galli islands.
  • 20:00 — Dinner at Lo Guarracino · Lo Guarracino, Positano
    Built into the cliff face on the path between Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo, Lo Guarracino is all open-air terraces perched above the sea. The grilled octopus and lemon risotto are outstanding, and the sound of waves below provides the only background music you need.
    Tip: Reserve a sea-facing table. The restaurant is built into the cliff — every table has a view, but the front row is special.

Dining highlight: Da Vincenzo — Campanian seafood, $30-50. Three generations of the same family, the same commitment to whatever the fishermen brought in that morning, and pasta that has no business being this good in a tourist town.

Day 3: Path of the Gods & Amalfi Town

hiking & history

  • 08:00 — Bus to Bomerano (Path of the Gods trailhead) · Bomerano, Agerola
    Catch the early SITA bus from Positano to Bomerano (or taxi). This is the starting point for the Sentiero degli Dei — the Path of the Gods. The name is not hyperbole.
    Tip: The bus runs infrequently — check the schedule the night before. A taxi costs about $30 and is more reliable.
  • 09:00 — Hike the Path of the Gods · Sentiero degli Dei, Bomerano to Nocelle
    A 7.8 km trail carved into the cliffs 500 meters above the sea. The path winds through Mediterranean scrubland, past terraced vineyards, and between limestone pinnacles with the entire Amalfi coastline unrolling below. Every turn is a new composition of blue, green, and white.
    Tip: Start in Bomerano (easier direction — mostly downhill). Bring 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and sturdy shoes. No shade on the exposed sections.
  • 12:30 — Lunch in Nocelle · Trattoria Santa Croce, Nocelle
    Nocelle is a tiny village at the end of the path with a handful of family restaurants. Trattoria Santa Croce serves simple, restorative food — fresh pasta, grilled vegetables, and cold beer. You have earned this.
    Tip: From Nocelle, 1,700 steps lead down to Positano (knee-punishing but scenic) or you can take a bus.
  • 14:00 — Ferry from Positano to Amalfi · Positano ferry terminal to Amalfi
    Take the coastal ferry from Positano to Amalfi town (25 min). The boat view of the coastline — stacked villages, sea caves, and watchtowers — is worth the ticket alone.
  • 15:00 — Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Amalfi) · Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea, Amalfi
    The 9th-century cathedral presides over Piazza del Duomo with an Arab-Norman facade of striped marble and a gilded mosaic. The Cloister of Paradise — with its whitewashed Moorish arches — is hauntingly beautiful. Amalfi was once a maritime republic that rivaled Venice.
    Tip: The crypt beneath the main altar houses relics of St. Andrew. The Cloister of Paradise is included in the ticket.
  • 16:00 — Wander Amalfi's paper-making alleys · Valle delle Ferriere, Amalfi
    Amalfi invented Western paper-making in the 12th century, and the tradition survives in tiny workshops along the stream valleys behind town. The Museum of Paper is small but fascinating, and the walk up the valley is lush and cool.
  • 17:30 — Gelato at Gelateria Porto Salvo · Gelateria Porto Salvo, Amalfi
    Lemon, delizia al limone, and sfogliatella gelato — three flavors that taste like the Amalfi Coast in frozen form. Eat it on the piazza steps and watch the late afternoon light warm the cathedral facade.
  • 18:30 — Return ferry to Positano & dinner · Positano
    Ferry back to Positano for a quieter evening. Grab a simple dinner at a trattoria in the upper town — your legs will thank you for not climbing back down to the waterfront.

Dining highlight: Trattoria Santa Croce — Simple Italian, $15-25. A hiker's reward in the tiny cliff-edge village of Nocelle. Nothing fancy — just honest pasta, local wine, and the satisfaction of having walked one of Italy's most beautiful trails.

Day 4: Capri: The Island of Emperors

island day trip

  • 08:00 — Ferry from Positano to Capri · Positano to Capri ferry
    The morning ferry to Capri takes 30-40 minutes and drops you at Marina Grande. Capri has been seducing visitors since Emperor Tiberius built his villa here two millennia ago — the allure has not faded.
    Tip: Buy round-trip ferry tickets at the Positano dock. Morning ferries are less crowded.
  • 09:00 — Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) · Grotta Azzurra, Capri
    A sea cave where sunlight refracts through an underwater cavity, turning the water an electric, phosphorescent blue. You enter in a tiny rowboat, lying flat to clear the cave mouth. It is brief, theatrical, and genuinely awe-inspiring.
    Tip: Arrive early — the queue builds fast. The grotto closes in rough seas. Combined boat + entry ticket runs about $20-25.
  • 10:30 — Funicular to Capri town & Piazzetta · Piazzetta, Capri
    The funicular from Marina Grande deposits you in Capri town, where the tiny Piazzetta serves as the island's living room. Grab a table at one of the four cafes, order an espresso, and watch the parade of beautifully dressed Italians and sun-dazed tourists.
  • 11:30 — Gardens of Augustus & Via Krupp · Giardini di Augusto, Capri
    Terraced gardens on the edge of a cliff with views down to the Faraglioni sea stacks and the serpentine Via Krupp switchbacking down to Marina Piccola below. The view from here is the defining image of Capri.
    Tip: Via Krupp is sometimes closed for rockfall. Even when closed, the view from the gardens is stunning.
  • 12:30 — Lunch at Lo Smeraldo · Lo Smeraldo, Capri
    A family trattoria just off the beaten path where the ravioli caprese (stuffed with caciotta cheese and marjoram) is the island's signature dish. Pair it with a cold Falanghina and a view of nothing in particular.
  • 14:00 — Chairlift to Monte Solaro · Monte Solaro chairlift, Anacapri
    A single-seat chairlift from Anacapri to the summit of Monte Solaro (589m). The 12-minute ride is open-air and slightly terrifying — your feet dangling above gardens and rooftops. At the top, the entire Bay of Naples unfurls in every direction.
    Tip: Buy a one-way up ticket and walk down through the forest (about 45 min) for a different perspective.
  • 16:00 — Swim at Marina Piccola · Marina Piccola, Capri
    Capri's southern beach, tucked into a cove beneath the cliffs. The water is crystal clear and the Faraglioni stacks loom just offshore. Rent a sunbed or swim out to the floating platform.
  • 18:00 — Return ferry to Positano · Marina Grande, Capri
    Catch the evening ferry back to Positano. The golden hour light on the coastline during the crossing is the kind of thing that makes you forget about your phone.

Dining highlight: Lo Smeraldo — Caprese, $25-40. Away from the Piazzetta markup, this family trattoria serves the island's signature ravioli caprese — a dish so simple and perfect it makes you question every complicated meal you have ever eaten.

Day 5: Ravello & Departure

gardens, music & farewell

  • 08:30 — Drive from Positano to Ravello · SS163 to Ravello
    Ravello sits 350 meters above the coast — a winding drive up from Amalfi that trades seaside drama for mountaintop serenity. The town has drawn composers, writers, and thinkers for centuries: Wagner, Forster, Gore Vidal, Virginia Woolf.
  • 09:30 — Villa Rufolo gardens · Villa Rufolo, Ravello
    The 13th-century villa that inspired Wagner's Parsifal garden scene. Terraced gardens cascade down the hillside with panoramic views of the coastline below. In summer, the Ravello Festival stages concerts on a platform suspended above the gardens — one of the most dramatic concert venues in the world.
    Tip: The lower terrace has the best views. If visiting during the Ravello Festival (June-September), book concert tickets months ahead.
  • 10:45 — Villa Cimbrone & the Terrace of Infinity · Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
    Walk through Ravello's quiet back streets to Villa Cimbrone, where the Terrace of Infinity — a marble balustrade lined with busts overlooking the entire coast — is the single most beautiful viewpoint on the Amalfi Coast. Gore Vidal called it the most beautiful view in the world. He was not exaggerating.
    Tip: Go early morning for the best light and fewest people. The gardens are extensive — allow time to wander.
  • 12:00 — Lunch at Ristorante Max · Ristorante Max, Ravello
    A refined restaurant in a 17th-century palazzo where the kitchen balances tradition with invention. The tasting menu showcases Campanian ingredients — local anchovies, Ravello lemons, hand-rolled pasta — with a lightness that suits the altitude.
    Tip: The terrace table overlooking the valley is the most requested in Ravello. Book well ahead.
  • 14:00 — Ravello ceramics & artisan shops · Piazza Duomo, Ravello
    Ravello's main square is ringed with ceramic workshops producing the hand-painted Vietri tiles that define the Amalfi aesthetic. Pick up a lemon-patterned plate or a hand-glazed tile as a souvenir that is actually worth keeping.
  • 15:00 — Drive to Naples or airport · Ravello to Naples (NAP)
    Begin the drive back to Naples airport (about 75 minutes via the A3 motorway). Alternatively, return to Sorrento for the Circumvesuviana to Naples Centrale if flying from elsewhere.
    Tip: Allow extra time — Amalfi Coast traffic is unpredictable, especially on weekends. Return the rental car in Naples, not at the airport, to avoid surcharges.

Dining highlight: Ristorante Max — Modern Campanian, $40-70. Campanian ingredients elevated with restraint. The setting — a palazzo terrace 350 meters above the sea — does half the work, but the kitchen more than holds its own.

Where to stay

Hotel Marincanto — Boutique luxury, $250 - $450 per night, Positano, above Spiaggia Grande.

Positano demands a hotel with a view, and Marincanto delivers one of the best on the coast. The cliff-edge pool, flower-draped terraces, and direct beach access make it the kind of place where you cancel your afternoon plans and stay put.

  • Cliffside infinity pool overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea
  • Direct staircase access to Spiaggia Grande beach
  • Terraced rooms with private balconies and sea views
  • Complimentary breakfast on the panoramic terrace

Frequently asked questions

How many days do you need in Amalfi Coast, Italy?

We recommend 5 days to experience the best of Amalfi Coast, Italy.

When is the best time to visit Amalfi Coast, Italy?

The best season to visit Amalfi Coast, Italy is May - June or September - October.

What budget should I plan for Amalfi Coast, Italy?

This itinerary is designed for a luxury budget of approximately $3,000 - $4,500.

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