Are these vacations suitable for children?

Our walking holidays can be appropriate for kids if they are in good enough physical shape, as the paths are not technically demanding. To guarantee their safety and enjoyment, we suggest a minimum age of 8 years for children to join the tours.

What level of fitness is required for these vacations?

Our tours cater to everyone who is not a stranger to physical activity. We adapt the walking distance, elevation gain, and losses to make it less demanding, but you must still not underestimate the challenges. The paths often include steps that can be narrow and steep, sometimes with some exposure, so it might not be enjoyable for people afraid of heights. We suggest you bring hiking poles to help your knees do some of the hard work. You can prepare for our walking holidays by walking as many stairs as possible and getting used to the strain on your knees. However, if you still feel the hikes will be too challenging, the vast majority can be shortened and adjusted to your fitness level.

Which shoes are the most appropriate for walking on the Amalfi Coast?

Shoes are every hiker’s essential piece of equipment. Although the paths on the Amalfi Coast are largely well-trodden and even include steps, the ground can still be uneven. Therefore, we advise you to wear hiking boots with ankle support, preventing you from injuring yourself in case of fatigue. We also highly recommend bringing hiker poles to take some stress off your legs.

Is it advisable to travel by car or rent one?

While having a car might provide a slight increase in flexibility and independence, it’s not necessary, as you can mostly take a bus to reach the Amalfi Coast and travel between different locations there. Furthermore, traveling by bus will help you contribute to sustainable tourism by reducing your carbon footprint, and we fully support preserving the environment in its natural state.

How are the bus connections along the Amalfi Coast?

The bus connections are good, but if you are visiting when the coast is busy, it can happen that they are full and you have to wait for another. In such cases, if you wish to get started with your hikes early, you can always rely on taxis which we can coordinate for you.

15 Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast - Walking Holidays Amalfi Coast

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15 Best Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast

Fifteen things to do between Positano and Vietri, from villa gardens to boat trips, with three reached on foot and all of them fitted around a walking day.

The Amalfi Coast is 13 towns on a single cliff road between Positano and Vietri sul Mare. The best things to do in Amalfi Coast towns are spread along it: gardens in Ravello, a cathedral in Amalfi, beaches in Maiori and Positano, and ceramics in Vietri.

Many of them are also reached on foot. Old mule tracks and stone steps link the towns above the road, and a walking day here is usually over by mid-afternoon, which leaves the rest of the day for a swim, a boat or a villa.

The essentials:

Where: the 13 towns from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east
Getting around: SITA buses and ferries, with Amalfi as the hub
Best months: April to June and September to October
Tickets to book: the Valle delle Ferriere reserve and the Ravello Festival concerts

Seven Amalfi Coast Towns, West to East

Deciding what to do in Amalfi Coast towns mostly means choosing between them. The things to do in Positano, Amalfi and Ravello fit into the end of a walking day, as all three sit on the paths. The walking stages pass through these seven.

Positano

The Path of the Gods comes down into Positano by 1,700 steps from Nocelle. In the town, the church of Santa Maria Assunta has a majolica-tiled dome and a Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna. From Spiaggia Grande, Via Positanesi d'America, a five-minute path cut into the cliff, leads to the quieter Fornillo beach.

Praiano

Quieter than its neighbours, Praiano is the base for the Path of the Gods, which starts up the steps past the San Domenico convent. Below the village, Marina di Praia is a pebble cove with a few fishing boats, watched over by the Torre a Mare, a 16th-century Saracen tower. All five walking weeks stay here before the Path of the Gods stage.

Furore

Furore is called "the town that isn't there", as its houses are scattered up the slope with no square or centre. Artists have painted murals on its walls since the early 1980s. The Fiordo di Furore is a small beach at the foot of a gorge, reached by steps from the bus stop on the coast road bridge.

Coastal town with colorful buildings built into steep green mountainsides, viewed from the sea.

Amalfi

Once the capital of a maritime republic, Amalfi is where every SITA bus line on the coast meets. The cathedral of Sant'Andrea stands at the top of 62 steps built in 1203, and its Cloister of Paradise, built in 1266-68 as a cemetery for the nobles, has 120 slim columns. The paper mills are a walk up the valley.

Atrani

At 0.12 km², Atrani is the smallest comune in Italy, a short walk east of Amalfi along the coast. Its church of San Salvatore de' Birecto, from the 10th century, is where the dukes of Amalfi were crowned. CAI path 315 starts in the village and climbs the steps to Ravello.

View of Pontone village nestled between green hills overlooking the blue sea from a vineyard.

Scala

Up in the hills behind Amalfi, Scala has an 11th-century cathedral, San Lorenzo, and hardly any traffic. From its hamlet of Pontone, a path runs out through the pines to the Torre dello Ziro above Atrani. The Comune di Scala also takes the bookings for the Valle delle Ferriere nature reserve.

Ravello

Ravello sits 350 m above the sea, with two villas whose gardens end at the cliff edge. Villa Rufolo costs €8 and holds the Ravello Festival on its belvedere, from 4 July to 5 September in 2026. At Villa Cimbrone, €10 and open from 9:00 to 19:00, the Terrace of Infinity looks straight down the coast.

Things to Do on Foot

The paths are free, and they stay open all year apart from short closures after landslides. These three are the walks worth a morning of their own, and each one ends in a town with lunch, a bus and something else to see. Walk them in the morning, when the steps are still in shade, and you have the afternoon free for the sights in the towns and the sea.

1. Walk the Path of the Gods

The Path of the Gods running level along the grass terraces, with the Sorrento peninsula in the haze ahead

The Path of the Gods runs 5.3 km along the cliffs from Bomerano, above Agerola, to Nocelle, above Positano. It takes 2 to 3 hours, and walked in that direction it is mostly downhill, with Positano and Capri ahead of you the whole way.

A bus takes you up from Amalfi to Bomerano. At Nocelle you can take the small bus down to Positano or walk the 1,700 steps. The path is free, and no permit or booking is needed in 2026. Start early in summer, as there is little shade.

2. Walk Up the Valley of the Mills

A waterfall in the Valle delle Ferriere, the reserve at the top of the valley behind Amalfi

Behind Amalfi, the Valle dei Mulini climbs past the ruins of the paper mills that made the town rich. The Museo della Carta has been in one of the old mills since 1969, and it shows how the paper was made by hand. It is about 15 minutes on foot from the harbour, and entry costs €4.50, or €7 with a guided visit.

Above the mills, CAI path 325 follows the stream for 3.2 km into the Valle delle Ferriere, a nature reserve of 455 ha with waterfalls and old ironworks. Visits to the reserve have to be booked in advance with the Comune di Scala, as the ticket is not sold at the gate.

3. Climb the Steps From Atrani to Ravello

Atrani's rooftops and the bell tower of Santa Maria Maddalena beside the coast road, seen from above

Most visitors go up to Ravello on the bus. CAI path 315 climbs there from Atrani on stone steps, through the hamlets of Castiglione and Torello, past lemon terraces and houses that have no road. It is the old way up, about 370 m of climbing.

Start from Atrani's little square, a 10-minute walk east of Amalfi along the coast. Walk it in the morning, before the sun reaches the steps, and you arrive in Ravello in time to see the villas before the tour groups. Take the bus back down.

Sights in the Towns

Each of these takes an hour or two, so two fit into an afternoon.

1. Amalfi Cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise

The striped facade of Amalfi's cathedral of Sant'Andrea at the top of its 62 steps

The cathedral of Sant'Andrea stands at the top of 62 steps built in 1203, above Piazza Duomo. Its striped facade was rebuilt in the 19th century in the style of the original, and the crypt holds the relics of Saint Andrew, brought from Constantinople in 1208.

By day, the visit starts in the Cloister of Paradise, built in 1266-68 as a cemetery for the nobles of Amalfi, with 120 slim columns. One ticket of about €4 covers the cloister, the museum and the crypt. Entry to the cathedral itself is free at Mass times, early in the morning and after 17:00.

2. The Gardens of Villa Rufolo

Ravello Festival banners along the shaded entrance avenue of Villa Rufolo

Villa Rufolo, in the middle of Ravello, was built by a merchant family in the 13th century. Its lower garden is a terrace of flower beds above the sea, and it costs €8 to visit. The things to do in Ravello mostly come down to its two villas, and this is the first you reach from the bus.

In summer, the Ravello Festival puts an orchestra on a stage over the cliff, on the villa's belvedere. In 2026 the Ravello Festival runs from 4 July to 5 September, and concert tickets sell out weeks ahead.

3. The Terrace of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone

The small temple with the statue of Ceres at Villa Cimbrone, just before the Terrace of Infinity

Villa Cimbrone is a short walk beyond Villa Rufolo, at the end of a lane of steps. Its gardens are open from 9:00 to 19:00 and cost €10. A long avenue runs through them to a small temple with a statue of Ceres.

Past the temple is the Terrace of Infinity, a balcony of marble busts on the cliff edge. It is the best view on the whole coast, straight down to Minori and Maiori and across the Gulf of Salerno.

4. A Morning in Positano

The majolica dome of Santa Maria Assunta above Positano's beach, with the houses stacked up the cliff behind

Positano is the busiest town on the coast, so plan what to do in Positano for the early morning. The church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its majolica-tiled dome, holds a Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna, and it is at the foot of the town next to Spiaggia Grande.

From the beach, the Via Positanesi d'America, a path cut into the cliff, leads in about 10 minutes to Fornillo beach. Fornillo is quieter than the main beach, and it is where to swim. By noon, the lanes up from Spiaggia Grande are full.

On and By the Water

From the water, you see the cliffs that the paths run along. The Travelmar ferry between Amalfi and Positano now runs all year, and the private boats and the grotto boats work mainly in summer.

1. Swim Below the Bridge at the Fiordo di Furore

The coast road bridge across the Fiordo di Furore, with its small beach at the foot of the gorge

A narrow gorge cuts into the cliff between Praiano and Conca dei Marini: this is the Fiordo di Furore. The coast road crosses it on a high arched bridge, and a pebble beach about 25 m long lies at the bottom, beside a few old fishermen's houses.

About 200 steps lead down from the SITA bus stop on the bridge. Rockfalls closed the beach from 2017 to July 2020, so check that it is open before you go. The water in the gorge is calm and deep.

2. Take a Boat Into the Emerald Grotto

Amalfi's cathedral bell tower with the Molo Pennello pier behind it, where the boats for the Emerald Grotto leave

At Conca dei Marini, a fisherman found a sea cave in 1932 that is now called the Emerald Grotto. Light comes in under the water and turns it green, and rowing boats take you round the stalactites inside.

Boats leave from Amalfi's Molo Pennello and cost €10 return. The entry, about €7 with the rowing boat, is paid at the cave, which opens from about 9:00 to 16:00 when the sea allows. You can also reach it by bus and lift, from the coast road above.

3. See the Coast From a Ferry or Boat

A Travelmar ferry at Positano's pier, on the run along the coast to Amalfi

Travelmar's ferry is the cheapest boat trip on the coast. It runs from Amalfi to Positano in about 25 minutes for €10, past Praiano and the Fiordo di Furore, and in summer it is quicker than the bus on the slow coast road.

For a whole day on the water, an Amalfi Coast boat tour on a private boat leaves from Amalfi or Positano, with stops to swim in coves you cannot reach from land. Book the boat for a calm morning, as the sea usually picks up in the afternoon.

4. Pick a Beach: Maiori, Atrani or Marina di Praia

Maiori's long beach of sand and umbrellas, with its Norman tower on the point at the far end

Most Amalfi Coast beaches are small and pebbly, with private lidos that hire out sunbeds and a free public strip, usually at one end. Maiori is the exception: its beach is about 1 km of sand in front of the town, the longest on the coast, and good for families.

Atrani's small beach is a short walk from Amalfi and quieter than Amalfi's own. Marina di Praia, below Praiano, is a pebble cove between cliffs with a few fishing boats and a couple of restaurants. Go in the morning for a place on the free strip, as it fills up in summer.

Food, Shopping and Evenings

These are for the end of the day, after the walking and the swimming.

1. Visit a Lemon Terrace and Taste Limoncello

Lemons ripening under a wooden pergola, the way they are grown on the terraces above Amalfi and Minori

The Amalfi lemon, the Sfusato Amalfitano, is long and pointed, with a thick, sweet peel. It has been protected as the Limone Costa d'Amalfi since 2001, and the rules say it must grow under pergolas of wooden poles, usually chestnut, at least 1.8 m high.

Several family farms around Amalfi, Minori and Maiori open their terraces for tours, with a limoncello tasting at the end, and some run cooking classes. The Path of the Lemons from Maiori to Minori walks you through the same groves in 1 to 2 hours.

2. Eat Anchovies in Cetara

Cetara's harbour of small fishing boats, with the watchtower on the point above the town

Cetara is a fishing village at the eastern end of the coast, with few hotels and one of Italy's largest bluefin tuna fleets. The Torre Vicereale, a watchtower, stands over its harbour. Its colatura di alici, an amber anchovy sauce made in wooden barrels, has had DOP protection since 2020.

The dish to order is spaghetti with colatura, garlic and parsley, in one of the restaurants by the harbour. Cetara is the best place on the coast for fish, and it is on the SITA bus from Amalfi to Salerno.

3. Shop for Ceramics in Vietri sul Mare

A lane in Vietri sul Mare with painted majolica tiles and a small shrine set into the wall

Vietri sul Mare, the last town before Salerno, has made ceramics for centuries. Its lanes are lined with workshops and tiled walls, and the plates, tiles and lemon jugs sold all along the coast mostly come from here.

The Solimene factory, finished in 1954 to a design by Paolo Soleri, has a facade built of ceramic pots. Above the town in Raito, the Museo della Ceramica at Villa Guariglia is free, Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 15:00. Buy from the workshops rather than the souvenir shops, as most ship home.

4. Watch the Sunset From Praiano

The sun setting over the sea off Praiano, with the headlands toward Positano in silhouette

Praiano looks west along the coast, so its western end has the full sunset over the sea. Its terraces face Positano and the Sorrento peninsula, with Capri beyond, and the sun goes down behind them in summer.

Take a drink to the square by San Gennaro, a church of 1589 with a majolica dome, or book a table on a terrace. It is the quietest of the main towns in the evening, and it is also where the walking weeks stay before the Path of the Gods.

Walking Holidays That Take in the List

Our self-guided walking holidays link the towns on foot, and each walking day ends early enough for the things to do above. Each line gives the days that pass the entries above:

5 days, Best of Amalfi Coast: the cathedral on day 1, the Valley of the Mills on day 2 and the Path of the Gods to Positano on day 4
8 days, Amalfi Coast and Capri Island: adds the Valle delle Ferriere on day 3, a Path of the Gods loop from Praiano on day 5 and Capri on day 7
9 days, Highlights of Campania: four days from Amalfi to Positano, then Capri, Naples, Ischia and Pompeii
7 days, Mountains of Amalfi Coast: Monte San Michele and Monte Tre Calli, with 5,980 m of climbing, for strong walkers
11 days, Amalfi to Sorrento: the same first six days as the 8-day week, then Pompeii on day 8, Punta Campanella on day 9 and Capri on day 10

All five include the hotels, the luggage transfers and the route notes, and they run from April to November. The 11-day walk covers the most of this list, with Amalfi, the Valley of the Mills, the Path of the Gods, Praiano and Positano all on its route.

Stone archway overlooking a natural pool with a sea arch in Sorrento, Italy

11 days

Amalfi to Sorrento Walking Holidays

2/5 Fitness

2/5 Technical

from 1.945 €/person

The walking guide to the Amalfi Coast has every stage of these walking weeks, with distances and climbs.

Getting Between the Sights Without a Car

Amalfi is the hub: SITA buses leave its harbour for Positano, Ravello and Salerno, and the ferries leave its pier. A 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket costs €10, and buses fill up in summer, so buy tickets before you board, at a tabacchi or the ticket office.

The coast road on its arches above Atrani, the only road along the Amalfi Coast

Driving is not worth it. The road is narrow and has no pavement, and from 10:00 to 18:00 in August and September cars can only drive on alternate days by number plate. Some short legs are quicker on foot: Amalfi to Atrani takes 10 minutes along the coast, and the steps are the direct way up to Ravello.

What to Pack

Wear shoes with a good grip, even for sightseeing, as every town is built on stone steps, some worn smooth. Pack water shoes for the pebble beaches, swimwear, and a sun hat, as there is little shade on the paths.

A walker with two water bottles in the side pockets of a daypack, above the Gulf of Salerno

Churches, including Amalfi's cathedral, expect shoulders and knees to be covered, so carry a light scarf or shirt. For the paths, take at least 1.5 litres of water, as there are few places to fill up. Walking poles help on the long descents, above all the steps down to Positano.

Planning Your Days

The things to do on the Amalfi Coast are close together, so you do not need to rush. Walk in the morning, when the paths are cool, and keep the afternoon for a swim, a boat or a villa garden.

A walker at a viewpoint above Praiano, looking west along the coast toward Positano

Spend at least four days, and base yourself in Amalfi or Praiano for the walks. Leave one day with nothing planned, for the beach or the ferry. The self-guided walking holidays run from April to November.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Path of the Gods, the Terrace of Infinity at Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, and a boat along the coast. In Amalfi, see the cathedral and the Cloister of Paradise.

Climb the 62 steps to the cathedral, walk up the Valley of the Mills to the paper museum, and take a boat from the Molo Pennello to the Emerald Grotto. Atrani is 10 minutes away on foot.

Four or five days covers the main towns and one or two walks. A week or more lets you walk from town to town and add Capri.

Its towns built into the cliffs, its lemons and limoncello, and the views from Positano and Ravello. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997.

Yes, as day trips by ferry or bus, though none of them is on the coast itself. The walking guide to the Amalfi Coast covers the Capri and Sorrento stages.

The Amalfi Coast generally experiences clear, dry, and sunny weather from April until November. Thunderstorms are not common, but if they do occur, they form in the afternoon due to extreme heat. You can avoid unnecessary risks by scheduling hikes early in the day.

Meanwhile, hiking during a light rain is feasible as long as appropriate clothing is worn. In the event of severe weather, we can reschedule or find alternate activities for you.

The ideal time to visit the Amalfi Coast is early spring (April to June) and fall (September to November) due to mild and dry weather. During summer, it might get too hot for a pleasant hike. However, July still offers good conditions earlier in the day. In August, on the other hand, Italians celebrate holidays, so the coast can get pretty busy aside from the high temperatures. We suggest visiting earlier or later. A walking holiday is possible even during winter, but that is also when rainfall is more common.

The accommodations usually provide breakfast options for both vegetarians and vegans. Additionally, finding restaurants that offer similar menus should not be a problem.