How to Plan a Trip to the Amalfi Coast

I get these questions at least three times per week just from personal friends of mine.

• Where should I go?
• How long should I stay?
• Should I sleep in Capri or just do a day trip?
• Do I need to rent a car?
• Is it really hard to drive?

-I have all the answers to your questions since I have now been on the Amalfi coast more than 100x and counting. (Don’t hate me, I’m only here to help.)

Doing Amalfi Coast is awesome. Here is a tailored ideal trip for someone like me who wants to see the best places, doesn’t want too much touristy stuff and wants to have an awesome holiday in Italy.

How long and where should I stay in the Amalfi Coast?

Of course, this depends on how much time you have in your own life. One to two weeks is ideal- One week is minimum, two is not the maximum but definitely enough. A month is a dream come true.

Personally, I would choose a convenient base or two and go from there. Positano is the most ideal, but also the most expensive. If you really want to jump around then, Sorrento or Amalfi is your second choice. These are port towns so you can get everywhere you need to go by boat, which I will explain later why this should be your first (and only) choice of transportation.

Should I sleep in Capri or do a day trip?

Capri is a must. Everyone asks this when planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast. The beach clubs are amazing in Capri, the island is stunningly beautiful, and to be there means you are one of the lucky people in this world. Depending on what you want to do you can decide to sleep there or not. I vote for absolutely YES to staying in Capri for 2 nights. You won’t fully understand Capri if you go there as a day tripper. You will be one of the other 3,000 people who come, go up the mountain, take 1 million pictures, and leave. You will not appreciate it at all. Waking up in Capri and being there on the island at night with no way out is a magical feeling that you belong to a special part of the 1%  in the world. Trust me. If you decide to stay here is my restaurant guide to Capri.

Should I rent a car in the Amalfi Coast?

Unless you are the most adventurous traveler, or secretly wanting to be Mario Andretti, I would say no way. You don’t need one. (Although if you can drive a scooter that is a way better option.) If you listen to me and stay in a port town, Positano, Sorrento, or Amalfi, you can travel everywhere by boat. Most of the nice restaurants close by will even send a car to pick you up if it’s not in walking distance. There are taxis, of course, you can arrange by phone, which can be very expensive but will take you where you want. My friend and I stayed 2 weeks in Amalfi Coast and Capri and never got into a car once. If you do decide to be cool and rent a car or scooter here is my guide to the off the beaten path spots that a car could come in handy (but again, not necessary).

What should I do in the day in Amalfi Coast?

Besides the obvious of eating and drinking every Italian thing you see, the second choice would be a beach club. When we say “beach club” here it’s not what you think. When I first heard of a beach club I thought of an unce-unce wasted Eurotrash scene something like Nikki Beach in Miami on a Sunday afternoon. It’s different here (although one in Praiano is somewhat like that but way better lol). It’s just a sunbed in a beautiful private beach or concrete sea structure with a restaurant. Sometimes they play music but not common. The best part is that you can call and arrange a boat to come and pick you up and bring you to the beach club! Truly an Amalfi Coast jet-set experience. My favorite beach clubs are OneFire Beach (the rowdiest, Capo di Conca, (chill sunbeds in Conca dei Marini), and Pupetto Beach in Positano (classic Italian wonderful beach day).

Zeffiro (seaside restaurant cool and chill),  Da Adolfo, (fun Italian trattoria overlooking Positano) are restaurants on the sea that also have sunbeds.

This sums up the basic questions I think most of you are looking for. Anything you want to know please comment below!

Arrivederci, e Buona Vacanza!

xo,

Lyla