The Amalfi Coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. Crystal clear, blue water stretches out for what may seem an eternity. The sunlight streams down through the towns, illuminating the streets lined with boutique shops selling everything from soap to handbags. However due to its incredible natural beauty it’s very, very easy to just sit back and do nothing but watch the water and eat a beautiful bowl of gnocchi. So to help the awe-struck traveller, we have compiled a list of 4 Great Tips for Staying on the Amalfi Coast, Italy.

Staying on the Amalfi Coast, Italy: Stay in Positano

Positano is the perfect hub to stay at. Photo via LonelyPlanet
Positano is the perfect hub to stay at. Photo via LonelyPlanet

Whilst the Amalfi Coast is not a particularly long stretch of land (Around 55 kilometres), it is undoubtedly worth stopping for as long as possible in the numerous towns that dot the coastline. Positano acts as a central hub, located roughly in the centre of Amalfi; it makes it very simple to take day trips in either direction.

Positano, like most of Italy, has a fantastic food culture. After a long day winding your way through the hills of the coast, there is nothing better than to sit down and watching the sun set over a steaming bowl of pasta. We recommend you splash out at Next2, a beautiful little restaurant located around the middle of the town; the views are almost as incredible as the food. I say almost because really, is there anything better than freshly stewed seabass? A dinner will cost around $40-50.

The Amalfi Coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. Photo via backroads
The Amalfi Coast is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful parts of Italy. Photo via backroads

Finally, the hotels are numerous and cover a range of prices. Whether you are fresh out of cash or are ready to splurge, Positano has great offerings for everyone. It’s recommended that you locate yourself near the top or in the middle levels of Positano, as it is much easier to navigate back up the hill the higher up you are. We recommend the Positano Art Hotel as a great way to get around the area for a midrange price.

Go to Sorrento and Amalfi

There is a lot to see and do on the Amalfi Coast and if you want to see it all you need to make trips. Lots of trips. At the very least you’ll need to see Sorrento and Amalfi, which from Positano, is two separate trips. There is a regular bus service which can take you to both towns, for a small fee.

The incredible Piazza Tasso. Photo via flickr
The incredible Piazza Tasso. Photo via flickr

Sorrento is a beautiful town with a plentiful supply of incredible structures and breath-taking scenery that should not be missed. The Piazza Tasso should be one of your first ports of call; it’s a great place to get some lunch and there are loads of shops around for browsing. Make sure that you explore all of the backstreets as there is an endless supply of cool boutique shops and restaurants. Also don’t leave before having some of the world renowned Limoncello.

The town of Amalfi has an incredible cultural background. Photo via flickr
The town of Amalfi has an incredible cultural background. Photo via flickr

Amalfi is another must; this beautiful seaside town offers a fantastically laid-back atmosphere and a great cultural hub for those who love history. Like Sorrento and Positano, the town has an absolute wealth of amazing buildings, usually built around the 14th Century. On top of this it also has fantastic eateries and loads of shops to keep the interest of even the most cynical traveller.

Pompeii

Pompeii is the most well-known archaeological site in the world and for good reason. The massive site is around 64-67 hectares and is comprised of numerous preserved houses and walkways. For many Pompeii is a pit stop to take whilst in Naples, however if you skip Naples and head straight to the Amalfi you can still get to this incredible destination by bus, or a 40 minute drive along the main highway.

The old city of Pompeii. Photo by Stephan Botha
The old city of Pompeii. Photo by Stephan Botha

As most know Pompeii was an ancient Roman City that was fully covered by about 4-6 metres of ash and pumice stones after the nearby volcano, Vesuvius erupted in 79AD. The energy released from the pyroclastic flow of the eruption is equivalent to a hundred thousand times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb.

Nowadays Pompeii is home to numerous tourist options, the best being a guided tour of the ruins (which can be organised at the site) or for the cheaper option you can hire pre-recorded audio of some of the history behind the buildings. This is extremely well recommended as the ruins are confusing and less spectacular without some type of informed history of the area.

Have a day on the water

The cruise boats of Positano offer a beautiful view of the coast. Photo via pinterest
The cruise boats of Positano offer a beautiful view of the coast. Photo via pinterest

It just wouldn’t be a trip to Amalfi without taking some time to relax on the water. There are few areas in the world that have the natural beauty that the Amalfi Coast has, so make the most of it by travelling around by boat. There are numerous services which offer day cruises all around the Amalfi coast, however the best ones are those that take you through Positano and Amalfi, and also show off the Faraglioni Rock and the Gardens of Augustus.

The Gardens of Augustus are a must see. Photo via tripadvisor
The Gardens of Augustus are a must see. Photo via tripadvisor

The best cruises will also let you stop off in some of the incredible hidden coves or beaches for a quick swim before taking off again to continue exploring this beautiful region.

Watch out however for the numerous individuals that try and grab you on their private boats for tours. More often than not these people will charge you excessively for a tour of the coast, and will rarely have the expertise of the commercial tours, which have the flexibility of speaking many different languages.