4 Important Tips You Need to Know Before You Visit the Amalfi Coast

This post is about 4 tips you need to know before visiting the Amalfi Coast.

So, you’re looking to visit the Amalfi Coast? Whether you’re looking for the budget friendly trip or the must visit guide, this post is for you!

The Amalfi Coast is often romanticized for its quaint towns built into the cliffs overlooking a glistening, blue sea. And I am here to you that all of the rumors are true. This little slice of Italy is truly one of the most stunning places you will ever visit! 

From the hikes that offer cliffside views all the way down to the beautiful beaches leading you to the pristine water, the Amalfi coast has plenty to offer any traveler looking for an adventure.

Personally, my trip began on the Amalfi Coast. We flew into Naples and hitched a ride to our Airbnb in Sorrento. The views alone will leave you speechless let alone all of the things to see, do, and eat!

I think I’ve buttered you up quite enough, so let’s get into the nitty, gritty details of everything you need to know before you visit the Amalfi Coast!

Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast:

Choosing a town to stay in along the Amalfi Coast can be quite daunting. However, I could not recommend enough the Airbnb I stayed in right on the Marina Grande in Sorrento. Trust me, the balcony views make up for the steep hill you have to climb every day to reach the bus station. The photo above is the view from our balcony!

Link to the Airbnb We Stayed In!

Sorrento is a great spot to base yourself because of the amazing food, shopping, and wandering opportunities which is why you will later see how I ranked it to be one of the top five towns to visit along the Amalfi Coast!

For those travelers on a budget, Sorrento is one of the cheaper main towns you will find lodging. Of course, you can stay in a much smaller town for cheap, but the hassle of transportation can make the experience a bit annoying.

I also recommend staying in the town of Amalfi. If you are trying to get anywhere along the coast, you will most likely have to make a pit stop in Amalfi to change buses or ferries. This makes Amalfi an amazing place to base yourself since it will cut your transportation time in half. The biggest perk of staying in Amalfi is that the buses run longer. So, if you find yourself wanting to party in Positano, you will not have to stress about catching the last bus back home to Amalfi. Speaking of transportation…

Transportation around the Amalfi Coast

There are a few ways to travel along the Amalfi coast, and I suggest you try them all. The first, most obvious form of transportation is by boat. There truly is no better way to experience the Amalfi Coast than by boat, and luckily for tourists there is a ferry system that allows us budget travelers a way to see the jaw dropping views of the Amalfi Coast from the sea.

Link to Amalfi Coast’s Ferry System!

Ferries on the Amalfi Coast

The ferry system is pretty straight forward. You can either book online which is recommended, or you can book at the kiosk by the dock of your departure. The only downside to using the ferries as your prime form of transportation is that the last ferries of the day are pretty early. Because the ferries do not operate once the sun goes down, there is the chance that you will miss out on the nightlife of some of these amazing towns. So be sure to keep that in mind.

For those able to spend some more money, you can always book your own boat to take you around whether that be a tour by sea or simply transportation back to your lodging. You can book these tours online prior to your trip, or you can simply walk down to the dock and ask the locals for a ride. Much like a taxi!

Buses

The next form of transportation is not for the faint of heart. If you are prone to motion sickness or vertigo, this form of transportation might not be for you. And that transportation would be the bus.

The bus system on the Amalfi coast is pretty great for getting you to and from your destinations. But be warned! The streets are narrow and along the side of a cliff making the experience more like a roller coaster than a relaxing ride along the seaside. In all honesty it is great fun to experience the road life of Italy. It’s a great time to people watch and really get to know a side of Italy you never expected to see.

Getting tickets for the bus is as easy as walking into the local tobacco shop or cafe, and asking the cashier or bartender for tickets! Of course there are the bus stations in most of the towns that sell tickets, but if you are trying to catch an early or late bus, those will not be open. Honestly, super easy I promise!

The only downside to the buses is when you are trying to catch one in the evening. Depending on where you are and where you are trying to go, the buses get full very quickly. And when they are full, they do not stop at each bus stop. Leaving you stuck in a town much more expensive than your budgeted Airbnb.

Story Time — That Time We Were Trapped in Positano!

Yes, this specific situation happened to me on my trip to the Amalfi coast. We was enjoying our aperitifs in Positano when we saw the time and decided to catch the 4pm bus back to Sorrento. We made our way up to the bus stop, and we  watched as the 4pm bus blew right by the bus stop! The others and I were shocked that the bus didn’t so much as stop to tell us they were full or that there would be another bus coming. So, we all waited for the 5pm bus. The 5pm bus blew passed us too! And there we all were again, hoping that the 6pm bus wouldn’t be as full. Our prayers went unanswered as not one but two 6pm buses didn’t bother to stop at the Positano bus stop.

I took matters into my own hands then. I chatted with the group of girls also angered by our situation, and they decided to try and ask the local shop next door if there was any other form of transportation back to Sorrento at this hour. They told us to try to walk to the bus stop before the one we were previously standing at in hopes that we could get a seat on the 7pm bus. 

We figured we would give it a shot, and if there was still no room, we would try to negotiate a taxi to take us. At our new bus stop, we watched as the 7pm bus passed right by us. A sight we unfortunately grew accustomed to. 

Enough was enough. We either hoped the final bus of the night would have room for us, or we begged the taxi service down the street to take us all the way back to Sorrento. The last thing we wanted was to be stuck in Positano with no hotel reservation!

So, my new Argentinean friends and I negotiated a taxi to Sorrento. The price was ridiculous, but we knew they were doing us a favor since they were closed at this time of night. As we were hopping into our expensive taxi, we watched the 8pm bus breeze right by our bus stop and laughed to ourselves at what an adventure this night had been. 

On the way back to Sorrento, we shared stories of our homes and of our recent adventures in Italy. Their trip was coming to an end just as ours was about to begin. They shared tips and recommendations as best as they could with their broken English and my high school Spanish. 

And even though the night had been expensive and not gone to plan, it was full of laughs among fellow travelers and one hell of a sunset.

Taxis

That brings us to the final form of transportation that I suggest you skip: the taxis. The taxis are ridiculously expensive even when you try to negotiate with them. Although they may seem more convenient, I highly suggest you save your money for a nice meal and take the bus. 

Now let’s get into the good stuff: where to eat!

Where to Eat on the Amalfi Coast:

You will find yourself quickly overwhelmed by the number of amazing options for restaurants. All of them boasting the best pasta, the freshest seafood, the sweetest wine. So, let me put your mind at ease and offer you the best places I ate at along the Amalfi Coast.

L’Antica Trattoria – Sorrento

Our first dinner in Italy was this beautiful restaurant right in the heart of Sorrento’s winding alleyways. Be prepared for mouthwatering food and excellent service. There couldn’t have been a better welcome than L’Antica Trattoria.

Pasticceria Sal De Riso Via Romago – Maori (Best Pastries on the Amalfi Coast!)

Of course, you’ll need to stop at this little café! This is the home of the delicious lemon delight! Feel free to sit down and take in the ocean view or grab some pastries to go find your own quiet little corner. Either way you must try as much as you can because it was heaven!

Pizzaeria da Franco – Sorrento 

In my next post I’ll be taking you through the things to see in each of Amalfi Coast’s famous towns. For example, while in Sorrento, you must visit the lemon groves. And there just so happens to be a perfect place to eat nearby! Enter Pizzaeria da Franco. Our first pizza of Italy was nothing less than spectacular especially after a long day of sightseeing. What could be more rewarding than a big beer and a big pizza?

La Limonaia – Sorrento

Our final night on the Amalfi Coast was spent at the adorable La Limonaia. A little bit of a walk from the main piazza, La Limonaia makes up for the walk by surrounding you in a bohemian wonderland! I absolutely loved the aesthetic of this restaurant! Of course, the food was great as well, but we had probably one of our favorite bottles of wine at this restaurant!

Trattoria Da Emilia – Sorrento 

Now, if you are going to listen to me and stay at the same Airbnb as me, then you won’t be able to resist the temptation of eating at Trattoria Da Emilia! You can’t miss this place. It was packed every night and for good reason. The night we ate here I wished for “a bowl of cheesy goodness.” And my, my did they grant my wish! The best eggplant parmesan of the entire trip! 

Restaurant Buca di Bacco – Positano

Although my first restaurant option for Positano was Chez Black, we ended up across the alleyway at this lovely restaurant. It had been a long day, and little did we know, it would be longer than we had planned (remember the buses being full in Positano?). After hiking the Path of the Gods, we were ready to feast! And this pizza on the beach did not disappoint. 

And of course, don’t forget the gelato! The trick to a good gelato is to find the shops that store the gelato in silver canisters. The shops that have mounds of colorful gelato in their windows will definitely be tasty to the American palate but not as delicious as the gelato in the silver canisters. Trust me on that one. And if you are having trouble deciding between flavors, you must try the lemon when in the Amalfi Coast. But anywhere else, pistachio is my go-to.

Everything You Need to Know about the Amalfi Coast

Need I do any more convincing, or have you booked your flight already? The Amalfi Coast is honestly one of the most beautiful places I have ever traveled to so far in my life. I already know I’d love to visit again to explore even more of the towns along the sea.

Stay tuned for more posts about the Amalfi Coast and even more about the rest of our trip through Italy!

Until next time…

This post is about the Amalfi Coast.