4 Amazing Amalfi Coast Towns You Must Visit

This post is about the best Amalfi coast towns to visit.

If you have heard anything about the most magical places in Italy, then you have definitely heard about the Amalfi Coast. Dozens of small hill towns and beach towns scattered along this scenic cliffside. Truly there are no words to ever describe how beautiful this small peninsula of Italy is. 

So instead of trying to explain how amazing the Amalfi Coast is, I am just going to pretend you already have your ticket booked! Want to know which towns are worth visiting on this once in a lifetime vacation? I’m here to help! 

Now the moment you have all been waiting for… 

The four best towns to visit along the Amalfi coast!

Sorrento

Sorrento is by far one of the best towns along the Amalfi Coast which is why we had chosen it as our homebase. Although Sorrento might seem out of the way while you are traveling through the Amalfi Coast, there are tons of transportation options. (Check out my Amalfi Coast post for all things transportation, lodging, and food!)

Apart from its beauty and small town charm, there are tons of things to go here.

Bagni Regina Giovanna

Sorrento’s best kept secret has got to be this stunning cove! A short walk along the crazy Italian roads, you will find this beauty. A cove that is perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Through the tiny gap in the rock forms, you can actually swim out into the Bay of Naples and get an amazing view of Mount Vesuvius!

But wait there’s more! Before you head down the stairs to the rocky shore, take one of the sandy paths around the cove to discover an old watch tower! There are dozens littered along the Amalfi Coast, so you have to visit at least one. And of course, it’s free of charge.

I recommend getting here as early as possible since the “crowd” starts coming at around 11am. Another perk to arriving early is being able to watch some of the locals fishing out of the water tower! You really shouldn’t miss this spot.

Marina Grande

If you have read my previous Amalfi Coast post, then you know that this photo was taken on the balcony of our Airbnb! I could not recommend this stay enough.

But yes, the next spot you cannot miss is Marina Grande. The winding alleyways to arrive at the shores of the Bay of Naples make this a magical little gem. It is perfect to visit in the afternoon when Trattoria Da Emilia opens for guests. And don’t forget to bring a swimsuit as there is another perfect chance to swim in the Bay of Naples at the free local beach! Marina Grande is a great little escape from the main streets of Sorrento.

Villa Comunale

What would this post be without a good sunset view point? You will know you’re in the right place when you see dozens of people lined along the lookout waiting to see the sky explode with color.

This is also an amazing view of Mount Vesuvius! I love when a lookout doesn’t involve a rough hike to reach that rewarding view, and this is one of those. If you are as lucky as we were, the church right across the street may have a beautiful Italian wedding taking place!

Via San Cesareo – best shopping on the Amalfi Coast

Looking to do some shopping? Via San Cesareo is the perfect place to get lost for a couple hours and find those little trinkets and souvenirs you wanted to buy. Don’t forget to stop in and try some free limoncello tastings. I can speak from experience when I say you will definitely be spending money on limoncello while you are on the Amalfi Coast.

Church of San Francesco

Who doesn’t love a pretty church? Especially when it is right in one of the main piazzas of Sorrento. Grab an aperitif and lounge in the square as you admire the ancient buildings and people watch to your heart’s content!

Lemon Grove – best limoncello on the Amalfi Coast

I saved the best for last! If you do anything on this list, you must visit the Lemon Grove in Sorrento. Hold off on buying any limoncello until you have tried the Grove’s. Not only do you get a free tasting of the treat, but you also get to wander among the trees the limoncello is made from. Sorrento’s lemon grove by far has the best limoncello you will taste along the Amalfi coast. I promise you. We bought two huge bottles to take home. It was so amazing, we had to check one of our carry ons, and if you know anything about me, that should say something to you.

Ravello – the best hill town on the Amalfi Coast

The next town might just be my favorite. Unlike the others on this list, Ravello is high above the sea. If you’re crazy, you can walk here from Amalfi (lots of uphill). But most people take a bus from Amalfi straight up to this beautiful little town.

We only spent half of the day here which I think is all you need if you are on a time crunch.

Here are a few things you can do while you visit.

Villa Rufulo

The main thing to do in Ravello is visit Villa Rufulo. There is an amazing history to this building, so I highly recommend you don’t skip the snippets of info inside. Known for its musical extravaganzas that are still performed today, Villa Rufulo offers a little something for everyone.

We were lucky enough to witness workers taking down the scaffolding from the music festival that happened just a few days prior. I am absolutely coming back here for one of the shows!

Not only is the villa itself worth the entrance fee, but the gardens and the views are jaw dropping. You will not find a better view in Ravello than on the balconies on Villa Rufulo. We spent more than an hour just wandering through the grounds of this place.

Obviously, I suggest you come early so you can have the whole place to yourself!

Twin Towers of Chiesa dell’Annunziata

A popular view from Villa Rufulo is the Chiesa dell’Annunziata and its twin towers. Of course you can wander down a couple flights of stairs to the church free of charge, but the best view of the church is from the balcony in Villa Rufulo.

Piazza Duomo

Ravello wouldn’t be an Amalfi coast town without a Duomo in a piazza. Ravello’s Duomo is quaint in comparison to Amalfi’s extravagant one, but this Duomo had some of the most beautiful doors of any Duomo we had seen on the entire Italian trip!

If you are on the first bus up to Ravello, I recommend grabbing a coffee (or hot chocolate) in the Duomo Piazza and taking in the quiet atmosphere of Ravello.

Piazza Vescovado – the best shopping on the Amalfi Coast

Ravello is the perfect place for wanderers. There are dozens of little shops selling handcrafted ceramics of all shapes and sizes. The only thing I regret on this entire trip was that I didn’t buy a tile from Ravello. Don’t make the same mistake I did.

Amalfi

And of course you have to visit Amalfi! One of the more touristy towns, Amalfi gets crowded very quickly in the day. And for good reason! Not only does Amalfi have the largest bus terminal on the coast, but it is also beautiful!

Amalfi Cathedral

Of course if you are going to see anything in Amalfi, you won’t want to miss the cathedral. The dramatic stairs leading to the entrance should be enough to convince how grand the place truly is. I however visited Amalfi in the afternoon and didn’t want to bother with the long line to see inside the Duomo.

Don’t forget that with every Duomo comes a piazza! Like most piazzas there are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and admire the Duomo from the main square. One little hidden gem on this piazza though is the Fountain of Sant’Andrea. Children (and childish adults) might find it amusing where the water spouts from on the statues in the center.

Ruga Nova Mercatorum

Just like all of the other towns on the Amalfi coast, Amalfi also has plenty of little shops to wander through. I found Amalfi’s shops to be a bit more touristy than the others, but I still found some little trinkets I admired.

If you walk just a few alleyways away from the shopping, you can find more local streets. I found these quite lovely in the fact that there were no crowds even though we were only a block or two off the main piazza.

Amalfi Cemetery – the best view of the Amalfi Coast

You need to hike to this viewpoint! There was absolutely nobody there in the middle of the afternoon! Don’t feel too bad about yourself when the local old women start passing you on the stairs. They’ve been doing that same walk for decades.

Although the hike is quite an uphill challenge, it is so worth it for this view!

Positano – most glamorous town on the Amalfi Coast

Positano is known as being the place where you might find a celebrity or two. That being said, you will find Positano to be pricier and more touristy than the others on this list.

However, I couldn’t skip Positano while making this list because everyone’s idea of the Amalfi Coast is the town of Positano. The beautifully colored houses stacked on top of each other on the cliffside overlooking the glistening sea.

Hotel Poseidon – the best view of Positano

Speaking of views! If you are looking for the full Amalfi Coast experience, arrive early for the opening of Hotel Poseidon’s bar. The view is supposed to be unreal!

That being said, we did not make it in time before the line was over an hour wait to enter. So we settled for the stunning view from the bus stop pictured above.

Franco’s Bar

Another bar with a view, Franco’s follows the same rules as Hotel Poseidon. Get there early or have fun waiting in line to try and catch a glimpse of the sunsetting over the beautiful Positano landscape.

Spiaggia Grande

You will find a lot of people congregated here either lounging on the beach or wining and dining at the plentiful restaurants along the walkway.

Having just finished hiking the Path of the Gods, we collapsed into the chairs of the nearest restaurant and devoured some pizzas all with this spectacular view.

Positano is truly a glamorous place to visit. It honestly lived up to my high expectations of the beautiful and ritzy Positano! That being said, if I ever come back here, I will plan to come in the morning to see the quieter side of the most popular town on the Amalfi Coast.

The Deli

Looking for that perfect Instagram shot? This is your place! I found this popular photo spot without even looking, and I just had to be that girl who took a few moments to pose for the camera. It is simply quintessential Positano!

Santa Maria Assunta

Don’t be shocked, but Positano has a Duomo too. I know can you believe it!? With all due respect, once you’ve seen Amalfi’s Duomo, every other town’s duomo dulls in comparison.

That being said, Positano’s Duomo truly is beautiful because it is so different than Amalfi’s.

Atrani – Hidden Gem of the Amalfi Coast

Surprise! If you made it to the end of this post, then I have gifted you another town to add to your itinerary!

Atrani is not a town many find when they research the best places to visit while on the Amalfi Coast, but I think that’s why I love it so much!

On the day we visited Ravello, we walked down to the shoreline instead of hopping back on the bus. Not only was this a faster and cheaper way to return to sea level, but the views were unbelievable! I plugged the beach below into Google Maps, and we followed the side streets down to this private beach.

Castiglione Beach

You honestly can’t visit the Amalfi Coast without having a beach day. And Castiglione Beach was the perfect choice for our relaxing few hours by the sea.

There are two sides of the beach. One is the free public side while the other is a more private experience. For $40 we got a private set of chairs and umbrella, access to snorkel gear, a shower, a changing room, and private dining service! We could order directly from our seats and have food and drink delivered to us without having to walk up to the bar. $40 for the whole day!

Although we only spent a couple hours here, it was so worth it, and I could not recommend this place enough.

5 Best Towns to Visit Along the Amalfi Coast!

There you go! The best towns to visit along the Amalfi coast! I still have dreams about this amazing segment of our Italian backpacking trip, and I am so happy with the way we pulled off five days on the Amalfi coast.

If you have visited the Amalfi coast before, which town was your favorite?

This post is about the best towns to visit along the Amalfi Coast.