We spent almost 2 weeks exploring Italy’s dreamy Amalfi Coast in May 2022. Rather than hiring a car, we planned an action packed but realistic itinerary to see the region’s top highlights by train, boat and bus – and doing it without a car worked perfectly, so we’d do it the same way next time.

We’d already been to Naples on a different trip, so this time we landed in Naples airport in the evening and took a ride share straight to Herculaneum. Then we spent nights in Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Salerno before heading up to Rome by train.

Would we do the exact same places again next time? No, we’d skip Praiano and Salerno, cut a few days to save money and follow the exact 10 days Amalfi Coast itinerary we’re going to show you in this guide. It’s a busy itinerary with lots of moving around, but it hits the best parts of the coastline for the right amount of time.

This was us at the amazing infinity terrace in Ravello

Our trip was filled with pizza, pasta, wine, limoncello, aperol spritz, gelato, hikes, sunshine, beaches, ruins, museums, viewpoints, attractions and stunning photo spots. If that sounds like your sort of vacation, you’re going to love this itinerary. Read more about us.

In this guide we walk you step by step through the perfect way to spend 10 days exploring Italy’s Amalfi Coast for the first time, based on what we learned during our time in the area. Okay, let’s begin!

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Naples + Herculaneum: Day 1

Naples gets a bad rap for garbage in the streets, crime and generally being a bit sketchy. And we must admit we were surprised at how intimidating it was leaving Naples train station – even during the day. Plus, our accommodation had 3 different types of locks on the door, which speaks volumes.

But it’s also the most authentic place we’ve visited in Italy, the locals were more friendly than anywhere else we’ve been in the country, there’s lots of historical places to see, and the pizza in Naples is honestly in a league of its own.

These columns were on the very edge of Herculaneum’s ruins near houses with washing hanging out

Now, you could easily spend a few days exploring Naples, but it’s not part of the Amalfi Coast (which is what you’re here to see) and it’s not the most attractive place you’ll visit on this trip. So our advice is to spend a few hours in the city before swiftly moving onto Herculaneum by train.

If it was our first time visiting the area again, we’d book a flight that landed in Naples early in the morning, hop on the Alibus shuttle from the airport to Napoli Centrale train station, put our luggage in a storage locker and spend a few hours walking around the unique Centro Storico.

This is where you’ll see locals hanging out clothes to dry between apartments high up above narrow cobbled alleyways.

This was Mark’s delicious pizza at Ro.Vi in Herculaneum

We definitely recommend visiting the Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli (€20) to see the most impressive collection of artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum, and then you have to try a delicious pizza from any one of the famous spots along Via dei Tribunali (we ate at Donna Sofia).

After lunch, we’d head back to the train station, pick up our luggage, take a short train to Ercolano Scavi, check into our hotel and then spend a few hours exploring the lesser known Herculaneum ruins (€16). We really liked how small and quiet it was compared to Pompeii.

We took this photo overlooking a big portion of Herculaneum to show the smaller scale when compared to Pompeii

After the ruins, we’d grab dinner at Ro.Vi for pizza (if we didn’t already have one in Naples earlier) or Burger Vi.P. for a low key but tasty meal. We ate at both and they were great.

There’s some really great hotel options in Herculaneum like Vesuvius Palace Aparthotel and 7cento Vesuviano that will likely be the cheapest you’ll book on the whole trip.

Tip: If you’re shorter on time or you’re not interested in seeing the ruins, skip this whole day and take a train from Naples airport straight down to Pompeii or Sorrento.

Pompeii + Vesuvius: Day 2

In our opinion, Pompeii is an unmissable stop on the way to the Amalfi Coast. Whereas although we felt Vesuvius was a cool experience and the views were awesome, it didn’t blow us away as much as we expected.

The only way to reach the cone of the volcano is by hiking up a steep trail, and accessing the hike in the first place is challenging in terms of figuring out transport and tickets, which we’ll explain shortly.

Here’s Kristen at the summit of Vesuvius

There’s a few different ways you could do Vesuvius and Pompeii in one day. Let’s start with the cheapest and most efficient option, which is what we did:

We took this express bus directly from Herculaneum to Vesuvius, entered the park with our pre-booked time slot, hiked up to the crater and took the bus back to Herculaneum. It cost us €30 each for the bus with Vesuvius tickets included.

Then we picked up our luggage from the hotel, checked out and took a train from Ercolano Scavi to Pompei Santuario.

We took this photo near the very end of the self guided tour around Pompeii

After arriving into Pompei, we ate an excellent lunch at Na’ Pasta before spending around 4 hours exploring the ruins – here’s the official site to book tickets online (€19). It’s a huge site, and we did the whole self guided audio tour so we didn’t miss anything.

The cheapest alternative for you to consider is to take a train from Herculaneum to Pompeii early in the morning, explore the ruins, grab lunch and then hop on this local bus to Vesuvius in the early afternoon.

But you must book Vesuvius tickets (€12) in advance for this to work, and tickets are often sold out through the official site.

Here we are in Foro di Pompei – the heart of the Roman town that was destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79

So another alternative is to take this highly rated guided tour from Pompeii to Vesuvius, which includes transport, skip the line tickets to Vesuvius and a guided hike to the cone. It’s very fairly priced, which is why it’s rated so well.

There’s lots of great restaurants and hotels in Pompeii, so we’d say it’s the better place to stay (over Naples and Herculaneum) if you’re short on time. Check out Civico 29 and Maison de Julia, both of which have sky high guest ratings. Remember, we have written a full guide on exactly where to stay along the Amalfi Coast which covers every place you’ll visit.

Sorrento: Day 3

Okay, that’s the most confusing part of the trip done – we promise from here onward it’s super easy and relaxing!

After breakfast in Pompeii, we’d take a leisurely train down to Sorrento, walk along Corso Italia and dive into one of the many bars, cafes or restaurants in Piazza Tasso (a great spot for people watching in the sun) for a quick aperol spritz while we waited for our hotel check in time.

This street in Sorrento was jam-packed so we got this great telephoto shot to show the crowds

Then after checking in, we’d get lost in Sorrento’s maze-like cobbled pedestrian passageways filled with shops, boutiques, cafes and bars. There’s lots of architectural gems to uncover, so make sure you walk far and wide.

Our favorite spot was the Cloister of San Francesco, which is a popular wedding spot because it’s so attractive – you’ll know why when you see it in person.

There’s not a huge amount of attractions or sites to tick off here, but it’s a lovely place with a vibrant atmosphere that’s perfect for eating and drinking.

And one drink you absolutely must try is limoncello, a tasty lemon liqueur that’s made with Sorrento lemons. We might have had one too many before heading to Capri the next morning!

We loved everything to do with lemons in Sorrento so we couldn’t miss this photo op

Sticking with the food and drinks theme – if you want to try something unique, take a look at this top rated half day food and wine tour which spends time on a real family run farm. It looks amazing!

Or if you’d prefer to be a bit more active for your day in Sorrento, take a hike to Bagni Regina Giovanna – the remains of an old Roman villa on a headland with beaches and a fantastic swimming hole.

It took us around 45 minutes each way to walk, and we spent around 2 hours there. If you don’t want to walk, why not try this guided paddleboarding tour?

We ate a delicious pizza and drank a few cold aperol spritz at this restaurant in Sorrento

Sorrento is a very popular tourist town, so there’s loads of great restaurants and tons of highly rated hotels to choose between. We ate some delicious gnocchi at Fuoro, yet another Neapolitan pizza at Fauno Bar, and we stayed at La Villetta which was lovely.

Tip: Another way you could do Pompeii and Vesuvius is to book a guided tour like this one that does both sites starting in Sorrento, so you could head straight to Sorrento from the airport and do this tour on your first day.

Capri: Days 4-6

You might be wondering why we’ve allocated 3 days to Capri when there’s only 10 days altogether for the whole Amalfi Coast? Well, it’s because Capri is the best place to visit if you like keeping busy when you travel.

The other spots are great, but there’s not as much to do, so Capri is where you’ll get your fill of ticking off attractions (here are our favorite things to do in Capri if you want to learn more).

We took this photo on our walk up Via Krupp from Marina Piccola to the Gardens of Augustus

After breakfast, we’d head down to Porto di Sorrento and hop on an early boat to Capri. Honestly, the earlier the better because the port area in Capri gets ridiculously busy from 9:00am onward.

We’d avoid eye watering taxi prices – trust us, you won’t believe how expensive they are – and instead take the cheap funicular up to Capri town (€2.40).

It would be too early to check in, so we’d grab a coffee in Piazzette di Capri, drop our luggage off at the hotel (here’s our guide on where to stay in Capri) and begin exploring at around 9:30am.

This hidden doorway in Capri town made for a stunning photo spot

We’d start with a long walk uphill to Villa Lysis (€2), Villa Jovis (€6) and Parco Astarita, then we’d grab a late lunch at Lo Sfizio, before walking out to see Arco Naturale and hiking Via del Pizzolungo.

The trail ends at Belvedere Tragara – a stunning viewpoint overlooking the famous Faraglioni sea stacks – and from there we’d check into our hotel, freshen up, and head out into town for pasta, wine and gelato. We ate at Pulalli, which was great.

We took this selfie at the top of Monte Solaro in Anacapri

The next day we’d take our foot off the gas and slow things down. After a chilled breakfast and relaxing morning, we’d take a walk down to Certosa San Giacomo and the Capri archaeological museum (€10), two hidden gems not many people know about.

They’re located next to the famous Giardini di Augusto (€2.50) which has lovely gardens and amazing views, and that’s where we’d go next.

Then we’d walk down the awesome Via Krupp switchbacks before spending a few hours relaxing on Marina Piccola beach. Finally, we’d walk back to town for more pizza, wine and gelato.

This was Kristen’s tasty lemon ravioli at Sciue Sciue in Anacapri

On day 6 we’d get an early start and take a bus over to Anacapri to arrive at Villa San Michele (€12) as it opens at 9:30am – the museum is great and the views are superb, so don’t miss it.

Then we’d take the chair lift to Monte Solaro (€14) to soak up incredible 360 degree views, before grabbing lunch at Sciue Sciue.

Afterwards, we’d go to see the amazing floor mosaic inside Chiesa di San Michele (€3), before taking a bus to the Blue Grotto (€18) – which we think is overrated and overpriced but still fun to see.

Then we’d hike the awesome Sentiero dei Fortini from the Blue Grotto to Faro di Punta Carena, before taking two buses back to Capri town for dinner and drinks.

Positano: Days 7-8

Phew, we’d be pretty cooked after those action packed days in Capri, but we’d still get this ferry from Capri to Positano early to avoid the mid-morning chaos in Capri port. And after arriving at Positano Beach, we’d pop straight into a sea facing cafe for coffee and breakfast.

We took this photo of Positano as we sipped on late afternoon aperol spritz at Ristorante Bruno

Next, we’d drop our baggage off at the hotel (we recommend Villa Netuno or Casa Nilde) and take a relaxing stroll around the shops in town, before walking both sides of the n-shaped Viale Pasitea and Via Cristoforo Colombo which surround the cliffside town.

Later, we’d grab a super posh dinner at Ristorante Adamo ed Eva with amazing views (book in advance), before going for cocktails on the terrace below at Eden Sky Bar.

We couldn’t resist sneaking a quick photo from this stunning terrace at Hotel Montemare

The next morning we’d get an early start, hop on a bus from Positano to Praiano, get off at Bivio Vettica Maggiore (bus stop 8) and walk this exact route to the bottom of a climb which leads to the Sentiero degli Dei – or Path of the Gods.

This hike is one of our favorite memories from the Amalfi Coast, so we hope you can make it work for your trip too.

Now, the climb up from Praiano was steep and not especially well maintained. We loved it, but we’re strong hikers and we like a challenge – especially after eating so many carbs!

Our climb summited onto the main trail near its eastern terminus in Bomerano, and we hiked west in the blazing sun until reaching Nocelle.

Here’s Kristen hiking along the amazing Path of the Gods trail above Positano and Praiano

Right as we arrived in Nocelle, we grabbed lunch at Il Chiosco del Sentiero degli Dei, then we had ice cold lemon drinks at Lemon Point, before descending back to the main coastal road via a long path with lots of steps.

It ended right at a bus stop, with a bus that took a few minutes to get back into Positano. You can walk 10 minutes back into town from here but the road is a bit sketchy.

Once, back in town we’d spend an hour relaxing on Fornillo Beach before walking back on ourselves to spend another hour on Positano Beach.

We loved this view of Positano from the Sentiero degli Dei

Later, we’d claw ourselves off the beach and grab dinner in one of the overpriced restaurants on the beach front, knowing that the food quality wouldn’t be quite as good, but the atmosphere would be livelier.

Alternatively, if we had enough energy left, we’d take a bus up to Montepertuso to join this top rated cooking class making gnocchi and tiramisu. It looks fantastic!

Tip: If you don’t want to do the steep climb from Praiano to Path of the Gods, we recommend taking a bus from Positano to Nocelle and walking the trail as far as you want before turning back on yourself. You can then either take a bus back down to Positano or walk down the long steps to the bus stop.

Amalfi: Day 9

The next morning we’d get this ferry from Positano to Amalfi and head straight to Piazza Duomo for coffee, breakfast and more gelato.

After dropping our baggage off at the hotel, we’d walk all the way up Via Pietro Capuano to the Paper Museum (€7), which was one of our favorite hidden gem things to do in the Amalfi Coast.

Here’s Kristen with the paper she made in the Paper Museum in Amalfi

Next, we’d walk back down into Amalfi, take a look around the shops in town and then go through the long pedestrian tunnel to see Atrani.

There’s not a huge amount to do there, so we’d have a quick walk around, maybe grab a glass of wine and then head back through the tunnel to Amalfi.

We walked around the road to get this famous photo of Atrani

There’s even less to do in Amalfi than there is in Positano, so we’d just plan to take the rest of the day nice and easy with lots more pizza and wine.

We ate at Da Maria and it was fantastic, but there’s loads more places you can try. Or you could book this impeccably rated cooking class half day tour from Amalfi if you want to try something unique. It’s one of the highest rated tours in the Amalfi Coast.

There’s also heaps of great hotel options, but our top recommendations include Residenza Luce and Amalfi Centro for great value, or for a fancy splurge take a look Palazzo Don Salvatore.

Ravello: Day 10

On our last morning we’d take a bus from Amalfi to Ravello, one of our favorite parts of the Amalfi Coast (here’s the bus timetable).

And we’d start by taking a look around Villa Rufolo (€8), a Moorish villa built in the 1200’s with beautiful gardens and seriously stunning views overlooking the sea. It’s a superb photo spot!

The views from Villa Rufolo were amazing (we love the cypress tree)

Next, we’d walk south through town to Villa Cimbrone, a true luxury 5 star hotel with expansive gardens that are open to the public. We paid €10 each to go in, and it was one of the best things we spent our money on during the whole trip.

At the end of the lovely gardens, we came to the Terrace of Infinity, which turned out to be among the most visually spectacular viewpoints we’ve ever seen.

This view from the Terrace of Infinity in Villa Cimbrone blew us away

On the way back to the bus stop we’d grab lunch at Mimi Cucina, before heading back to Amalfi to grab our gear, check out of the hotel and make our way to Salerno by bus for onward travel.

Next Steps

We he hope our itinerary helps with planning your trip to the Amalfi Coast, but please let us know if you have any other questions in the comments box a little further below.

Still figuring out your plans for Italy?

Finally, if you’ll be visiting more places on the same trip, we recommend reading our Italy travel planning guide for helpful tips and advice.

Happy Travels,

Mark and Kristen

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Mark and Kristen spent 6 years traveling the world, visiting over 40 countries across 4 continents and more than 30 US states. They created Where Are Those Morgans in 2018 to help others plan the best possible vacations by writing authentic travel and hiking guides based on their real experiences.

Since the arrival of baby Maya in late 2024, Mark and Kristen’s extensive travels have slowed down but they still take plenty of trips. Where Are Those Morgans now helps millions of travelers each year to visit new places and hike new trails through information-packed blog posts and expert travel guidebooks. Read more about Mark and Kristen.

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