The Amalfi Coast is a tourist trap for a reason! Our 4-day itinerary covers everything—from hidden beach clubs to the best gelato spots. We made the most of our short time in Italy’s top destination!
Day 1: Sorrento – Arrival & Italian Indulgence
We opted to stay in Sorrento at the Grand Hotel De La Ville which was just a short walk from the town center. The rooftop pool offered stunning views of the Italian coast. Our spacious room combined classic Italian style with modern comforts, and the breakfast buffet was a highlight—with eggs, bacon, fresh fruit, and pastries. It was the perfect base for exploring the Amalfi Coast.
Dinner At an Iconic Italian Spot
Our first night in Sorrento, we went to dinner at O’ Parrucchiano, the iconic restaurant where cannelloni was invented—and it was absolutely delicious! The restaurant is huge, with a beautiful garden setting, but it’s incredibly crowded due to it’s popularity. To avoid the long walk-in lines, be sure to book at least 15 days in advance to guarantee a spot. It’s a must-visit for authentic Italian cuisine and a taste of culinary history!
Day 2: Positano – Beach Clubs & Sunset Cocktails
One of my favorite days in Italy’s most Instagrammable city! One of my favorite parts of our time in the Amalfi Coast was kicking back and relaxing at Arienzo Beach Club. We had to take the ferry from Sorrento to Positano and then they had a boat that took us to the private beach club. If there is one thing I would recommend you do in Positano, it would be this beach club!
- Decently priced and you get a lot with the cost of the reservation! We got a bottle of champagne and lunch included 🍾
- You can spend the entire day here! They just have you schedule and arrival time.
- The privacy is amazing and something you do not get at the Positano beach.
- The service was fantastic and the food we had for lunch was DELICIOUS!
After spending the day in the sun, we explored Positano’s IG worthy streets. But we warned, the streets are ALL uphill! So be prepared to sweat if you are coming during the summer months. It is hot and bit of a workout. We had an early dinner at Chez Black. It’s right on the beach, the seafood is fresh, and the people-watching is top-tier. The ferries back to Sorrento from Positano don’t run super late so we had to be back to the port to get back home. This is not something that is super well-known when coming to the Amalfi Coast – so if you are trying to have dinner in a town you are not staying in, you might need to get a taxi or rent a car!
Late Night (Optional): We didn’t do this because we were so tired but if you’ve still got energy, I’d recommend hitting up Music on the Rocks, a nightclub built into the cliffs of Positano!
Day 3: Capri & Sorrento – Island Adventures & Rooftop Views
We spent our third day heading to the island of Capri! This day took us through an emotional rollercoaster. We booked a small boating excursion to take us to the island but the currents ended up being too strong and the boat couldn’t depart. Did we let that stop us? HELL NO! We found a larger ferry that was running that would take us to the island. This is definitely something to be mindful of when visiting the Amalfi Coast though – FERRIES SOMETIMES WILL NOT RUN! You have to be able to adapt and go with the flow.
Things to do while in Capri:
- Take a boat tour to the Blue Grotto and around the island (it’s a tourist trap and your time in the grotto lasts literally 3 minutes and they gouge you for tips at every turn lol but I loved it)
- Shop! This is the place to go if you’re looking to splurge or just buy some souvenirs. We found an amazing fragrance store right there in the port.
- Enjoy lunch by the water at Ristorante Da Gemma.
Stunning Dinner Views
We headed back to Sorrento on the large ferry later in the afternoon so we could get ready for our dinner at The Bellevue Syrene Hotel. They have a restaurant on their terrace with the MOST insane views of the coast of Sorrento! If you can make a reservation here – DO IT! It’s a pricey meal but it is worth it. We had the best lobster risotto I have ever had the pleasure of eating. I am still dreaming about it. Between the food, the views, and the cocktails – this was one of the best dinners we had on the Amalfi Coast. Post-dinner we went over to Grand Hotel la Favorita to have some beverages on their rooftop. They had some pretty snazzy cocktails that were served in trunks with smoke coming out of them and a live jazz band was playing. It was the perfect nightcap to a long day!
Day 4: Amalfi & Ravello – Coastal Charm & Villa Views
Once again, the pesky ferries struck a blow to our plan! None of the ferries were running along the coast from Sorrento to any of the other cities because of the currents. This is when having a rental car came in handy! We weren’t originally planning to drive it between the cities because the roads are TIGHT. But we were going to give it a go so we could see the rest of the coast! It was also BEAUTIFUL driving along the coast. Highly recommend especially if you are in a tiny car (we had a Fiat!) and aren’t scared of small roads.
Amalfi
- It was not super hard to find parking but we left early so this could have definitely been a factor.
- We had breakfast pizza and coffee at a little restaurant right on the beach.
- This town is definitely underrated. I loved it and thought it was so walkable and there was so much shopping.
- Tons of beach loungers! WAY more than Positano so could be a great place to enjoy the beach.
- Don’t skip out on a lemon sorbet!
Ravello’s Iconic Villas
After roaming the streets of Amalfi, we headed up to Ravello to see the two villas. If you have the transportation to go here, DO IT! This was my fiancé’s favorite place we went during our entire stay in the Amalfi Coast. The two villas we visited were Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. Villa Cimbrone was our favorite by far and a lot larger than Rufolo. The scenery was incredible. I mean people get married at Villa Cimbrone because the views and the grounds are THAT beautiful. We had a late lunch at the restaurant on the grounds that was delicious and there were hardly any people there so it was an extremely peaceful way to wrap up day!
Final Tips:
- Reservations are everything. Book restaurants and beach clubs early—especially in peak season.
- Bring comfy shoes. Those cobblestone streets are no joke.
- Avoid summer months – it is SO hot and humid. Try to go in May or September!
- Learn the ferries – make sure to check when ferry times leave from your city and book ahead!
- Rent a car – this saved us when ferries weren’t running and we wanted to explore other towns.
- Soak it all in. The Amalfi Coast is magic—slow down and enjoy every minute.
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