Travel guide to the best places to visit on the Amalfi Coast: tips on what to see and the best Amalfi Coast towns for all types of travelers.
The Amalfi coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and always appears on Italy itineraries as an unmissable stop.
This stretch of high coast tempts people with stunning sea views, pretty towns and delicious meals under lemon trees and it is so unique that Unesco added to its list of World Heritage Sites for its cultural and natural value.
The Costiera stretches for 40 KM along a rocky promontory in Campania, the region of Naples, Salerno, Pompeii and Capri and has several locations worth seeing.
But what are exactly the best places to visit on the Amalfi coast? And what are the best places to stay in the Amalfi Coast?
We are going to answer these and more questions in this article.
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The best places to visit on the Amalfi coast: most beautiful towns
I have arranged this list of places to see in Amalfi Coast in geographical order, moving from Vietri sul Mare, the town at the Eastern end of the Amalfi coast and finishing in Sorrento, to the Wast of the promontory.
Vietri sul Mare
Vietri sul Mare (sul mare= on the sea) is the first town you meet on the Amalfi coast coming from Salerno.
It is a small, pretty town famous for colorful handmade pottery, unique to this town (ceramica di Vietri) and it is a lovely place for a visit.
The town is small and the ceramic is literally everywhere: you can find it in shops, usually flaunting its bursting yellow pigments on pretty displays outside their doors, on along city walls.
The prettiest part of Vietri is the historical center.
This is a lovely area with small alleys and picturesque corners and is also where you find the Duomo, worth seeing for its Neapolitan Baroque style.
The town can easily be seen in a day or even less however, be aware that parts of it have steps and can pose mobility challenges.
Vietri is less touristy than other towns and tends to see lower prices and lower crowds.
It is a great place to stay on the Amalfi Coast if you want to stay away from the crowds, do not seek the glamourous life part of the coastiera is known for, want to shop for ceramic or need to stay close to Salerno and its high- speed trains to the rest of Italy.
Good to know: Vietri’s ceramics is wonderful and one of the best authentic souvenirs you can bring home from Italy!
Cetara
Cetara is a small fishing village you encounter immediately after passing Salerno and Vietri.
It was founded by the Saracens in 879 and the village still holds the memory of this past in the form of the watchtower, still standing in the ancient town.
Cetara is incredibly pretty and, as you approach its small harbor by the sea, will give you that picture-perfect view of the Amalfi Coast you have come all this way to see!
The main reason to visit Cetara, however, is not history but rather: its fish!
The town is famous for its anchovies (Colatura di Alici) and eating them in one of the restaurants overlooking the sea is, for many, an Amalfi coast highlight.
Did you already know about the anchovies of Cetara? You can find more fun facts about Italian food here.
Cetara is a small town with not much to see as such so it is a good base if you want to relax, eat and don’t mind traveling locally for sightseeing.
Cetara is one of the best places to stay on the Amalfi Coast for proximity to Salerno, pretty views and reasonably quiet atmospheres.
Erchie
Erchie is another tiny village on the Amalfi coast with an ancient watchtower overlooking two small beaches.
Like Cetara, it is not a place that offers much to see, but it is a pleasant stop and a lovely town for a quiet meal with Mediterranean views.
Maiori
Maiori is a little different from other towns on the Amalfi coast as it has some flat areas close to the sea as well as the rocky cliffs the Amalfi coast is famous for.
Because of this, Maiori is one of the best places to stay on the Amalfi coast for families with young kids or if you want to avoid as much as possible the challenging steps of its more vertical neighbors, especially Positano.
Maiori is not just convenient but pretty too.
Worth seeing are is lungomare and tower, the castle and the church of Santa Maria del mare and Palazzo Mezzocapo, which has interesting rooms and gardens.
If you don’t mind the challenge of stairs, Maiori also offers a typical Amalfi coast experience to those who venture up its ‘sentiero dei limoni’ (lit. lemons path).
A short walk to Minori that lets you pass through the lemon trees so characteristics of this area.
Maiori is the best town on the Amalfi Coast to stay for families, visitors who prefer to stay away from the crowd and don’t mind being away from the busyness and glamour of Amalfi and Positano.
Minori
Minori is the next village after Maiori and is connected to its neighbor not just by boat and road but also by a nice walk, the ‘lemon path’.
You can read our full travel guide to Minori here
Minori is a tiny village and one of the best towns in Amalfi Coast if you are looking for low key atmosphere yet tons of charm.
Dating back to Roman times, it keeps vestiges of this town in the form of Vila Marittima Romana, the most important Roman ruin in this stretch of coast, which can still be visited in the town center.
This is also the town that holds the remains of Santa Trofimena, the patron saint of this coast, celebrated in the local church.
Minori is a small, quiet village and it is a good place to stay for families, visitors who do not mind or seek out quite evening and patisserie lovers: Minori is home to Sal de Riso, one of the best known in Italy (and not just!)!
Ravello
Ravello hangs farther up on the Amalfi coast cliffs than other towns and doesn’t have access to the sea.
However, it compensate with stunning sea views: many of the most beautiful and expansive views you see in photos of the costiera are usually from Ravello!
Things to see here are its duomo, Villa Rufolo which have stunning terraces with incredible views over the coast and historical Villa Cimbrone.
Ravello is the best place to stay on the Amalfi coast if you don’t want to be on the sea but seek views and quiet evenings.
Ravello is also great for music lovers as, in July, hosts an important classical music festival.
Amalfi
Amalfi is one of the bigger towns on the Amalfi coast and a place with an important history.
One of the historical Italian Maritime Republic, Amalfi has been for centuries and an important maritime trade center and this important role is visible in the beautiful architecture of the city.
Important things to see in Amalfi are its stunning cathedral (do not miss the ancient cloister), the charming historical city center and its meandering alleys, the paper museum and the arsenal.
Compared with other towns on the Amalfi coast, Amalfi is bigger and busier.
It is a great place to stay if you want to the dynamism of a bigger town, do not mind the crowds and are interested in the history of this important town.
Amalfi is also one of the best town in the Amalfi Coast for ease of transport since it is extensively served by ferries and buses.
You can find my full guide to spending one day in Amalfi and the best things to see here.
Atrani
Atrani is a lovely town close to Amalfi that for centuries attracted the wealthiest families of the area with is beautiful position and interesting architecture.
Worth seeing here are la piazzetta, perfect for people watching) and Atrani’s beautiful churches.
Atrani is inextricably linked with Amalfi and is a great place to stay if you want all Amalfi has to offer and a small village setting.
Conca dei Marini
Conca de’ Marini is a tiny village, less famous than many of its neighbors, with some interesting churches and a nice beach.
This is a good place to stay on the Amalfi coast especially if you want to keep an eye on the budget as, often, it offers better prices than many other towns in the area.
Praiano
Praiano is one of the most charming villages on the Amalfi coast yet one many international tourists tend not to know about.
Maybe because of this, those who do venture here usually fall in love with it and consider it a hidden gem.
Praiano has lovely small alleys, a relaxed atmosphere and stunning views. This is a great place to stay if you are looking for a low key yet stunning location.
Positano
Positano is one of the most famous towns on the Amalfi coast and by far the most glamourous.
If you are coming to the costiera for Instagram perfect moments, aperitivo with the beautiful people and shopping, this is the place for you!
Fashion aside, what makes this town special is the fact that it is vertical.
Literally, the town develops over a cliff and you move around going up and down sometimes challenging sets of stairs.
This can be a problem if you have mobility issues or are traveling with young kids.
However, if you can take it, the colorful houses and the views are worth it.
Positano is the best Amalfi Coast town to experience glamour as well as pretty views and it is most suited to visitors with a generous budget.
Sorrento
Sorrento is not technically on the Amalfi coast but rather on the costiera sorrentina, on the other side of the promontory.
However, it belongs on this list because it shares some of the atmospheres of the Amalfi coast and it is also the best getaway to the area in terms of transport option (it is served by the train, ferries and buses).
Worth seeing in Sorrento are Piazza Tasso, bursting with shops and cafes, the views from Villa Comunale and the duomo.
Not to be missed is the Sorrento Food Tour by the Gourmet Girls that will allow you to tap into the delicious food of this area!
I hope you enjoyed this overview of the most beautiful places on the Amalfi coast. Happy travel planning!