A Complete Guide to Backpacking Amalfi Coast

3 Days Backpacking Amalfi Coast Itinerary

Day 0: Sorrento

Since Sorrento is the most centrally located city in this itinerary, I highly recommend you base yourself out of here as you explore Amalfi Coast.

On the day of your arrival, after you have settled in your accommodation, you can start exploring Sorrento by visiting its beautiful old town and check out some important landmarks like Chiostro di San Francesco, a tranquil 14th Century monastery, perfect for escaping the crowds, stroll around Villa Comunale di Sorrento and check out the ocean view from there.

You can also spend the rest of the first evening in Sorrento at one of the many swimming areas and beaches like Peter's Beach and Bagni Salvatore, swimming, sunbathing, and really enjoying the beautiful coastline of Sorrento before we explore the rest of Amalfi Coast the next day.

For those who want to explore Amalfi Coast but do not want to deal with the transportation, you can also check out one of these organized tours that will allow you to see these places without having to worry about the logistics:

• From Sorrento: Full-Day Amalfi and Positano Boat Tour
• From Salerno: Day Trip to the Amalfi Coast by Boat with Drinks
• From Naples or Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip
• Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello Sharing Tour from Sorrento

Day 1: Positano

The first place we are visiting on the Amalfi Coast proper is Positano, the most picturesque town you will find here. This is the place where you will see the iconic colorful houses cascading down a steep hillside to the sea the Amalfi Coast is known for.

If you wake up early enough and was able to catch the first bus leaving from Sorrento to Positano, you might be one of the few people who have a chance to see Positano without tourists, which is not so easy to come by as this place is almost always crowded all the time.

Even way back in the Roman time, the city had been a popular destination for wealthy Romans, before it became a center of maritime trade during the medieval period, and eventually become a tourist attraction from the 20th Century to this day.

Traveling by bus, I highly recommend you get off at this bus stop so that you can walk through the most beautiful part of Positano first as the walking path zigzags its way along the cliff, overlooking the colorful cascading houses and the beach below.

As you continue to walk down the walking path, you will be passing through some of the prettiest parts of Positano that seem like they came straight out of a fairytale. From colorful houses and flowers to small markets selling fresh fruits and souvenirs, it is almost impossible to put into words just how incredibly breathtaking this place is.

Once you arrive at the beach, you will have the option to either pay to get into one of the many private beach areas and rent a sunbed for 25 EUR per day and get access to its facilities including toilets, bars, restaurants, etc.

Or you can go to the free strip of public beach which is very small and can get extremely crowded during the day. Unfortunately, this is a big problem in Amalfi Coast as well as the rest of Italy since more than 70% of Italian beaches have already been commercialized which makes it difficult for us backpackers to really enjoy nature for free, which is what it should be.

Despite that fact, you can still walk around the beach area for free and take photos so make sure you make it all the way to the beach before you head over to the next station. Also, there are many great viewpoints in Positano if you don't mind hiking around the area.

You can stroll along the narrow streets of Amalfi Coast and make your way to Costiera Amalfitana Positano along its winding coastal roads for an incredible view overlooking the sea. It is quite a walk through and with the summer heat, it can be quite difficult to tackle if you are not used to the heat so take it slow.

After you are done, you can walk back to the same bus stop you got off at and wait for the next bus to take you to our next destination, Amalfi, another old town since the Roman time which gave this coastline its name.

Amalfi Town

From Positano, it should take around an hour by bus before you arrive at Amalfi Town, another charming town known for its stunning coastline, historical architecture, and charming Mediterranean atmosphere, that you should definitely not miss.

Again, Amalfi is another important town with a rich history that dated back to the Roman Time but unlike Positano, there are many things to do here than just swimming and sunbathing at the beach.

Due to its proximity to the mountains, Amalfi is a great base to hike around one of the many mountain trails in the area. This town is also the starting point of the famous Path of the Gods, a scenic trail that offers breathtaking views of the coast for those adventure-seekers out there.

While you are in Amalfi, be sure to check out Duomo di Amalfi, a beautiful 9th Century cathedral known for its iconic Norman-Arab-Byzantine-inspired stripe facade as well as the 1800s frescoes you can find inside. It's a nice walk from the bus stop and one of the first places you should visit while here.

You can also hike up to Torre dello Ziro for an incredible view over Amalfi and the coastline or if you are not much of a climber, you can just walk up to Belvedere cimitero monumentale which should give you a pretty nice view of Amalfi from above as well.

Atrani

After you are done with Amalfi, go to this tunnel entrance located in the town square, walk through it for about 15 minutes, and you will arrive in Atrani, another picturesque town on the Amalfi Coast, known for its charming atmosphere and traditional architecture.

Other than its picturesque surrounding, Atrani is also known for its small tight-knit community, which gives it a unique and authentic feeling, unlike the other 2 towns we just visited.

While here, you can explore the town's winding streets, lined with colorful houses and traditional shops, and admire the beautiful views of the sea.

This place also has a much better public beach area than the other 2 towns boasting a significantly larger public beach with fewer people making it a great place to stop for a while and take a dip in the Tyrrhenian sea.

From here, you can also hike up to Villa Cimbrone Gardens, a lavish hilltop villa with richly decorated gardens offering dramatic views over the entire coastal line that rival those beautiful villas you find at Lake Como.

The hike is pretty strenuous and steep so be sure to bring water and pace yourself slowly. Depending on the time, you can also go all the way to Ravello and explore this historically rich town nestled in between the rolling hills of Amalfi Coast. While in Ravello, be sure to check out Villa Rufolo, a Moorish-influenced 1200s villa known for its cascading gardens and terraces, before heading to our next destination.

Vietri sul Mare & Salerno (Optional)

Depending on how much time you have left, you can continue along the Amalfi coast and visit Vietri sul Mare and Salerno before you make your way back to Sorrento and retreat for the night.

Like the other coastal town, Vietri sul Mare also has a beautiful view of the coast and sea as much of the town sits along a cliffside. If you decided to stay in Salerno for this itinerary, this will be the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and the first place you will visit.

Notable attractions in Vietri sul Mare you shouldn't miss are Crestarella, a beautiful beach tucked away behind a medieval tower, Villa Comunale Vietri sul Mare, a beautiful park with an incredible view over the coastline, and explore its winding roads around the Old Town.

You can also go further to Salerno by train and get off at Duomo - Via Vernieri station to explore the winding narrow streets of Salerno's old town and visit the impressive Cattedrale di Santa Maria degli Angeli, and ornate church built in the 11th Century featuring a large bell tower, many mosaics, statues, and relics, as well as one of the most beautiful crypts I have ever seen.

Since Salerno is a well-lived city like Naples, it may seem a little rough around the edges with old, not so well-maintained buildings, not well-lit streets, and can be a little dirty in some places but I think that is what makes Salerno so much more charming than the picture-perfect places we just visit.

This place is real and raw with locals especially living in it, unlike the other places which are manufactured to cater to tourists. This city is as authentic of an Italian city as it can get which brings out many of the perks you might not find in touristy towns.

The best part about Salerno for me is its street food and how incredibly affordable it was. I had a delicious mussel spaghetti for 6 EUR. 6! That is almost unheard of in this part of Italy. The city really has a special place in my heart, for sure.

To get back to Sorrento, you are going to have to catch the SITA bus back to Amalfi and change to another bus to get to Sorrento. It can take at least 2 hours to get back so be sure to plan your time accordingly. You can find the bus schedule from Salerno to Amalfi and Amalfi to Sorrento here.

If you do not think you will have enough time to explore on the first day, you can also leave Vietri sul Mare & Salerno for the second day and visit it after Pompeii or separate it to another day if you have a day to spare.

Day 2: Pompeii

On our second day, we are going to visit the famous ancient Roman City, Pompeii, the city that was almost wiped off the face of the planet by the gigantic volcano Vesuvius located not too far from the ruins.

Pompeii is known for its incredible preservation as the city was completely buried and preserved by ash and pumice following the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Before the eruption, Pompeii was a striving city of around 11,000 people and one of the biggest cities of its time.

The eruption buried the entire city under meters of ash, which in turn preserved the city and its buildings, as well as the remains of its inhabitants, all of which remain intact to this day.

Within Pompeii, you will be able to get a glimpse of what life in a Roman city like Pompeii was like back in the day as you stroll around its cobblestone street, surrounded by houses and villas.

In between these well-preserved structures, you will also find some incredible features like preserved wall paintings or beautiful floor tiles that provide us with enough details to imagine what the Roman houses may have been like way back when.

In some places, you will also find casts of the bodies of the victims of the eruption, which give a unique insight into the lives of the people of Pompeii. Basically, the cast bodies allow us to literally see the last moment of their lives. It was both eerie and fascinating at the same time.

Pompeii is incredibly big and you can expect to spend around 3 - 4 hours to really see them all. Be sure to visit Villa dei Misteri, a villa with well-preserved colorful frescoes, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Amphitheater of Pompeii, a large well-preserved amphitheater that can hold over 10,000 people in it.

From Sorrento, you just have to take the train from Sorrento Train Station and get off at Pompei Scavi Villa Dei Misteri, and you should be right at the entrance of the archeological site. The train ticket should cost around 2.5 EUR per person per trip and it should take no more than 20 minutes to get there.

Pompeii Archeological Park is open from 9 AM to 5:30 PM every day and you can buy an online ticket from here. If you want to learn about Pompeii firsthand with an actual archeologist, you can also go on an organized tour which will help you understand the finer details of Pompeii a little better.

There is also another well-preserved Roman city nearby that you can visit called Herculaneum which some claimed to be even more well-preserved than Pompeii and you can easily visit the area with a guided tour which will help organize transportation for you as well as guide you through each archeological sites in great details.

For those who want to visit Pompeii as well as other sights nearby like Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius, you can also check out one of these organized tours that will allow you to see these places without having to worry about the logistics:

• From Pompeii: Small-Group Pompeii and Herculaneum Tour
• From Sorrento: Pompeii & Herculaneum Tour with Skip-the-Line
• From Sorrento: Day Tour to Pompeii Ruins and Mount Vesuvius

Looking for a complete travel guide to Pompeii? Check out:A Complete Guide to Backpacking Pompeii

Day 3: Capri

Last but not least, you can spend your last day and visit Capri, a small island just off the coast of Sorrento, best known for its picturesque landscapes, and the Blue Grotto, a sea cave that is illuminated by an underwater light, creating a mesmerizing blue hue, a must-see if you are in Amalfi Coast.

There are several ways you can visit Capri. One is to do it independently by taking a ferry from Sorrento pier to Capri which should cost around 22 EUR per person per trip and takes about 25 minutes. You can book the ferry ticket here.

The ferry runs 3 times a day so you can take the 8:30 AM one from Sorrento to Capri and catch the last ferry from Capri to Sorrento at 5:05 PM. Doing it independently will save you a bit more money but if you want to see the Blue Grotto, you will have to go on another organized tour from Capri which should cost about 20 EUR per person.

For the easiest and most convenient way to visit Capri from Sorrento, you can also go on one of the many organized trips that will take you from Sorrento to Capri and visit all the tourist attractions such as Blue Grotto as well as give you plenty of free time to chill and relax. Below are organized day trips you might like:

• From Sorrento: Amalfi and Positano Full-Day Trip by Boat
• From Salerno: Day Trip to Amalfi Coast by Boat with Drinks
• From Naples or Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip
• Positano, Amalfi and Ravello Sharing Tour from Sorrento

Spend the entire day in Capri, relaxing at the beach, sunbathing, and swimming to your heart's content before you get back to Sorrento and complete your 3 days itinerary around Amalfi Coast and start heading back home.

When to Visit Amalfi Coast?

Italy can get pretty hot in the summer and so if you want the weather to be a little milder which is perfect for hiking and the crowds a little thinner, I highly recommend you visit during spring or Autumn from April to late May and September to October respectively.

If you just want the best weather for swimming and relaxing in the sun, you are going to have to brace the crowds and visit Amalfi Coast in the summer months between June to August.

Despite the area being crowded, there are ways to avoid the crowd such as visiting the towns early in the morning before the crowds arrive, etc.

Winter is not recommended since most restaurants and cafes are closed for the season except for a few guest houses and bed and breakfasts which are often open for those who are looking for a little adventure. Buses also won't run as often which will make traveling independently quite difficult without renting a car.

How Many Days to Spend on the Amalfi Coast?

Depending on how much you want to spend your time relaxing at the beach in each place, you can easily do the Amalfi Coast in one day if you wish or you can split activities into 2 - 3 days.

The most optimal time to spend on the Amalfi Coast is 3 days which will allow you to really enjoy the Amalfi Coast for a day, as well as spend time and explore the surrounding areas like visiting Pompeii and Capri.

How to Get to Amalfi Coast?

Naples is the closest city with the largest travel hub in the area and you should be able to find direct flights from anywhere to its Naples International Airport (NAP) without problems.

People also like to visit Rome with the Amalfi Coast and so if you are planning to do that, you can also fly into Rome and its Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO), and then they catch a train from Rome to Salerno or Naples.

From the US, there is one direct flight from New York to Naples offered by UNITED Airways that will take you straight to Naples in about 9 hours. Plenty of flights to Rome if you plan to go there first. You can browse through great direct flights from here.

From Europe, you have quite a lot more options here. You can either fly directly to Naples from places like the UK via Wizz Air/Ryanair/EasyJet, take a train from all the major train stations around Europe, or catch one of the many buses to Naples. Flixbus is highly recommended when it comes to bus travel in Europe.

From Asia, there is no direct flight from Asia you can check out many transit flights that connect via middle east countries like Emirates via Dubai or Turkish Airlines via Istanbul. The journey should take approximately 15 hours direct.

To find a cheap flight to Naples, I would recommend you use Skyscanner or Expedia to look for the cheapest route and schedule so you can compare and pick the best one.

Looking for a complete travel guide to Rome? Check out: 20 Best Things to Do in Rome

How to get from Naples Airport to Sorrento?

Once you arrive in Naples International Airport, you can then take the Alibus from the airport bus terminal for 5 EUR per person and it will take you to Naples Central Station in about 20 minutes. You can check the official schedule here and book a ticket online here.

From Naples Central Station, you can then catch the L1 train to Sorrento. Since the train is operated seperately from Trenitalia, you are going to have to be there and buy the ticket at the train station. It should cost around 5 EUR per person and takes about 1 hour to reach Sorrento.

How to get from Naples Airport to Positano?

For Positano, you are going to have to follow the same instructions I provided previously to get to Sorrento first and from there, you are going to have to take the local SITA bus from Sorrento to Positano. The journey should take about 1 hour and cost around 2.5 EUR per person. You can check out the bus schedule here and plan accordingly.

How to get from Naples Airport to Salerno?

For Salerno, it is a little easier as Trenitalia operates this route so all you have to do is get to Naples Central Station via Alibus the same way I mentioned previously and then catch one of the many trains to Salerno. You can find the train schedule and book a ticket here.

How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast?

For this itinerary, we are going to rely on most modes of transportation from buses to trains. Here us important informations you need to know to get around the Amalfi Coast effectively.

By bus: For traveling between towns along the Amalfi Coast, you can rely on the SITA bus which runs up and down the coast from Sorrento to Salerno.

For this itinerary, I highly recommend you get the COSTIERASITA card which cost around 10 EUR and you will get unlimited access to the SITA bus for 24 hours after the first validation. COSTIERASITA can be purchased from travel agencies in and around the train station in Sorrento or Salerno depending on where your accommodation is.

I highly recommend you get it once you arrive at one of these train stations from Naples. This will allow you to travel along the coast for a day which is exactly what we need for this itinerary.

For the bus schedules, you can check out here: From Sorrento to Amalfi and from Amalfi to Salerno or you can easily punch in the location you want to go on Google Maps and the app will let you know when and where to get the bus.

NOTE: Keep in mind that the buses can get extremely crowded during the day and you might not find seats or even places to stand inside the bus at peak hours. To avoid this, I highly recommend you avoid traveling at peak hours and stick to early mornings, and late evenings.

If that sounds like a nightmare to you and you would rather enjoy the place without having to deal with the logistics, you can also explore Amalfi Coast on an organized tour from Sorrento.

By Train: From Sorrento to Pompeii and back, you are going to need to rely on Circumvesuviana train L1 which runs from Sorrento all the way to Naples and back. You can get off at Pompeii along the way and it should take no more than 20 minutes.

Since the train is operating separately from Trenitalia, the main train system in Italy, you will have to get the ticket at the train station in Sorrento which should cost about 3 - 4 EUR one-way per person.

If you do not want to deal with the train or you want to travel further to Herculaneum as well, which is another Greek ruin, just like Pompeii but better preserved, you can also go on an organized tour from Sorrento.

By Boats: From Sorrento to Capri, you are going to have to rely on boats to get there but you can also explore Amalfi Coast from Sorrento or Salerno via boats which will eliminate all the problems you might encounter using buses like limited capacity and schedule.

If you are staying in Sorrento, you can go on this organized tour which will take you to all the highlights of the Amalfi Coast in 9 hours with plenty of free time to chill or you can also go on this tour if you are staying in Salerno. All in all, boats are a great way to get around Amalfi Coast if you don't mind being on an organized tour.

By Rental Cars: Of course, you can also rent a car but the roads are quite narrow along the coast, and finding parking spots can be quite a challenge. If you know what you are getting yourself into then of course, you can rent a car with the link below:

Rent a Car on the Amalfi Coast

How Much Money Do I Need for 3 days in Amalfi Coast?

From this 3 days itinerary, we can calculate approximately how much money you will be spending here as follows:

Accommodation: For 4 nights in Sorrento, you can expect to pay around 160 EUR for accommodation minimum considering you are staying in hostels.

Food: For 3 days, 3 meals a day in Amalfi Coast, you can expect to pay around 108 EUR for food considering you eat out every meal. It will be cheaper if you cook it yourself.

Transportation: For this itinerary, we will be spending around 59 EUR for transportation with 10 EUR for the COSTIERASITA card, 5 EUR for trains to and from Pompeii, and 44 EUR for ferries between Sorrento and Capri.

Activities: For this itinerary, you can expect to pay around 24 EUR for the Pompeii entrance ticket and that is it. You can expect to spend some more here if you wish to take guided tours in Pompeii as well as other places like Capri, etc.

Total Budget for 3 days in Amalfi Coast: 351 EUR

Is it Safe on the Amalfi Coast?

Amalfi Coast is pretty safe in general but since the place can get quite crowded, be sure to exercise precautions by not leaving your belongings unattended and always keep an eye out on your belongings at all times.

Keep your hands in your pockets when entering or exiting crowded places like a metro or a train station and make sure you are holding your phones and wallets tightly. Other than that, you should be fine traveling around Amalfi Coast.

Which tourist SIM card is best for Italy?

There are 4 major carriers in Italy, TIM, Vodafone, W3m, and Iliad, that offer prepaid sim cards tourists can buy while they are traveling in Italy. Unfortunately, with the rise of esims, having to be in the country to buy a sim card at a store is quite inconvenient and not ideal.

If you have a smartphone that supports esims, I highly recommend you take a look at this esim. They have a variety of data packages, price points, and durations for you to choose from ranging from 1 GB for 7 days costing only 5 USD to 10 GB for 30 days costing 22.5 USD.

The setup is fast and instant and you can buy it prior to your trip so you don't have to scramble your way to get one at the airport after a long flight. The data speed is also equivalent to what you get with a local sim card with 4G speed across the entire country.

Or if you are traveling to Italy as part of a bigger Europe trip, I highly recommend you get the regional Eurolink esim which will give you access to data from over 39 countries across Europe. I have personally used this esim on my 3-months trip around Europe and it has worked wonders.

For more information on esims in Italy, click here: Check Italy's Available eSim.

What to Pack for the Amalfi Coast?

As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Amalfi Coast, Italy:

• Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
• Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
• Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
• Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
• Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
• Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Amalfi Coast, Italy in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
• Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
• Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
• Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
• Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
• Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
• Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
• Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.

For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.

Further Reading for Central Italy

I hope you found this Italy travel guide useful. If you want to read more about Italy, here is a selection of articles you might like:

• First time visiting Italy? Here are the 15 Best Places to Visit in Italy.
• Want to see the highlights of Italy in 2 weeks? Be sure to check out our 2-Week Backpacking Italy Itinerary.
• Want to travel around Italy for one month, from the Dolomites in the north to Sicily in the south? You're going to love this backpacking itinerary packed with information: One Month Backpacking Italy Itinerary
• For a complete 7-day backpacking itinerary in Central Italy that will take you from Rome to Pompeii to the Amalfi Coast, be sure to check out: 7 Days Backpacking Central Italy Itinerary.
• Rome needs no introduction from me. From well-trodden attractions like the Colosseum to hidden gem spots like the Appian Way, here are the 20 Best Things to Do in Rome you shouldn't miss!
• Wondering what you can do in Rome in 3 days? Check out our 3-day Backpacking Rome Itinerary.
• Do not forget to visit the smallest city-state in the world, the Vatican City, while you are in Rome. Here are the 8 Best Things to do in Vatican City.
• One of the best-preserved Roman ruins in the world, you will definitely want to visit Pompeii while you are in Italy. Here is The Ultimate Backpacking Guide to Pompeii.
• Looking for a complete itinerary for Northern Italy? Check out: 2 Weeks Backpacking Northern Italy Itinerary.
• Not convinced by my words? Here are 125 photos that will inspire you to visit Europe.
• To view all articles about Italy, please visit the Italy Travel Guide page.
• Traveling in Europe can be cheap, really cheap. These are the 12 Cheap European Countries to Visit.
• Looking for more travel guides for Europe? You can find more on my Europe Travel Guide page.
• Or if you want something more specific to the region, visit our Southern Europe Travel Guide, Western Europe Travel Guide, or Central Europe Travel Guide pages.
• For more of my travel guides like this, visit my Destinations page.