Exploring the Amalfi Coast, Italy's Stunning Coastal Paradise

Figure 1.  Amalfi Coast, Italy

Video 1.  Walking in Ravello & the Villa Cimbrone (YouTube link)

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s top destinations. With stunning sparkling, blue water, sandy beaches and quaint hillside towns it is just beautiful.  Where is the Amalfi Coast? Amalfi is 170 miles (275km) south west of Rome, or about three and half hours driving.

Ravello—Romantic gardens, heavenly views, and a world-class music festival define this Amalfi Coast jewel. The 13th-century, Moorish-style Villa Rufolo offers far-reaching views from its terraced gardens, and hosts indoor and outdoor concerts during the popular summertime Ravello Festival. Villa Cimbrone (a nice place to say "Ti Amo"), a medieval-style estate perched on a steep outcrop, is surrounded by another celebrated garden. 

Figure 2.  Ports and departures for Capri, Ischia, Positano, and Sorrento^[21]

The Amalfi Coast drive passes through many small towns, where speeds are slow.  The road is congested as buses and cars pull over to take photos of the coastline.  So, plan your trip there to be not a peak time.

Parking in and around the Amalfi Coast towns is limited. In Positano, large buses and cars are prohibited from entering – you have to park at the top and walk down. (And back up to get back to the car or bus.)^[10]

Video 2.  Naples Sorrento Amalfi Coast Capri (YouTube link)

Better Alternatives

Rather than sitting in traffic on a large bus and viewing the coastline from a window, on Walks of Rome’s Amalfi Coast by Boat tour, you can hop from town to town by boat. 

Boat services to Amalfi Coast towns are generally limited to the period between April and October.  Read [21] for 2021 Ferry schedules in the Gulf of Naples and Salerno (see also Figure 2).

Avoiding the traffic, congestion, parking issues and getting some breathtaking views from the water and more time to explore the towns of Positano (filmed in the "Under the Tuscan Sun" movie) and Amalfi.  The stretch from Sorrento to Positano is the least developed and most alluring.

Video 4.  Capri and the Amalfi Coast | Free Documentary Nature (YouTube link)

When to Go

The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is in the spring and fall, specifically May and September. During these months, crowds are largely gone and temperatures are the most comfortable, with highs in the 70s and 80s.^[15]

Source: Lonely Planet (Southern Italy)

References

1. 7 Most romantic hotels in Venice, Italy, for all budgets
2. Tips for a First-Time Visitor to Italy
3. Trento: The Loveliest Italian City You’ve Never Heard Of
4. 55 THINGS TO DO IN FLORENCE ITALY, BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES
5. Where to Go in Italy in Winter
6. Where to Stay in Venice on A Budget
7. THE BEST CITIES IN THE WORLD (OUR 20 FAVORITE CITIES RANKED)
• 3 Florence, 13 Cortona, 19 Venice
8. Bergamo, Italy: 6 Reasons to Visit Milan’s Lesser-Known Neighbour
9. The ultimate guide of what to eat in Naples, Italy
10. Rome to Amalfi Coast Day Trip by Boat, Train or Car
11. Boat-Hopping On The Amalfi Coast: Day Trip from Rome
12. Amalfi Coast boat tour from Rome by high speed train
13. Positano Travel Guide (good)
14. The ultimate Amalfi Coast guide (good)
• The best towns on the Amalfi Coast
• Positano
• Praiano & La Praia
• Amalfi and Atrani
• Ravello and Scala
15. Best Times to Visit Amalfi Coast | U.S. News Travel
16. 15 Europe winter city breaks
17. Under the Tuscan Sun [Book Review]
18. Villa Rufolo, Ravello - Amalfi Coast, Italy (good)
19. Villa Cimbrone, Ravello - Amalfi Coast, Italy (good)
20. Dream of Italy Season 1: Full Naples/Amalfi Coast Episode (YouTube video)
21. 2021 Ferry schedules in the Gulf of Naples and Salerno (Naples Bay Ferry.com)
22. Villa Cimbrone Ravello Italy Film 4K UHD (Vimeo video)
23. Amalfi.com