5 days are just about perfect for exploring the Amalfi Coast with a very rich itinerary. What’s the best way to do it? Easy. Living and experiencing it like a local. How? Just follow our tips, and you won’t be disappointed. We know the area very well (especially by sea, thanks to our expertise in boat tours). We will suggest boat tours to you soon, along with other useful information. Like how to get around and reach these places. Ready? Let’s go.
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The Itinerary
For us, the best itinerary you can have of the Amalfi Coast in 5 days without having a rush is:
- Sorrento (good base overnight for a few days)
- Positano
- Amalfi (another possible overnight base)
- Ravello
- Capri
5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Choose Sorrento as your stay
The answer is clear and short. First of all is cheaper than the other destinations. Second, from Sorrento, daily, there are tours (like our boat tours) exploring the area. Sorrento is just in front of Capri (15 minutes by boat), making this excursion easier if you are on the Amalfi Coast. At this stage, start to have a look at our best-selling boat tours from Sorrento:
- Amalfi Coast boat tour with Amalfi Coast Dream
- Capri boat tour with Amalfi Coast Dream
- Sunset boat tour with Amalfi Coast Dream
Stay in the city centre
Staying in the center of Sorrento is the best way to have everything within walking distance. See the interactive map below.
Day 1: The Base Camp Strategy
- AI Suggestion: “Stay in Positano for the views.”
- Local Reality: Positano is gorgeous, but it involves 400+ stairs every time you want a coffee, and hotels are 3x the price.
- The Plan: Land in Naples (check flights here), take the ferry (from Molo Beverello) or the train (from Napoli Centrale) to Sorrento
- If you are tired after a long journey with heavy luggages: private transfer to Sorrento
- Afternoon: Explore Sorrento’s Marina Grande (the old fishing harbor). It feels like a 1950s movie set
- Dinner: Skip the main piazza. Go to Trattoria da Emilia—it’s family-run, right on the water, and frequented by locals
- Local Tip: Buy all your tickets in advance to avoid long queues
Day 2: The “Vertical City” (Positano)
- AI Suggestion: “Spend the day at Spiaggia Grande (Main Beach)”
- Local Reality: You’ll pay €50+ for a sunbed and be shoulder-to-shoulder with 2,000 strangers
- The Plan: Take the first ferry or bus to Positano. Walk through the town early (8:30 AM) before the day-trippers arrive
- Lunch: Hike or take the internal “orange bus” up to Montepertuso. Eat at Il Ritrovo. The view is better than the beach, and the food is authentic
- Afternoon: Take the small boat shuttle from the main pier to Fornillo Beach. It’s the next cove over—half the price, half the crowds, double the vibe
3rd : The Path of the Gods & Hidden Coves
- AI Suggestion: “Hike from Bomerano to Nocelle”
- Local Reality: This is the correct route, but AI often forgets to tell you that the bus to Bomerano is a nightmare.
- The Plan: Hire a local driver to drop you in Bomerano at 7:30 AM
- The Hike: Walk the Sentiero degli Dei
- The Pivot: Instead of ending in Nocelle and taking the bus, walk down the stairs to Praiano
- The Reward: Head to Marina di Praia, a tiny beach wedged between two massive cliffs. Grab a drink at Il Pirata, carved directly into the rock
Day 4: Ravello & The Forgotten Town
- AI Suggestion: “Visit Amalfi Town and the Cathedral.”
- Local Reality: Amalfi Town is a “corridor” (except for the gorgeous Cathedral) of souvenir shops. Spend 30 minutes there, then leave
- The Plan: Take the bus from Amalfi up to Ravello
- Morning: Visit Villa Cimbrone. Walk to the “Terrace of Infinity.” It is arguably the best view in Italy
- Afternoon: Instead of taking the bus back down, walk the stone stairs from Ravello down to Atrani (if your legs approve)
- The Secret: Atrani is the smallest town in Italy and looks exactly like Amalfi, but with zero crowds. Eat a lemon granita in the tiny piazza and watch the local kids play soccer against the 1,000-year-old walls
Day 5: Capri from Sorrento (The Non-Tourist Version)
- AI Suggestion: “Visit the Blue Grotto”
- Local Reality: You will wait 2 hours in a rowboat to spend 2 minutes in a dark cave. It’s the ultimate tourist trap
- The Plan: Book the Capri boat tour with Amalfi Coast Dream from Sorrento, and have free time on the island
- Once on the island: Have a quick coffee at the Piazzetta (get there by bus, not wasting precious time)
- Going back to the boat: To get back to the boat, you can walk through one of the most beautiful paths on earth: via Krupp. It brings you to Marina Piccola (where your boat will be to leave)
5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: how to get around
- By bus: cheap but crowded
- By ferries/hydrofoils: slightly more expensive, but it’s worth the money for the view
Where to stay in Sorrento
5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Conclusions
We hope the suggestions we gave you as proper locals have been useful. We can’t wait to welcome you to Sorrento and make you live the best experience of your life. Don’t forget to inquire with our agent for further information. Grazie e arrivederci.
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When is the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
The best times are spring (April-May) and autumn (September-October). The weather is pleasant, the flowers are in bloom, and there are fewer crowds than in the peak summer months of July and August, when the region can become very crowded and expensive.
How long should I stay on the Amalfi Coast?
- 2 nights/3 days is the minimum to have a touch of the Amalfi Coast
- 3-5 days is recommended to see the main sights: Sorrento, Capri, Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano. You can actually check one of our best boat tours to get by sea to one of these wonderful destinations
Which town is the best place to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
- Sorrento is the best suggestion we can give you on this question (here are the best places to stay). It is cheaper than the accommodations on the Amalfi Coast, and the city itself is gorgeous. From Sorrento there are many daily tours by boat to Capri, Amalfi, and Positano (you can book here) to explore the Amalfi Coast
- Amalfi Coast can be your option in case you have a special occasion to celebrate (and nothing can beat a beautiful hotel in Positano with a sea view)
What is the best way to get around on the Amalfi Coast?
- By Bus (cheapest)
- By ferries/hydrofoils (the best option to enjoy the coast by the seaside too)
- By private transfer (most expensive)
What is the closest airport to the Amalfi Coast?
Napoli Capodichino Airport is the closest and most convenient, from there you can reach the Amalfi Coast by:
- Private transfer to Sorrento
- Private transfer to Positano
- Train: Circumvesuviana is the straight train line from Naples to Sorrento
- Ferries/hydrofoils you can catch from Molo Beverello in Naples
