PositanoStory N° 27
Amalfi Coast Drive — Italy's Most Dramatic Coastline
Drive the vertiginous Amalfi Coast road between Positano and Ravello with cliff-top lemon groves, crystal coves and ancient cathedrals
The itinerary.
5 days · 12 stops
Saturday
Day One
Arrive Naples, Pompeii afternoon and drive to Positano
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Pompeii Archaeological Site
The most extraordinary ancient site in the world — a complete Roman city frozen by Vesuvius in 79 AD. Allow 4 hours minimum. Book tickets in advance at pompeiisites.org (€16). The plaster cast victims are deeply moving.
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Positano Arrival
The descent into Positano on the SS163 Amalfitana is one of Europe's great drives — hairpin bends on cliff edges with the vertical cascade of coloured houses below. Nothing prepares you for the first view.
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Hotel
Le Sirenuse Positano booking.com
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Getting around
- Circumvesuviana train from Naples Centrale to Pompeii (40 min, €2.60)
- Rent a car at Naples or take SITA busto Positano
Sunday
Day Two
Positano beach and boat tour to the hidden coves of the Amalfi Coast
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Spiaggia Grande Positano
Positano's main beach — small, pebble and expensive sun-lounger hire but beautiful. The coloured houses rising behind are magnificent. Swim early morning before the crowds.
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Boat Tour to Li Galli and Furore Fjord
Hire a small gozzo boat (€150-200/day with skipper) to explore the sea caves, Grotta dello Smeraldo and the Furore fjord. The most dramatic section of coastline is inaccessible by road.
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Da Adolfo Restaurant
Legendary beach restaurant accessible only by boat — their boat picks you up from Positano beach. Grilled sea bass and spaghetti alle vongole eaten on the pebbles. The experience is worth it. daadolfo.com
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Hotel
Le Sirenuse Positano booking.com
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Getting around
- Boat hire from Positano Marina — Lucibello Boats recommended
- Ferry between coastal villages is often faster than the road
Monday
Day Three
Amalfi Cathedral and the Path of the Gods hiking trail
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Amalfi Cathedral (Sant'Andrea)
Arab-Norman architecture at the top of 62 steps — one of southern Italy's most impressive facades. The crypt holds the remains of Saint Andrew. The adjacent Paper Museum tells Amalfi's medieval history as a paper-making centre.
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Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
The most famous coastal hike in Italy — 7.8 km clifftop walk from Agerola to Nocelle with vertiginous sea views. One-way: take a bus up to Agerola, walk down to Nocelle then steps to Positano. Allow 5 hours.
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Trattoria da Gemma Amalfi
Open since 1872 — the most historic restaurant on the Amalfi Coast. Their scialatielli ai frutti di mare is the dish that invented the local pasta shape.
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Hotel
Hotel Santa Caterina Amalfi booking.com · AI hotel ratings: hotelist.com
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Getting around
- SITA bus from Positano to Amalfi (45 min, €2) or taxi (€25)
- Ferry in summer is the most pleasant option
Tuesday
Day Four
Ravello Gardens and Villa Cimbrone for the most dramatic views on the coast
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Villa Rufolo Gardens Ravello
Wagner composed parts of Parsifal here. The belvedere terrace — a platform of flowers suspended above the sea — is called the Terrace of Infinity for good reason. The annual Ravello Festival classical concerts happen here. villarufolo.it
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Villa Cimbrone Belvedere
Ravello's finest viewpoint — a marble terrace at the cliff edge lined with busts looking straight down 300m to the sea. Gore Vidal lived here. The walk through the medieval gardens is exceptional.
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Cumpa Cosimo Ravello
Netta Bottone's legendary family restaurant in Ravello — no frills, extraordinary flavour. The handmade pasta with 7-meat ragù has been on the menu since 1929.
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Hotel
Hotel Villa Rufolo Ravello booking.com
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Getting around
- Bus from Amalfi to Ravello (20 min, €1.30) — runs every 2 hours
- Ravello is car-free — everything on foot within the village
Wednesday
Day Five
Final morning in Ravello, return to Naples and fly home
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Nocelle Village Walk
If you have time before departure, walk the short path to Nocelle village — the highest point above Positano with views back over the whole coast you've just explored.
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Getting around
- Bus from Ravello to Amalfi, then SITA bus to Salerno or Sorrento
- Train from Salerno or Sorrento to Naples Centrale (1-1.5 hrs)
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Amalfi Coast Drive — Italy's Most Dramatic Coastline?
5 days. The itinerary runs from Saturday to Wednesday and covers 12 curated stops across 5 days.
How much does Amalfi Coast Drive — Italy's Most Dramatic Coastline cost?
Premium — €300–600 per day per person, premium lodging included.
Where do you stay during Amalfi Coast Drive — Italy's Most Dramatic Coastline?
Le Sirenuse Positano is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Amalfi Coast Drive — Italy's Most Dramatic Coastline itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 12 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Positano.
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