The Perfect Guide to a Week on the Amalfi Coast

tattytravels
2 days ago
6 min read

A real itinerary from my trip with everything you need to plan yours

If you’re dreaming of colourful cliffside villages, Limoncello spritz in giant lemons, incredible pizza, and breath taking coastal views, then this one-week Amalfi Coast itinerary is honestly perfect.

We spent a week exploring Naples → Capri → Sorrento → Positano → Amalfi, balancing sightseeing with relaxation, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

Here’s exactly how our trip went.

Day 1–2: Exploring Naples

We started our trip with 2 nights in Naples, the perfect introduction to Italy’s energy, food, and history.

✨ Day 1 — City Exploring

Naples has such a lively, authentic feel, chaotic in the best way.

We experienced:

🍕 Pizzaria da Michele famous Neapolitan pizza spot — genuinely the best pizza I’ve ever had and so cheap. There might be a big que but it goes down quick. Make sure you go to the front to get a number.

🕳️ Napoli Sotterranea Underground tunnels — fascinating hidden history beneath the city. Has to be a guided tour but its really interesting.

🚞 Funicular up to Castel Sant'Elmo for incredible views across Naples

🍸 Cocktails on the buzzing drinking strip in the evening at Centro Storico, Piazza Bellini. It’s gritty, vibrant, and completely unforgettable. Also the drinks are unbelievably cheap.

Tip - We stayed at La Nova Bed and Museum. Lovely hotel and very central and you are actually in a museum around all the art. Really cheap for what you get.

🌋 Day 2 — Mount Vesuvius & Pompeii Day Trip

We booked a transport tour to visit:

Mount Vesuvius — walking up the volcano and seeing the views was surreal. You can even sit at the top with a glass of wine. The drive up here is treacherous. Its a back and forth wind, only wide enough for 1 car but you've constant passing traffic so another reason to let someone else drive you.
Pompeii — genuinely incredible and the highlight of Naples. You will get a audio guide to walk around with that will explore the sights.

The tour handled transport, but you explore the sites independently which gives you freedom without the stress.

Tip: Wear comfortable shoes — Pompeii is huge.

🚤 Day 3–4: Island Life in Capri

We took the early ferry from Naples to Capri and stayed 2 nights and wow, this island is magical.

🍋 Day 3 — Old Town & Views

We headed to Anacapri first, exploring the charming town and wandering through its beautiful streets, and then took the chair lift up Monte Solaro for breathtaking views. You can get a drink in the bar at the top to really enjoy the views. Then back to the hotel for some pool time in the afternoon. Making the most of the stunning views.

Food highlights included:

✨ The most insane pistachio folded pizza

🍋 Limoncello spritz served in a giant lemon

These where both at Casa Orlandi Ristorante which is right in the main square. Lovely area and you can sit outside under the greenery

In the evening we headed into Capri town for a nice meal and a drink. You can sit in the popular square, which is great for people watching but all these are expensive.

Tip: We stayed at Hotel Weber Ambassador — pricey, but still one of the more affordable options on the island. It’s located on the quieter side near Marina Piccola beach. The hotel offers a free shuttle to Capri town, and there’s also a bus stop just outside, making it easy to get around.

🚤 Day 4 — Boat Trip & Beach Time

This was one of my favourite days.

Boat trip around the island & the Blue Grotto — We booked our boat trip through the hotel, but you can also easily arrange one at the port. The views around the island are incredible, and if you’re in Capri, the Blue Grotto is an absolute must, it’s an experience in itself. It’s worth doing this early in your trip, as access to the cave depends on sea conditions, and if the water is too rough, entry isn’t possible. They only accept cash to enter the cave, so be sure to bring some with you and don’t forget to make a wish once you’re inside!

As the tour ended in Capri, we took the opportunity to explore the town during the day. There’s a funicular that takes you up the hill, but as many visitors arrive by ferry for the day, the queue was huge so we decided to walk instead. It’s a short walk but very steep, so I wouldn’t recommend it if you struggle with walking.

We wandered around the town and stopped for a lemon sorbet served in a lemon, a must try! From there, we strolled through the beautiful Gardens of Augustus before heading back along the path towards Marina Piccola beach.

We ended the day relaxing at Marina Piccola. It’s much quieter here, perfect for laying on the beach, and there’s also a beach club if you prefer a more private, peaceful setting with a sun bed.

Tip - Capri is more expensive than other stops so be prepared but absolutely worth it. If you wanted to save money then go for the day but its absolutely best exploring the streets on an evening when all the ferry day visitors have left.

Also if you want a nice meal, pre book as they get busy.

🍋 Day 5–6: Coastal Base in Sorrento

Next stop: Sorrento (2 nights), honestly the perfect base if you want to explore without constantly moving hotels.

Why Sorrento is ideal:

✔ Flat and easy to walk around

✔ Great ferry connections

✔ Relaxed atmosphere

✔ More affordable than Capri

Tip: We stayed at B&B Carpoviro — a lovely stay with a comfortable room and a stunning balcony overlooking beautiful views. It’s located at the end of the Sorrento strip, making it really convenient with easy access to everything.

🌿 Day 5 — Explore Sorrento

While in Sorrento, take time to explore the town’s highlights.

Visit a traditional lemon grove, where you can also join a tour if you’d like to learn more about the famous local produce.

Wander through the charming streets to see the historic clock tower and head down to the marina for beautiful coastal views.

The shopping streets are perfect for browsing during the day and are especially lovely to stroll through again at night when everything feels more lively.

Make sure to stop by the vibrant Piazza Tasso, the heart of the town, full of cafés and atmosphere. To end the day, head to one of the local bars recommended for sunset drinks. The views over the coastline are unforgettable.

We had an incredible meal at La Limonaia which was in a Lemon Grove and this was actually one of my highlights from Sorrento. It was a little out of the way but still walkable but this meant it was nice and quiet. The entire menu was lemon based and the food was divine. Definitely plan this into your trip!

🌊 Day 6: Morning in Positano & Afternoon in Amalfi

We took a ferry from Sorrento to Positano and the views arriving by boat are unreal.

Our morning included:

🛍️ Wandering the streets — exploring the charming lanes and soaking up the atmosphere.

🍦 An unreal ice cream at Yummy Gelato & Pastry — definitely worth a stop if you’re nearby!

📸 Ceramic views at the Delicatessen store — the colourful displays make the perfect photo spot.

🛒 Shopping for souvenirs — we picked up a beautiful towel to take home.

🏖️ Beach time — you can rent a sun lounger or simply relax on the beach with your own towel for free. It does get quite busy, but it all adds to the lively atmosphere.

🍹 Drinks and lunch by the sea — there’s a beachfront restaurant where you can grab food and drinks to take back to your spot on the beach.

🍽️ Dining with a view — you can also sit down for a meal at the top overlooking the coast. Highly recommend pre-booking to secure the best views.

Positano is stunning but compact, perfect for a half-day visit.

Tip - The ferries can get busy so best to prebook. Also top tip for walking round, go through the middle then up to the left, circle back round to the right which takes you past the shops and the ceramics and then at the ceramics there are steps to come back down to the other shops.

⛪ Quick Stop in Amalfi

We continued to Amalfi afterwards. It doesn’t take long to explore, but it’s worth seeing:

The famous cathedral Duomo Di Sant'Andrea. Walk up the 62 steps and if you wanted you can pay to go inside.
Harbour views. We had a meal in a beach bar and then went down to the beach for a swim.
Classic Amalfi Coast scenery

Then we returned to Sorrento.