Visiting the Amalfi Coast: Top 10 Reasons to Experience Amalfi
July 27, 2023
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular coastlines in Italy. And visiting the Amalfi Coast is a great way to spend a few days of your Italian itinerary!
Don’t believe us? Here are just ten reasons we love this region south of Naples.
Table of Contents
Toggle10 Reasons to Visit the Amalfi Coast
Drive the spectacular—and scary—Amalfi Coast road
Driving the Amalfi coast, or taking the SITA bus, isn’t for everyone. We write why not, and some other options to consider, in this post on how to get the most out of the Amalfi coast. But the Amalfi Coast road is stunning. It will surprise you with photo ops around every bend. And those hairpin curves? Well, they’re exhilarating…. to say the least.
Attend the open-air Ravello Festival
As well as drop-dead gorgeous, the Amalfi Coast town of Ravello is a music-lover’s paradise. One of its biggest events, the Ravello Festival, runs major concerts, Q&As with artists, dances, performances, and literary readings throughout the summer. Many take place inside the stunning gardens of the Villa Rufolo, in an open air ampitheater.
Enjoy the absolute tranquillity of the towns at night
Many people experience the Amalfi Coast on a day trip from Rome. Or, they will come for the day on a bus from Sorrento, preferring to stay in hotels in either Sorrento or Naples. This means that, at night, the towns—even popular Amalfi and Positano—are very peaceful and quiet. Especially out on a lone dock, which is easy to find in cities like Amalfi town. When you stay overnight, you’ll feel like you have the whole town to yourself!
Savor limoncello and other lemony delights
Lemons are grown huge, with thick rinds, on the Amalfi Coast. Amazingly, they are almost as big cantaloupes! And that makes them perfect for limoncello, Italy’s famous lemon liqueur. Once you’ve had a sip here in the Amalfi Coast, you’ll never want to have it anywhere else.
However, limoncello isn’t the only lemon-flavored sweet you’ll find. Don’t miss delizia al limone, a creamy dessert made with a shot (or two) of limoncello. You can find it on the menu at La Zagara, in Positano.
Hike along the Amalfi Coast
You don’t have to go to the Cinque Terre to hike—you can hike to your heart’s content on paths on the Amalfi Coast, too. This one, the “Sentiero degli Dei” (or “Path of the Gods”), is the most famous. It links the towns of Agerola, Praiano and Positano, all at an average height of about 1,650 feet above sea level. Result: stunning views, like this one, featuring incredible landmarks like Mt. Vesuvius and Capri!
Explore the historic Amalfi Duomo
When it was built in the 13th century, the Duomo of Amalfi (Piazza Duomo, 1), incorporated its earlier 9th-century structure, making this one of the most historic cathedrals in Campania. St. Andrew, the apostle and fisherman, is Amalfi’s patron saint—and in the 13th century, his remains were stolen from Constantinople and brought to the crypt of this duomo, where they remain today! As well as holy and historic, the cathedral is stunning, complete with a lovely, Moorish-style medieval cloister.
Spend time in the Ravello’s gorgeous gardens
As if the Amalfi coast weren’t paradise enough, there are flowers everywhere. Two of our favorite gardens are in Ravello: the Villa Rufolo and the Villa Cimbrone, both of which pair gorgeous flowers with spectacular views of the sea.
Enjoy fresh fish and seafood dishes
Along with limoncello, the Amalfi Coast is known for its seafood. There’s nothing like eating super-fresh fish while looking over the water it was fished from. Just remember that not all of the fish sold in the Amalfi coast’s restaurants actually should be eaten, so choose your seafood wisely.
Soak up spectacular views from the towns
The Amalfi Coast is famous for its spectacular views—with reason. How can you not dream of waking up to views like this one taken from Ravello.
Marvel at stunning sights from the ferry
Although the Amalfi Coast SITA bus gives you spine-tingling views of the coastline’s sheer drops to the sea, it’s from the ferry that you really see just how picturesque the towns are – even on cloudy days!
Another great ferry ride is the trip out to Capri, which is one of the best day trips on the Amalfi Coast. Experience it for yourself when you join our Boat-Hopping on the Amalfi Coast Day Trip from Rome!
by Walks of Italy
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