In a nutshell
- There is a difference between Amalfi and the Amalfi Coast: Amalfi is a village, and the Amalfi Coast is the broader coastal region where it’s located.
- Historically, Amalfi is the most important town on the Amalfi Coast — and it has the widest range of places to stay.
- Our top hotel pick: Amalfi Luxury House — sounds expensive, but it has surprisingly great prices even during peak season!
- In and around Amalfi there are several beautiful beaches, though they tend to be small and rocky — we’ll tell you which ones are worth it.
Amalfi vs. Amalfi Coast: there’s a difference
Many people use the terms “Amalfi” and “Amalfi Coast” as synonyms, but that’s misleading.
Amalfi is a specific town on the Amalfi Coast — historically, even the most important one in the region.
The Amalfi Coast, on the other hand, is the entire coastal region, stretching about 50 kilometers. Besides Amalfi, there are many other towns along the coast: Positano, Ravello, and Maiori.
In this post, we’re writing specifically about the town of Amalfi.
For the highlights of the entire Amalfi Coast, we have this in-depth post:
The most beautiful sights on the Amalfi Coast
What you need to know about Amalfi
Here are a few quick facts about Amalfi and its attractions:
- Amalfi is packed during peak season, from June through September. It’s a bit quieter in April and May or in October. In winter, many places are closed.
- The best way to reach Amalfi is by bus or ferry, as parking is difficult and expensive. If you do come by car, there are several paid parking garages.
- The historic center and the cathedral are in the flatter part of Amalfi, but to reach the best viewpoints you’ll have to tackle a lot of stairs.
- The beaches in and around Amalfi are small, pebbly, and often crowded. Your best bet for swimming is to rent one of the small boats or take a water taxi to hidden coves.
How to Get to Amalfi
The closest airport is Salerno Airport. However, it’s very small and currently only has direct flights from Munich and Berlin.
Naples Airport is about 65 km away, but much better connected. From there, you can reach Amalfi in several ways:
By private minibus: It takes you directly from the airport to Amalfi. The ride takes about two hours and is a bit pricier, but seriously comfortable. We strongly recommend booking the minibus in advance.
By rental car: Keep in mind that parking in Amalfi is quite limited and expensive. Hotels also charge a lot for their parking spots.
By ferry: Boats depart several times a day from the port of Napoli Beverello and offer a stunning ride along the coast. The trip takes about two hours.
If you’re planning to spend a night in Naples beforehand anyway, continuing on to Amalfi by ferry is the best option.
Amalfi Beaches: Where Can You Swim?
In and around Amalfi you’ll find several beaches.
That said, they’re always small and quite rocky. The main beach, Marina Grande, is the largest in Amalfi — and it’s a pebble beach.
The Main Beach: Marina Grande
Amalfi’s most well-known beach is located right in front of the town center.
The pebble beach is about 200 meters long, with several beach chair rentals and beachfront restaurants.
A beach umbrella with two loungers costs 45 euros per day. Since that’s not exactly cheap, the beach clubs here are never completely packed.
There’s also a small free section, which fills up quickly in summer.
Spiaggia di Santa Croce
Santa Croce is a hidden beach with a restaurant of the same name — super convenient, since you can eat right there. That’s not a given at many of the smaller beaches outside Amalfi.
You can reach it by a free boat from the harbor, organized by the Santa Croce restaurant.
A beach umbrella with two loungers costs 35 euros per day — by Amalfi Coast standards, that’s pretty reasonable. One heads-up: this beach is in the shade from around 4 PM onward.
Duoglio Beach
This beach is about a kilometer east of Amalfi and is one of the most beautiful along the Amalfi Coast. But it’s also pretty exclusive.
You can reach it by water taxi or on foot down a steep staircase with 400 steps. Don’t drive there — there’s no parking.
There are two beach chair rentals and a free section. A beach umbrella with two loungers costs around 60 euros per day.
Things to Do in Amalfi: Top Attractions
Amalfi is just like the other towns on the Amalfi Coast: wander through the old quarter and let yourself get lost. You’ll inevitably pass by all the major sights.
Our tip: Make sure to climb the stairs and see Amalfi from above.
These are the most well-known things to do in Amalfi:
Amalfi Cathedral
The cathedral is the single most important attraction in Amalfi. It stands right on the main square and is impossible to miss with its steep exterior staircase.
It’s more accurate to speak of a cathedral complex, as it consists of several parts. The centerpiece is the “Chiostro del Paradiso” — a small courtyard with a white cloister and intertwined columns.
Several Roman sarcophagi are on display here, which Amalfi’s wealthy families used as tombs in the 13th century — essentially a display of their power.
What impressed us most, though, was the cathedral’s crypt, where every inch of the walls, ceiling, and floors is richly decorated.
Admission costs around 4 euros, and your ticket covers the entire cathedral complex.
Antico Arsenale
The Antico Arsenale della Repubblica was the shipyard of the once-powerful Maritime Republic, where its warships and merchant vessels were built.
It consists of two large ship halls with massive vaulted ceilings that opened directly onto the sea, allowing ships to sail in and out.
Today it houses the Museum of Compass History and the Amalfi Tables — an important maritime legal code from the Middle Ages.
Honestly, the collection is quite small, and only a few artifacts actually date back to Amalfi’s time as a maritime republic. Worth a quick stop, but don’t expect a full museum experience.
Admission costs 3 euros.
Atrani
From Amalfi, you can easily reach Atrani in about ten minutes on foot, either via the coastal road or the even more scenic path through a tunnel.
Atrani is the smallest town in Italy and is full of winding alleyways and cozy trattorias.
The town is far less touristy than Amalfi — perfect for getting a real feel for authentic life on the Amalfi Coast. Definitely worth the short walk.
Where to Stay in Amalfi
Among the towns on the Amalfi Coast, Amalfi has the widest selection of accommodation. While Positano, for example, has almost exclusively luxury hotels, in Amalfi you’ll also find affordable bed & breakfasts.
These three hotels come highly recommended:
Amalfi Luxury House: The name sounds pricey, but it offers really great value even in peak season. Just a heads-up — lots of stairs!
Palazzo Don Salvatore: We love the prime location overlooking the sea. Pricewise, though, it’s only affordable in the off-season.
La Bambagina: Affordable bed & breakfast right on the cathedral square. Perfect if you’re only staying a few nights.
Lies auch:
Restaurants in Amalfi
Da Gemma: Homemade pasta in a small side alley. The nonna still cooks in the kitchen using recipes passed down for generations — honestly one of the best meals we had on the coast.
Trattoria Rispoli: Simple trattoria above Amalfi with very affordable prices and a great view. Solid choice if you want to skip the tourist-trap spots down below.
Torre Saracena: Restaurant in an old watchtower. Prices are high, but the terrace with views of Amalfi and the sea is seriously stunning.
