Would you like to discover the wonders of Amalfi and its surroundings in 24 hours?
- A marble cathedral.
- Ice cream that makes your mouth water.
- A hidden turquoise cove at the bottom of the stairs.
Even if you only have one day to spend there, you'll leave a little piece of yourself in Amalfi (and another little piece in Atrani—you'll see).
What to See in Amalfi
After an earthquake that destroyed much of the city in the 14th century, Amalfi’s size was greatly reduced. However, this small town hides some real gems:
- Piazza del Duomo, teeming with restaurants, ice cream shops, and cafés with great views.
- The Duomo or St. Andrew's Cathedral, an imposing building whose interior rivals the beauty of its grand staircase and façade, made of stone, marble, and mosaics (free admission).
- Claustro del Paraíso, living up to its name, connects to the original basilica (of the Crucifix) and a beautiful crypt housing the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle (admission: €3 per person).
- Piazza deiDogi…Could it be any more charming?
- Views of Amalfi from various spots around the harbor, with the Lattari Mountains in the background.
Beautiful Atrani
This small town, just a few meters from Amalfi, is famous for its picturesque beach. And, since a picture is worth a thousand words, here it is:
Cool, huh?
We walked to Atrani in just a few minutes from Amalfi. That said, we had to walk right along the edge of the road. Not only is it too narrow for two-way traffic, but on top of that, people drive like maniacs! And, to be honest, the poor visibility on the curves doesn’t help much either. 🙂
However, instead of stopping at Atrani Beach, we continued on to the wonderful Spiaggia di Castiglione.
Castiglione Beach
I can't tell you what it's like during peak season, but in early June it was idyllic.
It’s a small cove at the foot of the cliff. You have to go down a fairly long flight of stairs to get there, and it’s divided in two by a beach chair rental business, the Lido di Ravello ( yes, Ravello Beach!).
On both sides of the store, there's plenty of public space that's free to access. And the cliff walls provide natural shade (you'll need it, trust me).
Turquoise sea, sunshine, a footbath made of boulders, and a sense of exclusivity and seclusion that’s hard to imagine in a destination as touristy as the Amalfi Coast…
What more could you ask for? A fresh sandwich with buffalo mozzarella and fresh tomatoes? Coming right up!
Where to sleep
You'll find many more places to stay in Amalfi than in Atrani.
For me, one of the key factors to consider was the availability of parking and whether or not it was included in the price.
This was one of the many reasons we chose the Hotel Floridiana:
- Parking is included in the price.
- Delicious breakfast.
- Great reviews on Booking.
- Right in the heart of Amalfi.
- A modern bathroom and a comfortable bed.
All for €125/night, for 2 people (+€3 in taxes). In short, 100% recommended.
How to get there
By car
Parking on the narrow road that runs along the Amalfi Coast is very limited and quite expensive. Expect to spend about 20–30€ per day.
If you're just visiting Amalfi or Atrani, you can park your car at the Luna Rossa underground paid parking garage, which is located between the two towns. However, if you're visiting during peak season, you'd better cross your fingers and hope you find an open spot.
There are also a few parking spots near the port of Atrani, but they tend to fill up quickly.
If you're planning to spend the night in Amalfi or Atrani and are arriving by car, reserve a parking spot through your lodging, just as we did.
Heads up:
Traffic in downtown Amalfi is restricted to residents. That’s because there’s only a single lane—so narrow, in fact, that a traffic light regulates the flow of traffic in alternating directions. What’s more, it’s always packed with pedestrians strolling, window-shopping ,or ecstatically savoring their umpteenth ice cream of the day…
Therefore, if your parking spot is located within the city, make sure you have received the necessary instructions from your lodging or travel agency (and have them printed out), or you will not be allowed to drive into the center of Amalfi.
In that regard, the Floridiana Hotel made things very easy for us. They sent us all the necessary information—schedules, a map, and various tips—such as bringing a printed copy of our reservation to show the police at the entrance (thank goodness we listened to them!).
By bus
Without a doubt, Amalfi is the town on this coast with the best bus service provided by Sita.
By boat
You'll find a few companies that run routes several times a day between the main cities along the Amalfi Coast.
What's more, you can get to Amalfi directly from Salerno or the island of Capri.
Where to Eat
It’s impossible to get a representative sample of restaurants in less than 24 hours. Luckily, we really hit the mark with our choice: L’Abside, where we had two dishes (each one more delicious than the last) of pasta with seafood, a tiramisu, and half a liter of house white wine for €55.
On the other hand, since we spent the afternoon at Castiglione Beach, we had to find something to take with us. We bought some fresh tomato and mozzarella sandwiches that were absolutely delicious at the Bar Birecto in Atrani, for just €10. And right across the square, we found a small shop where we stocked up on cold drinks for the whole day.
And, as was to be expected during our vacation in southern Italy, we tried a couple of ice cream shops: Pasticceria Savoia and Caffe Royal, both in Amalfi.
The best ones? No idea—there are so many! What I can tell you, though, is that they were absolutely delicious.
When to go
The same rule I mentioned in the post about Positano, for example, applies to the entire Amalfi Coast:
If you want to enjoy the beach, July, August, and most of June and September are the best months to go. But keep in mind that, since it’s peak season, you’ll find high prices and lots of tourists. Choosing June and September is always a bit more peaceful. Specifically, we visited the Amalfi Coast in early June 2017.
During the off-season, the weather is worse and the days are shorter, though you'll find fewer crowds.
Budget
- Accommodations (breakfast and parking included): €128, €64 per person.
- Meal: 75€, 37.5€ per person
- Entrance fee to the cloister: 6€, 3€ per person.
In total, we spent €209 (€104.50 per person) on our 24-hour visit to Amalfi and Atrani.
The Amalfi Coast PDF Guide
Want a PDF with all the travel tips from this blog on how to plan your own DIY trip to the Amalfi Coast?
Save it to your tablet or phone and check it whenever you need it.
- Choose when, where, and how.
- Tailor your budget to suit your wallet.
- Live your own adventure.
Sounds good? Then click here to grab it for just €1.95.
Useful links
- Bus schedules for routes along the Amalfi Coast.
- Schedules for the ferries connecting the main coastal towns.
- Hotels in Amalfi.
- Floridiana Hotel.
- Flight deal search engines: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.
Planning a trip along the Amalfi Coast? Then this will interest you:
- A 7-day road trip along the Amalfi Coast.
- Beautiful Positano, one of the most beautiful towns in Italy.
- The Path of the Gods, from Bomerano to Positano.
- The Tre Calli Circuit: A Bird's-Eye View of the Amalfi Coast.
- Ravello and the toughest decision: Villa Rufolo or Villa Cimbrone.
Do you have any questions for me about Amalfi or Atrani? If so, I'll be waiting for them in the comments. 🙂