The Perfect Amalfi Coast and Capri Itinerary (2-Days on a Budget)
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Destinations > Europe > Italy > The Perfect Amalfi Coast and Capri Itinerary
Highlights of the Amalfi Coast and Capri
If you are limited on time while traveling to the Amalfi Coast, this 2-day itinerary will allow you to see all of the best highlights while still enjoying yourself.
See Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Minori and even leave a day in for Capri! You can hike the Path of the Gods if you like as it fits in perfectly with this Amalfi Coast and Capri itinerary! Best of all, it can be done on a budget - without spending a ton of money!
The Amalfi Coast can get pretty crowded, especially during high season. That is because this is one of the most gorgeous places in the whole country, and Italy itself is one of the most traveled to countries in the world. In this highlights itinerary, you’ll learn how to see the biggest highlights of the Amalfi Coast on a limited budget. You’ll also learn a number of great tips in general for visiting this area.
As full-time travelers, we have some first hand experience and a few quick recommendations before you start:
Top Tips for Visiting the Amalfi Coast
TIP 1 : Stay in Bomerano or Sorrento
To keep accommodation costs low, stay in Bomerano (around $45-$50/night) or Sorrento ($40-$50/night) by using Airbnb (first time discount here), bed and breakfast’s on booking.com, or VRBO.
You can also find most of the VERY BEST VILLAS and SEASIDE VIEW apartments this way. If you haven't tried it yet, we would highly recommend giving it a try out in this area because hotel costs are very high in this area, parking at hotels can also be expensive (but is included in many bed and breakfasts / villas), and cooking your own food is actually an option (unlike at the hotels). There really aren’t any better ways to save money on accommodations here.
However, if hotels are more your style, you can get reasonable prices for hotels in this area by using this site, or this other site. One hotel recommendation for out-of-this-world amazing photos is the Positano Art Hotel Pasitea - Enjoy!
FOR PATH OF THE GODS: If you're an early bird (up and ready between 6:00-7:00 AM) and would like to see the most breathtaking sights on the Amalfi Coast, then choose to stay in Bomerano instead - because you'll want to get up early and walk the "Path of the Gods" (a.k.a. "Sentiero degli Dei"). More info at: pathofthegods.com. If not, choose Sorrento.
TIP 2: Use the Public Bus
To keep transportation costs low, learn to fly. Just kidding - only people with jet packs can fly!
Alternatively, brave the crowded public buses for a couple of days (mostly just the first day). Bus tickets are sold at cigarette shops, newspaper stands, and bars and cafés in all the towns along the Amalfi Coast. In Sorrento, there is a ticket booth at the Circumvesuviana station. Tickets CANNOT be purchased on board the bus. You can get the 24-hour tickets for €10-€12 each (the €12 ticket allows more lines in and around the Positano area).
We recommend using the bus to save money, but in reality it also is a challenge to drive on the crowded, narrow, cliffside roads - passing through tunnels and hugging walls to let other cars pass - all while having so many beautiful sights to distract you. Plus, parking is rather expensive and charged by the hour. Another alternative is renting a motor scooter if you are solo as it is cheaper than a car, easier to navigate the tight roads, and will have cheaper parking.
TIP 3: Bring your own 1.5L or 2.0L Bottle of Water
These bottles of water can be found for €0.17-€0.20 in most grocery stores in the area or €2.00-€5.00 for one of these just about anywhere else, including your hotel and restaurants! Dodge the high price, pick them up at the grocery store or refill your own collapsible one to make it easier to stuff away after you’re finished.
Day 1 - Positiano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Minori
Itinerary From Bomerano - Walk to the starting point for the Path of the Gods around 6:00-7:00 AM.
#0 - The Path of the Gods
Breathtaking panoramas, stone ruins, grazing goats, old-world fountains and a view of the Mediterranean landscape from above the clouds!
Take plenty of water and wear decent shoes. The trail isn't very difficult as it is mostly downhill, but it is a little rocky and the hike from Bomerano to Positano will take about 3 hours, including time for pictures and breaks (8.3 km / 5.2 miles).
Time check: You should be arriving in Positano between 9:00-10:30 AM. Continue to #1 below.
Itinerary From Sorrento - Take the 9 AM bus to arrive in Positano by 9:50 AM.
#1 - Positano
The beautiful flowers of Positano are even more amazing in the morning. You will arrive just in time to see the glow of this city and the perfect place to stop to dip your feet in the water and enjoy an affordable brunch at the Latteria.
Spend a good 3 hours in Positano exploring all of the things that you want to see - like Fornillo Beach, Via Fornillo, the Church of Saint Mary of the Assumption, Positano Spiaggia, and all of the colorful shops - then look for the bus to Amalfi.
A few of the buses to Amalfi from Positano leave at 1:10 PM and at 1:25 PM from the “Ch. Nuova” stop. To fit everything into a single day, you will want to catch one of these buses.
Interesting Fact: Did you know that Positano was one of the filming locations for Under the Tuscan Sun?
#2 - Amalfi
Arrive in Amalfi around 14:00 to 14:15. Spend an hour or so near the shoreline or walk out to the end of the beach walkway to take in the view of Amalfi as if from the sea.
You’ll find all sorts of limoncello merchandise here in Amalfi - from painted jugs full of limoncello to swimsuits designed with limoncello. Buy a small vial of Limoncello at one of the shops, such as La Bollega D'Oro, for €4-€5 and save it for later (it may be enough to share). If you want a good look at Amalfi before you arrive, it shows up in the movies A Good Woman and Only You.
The other highlights here in Amalfi are the Amalfi Cathedral, Cloister del Paradiso, the Museum Of Paper, the Pasticceria Andrea Pansa, the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi, and the Fontana di Sant'Andrea.
If you're staying in Bomerano: An hour in Amalfi right now is probably enough as you'll get to see more tomorrow. Head up to Ravello as there is so much beauty to see in your short amount of time. The 3:30 PM (15:30) bus will get you to Ravello by 3:55 PM (15:55). Another bus comes 15 minutes later if you miss the first one.
If you're staying in Sorrento: Spend another 60-90 minutes in Amalfi to walk the streets, visit the cathedral, explore the shops, and possibly stop for some Amalfi flavored gelato as you'll be exploring Sorrento tomorrow.
#3 - Ravello & Minori
Villa Cimbrone is the highlight of Ravello, but it will run you €7 per person. It is only open until sunset for visitors, so plan accordingly. The other amazing villa up here is Villa Rufolo - if you have time. These are the best places to go for photos - in our opinion - on the entire Amalfi Coast.
Ravello is rather small - however, the other hotspots are the Cathedral ("Duomo"), the Giardini Principessa di Piemonte, the Cathedral of Ravello, and Chiesa S.Francesco dei Frati Minori Conventuali.
You'll find great cheap eats behind the counter at Giardini Caffè Calce, which is to the left of the entrance to the Duomo. We spent €9 and bought enough food for us both, although we drank only the water that we brought with us (see tip #3 above). While you’re here, consider picking up some Ravello Lemon Zest Risotto - YUM!
If you finish a bit early (by 5:30 PM / 17:30), you could take the trail down to Minori which starts just to the left of the entrance to Villa Rufolo. The hike is roughly 4,000 steps, takes about 35-40 minutes, and has fantastic views. You will also get a glimpse of the real life for the locals along your way.
In Minori you’ll see the Path of the Lemons, the Basilica of Saint Trofimena, the Ruins of a Roman Villa and Antiquarium, and Minori Beach.
#4 - Back to Bomerano/Sorrento
The bus schedule is listed here. You will need to take either the 6:10 PM or 8:10 PM (18:10 and 20:10) bus from Ravello to Amalfi to catch the bus in Amalfi back to Bomerano/Sorrento. Alternatively, the last bus leaving Minori to Amalfi is at 7:25 PM (19:25) and it will arrive in Amalfi by 7:45 (19:45).
The last buses from Amalfi to Bomerano are at 7 PM and 9 PM (19:00 and 21:00). If you are arriving from Minori, this will give you 75 minutes to catch the last bus back to Bomerano or 10 minutes to catch the second to last bus back to Sorrento. The last buses that leave Amalfi for Sorrento are at 7:55 PM and 9:15 PM. (19:55 and 21:15). If you find yourself with that extra 75 minutes, enjoy some more of Amalfi!
Once you arrive back to your accommodations, enjoy a night of exploring that area - either area has a ton of little quarks that you’ll love. You can learn a lot more about these places in the Lonely Planet guide book that we recommended to save money.
This will end your first day of this itinerary - see below for Day 2!
OTHER DAY TRIPS IN THE AREA:
Day 2 - Amalfi/Sorrento & Capri
Continue your 2-day Amalfi Coast and Capri itinerary by visiting this page
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