The Amalfi Coast stretches about 50 kilometres along the southern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula, from Positano in the west to Vietri sul Mare in the east. The coastal road (SS163) is an experience in itself — carved into sheer cliffs with hairpin turns and views that make passengers forget about the driving.
Positano is the most photogenic stop, its pastel houses tumbling steeply down to a grey-sand beach. Amalfi itself has the grand cathedral of Sant'Andrea and a less frenetic pace. Ravello, perched 350 metres above the sea, is quieter still, with the gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone offering some of the finest views on the coast. Furore hides a fjord-like inlet below the road, and the Path of the Gods traverses the cliffs high above it all — the best walk on the coast.
SITA buses run the full route and are cheap but crowded in summer. Ferries connect Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno from April to October. Driving is scenic but stressful — the road is narrow and tour buses take up most of it. A full day trip from Naples or Sorrento is manageable, though spending a night lets you enjoy the coast after the day-trippers leave.
