THINGS TO DO
So much to do on the Amalfi Coast! We would suggest you visit the different towns along the coast (especially Positano and Amalfi) and the island of Capri.
Transportation:
If you are feeling spontaneous, there are buses that run between the towns every few minutes and they are just as fast as taxis (given all cars are going at an incredibly slow speed due to the traffic). Tickets can be bought at your hotel / kiosks but not on the bus. If you want to book a private car, check out Positano Car Service. I would recommend against renting your own car, that’s unless you’re the type of person that either likes bungee jumping or has a solid supply of Xanax.
POSITANO
If you are staying in the Amalfi for a few days this is a great town to make as your base as it’s quite centrally located.
Le Sirenuse is the legendary hotel in Positano and has hands down the best views in the whole town. John Steinback wrote about it back in the 50s (a quote I don’t recall but it’s still being quoted) Go to the Champagne & Oyster bar and get a drink (and some insta photos)
Villa Tre Ville: beyond dreamy luxe hotel.
Hotels: Le Sirenuse is quite costly (though they have last minute deals) - other hotels that are nice: Covo dei Saraceni, Villa Flavio Gioia, Hotel Palazzo Murat.
Arienzo Beach Club - Spend a day relaxing on a pebble beach. You catch the Arienzo shuttle boat at the north end of the main beach. There’s a little beach club shuttle boats stop to the right of the ferry dock. It’s down from La Brezza Cafe and across from the Hotel Covo. Make a reservation for 2 beach chairs in the first row on the beach and a lunch reservation. The have paddleboards and canoes for use. Arienzo is in a small cove. Pepe will great you upon arrival and Nonnie, his wife, is the chef. Make sure to try one of Joe’s peach daquiris!
Valenti Positano (Via G. Marconi 142) for limoncello tasting. The owner Valentino is known to make the best limoncello on the coast and he’s usually at this store in the afternoons. He also has a storefront in Praiano in the mornings. (His # is 3295931914) Apparently his version of nutella is also amazing, though I can’t vouch for it…yet.
Casa Mele Restaurant: A short walk from Sirenuse. Never tried but been told by a Positano expert the following “Rafaelle and his beautiful wife run the restaurant, the chef is from Japan. I get the tasting menu and ask Rafaelle to choose everything. I love this place, it’s only been open a few years. Make sure you meet Rafaelle and tell him Evelyne from San Francisco says hello. It’s a short walk from Le Sirenuse / Bar Franco. Make a reservation”
Franco’s Bar: opened a few years ago, beautiful view, nice ambiance. Stop in for aperitif on your walk up to Casa Mele.
Da Vincenzo: local favorite dinner spot (because who wants to eat like a tourist)
Chez Black: iconic restaurant on the beach
Buca di Bacco: another local favorite dinner spot.
Ohima Brasserie: another good dinner spot that’s been recommended
Terrazza Cele: romantic vibes, eating on a terrace overseeing Positano
La Brezza Café: Another recommendation from our Amalfi-expert-friend: “my home away from home. I usually start and end my day here. Stop in for a drink, to use the wifi, charge your phone, to rest your feet - any time of day. Roberto works in the morning, his wife Natalia works at night. Roberto is incredibly kind, he will make you coffee in the morn and breakfast. When you go, please tell Roberto and Natalia that Evelyne from San Francisco says hello. Keep an eye out for servers Erika and Imara as well. I usually travel with my friend Pierre, so you may hear ‘Evelyne and Pierre’! Before you get on any boat (even to Arienzo) – stop and get a peach daiquiri to go. They also make great Expresso Martini’s.”
Music on the Rocks - if you feel like a night out after dinner, this is a great spot (it’s a little “club” in a CAVE) also the place where we had one of the worst hangovers of our life and I also broke my phone - dropping your phone on a Positano rock formation, not the same as a wooden floor.
Shopping: lots of little boutiques all over Positano. Lots of linen that I can’t be bothered to iron. Capri has better shopping. There’s a Missoni store that has lots of things - bikinis, dresses, coverups etc. Do they have something for guys? I don’t remember.
RAVELLO
Ravello is the cutest town in all of Amalfi. Hands down. Every corner is cute. Beautiful, well-kept gardens. There are no cars which makes it feel more relaxing.
Belmond Hotel Caruso is one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever seen. A MUST VISIT. The property and views are out of this world. Check out the infinity pool area and get a white peach bellini - best. bellini. ever (they grow their own white peaches and marinate them in lemon juice from their lemons). Lunch by poolside is great. Dinner here was amazing, especially during sunset, we had so much fun and it was one of the main reasons why we picked Ravello as our wedding town.
Villa Rufolo - super pretty! I wouldn’t visit Cimbrone Gardens as you’ll get to see them during our wedding :)
CAPRI
You can get to Capri via boat / ferry from Amalfi. If you’d like to book a private boat Lucibello boat company is known to be great (info@lucibello.it)
Once you’re in Capri you can take a funiculare (cable car) to the center (Plaza Umbria), a ~5 minute ride rather than walk as Art and I learned the hard way.
Shopping - amazing shopping. Skip every other town and only do shopping here. Unless you want linen stuff then do Positano. Art’s favorite shorts are from a store called Blue Mint.
La Fontelina - exclusive little beach restaurant/”club” . A reservation is a must (as far in advance as you can) they’re almost always fully booked. It was a miracle they fit us in at “3pm”. The food is great - seafood pasta, fried zucchini flowers, ROSE, everything really. The view is amazing - beach lounge chairs have a Faraglioni view (those rock formations famous in Capri). And it’s tucked away away from everything: you can take the arduous path by foot (there’s a bunch of stair steps downhill) or you can take the beach club’s shuttle boat to Marina Piccola.
Il Riccio - restaurant in the Capri Palace hotel with a Michelin star, it’s also a “beach club” though it seems a lot more relaxed than our view of beach clubs.
Buoncore gelato shop- you won’t miss it as there’s a long line. They make fresh waffle cones. Amazing gelato.
AMALFI
Amalfi town felt very busy - it’s nice to see but I wouldn’t spend too much time here. Paper museum isn’t worth it. We also saw the Duomo which was interesting but I wouldn’t spend all my time here.
OUTDOORSY
This section is going to be a bit light since we chill on vacation.
Path of the Gods - supposed to be an amazing hike. You can start it at different points.
Amalfi is supposed to have a cool waterfall hike that we didn’t have time to do.