We loved visiting Italy and enjoyed every place we were fortunate to visit, however out of all of the areas we visited the Amalfi Coast was our favorite.
The scenery is absolutely stunning here. This region had the best olives, limoncello and some really yummy desserts. The Amalfi Coast is world renowned and it is easy to see why so many people love this beautiful region in Italy.
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Amalfi Coast Overview
- Towns Near Amalfi Coast – Sorrento and Vico Equense
- How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
- Amalfi Coastal Towns
- Getting Around the Amalfi Coast
- Things to do on the Amalfi Coast
The majority of visitors will start their Amalfi Coast journey from the town of Sorrento. We stayed in nearby Vico Equense, so we were two train stops from Sorrento. We decided to take our road trip to the Amalfi Coast via the Sita bus.
Vico Equense
Vico Equense is a quaint fishing village about 15 minutes from Sorrento. This town has an absolutely stunning view of Mount Vesuvius. This view can be observed almost immediately after you leave the train station. We chose to stay here rather than Sorrento as our base for exploring the Amalfi Coast and did not regret this choice.
How to Get to Vico Equense
To reach Vico Equense take the Circumvesuviana train from Napoli Centrali. From Napoli, the ride will take about 45 minutes. Our hotel was across the street from the train station, so we didn’t have to lug our bags far.
The views in this town are astounding. Almost immediately upon exiting the train station you will have an amazing view of Mount Vesuvius. Continue walking up hill towards the piazza and turn around. From here you have panoramic views of the village along the coast.
Vico Equense Downtown
The streets are lined with shops and it is a short distance from the train to the Piazza Umberto. The piazza is home to several cafes and shops. The village is small, so it is walkable.
We personally liked La Salumeria and ate their a few times. The food was good, staff friendly and was a great place to people watch.
There are two beaches here as well, however we never made the journey down the steep stairs to hang out there.
Quaint streets in Vico Equense are great for an evening stroll.
Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata is a beautiful gothic church overlooking the sea. It is a short walk from Piazza Umberto.
Vico Equense not only has amazing views of Mt. Vesuvius the town also has a great view coastal views and you can even see the island of Capri in the distance.
If you are visiting the Amalfi Coast this often overlooked gem of a village is a great stop to add to your itinerary.
Sorrento
Sorrento is a gorgeous town that deserves to be explored. There are more tourists here than Vico Equense. I thought Sorrento had some of the prettiest shops.
Vallone dei Mulini
A short walk from Sedile di Porta takes you to Vallone dei Mulini, an abandoned flour mill.
How to Get to the Amalfi Coast
The bus stop is located right outside Sorrento’s train station. Buy your tickets early in the morning for the best seats (or any seat at all). We purchased what is called a Costierastia ticket that gives you all day on and off privileges to the bus. There are 13 towns that make up the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi Coastal Towns
While we would have loved to explore all thirteen towns on the Amalfi Coast we had to narrow it down in order to make it back to the hotel before the trains stopped for the night.
The towns to choose from include the following:
- Amalfi
- Atrani
- Cetara
- Conca dei Marini
- Furore
- Maiori
- Minori
- Postiano
- Praiano
- Ravello
- Scala
- Tramonti
- Vietri sul mare
- Our first stop was in Sorrento, so we could take the Sita bus to the Amalfi Coast.
How to Get Around Amalfi Coast By Bus
The day before we began our Amalfi Coast adventure we stopped at Sorrento to find out the local SITA bus schedule. It was $8.00 for all day on/off the bus privileges. The bus gets crowded, so if you do not want to stand and you want to get a good seat then you have to get their early.
We wanted to be on the right side of the bus, so we could get the best views so we were at the bus stop about 45 minutes before the bus was scheduled to leave.
The Harrowing Drive
If you don’t mind heights and hairpin turns try to get a seat on the right side of the bus. It was hard to get a photo of how close the bus is to the edge, but trust me it is. If I wanted to I could have touched the sides of a building from my window.
Postiano
The first bus stop is in the town most everyone associates the Amalfi Coast with, Postiano.
The Village of Amalfi
Amalfi is the largest town on the trip. It has a stunning beach and you cannot miss it. The town is right on the beach. The sand was coarse though. and the views are amazing from the pier.
Places to Go in Amalfi
Museo della Carta
A visit to Museo della Carta was one of those places we stumbled upon while exploring Amalfi. Being a coastal city the people of Amalfi learned the art of paper making from Arab merchants. The paper mill was constructed in the 12th century and is one of the few working mills in Amalfi. During the tour they show you the entire paper-making process in Amalfi. You can also purchase handmade paper.
Duomo di Amalfi
Ravello
To visit Ravello you’ll need to switch buses at Amalfi. The bus you take to Amalfi from Sorrento is too large to take up the winding roads to Ravello. You will board a smaller bus. This bus will drop you off a couple blocks from the entrance of the village. It is a short walk to the piazza.
Things to See in Ravello
Villa Rufolo
Museo del Duomo di Ravello
Piazza Centrale
The main piazza in Ravello is a great area to sit and eat lunch and take in the beautiful views. We had lots of kittens come up to us here too.
