4 Days on the Stunning Amalfi Coast- Your Budget Itinerary & Guide
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Me and my boyfriend went to the dream destination of the Amalfi Coast while on our ten day trip to Italy this past September.
Pebble stone beaches lined the coast with colorful umbrellas. Pastel villages built into mountains and cliff sides dominated the backdrop. It was like being transported into the most beautiful, picture perfect, postcard!
There is so much to do on this gorgeous coast line, and with only a few days what should you do???
In this blog post I will walk you through everything we did with four days on the Amalfi Coast.
Want quick tips to save money in this destination? Here are my top tips on saving money: https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/12/02/planning-a-trip-to-the-amalfi-coast-on-a-budget-quick-tips-to-save-money/
Getting to the Amalfi Coast
We arrived to the coast by the ‘Circumvesuviana’ train from Naples to Sorrento, which took a little over one hour. We were originally coming by train to Naples from Florence. If you are only going to the Amalfi Coast, I suggest flying into Naples, as opposed to Rome since it is closer. The Circumvesuviana is in the main train station of Naples; just follow the signs.
This train is the local commuter train and is rather.. run down. The train we took to get to Sorrento did not have air conditioning and we were standing up for most of it in the heat and humidity with our huge backpacks on as it was so tight on the train! But this was the one and only budget option since a taxi will run you well over 75 euros one way.
The Circumvesuviana train is only 3.60 euro per person one way, cash only.
Check this website for more information on the train and times: https://www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule
Where we stayed
Some of the major costs on this trip will be your accommodation and transportation.
I swear I searched the web for MONTHS on multiple hotel websites, Airbnb, blog posts, and google searches on where to stay on the Amalfi Coast on a budget. There are so many towns on the coast, each with their own pros and cons to staying there.
For us, Sorrento made the most sense. From Sorrento you can get a quick ferry to Capri for the day, and a ferry or SITA bus to many other towns on the coast such as Positano, and it had the cheapest accommodation.
Bonus tip: After we visited the town of Amalfi, we wish we could have booked a cheap place to stay there as it was a much nicer town than Sorrento, with just as many bus and ferry connections.
We stayed in the ‘Guesthouse Casa d’amare’ in Sorrento, at just around $100/night. So per person it was about $50/night and you just can’t beat that for the Amalfi Coast. It was the nicest place I found with the cheapest price point. Only drawback was that it was about a mile uphill walk from the center of Sorrento! After walking all day this was definitely a struggle. https://www.booking.com/hotel/it/casa-d-39-amare-sorrento1.html
Bonus tip: When looking at places to stay in all of Italy, make sure it has air conditioning! It is not so common place in Italy as it is in the States and you will regret not having it in the summer months. Also- all of the towns on the coast have a ‘tourist tax’ you have to pay in cash on arrival. Clarify with your hotel/ Airbnb how much this is before getting there!
Getting around on the coast
There are a few ways to get around on the Amalfi Coast with the most popular being: SITA bus, taxi, and ferry. The cheapest is by SITA bus, but it is the most time consuming and crowded. We went to the coast during the first week of September and there were a few times that people were left behind and couldn’t fit onto the bus since it was at full capacity with people standing. We only had to stand once since we usually got to the bus stops super early (20-45 mins prior) to secure a seat.
A SITA bus ticket from Sorrento to Positano and back will run you about 4 euro roundtrip per person. However, if you’re going to any other town such as Amalfi or Ravello you’ll want the 24 hour pass which is 10 euro per person. You can NOT purchase these on board. You have to go to a bar or tobacco shop located around the bus stop and ask if they sell them. Most likely you will have to have cash in hand as well. If you don’t have a ticket in hand, they will not let you board the bus, don’t learn the hard way like some do!
I had heard HORROR stories about these SITA buses, but they really weren’t that bad. Arriving early to the bus, we almost always got a seat. We never felt unsafe around the windy, twisting roads of the coastal cliff side. These guys are professional drivers and great at what they do. One thing I would never suggest is renting a car or moped here, it is just too dangerous for yourself and other drivers.
Bonus tip: Don’t try to catch the last bus leaving from Positano or Amalfi back to Sorrento. This is too risky as you may not get a seat, and they’re not going to send another bus for you. Save a schedule to your phone, noting weekday/ weekend times. https://www.positano.com
Our 4 Day Itinerary:
Day Zero
We arrived by train to Sorrento in the late afternoon. We relaxed at the hotel for a little while, and then explored the town of Sorrento and the beach area. We ate pasta for dinner (of course!), and then went to bed.
Day One
We were up early for the first bus to Amalfi. From here, we beach hopped some free beaches along the coast. Check out this blog post for more information on free beaches: https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/11/26/free-beaches-to-explore-and-swim-on-the-amalfi-coast-kate-roams-the-world/.
We then took the bus up to Ravello to explore. Ravello is a beautiful little town with a lot of character, and with it being so far up on the coast, you will get some of the best views!
While in Ravello we went to the Villa Cimbrone garden. It costs 7 euro per person to enter. Here you can explore a large garden with busts and statues, and it has one of the best views of the Amalfi Coast! We spent 1-2 hrs here. On the way up to the garden and back, you will likely encounter many cats. If you’re a cat person like me, this is a dream. Afterwards, we ate pizza in the main square and walked around, and then left to go back to Sorrento.
Day Two
We took a ferry to Capri and did a day trip including a boat tour and trip to Anacapri. Here is a link to my blog post on how to spend the perfect day in Capri!
https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/11/28/the-perfect-capri-day-trip-from-the-amalfi-coast/
Day Three
We did a full day in Positano. This day was at the end of our trip and since we had budgeted so well, we rented the expensive sun loungers, 20 euro each (yikes- NOT budget friendly!). But they were well worth it since we spent literally the whole day there swimming and laying in the sun.
Every time I looked up from the sun lounger to the colorful cliffside town with the ocean in front of me I kept thinking “Am I really here right now???
There are two free beaches in Positano you could also go to- check out the link to my blog post on free beaches on the Amalfi Coast above! We drank a bottle of wine on the beach and brought pizza and snacks back from town for cheap.
Day Four
We hiked the beautiful Path of the Gods. Here is a link to that blog post with more details: https://kateroamstheworld.com/2019/12/02/a-guide-to-the-path-of-the-gods-hike-best-views-on-the-amalfi-coast/
After the hike, we went to the free beach ‘Fornillo Cove’ in Positano, about a 15 minute walk from the center of town. Afterwords, we ate our last meal at the top of Positano, crying into our pasta that we had to leave the most beautiful place we’ve ever been!
And that concludes how we traveled to the Amalfi Coast on a budget. I hope you found useful tips on saving money and how to plan to spend a few days on this beautiful coast.
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