Amalfi Coast in a Long Weekend: A 4-Day Plan

The Amalfi Coast packs dramatic scenery into a short, winding stretch of southern Italy. Four days is enough to see the highlights without spending your whole trip on the famously twisty coastal road.

Day 1: Settle in Amalfi or Atrani

Base yourself centrally in Amalfi town or its tiny, quieter neighbour Atrani. Visit Amalfi's striped cathedral, wander the back lanes, and have your first seafront dinner.

Day 2: Ravello and the gardens

Take the bus up to Ravello, perched high above the coast. The gardens of Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone offer the most romantic views on the whole coast, far above the crowds at sea level.

Day 3: Positano by boat

Skip the traffic and take a ferry to Positano, the coast's most photogenic village, where pastel houses tumble down to the beach. Arriving by sea is the classic approach. Spend the afternoon on the beach or hiking part of the Path of the Gods.

Day 4: Lemons, limoncello and a slow exit

Use your final morning for a lemon-grove tour or simply a long lunch. The coast's lemons are enormous and famous; a bottle of local limoncello is the obvious souvenir.

Getting around

Ferries are the most pleasant way to hop between coastal towns in season and avoid the notorious road traffic. Buses connect the hilltop villages. Bring comfortable shoes — there are stairs everywhere.