Discover jewels along the sparkling sea…

Exploring the Amalfi Coast should be done at the most leisurely pace possible. Take the time to enjoy La Dolce Vita along the way. Stop, sip, savor and just stare…we invite you read on…

We decided to base ourselves in Positano, (click here for our full blog on The Best of Positano) where we intended to do most of the aforementioned activity (or lack thereof). You could choose any of the towns we are about to talk about, but accommodations can be scarce outside of Positano and Amalfi. So choose your base and head out, by land or sea to these unforgettable destinations.

Capri. The island of lemons, immortalized by Frank Sinatra melodies, is truly magnificent. It is an island paradise of lemon groves, charming villages, sea caves and grottoes and cliffs that tumble to the emerald sea.

Our high speed boat departed the port of Positano on a brilliant sunny morning. Taking pictures looking back at the vertical city was beautiful.

The first half of the trip was to be a water tour around the island. But seemingly out of nowhere a storm rolled in and cut that short. We hurried into port, which was quite chaotic due to the weather.

So after waiting for the weather to improve we had limited choices. We decided to visit the smaller, more quaint main destination of AnnaCapri (as opposed to the major destination of Capri Town). We were not disappointed.

From a main square we simply wandered down narrow alleyways lined with shops, galleries and restaurants. As the clouds departed we were treated to the most gorgeous views across the sea to Mt Vesuvius.

A lucky pick of lunch spot served a signature Caprese Salad, octopus, ravioli and of course, a limoncello spritz.

With our time cut short we met back on our boat to complete the tour. And we’re so glad we did. The weather unfortunately took the famous Blue Grotto from our itinerary but we swam to sea caves, saw the soaring cliffs, postcard-perfect harbors and iconic Faragioli rocks.

Adding to the allure of these natural wonders are several local legends. Perhaps the most famous is that the Faraglioni rocks were once inhabited by Sirens, those mythical creatures that lured sailors in their ships toward the rocks where they would crash and perish, all by hearing the enticing Siren song.

Absolutely stunning.

Amalfi. Having chosen Positano as our base, I was experiencing a lot of Amalfi FOMO. So we had an afternoon boat trip to visit the main square, dominated by the spectacular Duomo di Amalfi, a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo. It is dedicated to the Apostle Saint Andrew whose relics are kept here.

On the day of our visit the heat was oppressive and very, very crowded. So we enjoyed a giant lemon ice, ventured down a few alleys then strolled the waterfront.

Certainly not an exhaustive experience but enough to get a flavor of the place.

Praiano this sleepy fishing village sits between Positano and Amalfi, acting as a a refuge from high season crowds.

There is an authenticity here, and we were treated to a spectacular seaside lunch at La Gavitella, featuring signature Praiano Flying squid and potatoes. Amazing!

in addition to swimming and sunbathing, this is a great little spot for kayaking, windsurfing, diving and boat tours. There are also a number of restaurants where you can enjoy the delicious cuisine of the coastline.

Atrani is one of the most charming towns on the Amalfi Coast that caught our eye from both water and land.

The smallest town on Italy’s southern coast sits like an enchanting nativity scene made up of a maze of little alleyways, narrow flights of steps, and houses clinging to the cliff face, directly above the sea, at the mouth of the Valle del Dragone.

A fishing village, that has conserved its ancient medieval structure, comprised of a cascade of houses interspersed covered passageways, and tiny gardens, all incredibly intact.

The Amalfi Drive cuts through the town center, where you can climb the hills or descend to the beach. We quickly got lost in the maze of white on white walls, finally retracing our steps back to the road level.

Ravello. Named ‘The City of Music’ for its vibrant cultural scene and stunning concert venue.

The town has many attractions and we chose wisely with the time we had, touring Villa Rufolo, A 13th-century Moorish-style villa with terraced gardens that offer far-reaching views.

From our amazing lunch venue at the Hotel Giordano we took full advantage of the stupendous panorama of the entire coastline, from Calabria in the south to Capri in the north.

Fuore. Though this was a very quick stop by boat it is quite worth a mention. Furore has neither a main square nor a town center, consisting instead of a sprinkling of little cottages clinging to the rock face, visible by sea pulling into the stunning fjord.

You could descend the 200 steps to the small beach…but consider the walk back!

So much to explore! Of course one could spend an entire trip in any of these destinations. And check out our carefully planned Guide to Positano to can help navigate the time you have. We are here to help!

Reach out to Carla@vacationkids.com to expertly plan, book and hand-hold your Amalfi Coast experience. It will be as picture-perfect as ours was!

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