Amalfi Coast and Positano

Main international gateway, with year round flights across Europe and seasonal links further afield

Smaller airport at Pontecagnano Faiano, reopened to scheduled flights in July 2024 with mostly seasonal European routes; an Airlink bus reaches Salerno station in about 30 minutes

Best for long haul arrivals; most guests continue by high speed train to Naples or Salerno, then by private car

A cascade of pastel houses tumbling to a pebble beach, with chic boutiques, lively restaurants and the busiest summer scene on the coast.

Quieter and spread along the cliff between Positano and Amalfi, with west facing terraces that catch the best sunsets on the coast.

The historic heart of the coast, with its cathedral, lanes of shops and the main ferry hub, which makes it the most practical base for exploring without a car.

Perched about 350 metres above the sea, Ravello is elegant, cooler in high summer and famous for its gardens and summer concerts.

Two neighbouring seaside towns with wider sandy beaches, a promenade and an easier, more local feel than the western end of the coast.

Scattered villages of terraces and hidden coves, ideal for a secluded villa with a view and little passing traffic.

Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.

The Duomo di Sant'Andrea rises at the top of a grand staircase, its striped facade and bronze doors recalling the town's links with the eastern Mediterranean. Inside, the Cloister of Paradise and the crypt holding the relics of Saint Andrew are the quiet treasures.

A thirteenth century residence whose terraced gardens frame one of the most celebrated views on the coast. In summer its belvedere becomes the open air stage of the Ravello Festival.

A walk through romantic gardens leads to the Terrace of Infinity, a balcony of marble busts suspended high above the sea. Arrive early in the morning to have it almost to yourself.

The town is best understood from a boat, where its vertical layout and the dome of Santa Maria Assunta reveal themselves in full. Evening light turns the facades gold.

A narrow gorge cuts into the cliff beneath a high road bridge, sheltering a tiny beach and a cluster of old fishermen's houses. It is one of the most photographed corners of the coast.

A sea cave at Conca dei Marini where sunlight filtering through an underwater opening turns the water an intense green. Visits are by rowing boat and depend on sea conditions.

A shaded nature reserve above Amalfi, with waterfalls, old mill ruins and rare ferns surviving from a far older climate. It is a cool escape on a hot day.

The eastern gateway to the coast and its capital of hand painted ceramics, recognisable by the tiled dome of San Giovanni Battista. Its workshops are the place to commission tableware for home.

The Sentiero degli Dei runs about 7.8 km from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle above Positano, taking three to four hours with views over the whole coast. Finish with the long flight of steps down to Positano or a short local bus ride.

A traditional wooden gozzo with skipper is the finest way to see the coast, with swims in coves that are unreachable by land and lunch at a beach restaurant.

Family estates around Amalfi and Minori open their terraces to show how the Sfusato Amalfitano lemon is grown under chestnut pergolas, usually ending with a tasting.

A local cook can come to your villa to make fresh pasta, aubergine parmigiana and lemon desserts with produce from the morning market.

The Museo della Carta preserves a medieval mill that produced the town's renowned handmade bambagina paper, with demonstrations of the traditional process.

Hearing a symphony orchestra on a stage that seems to float over the sea is one of the defining summer evenings on the coast; tickets for major concerts sell out early.

The main pebble beach in front of the town, lined with smart beach clubs and the most lively scene on the coast.

A short coastal walk west of the centre, Fornillo is calmer and more relaxed, with a handful of friendly beach clubs.

A tiny cove squeezed between cliffs, with fishing boats, a couple of restaurants and a dramatic evening walk along the rocks.

A clear water cove west of Amalfi reached mainly by boat shuttle, with a beach restaurant and excellent swimming.

The longest sandy beach on the coast, practical for families who want space, shallow water and a full range of services.

What to eat

What to drink

Seasonal ferries and private boats reach the island for its grottoes, Faraglioni rocks and the piazzetta of Capri town.

The Roman city buried by Vesuvius in AD 79, best explored with a private archaeologist guide in the cooler morning hours.

Three magnificent Greek temples standing in open countryside, plus a museum famous for the painted Tomb of the Diver.

A lively town on a clifftop above the sea, ideal for shopping, a long lunch and an evening passeggiata.

The National Archaeological Museum, the historic centre and the city's legendary pizza make for a memorable day.

From April the gardens burst into flower, ferries resume their full timetables and the walking is at its best. The sea is still fresh for swimming until late May.

June to August brings warm sea, long evenings and the full buzz of beach clubs, festivals and boat days. It is also the busiest and most expensive period, so book villas, restaurants and drivers well ahead.

September and October are a favourite with seasoned travellers: the sea stays warm, the crowds thin and the light softens. Many hotels, restaurants and ferry lines close in late October or early November.

From November to March the coast becomes quiet and local, with mild days, Christmas lights and empty paths. Ferries are largely suspended and many restaurants close, so a villa with a cook and a driver is the way to enjoy it.