Amalfi Coast Itinerary: 5, 7 and 10 Days Without a Car (2026)

A good Amalfi Coast itinerary is built around one or two bases, the ferry timetable and a realistic pace on a narrow coastal road. This plan gives you five days day by day, then shows how to stretch it to seven or ten. It also covers where to sleep, how long each transfer takes and what fall changes.

Last updated: September 27, 2026

Amalfi Coast itinerary at a glance

Each version below reuses the same core days, so you can pick a length and cut or add blocks. If this region is only one stop on a longer trip, start with our southern Italy itinerary and come back here for the detail. For a wider view of the coast, see the Amalfi Coast travel guide.

Where to stay: choosing your bases

The base decides how much time you spend in transit. In fact, the coast is only about 40 km from Vietri sul Mare to Positano, yet the road is slow. So choose a base that sits on the ferry and bus lines.

For most first-timers, then, two bases work best: Amalfi town for the middle of the coast, and Positano or Sorrento for the western end. Also budget for the local tourist tax, which each town sets on its own. Our guide to the Italy tourist tax explains how it works.

Getting there and getting around

Salerno is the easiest gateway for this Amalfi Coast itinerary. For example, Italo runs 10 trains a day from Roma Termini to Salerno. The typical time is 1 hour 39 minutes, according to its Rome to Salerno page (checked September 2026). Then, from the pier by Salerno station, Travelmar ferries sail to Amalfi and Positano.

The Travelmar timetable updated September 7 lists about 35 minutes from Salerno to Amalfi and about 70 minutes to Positano (checked September 2026). The operator’s 2026 fare sheet shows €12 for Salerno to Amalfi and €10 for Amalfi to Positano. However, sailings can change or stop in rough seas, so keep a bus plan in reserve.

• From Naples: the Circumvesuviana train runs to Sorrento. However, the faster Campania Express tourist train is suspended from October 1, 2026 until further notice, according to EAV (checked September 2026).
• From Rome by train: see our Rome to Naples train guide if you prefer to start in Naples.
• Buses: SITA runs the coast lines. For example, 5110 goes to Ravello, 5080 to Agerola and 5120 to Salerno, as listed on its timetable page. Also, its COSTIERASITA ticket costs €10 and gives 24 hours of unlimited rides, per the SITA ticket page (checked September 2026).
• Ferries: for every route and operator, see our Amalfi Coast ferries guide.

5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary, day by day

This is the core plan. It keeps transfers short, and each day has one main goal. As a result, you still have time for a long lunch and a swim.

Day 1: arrive in Amalfi town

This Amalfi Coast itinerary starts in Amalfi town because most transfers leave from its pier. So take a train to Salerno, then the ferry to Amalfi. After you check in, walk up to the cathedral square and the lanes behind it. Then stroll to Atrani for dinner on its small piazza. That is the town square, which works as an outdoor living room.

Day 2: Ravello and a cooking class

First, ride SITA line 5110 up to Ravello in the morning. In the current season, Villa Rufolo opens daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost about €8 and are sold on site, according to the official Villa Rufolo page (checked September 2026). Next, walk out to the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. In the afternoon, back in town, try a cooking class on the Amalfi Coast.

Day 3: hike the Path of the Gods

Take the SITA bus from Amalfi to Bomerano, in Agerola. The Sentiero degli Dei is trail 327. It runs 5.3 km to Nocelle and takes about two hours one way, according to the CAI Monti Lattari trail page (checked September 2026). From Nocelle, walk down the steps to Positano, then take the ferry back to Amalfi. Finally, wear real shoes, since the trail is rated for hikers.

Day 4: a day on the water

The sea is the best way to see the cliffs. So choose an Amalfi Coast boat tour along the coast, or cross to Capri. Public NLG ferries link Positano and Capri from April 1 to November 3, 2026, according to the NLG route page (checked September 2026). Capri also adds a landing fee on top of the fare. For the island itself, compare our Capri tours guide or a Capri boat tour with the Blue Grotto.

Day 5: Positano and departure

Move to Positano for the last morning, or take an early ferry there with your bags. Walk down to Spiaggia Grande and up through the lanes. Then leave by ferry to Salerno, about 70 minutes, and catch your onward train. Alternatively, stay a night in Positano and leave the next day.

7-day Amalfi Coast itinerary: add Sorrento and Pompeii

Seven days lets you slow down and add the ancient sites. Keep days 1 to 4 as above. On day 5, therefore, move from Positano to Sorrento for two nights.

• Day 5: Positano in the morning, then on to Sorrento. For ideas there, see things to do in Sorrento.
• Day 6: take the train to Pompeii or Herculaneum. Our Herculaneum vs Pompeii guide helps you choose, and Pompeii tickets covers entry. For a guide, see our comparison of two Herculaneum tours.
• Day 7: a slow morning, then a cooking class in Sorrento before you leave via Naples.

This version also suits travelers who dislike packing often, since there are only two hotel changes. In short, a 7-day Amalfi Coast itinerary trades one more hotel for a much calmer pace.

10-day Amalfi Coast itinerary: Paestum, Naples and the islands

Ten days is for return visitors or anyone who wants food and history beyond the coast. In that case, start in Salerno or Amalfi and end in Naples.

• Days 1 to 5: the core plan above.
• Day 6: from Salerno, visit the Greek temples of Paestum. Read our Paestum day trip guide, or see our comparison of two Paestum tours.
• Days 7 and 8: Sorrento as a base for Pompeii and a slower day.
• Days 9 and 10: Naples for pizza and street food. For example, try a Naples street food tour, or take a Procida boat tour for a quieter island.

With or without a car: which version fits you

Driving the coast road is possible, but in busy periods it follows odd and even plate rules on the SS163. According to the Amalfi Coast tourism district (checked September 2026), the rule applies from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. between Vietri sul Mare and Positano. In 2026 it runs every day in August and September, and on October weekends. Hotel guests are exempt only on check-in and check-out days. For general rules, see our guide to driving in Italy.

Seasonal notes for your Amalfi Coast itinerary

• Fall: warm seas and softer crowds, but services thin out. For example, the Campania Express stops from October 1, 2026, and NLG’s Positano to Capri route ends on November 3, 2026. See also Italy in fall.
• Winter: Travelmar describes its service as year-round, but many hotels and restaurants close. So plan a shorter trip based in Amalfi or Salerno.
• Spring: good for the Path of the Gods, while the 2026 plate rule also covered Easter week and the late April holiday bridge.
• Summer: the busiest season, with the most boats and the fullest buses. Therefore, start early and book ferries online.

What to book ahead

• Your two bases, first of all, since Positano and Amalfi fill early in summer.
• Trains to Salerno or Naples, which are cheaper when booked early.
• Boat days and cooking classes, which have limited places.
• Pompeii entry, if your plan includes it, because tickets are personal and daily entries are capped.

In practice, lock these in before you finalize your Amalfi Coast itinerary. By contrast, you can buy the COSTIERASITA bus ticket on the day, and Villa Rufolo sells tickets only on site.

Experiences to fit into your Amalfi Coast itinerary

These are the experience pages on our site that match the days above, each with prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Amalfi Coast boat tour: the coast from the water, for day 4.
• Amalfi Coast cooking class: a hands-on afternoon, for day 2.
• Capri boat tour and Blue Grotto: the island by sea.
• Pompeii and Amalfi Coast day trip from Naples: both in one guided day.
• Amalfi Coast day trip from Rome: for travelers short on time.
• Paestum tour comparison: two Paestum tours side by side.

For more options, browse our Amalfi Coast tours guide or the full experience finder.

Coming from Rome? Our guide to getting from Rome to the Amalfi Coast compares the train, ferry, bus, car and transfer options.

Arriving at Naples airport or station? See our guide from Naples to Positano for every route and its 2026 fall schedule.

For a slower morning in your plan, our Amalfi lemon tour page compares the Path of Lemons walk from Maiori with a family lemon farm above Amalfi, both with a tasting.

Amalfi Coast itinerary: frequently asked questions

How many days do you need for an Amalfi Coast itinerary?

Five days covers Amalfi, Ravello, the Path of the Gods, a boat day and Positano at a relaxed pace. Three days works as a short add-on, while seven or ten let you add Sorrento, Pompeii, Paestum and Naples.

Where should you stay on the Amalfi Coast without a car?

Amalfi town is the most practical base, because ferries to Positano and Salerno and buses to Ravello and Agerola leave from there. Positano or Sorrento make a good second base.

Can you do an Amalfi Coast itinerary without a car?

Yes. Trains reach Salerno and Sorrento, Travelmar ferries link Salerno, Amalfi and Positano, and SITA buses serve the villages. A 24-hour COSTIERASITA ticket cost €10 in September 2026.

Is the Amalfi Coast worth visiting in fall?

Yes, especially in September and October, when the sea is still warm. However, some services end early: the Campania Express stops from October 1, 2026, and the Positano to Capri ferry runs until November 3, 2026.

How long is the ferry from Salerno to Positano?

The Travelmar timetable updated September 7, 2026 lists about 70 minutes from Salerno to Positano and about 35 minutes to Amalfi. Sea conditions can change or cancel sailings.