The Amalfi Coast is one of the most iconic destinations in Italy, and it’s easy to see why.
With its breathtaking cliffs, charming villages, and shimmering turquoise waters, this region is full of beauty and charm at every turn. Whether you’re soaking up the sun on Positano’s beaches, exploring hidden gems in the hillside towns, or cruising along the stunning coastline, the Amalfi Coast offers the perfect mix of relaxation and adventure.
We absolutely fell in love with everything this area has to offer, and this itinerary is designed to help you experience the very best of it—balancing must-see spots with a few personal favorites along the way.
Here’s our ultimate 5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary to help you plan an unforgettable trip!
How To Spend 5 Days On The Amalfi Coast?
We split our 5 days between Positano and Sorrento, which turned out to be the perfect combination. Positano, one of the Amalfi Coast’s most iconic and picturesque towns, was our base for the first three days. While some may say it’s a bit touristy, we couldn’t help but fall in love with its glamour, the stunning views around every corner, and its vibrant beach clubs.
For the last two nights, we stayed in Sorrento. Yes, we know it’s technically not part of the Amalfi Coast, but Sorrento’s fantastic location and more affordable prices made it a great choice because from here, we could set off on unforgettable boat tours along the Amalfi Coast as well as to the beautiful island of Capri.
Day 1: Exploring Positano
We spent our first day on the Amalfi Coast in the town of Positano, an old town built into the steep hills and cliffs on the coast that offer extraordinary views no matter what part of the town you are in.
The twisting streets here are lined with local clothes stores, gorgeous restaurants, and pleasing houses at every turn. There is every reason to visit and indulge in what Positano has to offer if you are vacationing in the Amalfi coast.
Enjoy A Cappuccino and a Cornetto from Angelo Cafe:
Angelo Cafe came recommended to us as a hidden gem by our apartment rental host and it quickly became our go to spot for a quick and tasty breakfast. This quaint, family-owned take away spot not only offers delicious cappuccinos and home-made pastries, but they’re also very generously priced beating out many of the shops in the area.
Our favorite part was their outdoor standing tables overlooking the sea and stunning cliffside. An unbeatable view!
They’re open until 10pm and serve cocktails in the evenings.
Enjoy Cocktails at Arienzo Beach:
Arienzo Beach is one of Positano’s most beautiful and lively beaches, well-known for the popular Arienzo Beach Club. Tickets start at around 200 euros per person and include a meal, a bottle of champagne, and a scenic boat ride with stunning views of Positano. If you are reserving a lounge chair, bear in mind that spots closer to the water are more expensive.
While most people visit through the Beach Club, Arienzo Beach is Public and open to everyone free of charge. We missed out on booking in advance, so we decided to visit on our own. After walking down to the beach, we moved to the right of the fenced-off beach club and laid our towels on the sand. From here we could still enjoy the energetic music and lively atmosphere of the Beach Club and could even purchase drinks from the beach bar, a perfect way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Regardless of whether you splurge on the Beach Club or take advantage of the public access, Arienzo Beach is a must-visit in Positano.
Get Dinner at Ristorante Adamo and Eva:
Located in the heart of Postitano, Ristorante Adamo Ed Eva is a romantic restaurant serving organic meals with local ingredients and some of the freshest seafood we had on the Amalfi Coast. The views from the terrace are breathtaking and our servers were incredibly welcoming and gave us great suggestions to choose from.
Unfortunately, we encountered some rainfall while dining here so we moved inside, but here is a picture of the incredible view from their Instagram:
Drinks with a View:
To end out our night, we enjoyed a glass of wine on the balcony from our apartment rental overlooking the hillside lit up the bustling streets and buildings.
Here are some bars to consider if you are looking to grab a drink with a view:
Francos Bar: A chic rooftop terrace offering incredible sunset views (just be sure to arrive early, as the line can be very long around sunset)
Il Tridente: A highly rated restaurant, but also features a stunning rooftop cocktail bar with lounge seating and a terrace that offers breathtaking views of the Amalfi Coast. It has ranked among the 10 best rooftop bars in Italy and is the perfect place to unwind from sunset until 1 AM, often with live music adding to the atmosphere!
Day 2: Shop and Sip in Positano
Shop on Viale Pasitea:
Positano is famous for its boutique shopping. We spent the morning strolling Amalfi Drive, stopping to browse everything from fashionable clothing to vibrant ceramics. It’s the kind of place where you can’t help but find something special to take home.
Enjoy an Aperol Spritz with a View at Bucca De Bacco:
Situated just off the beach there are a few restaurants to choose from to get some lunch and a drink. We dined at Bucca De Bacco, a stylish restaurant with high-quality Italian food where we also ordered refreshing Aperol Spritz’s. A lot of places were busy at lunchtime in this area, but we got great seats upstairs next to an open window where a cool breeze accompanied a great view.
Stroll Cristoforo Colombo Street and Take Scenic Photos:
After a short rest at our apartment, we walked to dinner through the winding streets and enjoyed the iconic Amalfi views along the way. There are numerous places to eat while overlooking the cliff with a view of the town and the ocean below.
Dance the night away at Music on the Rocks:
Positano’s nightlife doesn’t get more unique than Music on the Rocks, a nightclub that is carved into the cliffs!
Found at the foot of Positano near the beach, this naturally formed sea cave has been transformed into a really nice bar and dancefloor and is genuinely awe-inspiring when you step inside. In addition to that, the music was amazing and the vibes were great inside with a lot of people on the dancefloor.
The place really picked up at around 11:30pm but there were also plenty of areas to sit and chill out if you got there on the earlier side
Lunch at La Tagliata:
Perched high above Positano, La Tagliata is a family-run restaurant that serves fresh, farm-to-table dishes. This restaurant came highly recommended to us, and yet it still exceeded our expectations!
The food was some of the best we’d had in Italy, and the portions were extremely generous. We left with our stomachs full from the endless courses of salads, eggplants, chickpeas, homemade pastas, and local meats.
At 60 euros per person, the price was more than fair and even included a bottle of wine (they generously sent us home with an extra bottle). The warm hospitality and stunning views made this meal unforgettable.
Day 4: Amalfi Coast Boat Tour
A highlight of our trip was cruising along the Amalfi Coast and soaking in the amazing view of the coastline while also getting a chance to visit a couple of towns along the way. Our tour picked us up from our hotel in Sorrento via min bus which was very convenient, and we reached the dock in about 15 minutes before promptly boarding our boat. Our group consisted of about 10 people so there was plenty of room to sit and relax as we took off toward the open sea.
After cruising along the coast for about 30 minutes, we made our first stop: the town of Amalfi. We had an hour to explore on our own and before we departed the boat, the captain gave us great recommendations of different things to do and see. From local foods to try to scenic streets to walk, there was a host of things to check out in this chic little town.
After exploring Amalfi, we moved further down the coast for another short ride before arriving in Positano. Since we had already explored many parts of the town days prior, we spent our time here relaxing on the beach and getting a nice lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Before taking off from Positano our boat anchored a few meters off the beach, and this allowed us time to jump off for a refreshing swim and snorkel with a gorgeous view of the town in the backdrop. At this time, the staff started serving beer and wine to everyone and had a Bluetooth speaker on hand to make it a real party atmosphere.
Once we left Positano for good, the prosecco and beers continued flowing as we made our way back towards Sorrento. We were also treated to some fresh, homemade limoncello to sip on as we enjoyed the golden sun setting for the evening.
We loved every second of this boat tour and could not recommend it more! Just be sure to book in advance as it can book up quickly, especially in the busier summer months.
Day 5: Exploring Capri Island (Including The Blue Grotto)
On our final day, we signed up for a boat ride that took us off the Amalfi Coast to the infamous island of Capri. Here we took in superb sights and learned all about the island’s historical significance and was truly a perfect way to conclude our time in the region.
Boat Tour to Capri Island:
A shuttle bus picked us up from our accommodation which was very handy and took us to the pier where our boat would depart. Once we left the dock, we took our seats toward the front of the boat which fit about 15 people total and we sat back and enjoyed the views of the coastline whilst we had a drink.
Just prior to making our way out to Capri, the boat anchored off the coast of where we could off the boat and have a swim.
After about 30 mins on the boat, we reached the island and our first stop was the blue grotto. This is a sea cafe within the vast cliffs of Capri and when the sun shines into the cave it lights up the water in a beautiful shade of blue. The only entrance is at water level and is accessible by rowboat where you will have to lean back to fit through the opening.
Unfortunately for us, the weather and the rough waves made it too unsafe to go into the cave on the day we visited but it is supposedly quite a sight to see from the inside. On the plus side, it allowed us extra time to swim and snorkel off the boat.
After the blue grotto, our boat pulled into the dock where we could get off and explore the island on foot. There is essentially just one footpath which takes you to the top in about 30 mins and as you zig-zag up towards the summit, you will find plenty of information boards detailing facts about the island and its well renowned former inhabitants.
Once you arrive at the top of the hill you will find a bar where you can enjoy a drink and perhaps an appetizer. With plenty of outdoor seating and an incredible view that would not look out of place on a postcard, this is an idea spot to check out while you have time on Capri.
Just before leaving the island, our boat took us to see an impressive sea stack and sea arch which are a couple of its most impressive features. Rising 200 meters above the sea, these naturally formed structures were lit up in the evening sunshine and our boat even rode through the arch to give us as close a look possible which was a great treat and a brilliant way to end our time here before heading back to the coast.
