Five days on the Amalfi Coast gave us the perfect mix of beach clubs, incredible food, boat days, and some of the most beautiful views we’ve ever seen in Italy.
From the breathtaking cliffs and colorful towns to the turquoise water and coastal boat tours, it’s easy to see why this is one of the most iconic destinations in Italy. Whether you’re spending the day exploring Positano, heading out on a boat tour to Capri, or just enjoying a long lunch with a view, there is so much to experience here.
We spent so much time researching where to stay and how to split up our days beforehand, so I wanted to put together the exact itinerary we followed to make planning your own trip a little easier.
In this itinerary, I’m sharing exactly how we spent each day, where we stayed, and the places we’d recommend adding to your own trip.
Helpful Amalfi Coast Tips for First-Time Visitors
1. Make dinner reservations ahead of time
Normally when I travel somewhere new, I love being spontaneous and wandering until I find a spot that looks good or asking locals for recommendations.
But, for the Amalfi Coast, the best restaurants, especially the ones with those incredible terrace views, often book up weeks in advance and sometimes even months ahead during peak season, so dinner reservations are definitely a must.
Lunch was much easier to keep spontaneous, and we had no problem finding great spots during the day.
2. Wear comfortable footwear
Be prepared for a lot of walking and a lot of stairs, especially in Positano.
Even short walks can involve steep steps and cobblestone streets, so comfortable shoes make a huge difference.
The two pairs below were the only shoes I brought for the trip, and they were both comfortable enough for all the walking while still going with every outfit.
3. Leave extra time for getting around
Getting around the Amalfi Coast can take longer than expected, especially in the summer.
Ferries are one of the best ways to get around, but it’s worth checking schedules ahead of time and leaving a little extra buffer so you don’t feel rushed.
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.
5 Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary at a Glance
This Amalfi Coast itinerary includes 3 days based in Positano followed by 2 days in Sorrento, with time to enjoy the coast itself plus unforgettable boat trips around the Amalfi Coast and Capri.
Positano
Stay: Hotel Savoia
Incredible terrace views, reasonable room prices, and suites with private outdoor jacuzzis overlooking the coast.
- Use Positano as your base for the first part of the trip
- Shop along Viale Pasitea and stop at the best scenic viewpoints on Via Cristoforo Colombo
- Spend time at Arienzo Beach, enjoy Aperol Spritz with a view, and experience Positano’s nightlife
- Stay in one of the most scenic hotels of the trip with incredible terrace views
Why you’ll love it: These first few days are all about soaking up Positano’s iconic views, beach clubs, shopping, and romantic evenings with a view.
Sorrento + Boat Tours
Stay: Villaggio Campeggio Santa Fortunata
Great budget option with beautiful coastal views and an excellent base for exploring Sorrento and taking day trips along the Amalfi Coast.
- Base yourself in Sorrento for the last part of the trip
- Take an Amalfi Coast boat tour with swimming, drinks, and stops in Positano and Amalfi
- Spend another day on a Capri boat tour with the Blue Grotto, one of the absolute highlights of the trip
- Use Sorrento as the perfect base for boat tours, shopping, and a more budget-friendly stay
Why you’ll love it: These final two days are all about seeing the Amalfi Coast from the water, with two unforgettable boat days and some of the best views of the trip.
Detailed 5-Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Day-By-Day Guide
Day 1: Explore Positano, Arienzo Beach + Dinner with a View
We spent our first day on the Amalfi Coast in Positano, and it was even more beautiful in person than we expected. The whole town is built right into the cliffs, with colorful buildings stacked above the sea and incredible views almost everywhere you look.
One of our favorite parts was just wandering through the streets, popping into little shops, and stopping whenever we found a restaurant or view that caught our eye.
After dropping off our bags and taking in the views for the first time, we headed out to start the day with breakfast.
Breakfast at Angelo Cafe in Positano
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 which offered the most incredible view!
We only stopped here for breakfast, but later found out they’re open until 10 pm and serve cocktails in the evenings.
Spend the Afternoon at Arienzo Beach Club in Positano
After breakfast and a bit more time exploring Positano, we made our way down to Arienzo Beach for the afternoon.
Arienzo Beach is one of the most beautiful and lively beaches in Positano and is best 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 incredible views of Positano. If you’re reserving lounge chairs, just keep in mind that the spots closest to the water are the most expensive.
That said, the beach itself is also public and free to visit.
We missed out on booking the beach club in advance, so we decided to spend the afternoon here on our own. After walking down to the beach, we set up our towels just to the right of the fenced-off beach club area. From there, we could still enjoy the music and lively atmosphere and even order drinks from the beach bar, which made it such a fun way to spend a few hours in the afternoon.
Whether you decide to splurge on the beach club or just enjoy the public beach, Arienzo is definitely worth adding to your Positano itinerary.
Dinner at Ristorante Adamo ed Eva
After spending the afternoon at the beach, we headed back to get ready for our first evening in Positano.
Located right in the heart of Positano, Ristorante Adamo ed Eva was one of our favorite dinners of the trip. The seafood here was some of the freshest we had on the Amalfi Coast, and the staff were so welcoming and gave us great recommendations from the menu.
The terrace views here are absolutely incredible, so this is definitely a spot you’ll want to make a reservation for ahead of time.
Unfortunately, it started raining while we were having dinner, so we ended up moving inside. Here’s a photo of the beautiful terrace views from the restaurant’s Instagram.
Rooftop Drinks with a View in Positano
To end our first night in Positano, we enjoyed a glass of wine on the balcony of our apartment overlooking the hillside and the busy streets below.
If you’re looking for a rooftop spot, Francos Bar and Il Tridente are two popular options.
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: Shopping, Aperol Spritz + Nightlife in Positano
We spent our second day in Positano taking our time exploring the town, doing a bit of shopping, stopping for drinks with a view, and ending the night at one of the most unique spots in Positano.
Shop Along Viale Pasitea in Positano
We spent the morning strolling along Viale Pasitea, stopping to browse everything from linen clothing and sandals to colorful ceramics and little souvenirs. If you’re hoping to do a bit of shopping here, I’d definitely recommend setting aside some time for it because there are so many beautiful boutiques and ceramic shops to pop into.
Lunch and Aperol Spritz at Buca di Bacco
After spending the morning shopping and wandering through town, we made our way down toward the beach for lunch and drinks.
Located right near the beach, Bucca De Bacco was the perfect spot to stop for lunch and an Aperol Spritz. A lot of the restaurants in this area get busy around lunchtime, but we were able to get great seats upstairs by an open window with a nice breeze and beautiful views.
It ended up being such a nice spot to sit for a while and take in the atmosphere before continuing our day.
Best Viewpoints in Positano: Via Cristoforo Colombo
After lunch, we spent some time walking through Positano and taking in more of the views before dinner. This part of town has some of the most beautiful viewpoints, and it’s definitely worth taking your time here and stopping for photos along the way.
There are also so many restaurants and little streets to explore around this area, which made it one of our favorite parts of the afternoon.
Night Out at Music on the Rocks in Positano
After dinner, we headed to Music on the Rocks, which ended up being one of the most unique nightlife spots we’ve ever been to.
Built right into the cliffs near the beach, this nightclub is set inside a natural sea cave and is such a fun spot for a night out in Positano. The setting alone makes it worth visiting, and once it started to fill up later in the evening, the atmosphere was amazing.
The music was great, there were plenty of people on the dance floor, and there were also areas to sit and relax if you didn’t want to be dancing the whole time.
Day 3: Lunch at La Tagliata + Travel from Positano to Sorrento
After two amazing days in Positano, we spent Day 3 making our way toward Sorrento, which ended up being the perfect base for the second half of the trip.
Before leaving Positano, we had one of our favorite meals of the entire trip at La Tagliata.
Lunch at La Tagliata:
Perched high above the town, La Tagliata is a family-run restaurant with some of the most incredible views in Positano. This place had been recommended to us beforehand, and somehow it still exceeded every expectation.
The food was honestly some of the best we had in Italy.
They brought out what felt like endless courses, including fresh salads, eggplant dishes, chickpeas, homemade pastas, and local meats, and every single dish was amazing. The portions were incredibly generous, and at 60 euros per person, including wine, we thought it was more than worth it.
Arrive in Sorrento and Explore the City Center
After lunch, we made our way to Sorrento and checked into our hotel for the next two nights.
We loved using Sorrento as our base for the second half of the trip. A lot of the boat tours to Capri and the Amalfi Coast leave from here, which made getting around really easy. It also has such a fun atmosphere at night, with busy streets, great restaurants, shops, and plenty to explore after a day on the water.
For our stay in Sorrento, we booked Villaggio Campeggio Santa Fortunata, which was a much more budget-friendly option. It was more of a glamping-style stay, but it was still really comfortable and had great amenities, including a pool and private access to the ocean.
That evening, we spent some time exploring Sorrento’s city center, which had some of the best shopping of the trip. There were so many cute shops to wander into, and we ended up buying a few ceramic plates that were actually the same style as the ones from La Tagliata, which made them such a fun souvenir to bring home. We also found the prices here to be really reasonable.
Day 4: Amalfi Coast Boat Tour from Sorrento
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.
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.
Highlights:
- Experience stunning views of the Amalfi Coastline while on a small group boat tour
- Explore the beautiful towns of Positano and Amalfi
- Snorkel and swim while enjoying stunning views
- Over 1,000 5-star reviews on Get Your Guide
Day 5: Capri Boat Tour + 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.
Highlights:
- Enjoy a scenic boat ride to Capri and snorkel and swim off the beautiful coast
- Visit the famous Blue Grotto
- Explore the Island of Capri for a few hours before getting back on board for a champagne toast with the iconic Capri arches
- Over 4,000 5-star reviews on Get Your Guide