The Amalfi Coast overview - where to begin
This place is the ultimate coast holiday and is nothing short of jaw dropping. I can't think of a more incredible beach holiday destination.
I don't know a single person who has walked away from a trip of a lifetime to the Amalfi Coast and said, "meh, it was underwhelming". It just doesn't happen. You will fall in love with this place the moment you lay eyes on it. I guarantee.
How long should I stay
I would easily give yourself 4-6 nights minimum here, just simply because there are so many towns and stunning hidden spots to explore. Definitely feel free to split that between 2 or 3 places, so you get to experience as much as possible. It's also a beach holiday, so half your days will likely be spent at the beach, which does take away from your exploration time. So in short, the longer the better.
Where should I stay
If your itinerary only allows you a couple of days and you don't have the time to do it in depth, my first tip would be just base yourself in Positano. It's THE jaw dropping destination that makes you go wow. If your time is limited, then don't muck around - go straight to the showpiece.
But if you have more time, I highly recommend splitting your time between a couple of destinations. We did Sorrento (2 nights) and Praiano (4 nights) and I don't think we could have done it much better. My only regret was that we didn't stay overnight in Capri - I feel like that is an experience in itself. If you've got the time, try to schedule it into your trip. If not, the day trip was just as magical. I just wished I had more time (but I think that about most places I go to).
Why Stay in Sorrento
Sorrento is a convenient starting place because it's on the very edge of the Amalfi Coast. It's not technically the Amalfi - it's actually on the Sorrentine Peninsula - but it doesn't make it any less spectacular. It's also a great launch spot to catch boats to Amalfi, visit places like Naples and Pompeii, and day trip to Capri.
NOTE: It's here in Sorrento that has the incredible restaurant that's all over your Instagram feed - the one where you dine under the lemon trees, called O'Parrucchiano. It's more than just a meal, it's an experience and I feel like for that alone, it's worth booking ahead.
Choosing a Day Trip or Overnight in Capri
If you want to do a boat trip to Capri from Sorrento, there's plenty of semi private tour options available that leave from Marina Grande. I would definitely pick one that takes you through the iconic rock Faraglioni rock formation, and of course, the Blue Grotto. Just know, that it's not always possible to visit the Blue Grotto, depending on the tides.
NOTE: There are plenty of other day trip options to Capri from places like Positano, Praiano and even Naples. Just work out what day in your itinerary you want to dedicate to the island, and pick your tour from there.
If you do choose to stay overnight, it's worth it just to watch the sunset and dine at any one of their spectacular restaurants. As all of the day trippers file out of town, I feel like that would be when the town becomes the most magical.
Why stay in Praiano
We opted to stay in Praiano for the second half of our Amalfi holiday, and ended up loving every second of it. It was not as overrun with tourists as Positano, but still had the coolest vibe on the coast. We also had views of Positano from Praiano, which is just one town over. Also, I've linked our Airbnb, because it was one of the most quaint, adorable accommodation options - everything we wanted in an apartment.
When we arrived, the owner even gave us 'welcome gelato' that was lemon flavour, picked straight from his mum's garden, who lived right next door. We ate it, while overlooking our incredible view - and it was one of those moments you never forget. 10/1o can't recommend more highly.
Getting Around
I would 100% recommend getting either a private transfer or taking public transport when moving groups with luggage between places on the Amalfi Coast. In terms of public transport, you can take a Sita bus or a ferry (just know the ferries only stop in certain towns).
Of course, you can also drive, but those roads are so narrow - unless you're an extremely confident driver, I wouldn't bother. In saying that, we hired a vespa during the four days we were based in Praiano and loved it. We weren't trying to handle luggage, so it was easy to scoot between the different towns, park up, and explore. You can bus it, but that can take a lot longer and you are then dependant on bus timetables.
