Where to stay on the Amalfi Coast?

Accommodation in Amalfi, for charm and location

Amalfi is the main coastal town on the Amalfi Coast. As you may have guessed, it's the town that gave the region its name.

It lies in the middle of the tourist area that stretches from Positano to Salerno. So, in less than 1 hour's drive, you can reach these 2 extremities from Amalfi (at least when there's no traffic jam). So, choosing Amalfi for accommodation on the Amalfi Coast makes sense in terms of location and tourist attractions.

But beyond location, staying in Amalfi also means taking advantage of its lively atmosphere. With its restaurants, cafés, pleasant little streets and squares to wander around on foot, small shops, a variety of visits and its little beach, it's a must for any stay on the Amalfi Coast. Staying here allows you to discover the area in the evening and take full advantage of its charm. Another asset is its small port, from which you can make connections to other towns on the coast. There's also the island of Capri, just off the coast to the west.

In terms of accommodation, you'll find mainly apartments or guesthouses in the center, sometimes with views over the Mediterranean. But there are also hotels on the seafront, as well as along the main street running northwards: Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi.

This makes it an ideal base for a stay on the coast. Both well-located and renowned as the most pleasant town in the area, it is a victim of its own success. Accommodation is usually booked well in advance. To widen the choice, however, you can expand your selection slightly with neighboring Atrani. It's right next door, behind the cliffs. Just as authentic as Amalfi, it also has a beach and accommodation where to stay.

Stay on the Amalfi coast in Positano, the most popular tourist resort

Positano is certainly the most emblematic village on the Amalfi Coast, because it's the most photogenic. You've probably already seen a shot of it clinging to the side of a cliff, with the waters of the Mediterranean edging it.

As a result, it's ultra-touristy, as it's an essential stopping-off point in the region. However, tourists come here mainly during the day. In the evening, however, it regains its customary calm. On the tourist front, it's known for :

• its pretty town center, with its characteristic colorful facades, small restaurants, craft stores, churches and more...
• its pebble beaches, from which you can take boat excursions

In short, it's best visited as a half-day trip. But it's also a great place to stay. There are hotels both in the heart of the area and on the outskirts, and at a range of budgets (including top-of-the-range 5-star hotels). As is the case all along the Amalfi Coast, you can find rentals with balconies or terraces overlooking the sea. But all this comes at a price, especially in high season, when you need to book very early and prices can sometimes soar...

Located almost at the western end of the region, it's not the most central place to enjoy the area. However, it's still around 1h30 from Naples, via the west, which isn't much further than Amalfi.

Between the substantial accommodation budget, the fact that it's out of the way, and the fact that accommodation is booked up months in advance, you'll generally only spend 2 or 3 nights here when looking for accommodation on the Amalfi Coast.

For further details, please consult our guide to choosing where to stay in Positano.

Staying in Praiano, the right compromise

Praiano is a village on the Amalfi coast about halfway between Amalfi and Positano, about 10 km away.

Smaller and less touristy than these two neighbors, it nevertheless offers a wide range of accommodation. A few apartments and guest houses in Praiano itself. But also a number of hotels close to the main road, all with a view of the sea and the coastal cliffs. Overall, they all rival each other with superb views, swimming pools and sometimes top-of-the-range services.

Praiano is also famous for its 12th-century church of San Luca Evangelista. Perched on the hillside, it is particularly photogenic with its colorful dome and the sea behind. One of Praiano's best-known vantage points is at its western exit, with the church in the field.

In terms of entertainment, there are a few restaurants, especially along the main road that runs through it. Some are more geared to lunchtime travellers, but you'll also find some very good ones in the evening. Another point: apart from a few small, hard-to-reach beaches, such as Marina di Praia, Praiano doesn't really have a beach.

So, people come to stay in Praiano mainly for its location on the Amalfi Coast and its fine hotels, rather than for its evening entertainment. But also for the variety of accommodations, which fill up less quickly than in Positano and Amalfi in general.

Stay in one of our hilltop villages

If you want to stay on the Amalfi Coast, you usually think of the small seaside towns. But this is to reduce the coast to just the road that runs along it at the bottom. With its mountains rising up from the water's edge, it's much more than that.

It's also possible to stay in smaller, more "remote" villages or hamlets. That is, higher up in the mountains. The advantage here is that the views are even more beautiful than those directly on the seashore. But on the other hand, you have to get there by often winding roads. Not necessarily to everyone's driving liking.

In terms of accommodation, although there are hotels on offer from time to time, particularly in the Ravello area, the emphasis here is on guesthouses and houses for rent. Or apartments in houses. If you're looking for peace and quiet while staying on the Amalfi Coast, this is a very good option.

There are tourist accommodations to suit all budgets. You can choose from San Michele, San Lazzaro, Pianillo and Ravello. The latter is located in the hills above Amalfi and is one of the best-known in the region. From the gardens of the villas Rufolo and Cimbrone, which are open to visitors, you can enjoy beautiful views of the coast. Some even say they're the most beautiful in the region!

Stay near the Amalfi Coast, in Sorrento

To broaden the range of accommodation options on the Amalfi Coast, it's possible to go slightly further afield. In particular, you can target the coastal town of Sorrento.

This lies to the west, and slightly to the north. In practical terms, when there's no traffic jam, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Positano, and an hour to reach Amalfi.

The advantage of staying here is that it's a medium-sized town, which means you have access to a wider range of accommodation and restaurants. And above all, at more affordable prices.

The town' s historic center is well worth a visit, including the Villa Comunale and the Museo Bottega. There's also a pleasant marina, lined with a number of hotels.

Another advantage is that it provides a boat link from the port to the island of Capri. This kills two birds with one stone: on the one hand, proximity to the Amalfi Coast, and on the other, easy access to this other jewel of the region. As you'll have gathered, we're not talking here about staying on the Amalfi Coast as such, but not far away, and in a town that has a lot more to offer!

For further details, please consult our guide to choosing where to stay in Sorrento.

Salerno, the big city at the eastern end of the Amalfi Coast

Officially located right on the edge of the Amalfi Coast, Salerno is nevertheless a worthwhile option for accommodation in the region. It lies right next to Vietri sul Mare, the eastern end of the coast.

In contrast to the other towns mentioned above, Salerno is a large city with a population of over 100,000. So staying on the Amalfi coast and targeting Salerno is clearly not the first choice in terms of authenticity. But it does offer several advantages:

• it's an hour's drive from Naples (and 30 min from Pompeii), and 1 hour by train
• it is the starting point for bus routes along the coast
• it has a port with connections to the islands of Capri and Ischia

Salerno is an ideal base from which to visit the Amalfi Coast without a car. You can easily reach it from the capital of Campania, then take the bus from there to follow the coast westwards. On the other hand, Positano (almost at the western end of the coast) is a 1h30 drive from Salerno.

When it comes to entertainment, you'll find everything you'd expect from a big city. Restaurants, bars and shops. Particularly along the seafront, Corso Vittorio Emanuele and their perpendiculars. Another of Salerno's assets: its long beaches. Of course, they're still pebbly, but they're more extensive than in the smaller coastal towns.

In terms of accommodation, there are a few hotels, notably near the railway station. But it's mainly rental apartments that are in abundance here. As you can see, people come to Salerno looking for a good deal on accommodation rather than charm and luxury.