Two Days in Amalfi Coast Itinerary

(On a Budget)

The Amalfi Coast is an incredible coastline in Italy with unique towns, great food, and even better views. It is possible to visit the Amalfi Coast on a budget and get a good taste of this coastline in just 2 days. There are several beautiful towns on the Amalfi Coast, but their small size allows you to easily explore them in a short amount of time. Follow this guide for the perfect 2-day Amalfi Coast itinerary.

How to Get to the Amalfi Coast

By Public Transportation
You can take Trenitalia from Rome to Naples and then another train from Naples to Sorrento. After you get to Sorrento you can take the SITA bus to most towns on the Amalfi coast. Note that the SITA busses can get very crowded. You can also book busses and trains to the Amalfi Coast on Bookaway.

By Car
Driving on the Amalfi Coast can be scary because the roads are narrow and crowded and there are many large busses. Most hotels on the coast do not have free parking included. If you decide to drive to the Amalfi Coast consider staying nearby in Sorrento where you can find cheaper accommodations and more parking options. The drive from Rome to Sorrento is about 3.5 hours. Make sure to rent a car online ahead of time. You can book your rental car on Discover Cars where you can compare rates to rent a car from nearby cities such as Naples or Rome.

How to Get Around the Amalfi Coast

Van Tour
If you don’t have a car or don’t feel comfortable driving in the Amalfi Coast you could book a small group tour that takes you by an air-conditioned mini van to Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. This is a great option if you want to avoid using the public transportation which is not always reliable and can get very crowded. Enjoy the great views on the ride to the three most popular towns on the Amalfi Coast and spend time exploring each town. Most of the tours leave from Sorrento which is a town south of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula, only a 40 minute drive from Positano. In Sorrento you can find cheaper accommodation than in towns along the Amalfi Coast and you will see nice views of the Bay of Naples.

Boat Tour
An exciting way to explore the Amalfi Coast is by boat. Book a boat tour to enjoy the beautiful coastline from the water with stops in Positano and Amalfi. A boat is a great way to avoid the traffic and crowds on the roads along the coast, and it adds a memorable experience. Make sure to book your boat tour on Viator ahead of time as they do sell out. You have the flexibility to cancel up to 24 hours before the experience if your plans change.

Public Transporation
The SITA bus runs along the Amalfi coast from Sorrento to Salerno, stopping in different towns in between. There are busses that also go up the hills to towns like Bomerano. The busses get extremely crowded and often many people are left standing. The roads are windy so it is not a fun ride if you are standing. To get the scheduled bus times you can find a tourist information center, although the busses usually do not run on time. If you are trying to save money you should consider taking the bus during your 2 days in the Amalfi Coast.

Rental Car
If you can brave the narrow and windy roads, then you can drive along the coast and stop in different towns. This allows more flexibility and you don’t have to depend on the busses and whatever time they decide to come. Make sure to rent a car online ahead of time on Discover Cars for pick up in another city such as Rome or Naples before you get to the Amalfi Coast to save money. Parking can be difficult to find in the towns and it does cost money. If you decide to drive on the Amalfi Coast I recommend starting very early in the morning (at sunrise) so you can enjoy the drive and explore the towns before the crowds.

Travel Medical Insurance for Amalfi

Don’t forget to get a travel insurance policy for your trip! SafetyWing offers affordable, flexible, and reliable travel medical insurance that can be purchased ahead of your travels or while you are already traveling.

Where should you stay in the Amalfi Coast?

You can find a range of accommodation options on the Amalfi Coast. If you are on a budget but still interested in staying on the Amalfi Cost, book your stay in one of the lesser-known smaller towns such as Bomerano or Praiano. We stayed in Bomerano which is where the popular Path of the Gods hike starts. The food options in Bomerano are also significantly cheaper and the accommodations are affordable and often include parking.

Another option to travel to the Amalfi Coast on a budget is to stay in a town on either side of the Amalfi Coast. Sorrento is a nice town south of Naples on the Sorrentine Peninsula, only a 40 minute drive from Positano. In Sorrento you can find cheaper accommodation than in towns along the Amalfi Coast and you will see nice views of the Bay of Naples. There are many tour options from Sorrento to the Amalfi Coast which is perfect if you are not renting a car.

How to save money on food in the Amalfi Coast

As you might expect, the restaurants in Positano are very expensive. If you want to save money, try to eat in the less popular towns like Atrani or Bomerano. The food here is a lot cheaper and still delicious. If you are staying outside of the Amalfi Coast in Sorrento you will also find cheaper restaurants. Note that in some of the towns like Vietri Su Mare many restaurants don’t offer food during certain hours, typically between 3 and 6. If you are really hungry during this time, there is always gelato. If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, consider buying groceries and eating in some of the time to save money.

Amalfi Coast 2-Day Itinerary

Day 1: Hike the Path of the Gods and Explore Positano
Day 2: Visit top towns on the Amalfi Coast including Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, and Vietri Su Mare

Day 1: Hike and Explore Positano

Hike the Path of the Gods

Potentially the most beautiful hike you will ever experience, the Path of the Gods takes you along the cliffs from Bomerano to Nocelle. Make sure you hike from Bomerano to Nocelle and not the other way around, or you and your legs will suffer. The views are incredible along the entire way: First you see cliffside vineyards, followed by views of the town of Praiano, huge cliffs, and finally Positano from many perspectives. Make sure you continue following the trail all the way to Positano in order to experience more amazing views. This last part of the trail is usually the most quiet because the trail technically ends in Nocelle and many people take the bus the rest of the way to Positano.

Follow this Path of the Gods guide for tips, where you can find the trailhead, and what to bring with you. This hike will be one of the highlights of your 2 days in the Amalfi Coast

Explore Positano

You just hiked a long way to get here, so spend the rest of your first day in the Amalfi Coast enjoying Positano. Note that all of the restaurants here are pricier, so go for the cheapest entree to save money. Positano is beautiful but it can get very crowded, especially at the beach and the boutiques near the beach. If you want to get away from the crowds, climb up the stairs to the opposite side of the town from where you hiked to (towards Sorrento). Here you will get a different perspective of Positano and take a relaxing walk with views of lemon trees, the beach, and the colorful houses.

Note (if you are staying in Bomerano): There is no direct bus back from Positano to Bomerano. You will need to take a bus to Amalfi and then another bus from Amalfi to Bomerano.

Day 2: Visit Amalfi, Atrani, Ravello, and Vietri Su Mare

Walk Around Amalfi

On your second day of your 2 day Amalfi Coast itinerary, road trip down the Amalfi Coast from Amalfi to Vietri Su Mare. If you want to see several of the towns in two days you have to get up early before it gets crowded and traffic starts. The Amalfi Coast doesn’t get busy until around 10:00 AM, which gives you plenty of time bright and early to explore before the crowds arrive. Amalfi is one of the bigger towns, featuring pastel colored houses, restaurants, and shops. If you want to see this view in the picture above, climb up the many stairs on the east side of the town.

Parking: Luna Rossa is a good parking option. Located between Atrani and Amalfi, it has a tunnel that you can walk through to get to Amalfi. They require all passengers to wait for the driver to park, so don’t be surprised when they ask everyone but the driver to get out of the car before entering the parking.

By Bus: There is a direct SITA bus from Bomerano to Amalfi.

Relax in Atrani

Atrani is a short 10 minutes walk from Amalfi which makes it an easy town to visit during your 2 days in the Amalfi Coast. This town is very similar to Amalfi but a lot smaller, and you can quickly get lost through the little streets, find your way back to your car, and drive off to the next town! Atrani is a little cheaper than Amalfi, so if you are seeing the Amalfi Coast on a budget, this would be a better spot to get breakfast or lunch.

Enjoy Amazing Views in Ravello

Ravello is another town you must visit during your two days in the Amalfi Coast. Ravello is a town in the hills with spectacular views. The atmosphere here is a lot more relaxing and less crowded than most of the towns along the coast. While in Ravello you should explore Villa Rufolo, a beautiful villa with the best views in Ravello.

Admire Ceramics in Vietri Su Mare

Known for its ceramics, Vietri Su Mare is a beautiful town to explore with ceramic walls and numerous ceramic shops. This town is less crowded than some of the others and it is nice to walk around and admire the art. This town is definitely worth a stop during your 2 days exploring the Amalfi Coast.

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