Amalfi Coast Road Trip: 5 Days from Naples
Cliff roads and lemon-grove villages above the sea.
A 5-day Amalfi coast road trip from Naples through Sorrento and Positano — cliffside drives and seaside villages, planned day by day with real stops.
The Amalfi Coast road is the most demanding drive in this library and the one where distance means least. Fifty kilometres of the SS163 can take three hours: the road is cut into a cliff, barely wide enough for two cars, and shared with buses that need the whole of it on the bends. Drivers who enjoy it are the ones who accepted in advance that the average speed is about 25 km/h.
It is worth it, and it is also worth knowing the alternatives. The ferries between Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi run all season, take a fraction of the time and remove the parking problem entirely: many people drive the coast once for the experience and use boats for the rest of the week.
You trade Naples' chaotic alleys for a monastery view over the bay, then land at a lemon-grove lunch and Sorrento's harbour by evening.
Start your trip on foot in the heart of old Naples before the drive south begins.
SpaccaNapoli · Napoli
The old Roman decumano slices through Naples' historic centre — perfect for street photography amid Baroque churches and street life.
💡 Go early morning for soft light and fewer crowds.
Via Duomo, Napoli
A short walk from Spaccanapoli toward the station area.
Sfogliatelle Attanasio · Napoli
A legendary Naples pastry counter near the station, famous for the crisp sfogliatella riccia — the city's iconic breakfast.
💡 Eat it standing at the counter, still warm.
Vico Ferrovia, 1, Napoli
Head up to the Vomero hill for the view before leaving the city.
Charterhouse & Museum of San Martino · Napoli
A hilltop monastery-museum with sweeping views over the Bay of Naples — one of the city's best photo vantage points.
💡 Book online to skip the ticket line; the terrace view is unmissable.
Largo S. Martino, 5, Napoli
Straight from the drive into Sorrento, lunch comes first before checking in.
O'Parrucchiano La Favorita
A historic Sorrento restaurant in a lemon-grove greenhouse setting, known for classic Campanian cooking since 1868.
💡 Reserve a midday table under the lemon trees — arrive by early afternoon to land in the 12:00–15:00 lunch window.
Corso Italia, 71, Sorrento
After lunch, wander down to the harbour while the light is still good.
Marina Grande, Sorrento
A postcard fishing harbour with pastel boats and cliffs — one of the Amalfi coast's most photographed corners.
💡 Best light is late afternoon, boats included.
Via Marina Grande, 102, Sorrento
- Naples centre has ZTL restrictions — park in a monitored garage, not on the street
- Book Certosa di San Martino tickets online to avoid the queue
- Sorrento's centre gets very congested — a hotel with private parking saves hassle
- Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli+2 km
World-class Roman artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum, a short detour if you have another hour in Naples.
- Bagni della Regina Giovanna+5 km
Ruins and a natural swimming cove just outside Sorrento, popular with photographers for the arches.
You photograph Positano from above, wade into its beach town below, then chase sunset over Praiano's tiled dome.
Fotopoint Positano
The classic postcard view of Positano's cascading pastel houses tumbling to the sea — the single most photographed shot of the coast.
💡 Pull off carefully — parking is scarce, arrive before 10am for a spot.
SS163, Positano
Descend into town from the viewpoint toward the waterfront.
Spiaggia di Positano Marina Grande
Positano's main beach, framed by the town rising above it — the town's social and visual heart.
💡 Walk the steps down slowly — every turn is a new photo.
Via del Brigantino, Positano
Positano (Chiesa Nuova)
A local trattoria away from the beachfront crowds with genuine Amalfi coast seafood and lemon dishes.
💡 Book a terrace table for a sea view without beachfront prices.
Positano
Parish Church of Saint Januarius · Praiano
A quiet clifftop village famous for its majolica-domed church and some of the coast's best sunset views, 10 km detour.
💡 Come for sunset — far fewer crowds than Positano.
Piazza S. Gennaro, 1, Praiano
- Positano bans most non-resident cars in summer — check your hotel's ZTL permit policy
- Book any restaurant with a view well ahead, especially for dinner
- Driving the SS163 is slow and narrow — allow extra time, especially midday
- Fornillo Beach+1 km
A quieter beach a short walk from Spiaggia Grande, popular with locals, good for calmer photos.
- Nocelle+8 km
A tiny hillside hamlet above Positano reached by a scenic road, with sweeping coastal panoramas.
You stand under Amalfi's striped cathedral at midday and end it among Ravello's clifftop gardens at golden hour.
Arrive into Amalfi's main square, dominated by the cathedral steps.
Cathedral of St Andrew Apostle
Amalfi's striped Arab-Norman cathedral dominates the main piazza — the town's defining monument and a rich photo subject.
💡 Climb to the Cloister of Paradise for the best architectural shots.
Piazza Duomo, 1, Amalfi
Marina Grande
A seafront restaurant institution in Amalfi known for fresh-caught seafood and scialatielli ai frutti di mare.
💡 Reserve a table facing the water for lunch.
Viale della Regione, 4, Amalfi
Villa Rufolo · Ravello
Terraced gardens overlooking the Gulf of Salerno, a favourite of Wagner and one of the coast's most romantic viewpoints, 7 km detour.
💡 Book the garden ticket online; go late afternoon for the best light.
Piazza Duomo, Ravello
- Amalfi's centre is largely pedestrian — park in the paid lot near the port
- Book Villa Rufolo tickets ahead, especially in high season
- Ravello's road is narrow and winding — go slow and watch for tour buses
- Villa Cimbrone, Ravello+1 km
Another romantic garden villa near Villa Rufolo with a famous 'Terrace of Infinity' viewpoint.
- Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo)+6 km
A glowing sea cave near Conca dei Marini, reachable by boat or elevator, striking for photos.
You leave the cliffs behind for Vietri's painted ceramics, then trade postcard villages for Salerno's lived-in old town.
The coast road naturally ends here before flattening into Salerno.
Vietri sul Mare
The colourful ceramics town marking the end of the Amalfi coast road, famous for majolica-tiled domes and workshops, on-route.
💡 Browse the ceramics workshops for a genuine local souvenir.
Vietri sul Mare
Via dei mercanti
A handsome, less-touristed old town with a medieval cathedral and lively lungomare, a good contrast to the coast villages.
💡 Walk the seafront promenade at golden hour for photos.
Via Mercanti, Salerno
Trattoria aRoma
A well-loved trattoria in Salerno's old town serving Cilento-style seafood and pasta, a quieter dining scene than Amalfi's coast.
💡 Reserve for dinner — it's popular with locals, not just tourists.
Piazza Sedile del Campo, 13, Salerno
- Salerno has a ZTL in the historic centre — confirm your hotel parking includes zone access
- Vietri sul Mare gets busy with tour groups midday — visit early or late
- Salerno's old town is best explored on foot; leave the car at the hotel
- Minori+8 km
A quieter Amalfi coast town famous for its Roman villa ruins and pastry shops, just before Vietri.
- Cetara+10 km
A tiny fishing village famous for anchovy colatura, a genuine working harbour on the coast road.
You end the trip walking Pompeii's frozen streets before the short final drive delivers you back into Naples.
Archaeological Park of Pompeii · Pompei
The best-preserved Roman city in the world, frozen by Vesuvius' eruption — an essential and deeply photogenic stop on the way back.
💡 Book timed entry online and arrive at opening to beat both heat and crowds.
Pompei
Ristorante President Pompei · Pompei
A well-regarded local restaurant near the ruins, known for refined Campanian cuisine with a modern touch.
💡 Book ahead for lunch — a nice pause before finishing the drive.
Piazzale Schettini, 12, Pompei
- Naples' centre and airport-return zone can have ZTL restrictions — check your drop-off route
- Pompeii's site is huge and shadeless — bring water and a hat, book tickets online
- Traffic into Naples can be heavy in the afternoon — aim to finish Pompeii by early afternoon
- Herculaneum (Ercolano)+10 km
A smaller, remarkably well-preserved Roman site, easier to see quickly than Pompeii if time allows.
- Oplontis Villa of Poppaea, Torre Annunziata+5 km
An excellent, uncrowded Roman villa with vivid frescoes, a hidden gem near Pompeii.
Make this trip your own
Plan your own road trip →This route was drafted with AI. Please double-check roads, opening hours and local conditions before you go.
Made with Roadanza
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Work it out for this route →Questions, answered
- Is the Amalfi Coast road difficult to drive?
- Yes, more than any other road on this shelf. It is narrow, cut into a cliff, and busy with coaches that cannot give way. A small car is not a preference here. If that sounds unpleasant rather than exciting, the ferries cover the same coast and the trip still works.
- Is there a traffic restriction on the Amalfi Coast?
- In high season, yes: the coast operates alternating access by number plate on peak days, odd and even, usually through summer and holiday weekends. The rule is published each year and applies to hire cars; check the dates before booking a car for July or August.
- Where should I stay on the Amalfi Coast?
- Somewhere with parking, which narrows it fast and costs more than the room in places. Sorrento and Salerno are the practical bases with real car parks and ferry connections; Positano is beautiful, vertical, and a genuine logistical exercise with a car.
- When is the best time to drive the Amalfi Coast?
- May, early June, late September and October. August combines the heat, the plate restrictions and the entire Italian holiday on one cliff road. Winter is calm and lovely, though many hotels and restaurants close from November to March.
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