Best 5 ITINERARY options for 5 DAYS in Amalfi Coast

With 5 days on the Amalfi Coast, you will be able to explore most of the area if you plan your trip in advance.

In this guide, I have listed 5 detailed day-by-day itinerary suggestions for history or beach lovers, for couples or family trips, or why not a mix of everything.

I have added to the must-see list also a few iconic destinations technically not on the Amalfi Coast, like Pompeii, the Vesuvius, and Sorrento.

It would be such a pity to miss them once there.

Five days in Amalfi Coast – in a nutshell

With 5 days in Amalfi Coast, my recommendation is to break your stay between two locations.

The only exception would be for families, especially with small kids. In that case, one base would be the perfect way to go.

• 5 days in Amalfi Coast for beaches: There are many lovely beaches along the coast, most of which are boutique-sized and have beautiful views. Additionally, it might be worthwhile to take an organised tour to visit a few beaches or sea caves that can only be reached by boat. In this itinerary, I suggest splitting your stay between Positano (3 days) and Sorrento (2 days). Read more below on a day-to-day beach and sea plan
• five days on the Amalfi Coast for couples: There are few locations in Italy that are as picturesque and charming as this area. In this itinerary, I suggest booking your stay in the romantic Positano (3 days) and the unique island of Capri (2 days). From both places, you can plan your daily adventures. Read more below on a detailed itinerary
• For families: I recommend staying in Maiori, which has one of the best family-friendly beaches in the area. From there, organise day trips to a few destinations on the coast either by bus or ferry. Read more below on a family itinerary
• For history: Sorrento (3 days) and Positano (2 days) are both great towns to enjoy and from there, you can easily reach other amazing historical sites. I have drafted a detailed 5 days plan for history that you should check below
• For a bit of everything: In this itinerary, you can split your time between Positano (2 nights) and Amalfi (3 nights). As a result, you’ll be able to experience the most iconic towns during both day and night. In the plan below, I have included a wide range of activities, like trekking, history, and beaches.

I personally do not suggest renting a car if you are flying to Naples for only the Amalfi Coast area.

I recommend hiring a vehicle only if you plan to drive to other destinations, like Puglia or Sicily.

For your reference, I wrote a guide about how to get around on the Amalfi Coast, including links to timetables and tickets.

In some of the below itineraries, I have also included a few organised day trips that offer free cancellation policies, a great peace of mind in these uncertain days.

Do I usually book experiences in advance? Yes, every time, the free cancellation makes it so easy to change the plan last minute anyway.

Five days on The Amalfi Coast for beaches

If you have five days on the Amalfi Coast, I highly recommend staying in Positano (3 days) and Sorrento (2 days).

From Naples Airport you can book this great value Shared Transfer Van directly to Positano. You can also opt for this Private Van Transfer if you are in 4 or more of you.

The alternative is to take multiple means of public transportation (not a real option, in my opinion)

Day	Hotel	Activities	Lunch/dinner
Day 1	Nunziata (Positano)	1. Visit Positano’s Main Beach 2. Walk to Fornillo Beach	Lunch: Posides Cafe
Day 2	Nunziata (Positano)	1. Visit Furore Fjord by bus 2. Stop at Arienzo Beach	Dinner: 86 Bistrò
Day 3	Nunziata (Positano)	1. Ferry to Amalfi 2. Explore Amalfi town 3. Visit Atrani Beach or Castiglione Beach	Lunch: Dejavu Cafe or Lido di Ravello Dinner: Li Galli or Mirage Restaurant
Day 4	Palazzo Marziale (Sorrento)	1. Ferry to Sorrento 2. Explore Sorrento town 3. Visit Bagni Salvatore	Dinner: 86 Bistrò
Day 5	Palazzo Marziale (Sorrento)	1. Bus to Nerano 2. Walk to Ieranto Bay	–
Alternative	In Positano	Swap any day in Positano with: – Small group Beach & Snorkelling boat tour – Capri and Sorrento Coastal Tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto

This itinerary includes a few stops in the towns for sightseeing.

• Day 1 Positano: In the morning, you should visit Positano’s Main Beach. You can rent umbrellas and sunbeds in the private area, as well as lay down in the public area. There is no doubt that this is the most scenic beach on the coast, with a spectacular view of Positano perched on a hilltop. Posides Cafe is a great place to eat lunch (the Caprese Salad is fantastic). In the afternoon, take a walk to Fornillo Beach, the quieter beach of Positano, a short walk along the coast (steep in a couple of places).
• Day 2 Positano: Time to visit the Furore Fjord, probably the most impressive beach on the Amalfi Coast. I highly suggest taking a bus there, even if you have a car. Parking there is way too challenging and you may easily end up with a fine from the local police. The bus stop is just above the fjord, so handy. Stay the entire day there or take the bus back to Positano, however, stop in Arienzo Beach, just 700m from the town, for another swim in a little cove.
• Day 3 Positano: Take the ferry to Amalfi and spend some time exploring the town. Dejavu Cafe is a great place for a quick lunch. I would not suggest sunbathing at Amalfi beach (not as impressive). Walk instead to Atrani Beach, just 700m away, or even better to Castiglione Beach, one of my favourites. You can even think to have lunch there at the Lido di Ravello. Organise your way back to Positano by bus. 
• Day 4 Sorrento: Time to move. Grab the ferry to Sorrento, where you will spend the next two days. Explore a bit of the town for the remaining part of the morning. Then head down to the Bagni Salvatore (accessible by lift), a real gem of Sorrento, as well as a fabulous place for food, a great place to spend the afternoon sunbathing.
• Day 5 Sorrento: Take the bus to Nerano and from there walk down to Ieranto Bay, one of the most beautiful locations in the peninsula for its amazing view of Capri. The beach itself is boutique size, with stunning turquoise water. Try to make it as early as possible to share it only with a few people. It gets busy in August and the weekends, however during the week it is still off the beaten path.
• Positano alternative: You may also swap any day in Positano with this small group Beach & Snorkelling boat tour that will take you to lovely beaches and amazing grottos along the coast. Or this Capri and Sorrento Coastal Tour with a visit to the Blue Grotto.

For more beaches, check out this exhaustive list where I mention also the costs for sunbeds and umbrellas (unfortunately, they do not come cheap). 

The romantic Five days on the Amalfi Coast for couples

The Amalfi Coast is, of course, one of the most romantic places on earth, and surely Positano is one of the most picturesque towns in Italy.

Besides having 3 nights in Positano, I also recommend spending 2 days on the unique island of Capri.

Book a Shared Transfer from Naples Airport directly to Positano if you wish to avoid multiple transportation options.

Day	Hotel	Activities	Lunch/dinner
Day 1	Alcione (Positano)	1. Stroll through Positano and shop 2. Visit the main beach 3. Walk to Fornillo Beach or Arienzo Beach	Lunch: Posides Cafe
Day 2	Alcione (Positano)	1. Ferry to Amalfi 2. Ferriere Valley walk 3. Visit Duoglio Beach	Lunch: Dejavu Cafe Dinner: Li Galli or Mirage Restaurant
Day 3	Alcione (Positano)	1. Join the Vespa Tour on the Amalfi Coast	–
Day 4	La Reginella (Capri)	1. Ferry to Capri 2. Check-in at the accommodation 3. Visit Marina Piccola beach 4. Explore the Old Town and Piazzetta	Lunch: Marina Piccola Dinner: Ristorante D’Amore
Day 5	La Reginella (Capri)	1. Explore Capri with a minivan bus network or 2. Take a boat tour around the island	–

• Day 1 Positano: You can start the day by taking a stroll through Positano and its shopping. Lunch at Posides Cafe (fantastic Caprese Salad). Explore the main beach in the afternoon, and then walk along the coastal trail to the quieter Fornillo Beach. The boutique Arienzo Beach is also 700 meters away.
• Day 2 Positano: Grab the ferry to Amalfi. Wander around town and go for the Ferriere Valley walk, between gorges and waterfalls (DIY with the free MAPS.ME app). In the afternoon, grab the local boat (2-3euro) to Duoglio Beach, under an impressive cliff. Afterwards, you can take the bus back to Positano by walking up the stairs until you reach the main road.
• Day 3 Positano: join the Vespa Tour on the Amalfi Coast, the coolest way to explore the area in Italian style with a guide
• Day 4 Capri: Time to move. Take the ferry to Capri, there is always something fascinating in staying on an island and Capri delivers big time in this respect. True, it’s a popular destination and it can be very busy in August, however, you can still find great spots to explore as well as lovely restaurants to have a romantic night. Check in at your accommodation and head down to the beach in Marina Piccola where you can have also your lunch. For a late afternoon drink and dinner, go to the Old Town starting your wandering from the famous Piazzetta. Check out Ristorante D’Amore for the lovely food.
• Day 5 Capri: explore the island. There are two ways, do one or both. Join this well-priced minivan bus network to move around and explore on your own or take this boat tour around the island coastline.

Both Capri and Positano are not inexpensive places to book your accommodation, however, they are both quite spectacular.

In saying that, you can still find a few great value-for-money places to stay in Capri and awesome accommodations in Positano, like the ones mentioned below.

Read more options on where to stay in Capri (best areas with a view) 

Five days in Amalfi Coast for families

Maiori is one of the best destinations for families on the Amalfi Coast.

The sandy beach here is the biggest highlight. Family with kids will love its wide and long size.

Separated by a small channel, the long beach is made up of two sections. The central parts of both have better sand, without stones or pebbles.

The Villa Hermosa is a good place to rent sunbeds for a day.

Alternatively, you can rent a boat, to explore the hidden coves and beaches that can only be reached by boat

The little ones can also enjoy a swing at the small playground. 

A short hike to Minori (Sentiero dei Limoni – Lemons Walk) is available from Maiori, so you can experience another town and a different beach

A day trip to Amalfi or Positano can be taken by ferry or bus.

A day trip by ferry to Cetara (direction Salerno) with its lovely beach is another interesting tour 

5 days in Amalfi Coast for history

There are many historical sites in the area, and both Sorrento (3 days) and Positano (2 days) have excellent public transport connections.

Day	Hotel	Activities	Lunch/dinner
Day 1	Palazzo Marziale (Sorrento)	1. Visit Vallone dei Mulini 2. Sunset and swim at Bagni Regina Giovanna	Lunch: AZZ! Italian Tavern Dinner: 86 Bistrò
Day 2	Palazzo Marziale (Sorrento)	1. Visit Herculaneum Historical Park and/or Pompeii	–
Day 3	Palazzo Marziale (Sorrento)	1. Visit Naples or take a boat tour to Capri	–
Day 4	Alcione (Positano)	1. Ferry to Positano 2. Explore Positano town 3. Visit Maiori and Castle of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano	Lunch: Maiori Food Coast
Day 5	Alcione (Positano)	1. Visit Amalfi’s Duomo and old town 2. Take a bus to Minori 3. Explore Villa Romana e Antiquarium	Lunch: Dejavu Cafe

• Day 1 Sorrento: Sorrento is the focus of this day. You can visit a variety of historical sites. Probably the most fascinating one is Vallone dei Mulini (Mills’ Valley), right in the centre of town, surrounded by trees and plants. A beautiful sunset and a swim in a natural pool await you at Bagni Regina Giovanna, the ancient Roman villa you should visit in the late afternoon. It is possible to drive, catch a bus/taxi or walk there (3 km).
• Day 2 Sorrento: In the morning, take the direct Campania Express train to the Herculaneum Historical Park (2-3 hours for a visit) and leave in the afternoon for Pompeii (4-5 hours). If too much, I suggest visiting Pompeii only. This is one of the biggest Archeological Parks in the world and the entire site can take up to 1 day to visit it. Take your time.
• Day 3 Sorrento: On your third day in Sorrento, you can decide either to take the Campania Express train to Naples to explore the historical iconic sites of the city, or visit Capri with this superb tour by boat that will also leave enough time to explore the Old Town.
• Day 4 Positano: Time to move. Take the ferry to Positano and, after your check-in, explore the old town perched on the hill. The highlight of the coast. You can either relax at the beach or grab a ferry to Maiori. Lunch at Maiori Food Coast (a family-run restaurant with gorgeous food) and walk up (1.5km) to the Castle of San Nicola de Thoro-Plano (the afternoon is usually open between 3 and 6 pm, however, ask at the restaurant to be sure it is actually open). Besides the beautiful view, the passionate guide will tell you all you need to know about the place.
• Day 5 Positano: Visit the Duomo and the old town of Amalfi by ferry. Catch a bus to Minori to see the Villa Romana e Antiquarium (free entrance), one of the coast’s hidden gems, a small Roman house that you can explore at your own pace. Back to Sorrento by ferry or bus.

Sorrento has many great places to stay, in fact, it is my favourite to visit in winter, one of the few towns on the Amalfi Coast with tourists.

As I already mentioned also Positano has still some good value-for-money stays, all listed below

Five days to explore everything

There’s a little bit of everything in this itinerary, from historical sites to beaches.

In this case, I suggest breaking up the trip into two locations, Positano (3 nights) and Amalfi (2 nights)

Day	Hotel	Activities	Lunch/dinner
Day 1	Alcione (Positano)	1. Wander around Positano 2. Visit the main beach 3. Walk to Fornillo Beach or Arienzo Beach	Lunch: Posides Cafe
Day 2	Alcione (Positano)	1. Organised tour to Pompeii and Vesuvius	–
Day 3	Alcione (Positano)	1. Path of the Gods trekking tour	–
Day 4	Paradiso (Amalfi)	1. Explore Amalfi town 2. Walk up to Torre dello Ziro (optional) 3. Visit Atrani Beach or Castiglione Beach	Lunch: Dejavu Cafe (Amalfi) or Lido di Ravello (Castiglione Beach)
Day 5	Paradiso (Amalfi)	1. Ferriere Valley walk 2. Visit Duoglio Beach	Lunch: Duoglio Beach
Day 5 Alternative	Paradiso (Amalfi)	1. Ferry to Cetara 2. Book beach sunbeds 3. Explore the old town	Lunch: Spadone

• Day 1 Positano: In the morning, wander around Positano. Have lunch at Posides Cafe (a family-run business). Walk down to the main beach to enjoy the breathtaking views and then walk to Fornillo Beach to enjoy a more relaxing setting. Alternatively, you can stroll down to the boutique beach of Arienzo, which is located just 700m from Positano.
• Day 2 Positano: This is the biggest day on the itinerary. You will visit Pompeii in the morning and Vesuvius in the afternoon on this organised tour. You will kill two birds with one stone. You will never forget these two unique destinations.
• Day 3 Positano: Get ready for a trekking day with the most amazing view on the Amalfi Coast, the Path of the Gods. Join this organised tour for a no-worries experience.
• Day 4 Amalfi: Take the ferry to Amalfi, where you will spend the next two nights. This is one of the most iconic destinations of the Amalfi Coast, with a lovely old centre developed around the main street, now the best shopping place on the coast. Use the morning to explore the town, and if you still have some spare time, walk up to the Torre dello Ziro. In the afternoon, chill out at the beach but not the local one (not the best). Walk instead to Atrani Beach, just 700m away, or even better to Castiglione Beach, one of my favourites. You can have your lunch at Dejavu Cafe (Amalfi) or at the Lido di Ravello (Castiglione Beach).
• Day 5 Amalfi: in the morning have a go for the Ferriere Valley walk, between gorges and waterfalls (DIY with the free MAPS.ME app). In the afternoon, grab the local boat (2-3euro) to Duoglio Beach, under an impressive cliff, where you can also have lunch. You can go back to Amalfi by either bus or local boat.
• Amalfi Alternative: Take the ferry to Cetara, a town off the beaten track. Weekends and August are still busy, but other than that, everything is much quieter. Book your beach sunbeds as soon as you arrive, then take your time exploring the old town in the late morning. Have lunch at Spadone.

Frequently Asked Questions for 5 days in Amalfi Coast