Two Day Amalfi Coast and Capri Itinerary
The string of fabled towns that line Italy’s Amalfi Coast offer some of the most incredible coastal scenery in Europe. Connected by a winding ribbon of road, the villages cling to emerald mountains and overlook the sapphire sea. Here, precipitous mountains plunge into the sea, picturesque villages maintain the charm of a bygone era and miles of hiking trails offer travelers the opportunity to explore the area on foot.
Simply put, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
VISITING THE AMALFI AND CAPRI IN TWO DAYS
Let’s face it. The Amalfi Coast deserves more than just two days.
The spectacular coastline that winds its way from Vietri sul Mare to Sorrento is among the most beautiful coastal drives in the world. The stunning coastal route is a destination for photographers, honeymooners, and those wishing to get a taste of Italian village life (though the latter group my be disappointed to see that the towns are filled with more tourists than locals).
Ideally, your Italy itinerary will allot more than two day to the Amalfi and Capri. But if you’re like me and only have limited time to explore the stunning stretch of coastal highway, it is still possible to have an unforgettable experience.
DAY 1: DRIVE THE AMALFI COAST
Driving along the Amalfi Coast is one of the top things to do in Italy. The spectacular route along the Coasta Amalfitana (SS163) stretches from Sorrento to Vietri sul Mare, for 60 glorious kilometers. In many ways, the Amalfi Coast is reminiscent of Italy’s Cinque Terre—another must-see attraction that has soared in popularity recently.
Though I was admittedly not the one behind the wheel, I found the Amalfi Coast drive to be far less terrifying than online forums suggested Every post we read online made driving the Amalfi Coast sound like a death sentence. Bloggers and Thorn Tree writers made it seem so terrifying that we started to believe taking the car would mean staring death in the face. They discouraged us from taking our car along the coast due to the tight hairpin turns, small roads and heavy traffic.
My Italian aunt, however, told us not to listen to the suggestions of fearful travelers who were unaccustomed to the country’s winding coastal roads. She had traveled the same road a few years earlier and told us that the drive was nothing more than a beautiful experience with a small touch of adrenaline-pumping fun.
Fortunately, we heeded her advice.
The dramatic coastline took our breath away at every turn.
True, the one-lane road was chock full of speeding vespas, impatient local drivers and rumbling oversize tourist busses. There were times when these buses would careen down the road and we had to squeeze toward the cliff wall as best we could to let them through. Yet, overall, the ride was nowhere as frightening as the blogosphere suggested.
Travelers who have familiarity with driving in Europe or along winding ocean roads, need not think twice about the journey.
RAVELLO
We began our drive along the Amalfi Coast at Vietri sul Mare and zig-zagged our way around cliff edges, passing various towns along the hair-raising road to Ravello.
Ravello is a pretty town that sits high in the cliffs overlooking the ocean. Founded in the 5th century as a sanctuary from barbarian invaders, the town is unique for its lofty perch. As a result, Ravello boasts unparalleled views of the coastline and the azure seas.
We spent a bit over an hour walking Ravello’s streets and taking in the vistas. Ravello affords stunning views of the coastline from its luxurious hotels that rate among the fanciest in the world. Some of the most beautiful views of the ocean can be found at the opulent Hotel Palazzo Avino.
Of course, we asked to peek into them so we could see the splendid views from their balconies.
The entire town looks like a postcard and I could not stop taking pictures of the towering bougainvilleas, the dramatic ocean views and the narrow winding streets leading to the central plaza.
AMALFI
The town of Amalfi is located about halfway along the highway.
Between the years 839 and 1200, Amalfi was an important maritime center in Italy. It held the seat of the Duchy of Amalfi and rivaled Genoa in its importance as a powerful trading center. Later, the town lost its political power, but it never lost its importance–for today, it is recognized around the world as one of the most picturesque coastal towns anywhere.
Tourists from around the world flock to the beautiful city in the summer to admire its ocean views and phenomenal cathedral.
Amalfi’s stunning Cathedral is an amalgam of architectural influences. The imposing church has been remodeled several times, adding Romanesque, Byzantine, Gothic, and Baroque elements.
After visiting the cathedral, we decided to have lunch in Amalfi and spent a few hours exploring the town on foot.
My mom found paradise in the town’s artsy souvenir shops, but I preferred walking the narrow streets, admiring the work of street artists and exploring residential alleyways. The town was full of tourists shuffling here and there, buying limoncello, gelato and designer outfits.
POSITANO
From the town of Amalfi, we continued driving along the Amalfi Coast’s precarious road. The drive granted us views of towering bluffs and turquoise waters. Every bend seemed to afford a more beautiful picture perfect panorama than the last. We drove past cliff-side terraces growing grapes and lemons, tightly-packed colorful towns and roadside ceramic shops until we reached the town of Positano.
Positano is the Amalfi Coast’s most beloved village and the one that is most likely to make its way to the front cover of glossy travel magazines. Positano’s charm lies in its terraced houses that tumble down the coastline’s vertiginous cliffs. The houses appear to be stacked directly on top of each other, overlooking the coast’s azure waters.
The entire city seems to hug the steep cliff face with dear life.
Visiting Santa Maria Assunta is one of the top things to do in Positano. The tiled dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta can be seen from every angle of the town. And from nearly everywhere, views of the sapphire sea extend behind it, blending seamlessly with the sky.
Positano is a popular place to spend a few days. It is a magnet for shoppers, lovers of nature and seekers of the perfect Instagram shot. While our two day Amalfi Coast itinerary only allotted a few hours for Positano, it was not difficult to see why the picturesque oceanside town receives so much hype.
From Positano, we continued onward, toward Sorrento. Sorrento was our last stop along the drive and the biggest of the Amalfi Coast cities. We stayed the night in the city, but did not spend much time visiting its sites.
Instead, we used it as a launching point for our day trip to the majestic island of Capri.
DAY 2: CAPRI DAY TRIP FROM SORRENTO
After a wonderful day of driving the Amalfi Coast, we were not quite ready to bid farewell to the stunning coastline. So we decided to take a ferry from Sorrento to the Island of Capri in order to indulge in a second day of viewing spectacular scenery.
The ferry from Sorrento to Capri takes approximately 20 minutes. There are more than two dozen daily departures between the two coastal towns, and prices run around $30 per person, one way. Alternatively, those traveling from Naples, Caserta, Pompeii or beyond, can take the Naples to Capri ferry.
Capri sits in the Tyrrhenian sea, south of Naples. A popular day trip from Naples, it is a tourist hotspot that draws people from around the world to its incredible natural environment. To say the island is beautiful, is simply an understatement. Unfortunately, the boatloads of tourists that visit Capri every day have allowed prices to skyrocket. Nonetheless, visiting the island–even on a time-pressed itinerary–is a must with any visit to the Amalfi Coast.
The vistas of azure waters and dramatic, craggy cliffs are simply too difficult to forget.
VIA KRUPP WALK
We started our day in Capri with a panoramic walk along the spectacular Via Krupp. The walk turned out to be an incredibly fatiguing but ultimately an amazing experience. The entire time, we walked under the scorching sun. We were dripping in sweat and slightly dehydrated. To make matters worse, we also did the hike in reverse, meaning the majority of the time we were walking slightly downhill and the last bit consisted of hundreds of steps uphill.
Yet, we attempted to disregard our discomforts and push forward for, every way we turned, the trail afforded us amazing views of bluffs, outcrops and the Faraglioni–Capri’s giant coastal monoliths.
After our hike, Dan and I took a bus to Anacapri, the island’s second city. If the Amalfi Coast drive did not test my vertigo, the bus ride to Anacapri certainly did. Standing on a rumbling bus on a one lane road overlooking a precipice was nothing short of terrifying. Luckily, the bus drivers are so accustomed to the roads that the thought of their expertise put my mind at ease. We visited a few of the churches in Anacapri and strolled around the city for a bit before catching another bus to the entrance of the Blue Grotto.
THE BLUE GROTTO
The Blue Grotto is a sea cave known for its vibrant color. Its mesmerizing sapphire hue is due to the particular way the sun reflects off the limestone to illuminate the cavern. Allegedly, the grotto was famous even in Roman times and the Emperor Tiberius used it as his personal bathhouse.
Reaching the grotto during the day is only possible with a guided tour. The tour consists of hopping on a small boat and entering the cavern for a mere few minutes. Though it was expensive and the long lines waiting outside the cave made our visit incredibly rushed, I am happy I had the opportunity to visit something so unique and magnificent.
MONTE SOLARO
After visiting the Blue Grotto, we had a few hours to explore before our ferry back to Sorrento, so we decided to take a chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro–Capri’s tallest mountain. The view from the top, too, was spectacular. We could see the entirety of the island and part of the mainland’s coast as well.
The chairlift to the top of Monte Solaro costs 12 euros roundtrip and affords spectacular panoramas of the island.
From the top, the Faraglioni stood out against the deep blue water and painted a beautiful backdrop.
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Yes, Capri and the Amalfi Coast are full of boatloads of tourists. Yes, the prices are absurdly high and, yes, the crowds and the heat can be tiring.
But for those seeking a little slice of Italian paradise, I wager there are few places in the world where nature and culture coalesce to create such picturesque views and such a vibrant atmosphere.
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