Amalfi Coast Itinerary: The Perfect 5-Day Trip For First-Time Visitors

Planning an Amalfi Coast itinerary can quickly become overwhelming. With so many beautiful towns, scenic viewpoints, and famous attractions, it’s not always easy to decide what to include if you only have a few days.

This is the exact 5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary my friend and I followed during our first trip. We visited in September, when the weather still felt like the middle of summer, making it perfect for sightseeing, beach time, ferry trips along the coast, and all the European summer outfits I packed for the trip.

Our route started in Naples before continuing to some of the Amalfi Coast’s most iconic destinations, including Positano, Amalfi, Capri, and Salerno. Everything in this itinerary can be done without renting a car, making it a great option for first-time visitors who want to explore the area in a relaxed and stress-free way.

If you’re planning your first trip to the Amalfi Coast, this itinerary will show you exactly how we spent five days, what I’d do again, and a few things I’d do differently after experiencing it myself.

Day 1 – Explore Naples Before Heading to Salerno

After landing in Naples, we decided to spend a few hours exploring the city before continuing to Salerno, which would become our base for the next few days.

One thing you simply can’t skip in Naples is the pizza. The city is famous for being the birthplace of pizza, and if you have time, it’s worth stopping at one of the iconic pizzerias before leaving. We chose to enjoy a classic Neapolitan pizza, and it was easily one of the highlights of our first day in Italy.

As we wandered through the streets, it was impossible not to notice how much Naples celebrates Diego Maradona. Murals, souvenirs, football shirts, and tributes to the legendary player can be found throughout the city, giving Naples a unique atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Italy.

Personally, after walking around for a while, we felt ready to continue our journey. Naples is lively, energetic, and full of character, but some parts felt busier and more chaotic than we expected. Since our main goal was the Amalfi Coast, we headed back to the train station and caught a train to Salerno.

The train ride itself was part of the experience. As we travelled south, we were treated to beautiful views along the way, including glimpses of Mount Vesuvius in the distance. It was the perfect introduction to one of Italy’s most famous regions and made us even more excited for the days ahead.

By the afternoon, we arrived in Salerno, checked into our accommodation, enjoyed a relaxed evening walk through the city, and got ready for our first full day on the Amalfi Coast.

Day 2 – Discover Positano

The second day was all about Positano, one of the most iconic towns on the Amalfi Coast. We caught one of the early morning ferries from Salerno, which I highly recommend. Arriving early meant we could enjoy the town before it became much busier later in the day.

One thing that’s worth knowing before you travel is that Salerno has two ferry terminals. Most of the time, ferries operate from both, but if a large cruise ship arrives, departures may be moved to just one terminal. That happened to us, and we had to quickly walk over to the other port after being redirected. It’s a small detail, but one that’s useful to know if you’re catching an early ferry.

As soon as Positano came into view from the boat, it looked exactly like the postcards. The colourful houses stacked on the cliffs are even more impressive in person, and it’s easy to see why this is one of Italy’s most photographed destinations.

We spent the morning wandering through the narrow streets, browsing the small boutiques and simply getting lost among the beautiful staircases and colourful buildings. Positano isn’t a very large town, so if your goal is only sightseeing, I’d honestly say half a day is enough.

We decided to stay much longer because we also wanted to enjoy the beach. After exploring the town, we had lunch at one of the panoramic restaurants overlooking the sea and visiting one of Positano’s famous ceramic terraces, which turned out to be one of my favourite photo spots of the trip.

The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing on the beach before taking the ferry back to Salerno.

Day 3 – Spend the Morning in Amalfi

Originally, our plan for the third day was to visit Capri. However, after checking the weather forecast that morning, we saw that thunderstorms were expected later in the day. Instead of risking cancelled ferries or rough sea conditions, we decided to change our plans and spend the day in Amalfi instead.

Looking back, it turned out to be a great decision.

We arrived early in the morning, just as the town was beginning to wake up. The streets were still quiet, the cafés were opening, and it felt much more peaceful before the larger crowds arrived.

We started the morning with a pistachio croissant and coffee by the sea before slowly wandering through the town. As more shops opened, Amalfi’s famous lemon theme became impossible to miss. Everywhere we looked there were lemon ceramics, limoncello, colourful souvenirs, and local products inspired by the region’s giant lemons.

One treat you shouldn’t miss is the famous lemon sorbet served inside a real Amalfi lemon. We also stopped for gelato, and I chose pistachio. To this day, it’s still one of the best pistachio ice creams I’ve ever had.

One of my favourite memories from Amalfi wasn’t a landmark at all—it was the atmosphere. While we enjoyed our gelato, the staff were singing classic Italian songs, especially Sara Perché Ti Amo, creating one of those simple travel moments that you remember long after the trip is over.

Around lunchtime, we found a cosy restaurant for another authentic Italian pizza before continuing to explore the town. We spent some time browsing the local shops, picked up a few lemon-themed souvenirs to take home, and admired the beautiful Amalfi Cathedral from Piazza del Duomo before continuing our walk.

After visiting Amalfi myself, I’d recommend planning around half a day here. The town isn’t very large, and you can comfortably explore the historic centre, enjoy a leisurely lunch, browse the shops, and still have plenty of time left in the day.

If I were planning this itinerary again, I would combine Amalfi with Ravello. The two towns are close to each other, making them an excellent full-day combination. We didn’t make it to Ravello because the weather changed quickly that afternoon, so we decided to head back to Salerno before the storm arrived.

Day 4 – Explore the Island of Capri

After changing our plans the previous day because of the weather, it was finally time to visit Capri.

We took one of the morning ferries from Salerno and headed straight to the funicular after arriving at Marina Grande. Most visitors immediately follow the crowds into Capri Town, but before doing that, I recommend walking just a few steps towards the viewpoint next to the funicular station.

It’s a small spot that many people seem to miss, but the view is beautiful and it’s one of the first places where we stopped to take photos overlooking the coastline before continuing into town.

Once we reached Capri Town, we simply wandered wherever the streets took us. The elegant atmosphere immediately stood out, with luxury boutiques, designer stores, colourful cafés, and beautifully decorated streets around every corner. It felt completely different from the relaxed coastal towns we had visited earlier in the trip.

Our next stop was the Gardens of Augustus, one of the most famous viewpoints on the island. We spent quite a while here simply enjoying the scenery. The gardens themselves are beautiful, but the real highlight is the incredible view overlooking the Faraglioni sea stacks and the winding Via Krupp below.

After taking far too many photos, we stopped for a coffee before continuing to explore the town at a relaxed pace.

Later in the afternoon, we headed back down to Marina Grande using the funicular. While walking around the harbour, several companies were offering boat tours around the island. We hadn’t planned to book one, but decided to do it spontaneously, and it ended up being one of the best decisions of the entire trip.

The tour lasted about an hour and circled both Capri and Anacapri. Seeing the dramatic cliffs and the famous Faraglioni rocks from the water gave us a completely different perspective of the island than exploring it on foot.

After returning to the harbour, we finished the day with another Italian pizza and an Aperol Spritz before catching the ferry back to Salerno.

If you’re visiting Capri for the first time, I highly recommend making time for both the town and a short boat tour. Together, they give you a much better experience of the island than either one on its own.

Day 5 – Explore Salerno Before Heading Home

Our final day was much more relaxed than the previous ones. Since our flight was leaving from Naples later that day, we decided to spend the morning exploring Salerno before catching the train back.

Although Salerno is often seen simply as a gateway to the Amalfi Coast, I think it’s worth setting aside a little time to enjoy the city itself. We spent the morning wandering through the charming streets, browsing local shops, stopping for coffee, and enjoying the slower pace after several busy sightseeing days.

The seafront promenade is perfect for a relaxed walk, while the historic centre is filled with small cafés, restaurants, and narrow streets that are fun to explore without any fixed plan.

After one last walk around the city, we collected our luggage, took the train back to Naples, and headed to the airport with some amazing memories from five unforgettable days on the Amalfi Coast.

Why We Chose Salerno as Our Base

If I were planning this trip again, I would still choose Salerno as my base.

Many travellers automatically look for accommodation in Positano or Amalfi, but for our first visit, Salerno simply made more sense.

First, it was easy to reach directly from Naples by train, so there was no need to rent a car. From Salerno, we explored the Amalfi Coast almost entirely by ferry, which quickly became one of the highlights of the trip.

Watching the colourful coastline appear from the water each morning made every journey feel like part of the experience rather than simply a way to get from one destination to another. We also preferred travelling by ferry instead of relying on the often crowded buses during the busy season, making every day feel far more relaxed.

Another reason we chose Salerno was the accommodation. Compared to some of the more famous towns along the Amalfi Coast, prices were much more reasonable, giving us better value without feeling like we were missing out.

For a first trip to the Amalfi Coast without a car, I honestly think Salerno is one of the most practical places to stay.

What We Skipped (And Why)

Even with five days on the Amalfi Coast, we knew we wouldn’t be able to see everything, and honestly, we didn’t want to.

Instead of trying to fit every famous attraction into one trip, we decided to slow down and enjoy the places we visited. That meant leaving a few popular destinations for another time.

Some of the places we skipped included Sorrento, Pompeii, and Mount Vesuvius. They were all on our list, but this particular trip was planned around the coastal towns, ferry rides, relaxing by the sea, and experiencing the atmosphere of the Amalfi Coast rather than trying to see as many attractions as possible.

Looking back, I don’t regret that decision at all. We never felt rushed, had plenty of time to enjoy each destination, and still came home feeling like we’d experienced some of the very best places on the Amalfi Coast.

If you have more than five days, adding Sorrento, Pompeii, or Mount Vesuvius would definitely be worthwhile. But for a first visit, I think this itinerary offers a great balance between sightseeing, relaxing, and enjoying everything that makes the Amalfi Coast so special.

FAQ

Is 5 days enough for the Amalfi Coast?

Yes. I think five days is the perfect amount of time for a first visit. We explored the main highlights without feeling rushed and still had time to relax.

Is Salerno a good base for the Amalfi Coast?

Definitely. It was easy to reach by train from Naples, accommodation was more affordable, and the ferry connections made getting around simple.

Can you visit the Amalfi Coast without renting a car?

Yes. We completed this entire itinerary using only trains and ferries, and I never felt like we needed a car.

Is half day enough for Positano?

For sightseeing, yes. If you also want to spend time at the beach, I’d recommend staying for a full day like we did.

Is one day enough for Capri?

Yes, but I’d personally stay longer next time. We completely skipped Anacapri, so if I visited again, I’d spend at least two days on the island.