Amalfi Coast Itinerary: 3, 5 and 7 Days (2026)

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A 5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary linking Positano, Amalfi and Ravello runs USD 1,050 to USD 1,450 per person, built on a mid-range daily budget of USD 209 to USD 290 (EUR 180 to EUR 250) at the September 2026 rate of roughly EUR 1 to USD 1.16. The 3-day version suits a first look at Positano and Amalfi, the 5-day version suits travelers who want to add Ravello and a coastal hike, and the 7-day version suits travelers looping in Sorrento and a Capri day trip.

3-day Amalfi Coast itinerary

Three days works best for travelers who want Positano and Amalfi without the drive time to farther towns. Base in Positano for two nights and check the Amalfi Coast travel guide for which beach or trail fits each day. Day 1 covers arrival and the town center. Walk down to Spiaggia Grande, then work back up through Via dei Mulini past the shops and the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Day 2 is a ferry day. The Positano-Amalfi crossing takes 25 minutes door-to-door and costs USD 10 to USD 12 (EUR 9 to EUR 10), so spend the morning in Amalfi’s Duomo and old town before catching the afternoon ferry back. Day 3 is for the Path of the Gods, a 7.6-kilometer trail that takes 2.5 to 4 hours one way and rewards the climb with the clearest coastal views on the route. Check the Positano itinerary for trailhead timing before setting out. Skip Ravello and Capri on this pace, since fitting a fourth town into three days turns every stop into a rush.

5-day Amalfi Coast itinerary

Five days is the itinerary most travelers land on because it adds Ravello without cutting time in Positano or Amalfi. Spend nights 1 and 2 in Positano covering the same beach-and-town routine as the 3-day plan, then move to Amalfi for nights 3 and 4. Budget hotels in Amalfi average USD 151 (EUR 130) a night, noticeably less than Positano’s USD 212 (EUR 183) average for the same tier. Use day 3 for the ferry to Amalfi and an afternoon SITA bus up to Ravello, USD 3 (EUR 2.60) each way, to see the hillside piazza before the light fades. Day 4 goes to the Path of the Gods hike described above, since Amalfi sits closer to several trail access points than Positano does. Day 5 allows a slower morning in Amalfi’s old town before departure, with time built in to check the Positano hotels guide if the next stay still needs booking. This pace keeps each town to two full nights, so no day starts with a rushed transfer.

7-day Amalfi Coast itinerary

Seven days is the itinerary for travelers who want Sorrento and Capri added to the Positano-Amalfi-Ravello core. Start with two nights in Sorrento, using the SITA bus or a ferry to reach Positano and Amalfi on day trips before relocating. Move to Positano for two nights, then Amalfi for two nights, following the same routine as the 5-day plan above. Day 6 is a Capri side trip from Positano. The ferry runs about 30 minutes each way and costs USD 28 to USD 34 (EUR 24 to EUR 29), and the chairlift to Monte Solaro adds USD 16 (EUR 14) one-way or USD 23 (EUR 20) return. Day 7 closes the loop back through Sorrento for departure. The 7-day plan is the only length of the three where a full Capri day trip fits without compressing the coastal towns, since the extra two days absorb the ferry transfers.

Why the ferry beats the SS163 road

Ferries beat the SS163 coast road on speed, predictability and stress for a short itinerary. The Positano-Amalfi ferry takes 25 minutes door-to-door, while the same 12-kilometer drive on the SS163 can take 40 to 55 minutes in July and August traffic and longer on summer weekends between May and early October. The road itself runs a single lane in each direction with roughly 350 hairpin turns along the full 50-kilometer coastline, which is why SITA buses and rental cars both slow to a crawl once the towns fill with day-trippers. Ferries only run from April through October, connecting Salerno, Amalfi, Positano and Sorrento with fares of USD 10 to USD 17 (EUR 9 to EUR 15) per crossing, so travelers visiting outside that window need the SITA bus or a private transfer instead. Book ferry tickets a day ahead in July and August, since boats fill up and sea conditions can cancel a route with little notice.

When a shorter Amalfi Coast trip is the right answer

A 3-day Amalfi Coast trip is the right length when the budget or the calendar cannot stretch past a long weekend. Two nights is the minimum that still makes the trip worthwhile, since one night leaves barely enough time to see the Duomo, walk the old town and reach a beach before checking out. A shorter trip also suits travelers connecting from Naples or Rome, where the ride down and back already uses a half day on each end. Naples to Positano runs USD 31 to USD 35 (EUR 27 to EUR 30) by ferry and takes about 1.5 hours, while the drive from Rome takes roughly 4 hours. Cutting the trip to three days lowers cost the most directly, since two fewer hotel nights at USD 212 (EUR 183) in Positano save more than any single activity choice. Choose the 3-day itinerary over the 5-day or 7-day version whenever the goal is simply to see Positano and Amalfi, not to add Ravello or Capri.

How to decide – quick cheat sheet

– Have 3 days and a fixed budget. Base in Positano, ferry to Amalfi once, and hike the Path of the Gods. – Have 5 days and want variety. Add Amalfi and Ravello as separate bases instead of day trips. – Have 7 days and want Capri. Only this length leaves room for the ferry and chairlift without cutting another town. – Traveling outside April through October. Skip ferries entirely and plan around the SITA bus, since boats stop running for winter. – Traveling in July or August. Book ferries and Path of the Gods slots in advance, since both fill up on weekends.

Where to stay along the coast

Positano centers on Via dei Mulini, five to ten minutes from the main beach, where properties like Hotel Savoia run from USD 270 to USD 313 a night. The Fornillo side of town sits further from the center but has its own smaller beach, with Hotel Marincanto priced from USD 328 a night for a quieter base. Praiano, one town over, runs 30 to 50 percent cheaper than Positano for similar sea views, which is worth checking for a 5-day or 7-day itinerary that does not need to stay inside Positano itself. For the ferry and bus connections that link Amalfi and Ravello back to Positano, check the Positano travel guide.