The Ultimate Driving Guide to the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is one of Italy’s most breathtaking regions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Connecting the principal villages along the coast is an 80-kilometer stretch of curvaceous highway known as the Strada Statale 163 (SS-163). The SS-163 is hands-down one of the world’s most scenic drives. So, buckle up for hairpin bends, vertical villages, and some of the most memorable sights you’ll ever lay eyes on!

2. Sant’agata sui Due Golfi

Literally, “Saint Agatha between Two Gulfs,” this village is tucked between the Bay of Naples and the Bay of Salerno. Even though this town is not exactly on the coast, it’s an authentic Amalfi town. Check out the Greek necropolis and the Monastero del Deserto, a Carmelite monastery that has attracted the likes of Stendhal and Goethe for its magnificent views of the Bays.

• Best for: smaller crowds, historical sites
• Next Stop: 13 – 16-minute drive

4. Positano

Pastel-colored homes brace a precipitous seaside cliff, while cobalt waters break against the sandy shore below. Is it any wonder Positano is known locally as the “vertical town”? If you haven’t seen it in real life, you’ve probably seen it on postcards. The town’s bright and intricate layout regularly attracts the rich and famous. Positano makes a great stop on your itinerary for up-scale shopping, bumping nightlife, and boutique hotels. Beach-dwellers should keep in mind that there are but a few beaches here.

• Best for: nightlife, high-end shopping, boutique hotels, architecture
• Next Stop: 15 – 20-minute drive

6. Conca dei Marini

With a population of roughly 100, you may be wondering why you’d want to stop in this sleepy hamlet of a town. Conca is home to the legendary Grotta dello Smeraldo, or Emerald Grotto. For €5, you can take a boat ride across the green waters and stalactites mazes in this partially submerged cave. For gastronomers, the local dessert is a must-taste; the Santa Rosa sfogliatella is a delicious pastry, whose inception dates to the 17th-century. If you go in August, you can even attend a festival celebrating the pastry’s delicious legacy.

• Best for: natural scenery, mouth-watering pastries, lower prices, small crowds
• Next Stop: 10 – 15-minute drive

8. Atrani

The smallest town in all southern Italy, Atrani is literally Amalfi’s next-door neighbour. It’s an off-the-beaten path alternative to Amalfi and offers tourists a great variety of beach life and historical sight-seeing in its centro storico.

• Best for: beaches, history, smaller crowds, lower prices
• Next Stop: 15 – 20-minute drive

10. Minori

Even amidst July’s sweltering heat, Minori’s microclimate almost always guarantees a cool breeze. Known as the “City of Taste” for its lemon trees, vineyards, and (most importantly) its world-famous pasta. Since the 16th-century, Minori has been producing the world’s most mouth-watering noodles. Put another way: Minori is to pasta what Tuscany is to wine. This quiet town also makes a great base for boat excursions.

• Best for: PASTA! Boat excursions
• Next Stop: 20 – 25-minute drive

11. Maiori

The title for Amalfi’s Biggest Beach goes to Maiori. While the scenery’s not as striking as Ravello, and the houses not as colorful as Positano, Maiori definitely delivers when it comes to beaches. The long, flat, sandy stretches of beach are great for families who don’t want to worry about their children hurting themselves on rocky shores. Maiori offers many convenient beach-front hotels and restaurants, smaller crowds, and cheaper prices. History buffs need to check out the Villa Marittima Romana, Amalfi’s most archaeologically important ruins. You can also explore Grotta di Pandora, a nearby sea cave.

• Best for: BEACHES! Natural scenery, families, lower prices, history
• Next Stop: 5 – 10-minute drive

12. Erchie

With such a strange-sounding name, you may be wondering about its origins. According to legend, Erchie was founded by the great Hercules himself as his Grecian ship came ashore. Because the southern end of the town is not accessible via car, the town is renowned for its smog-free, quiet, and unspoiled beaches. A Norman Tower sits poised at the tip of the beach, dominating the low skyline and adding a rustic flare.

• Best for: unspoiled beaches, historic sites
• Next Stop: 6 – 10-minute drive

13. Cetara

Of all the Amalfi Coasts’ towns, perhaps none is as traditional as Cetara. Unlike many of the tourism driven towns on the coast, Cetara relies on its fishing-based economy to survive. You can imagine it boasts some of the best seafood around, especially tuna (but don’t tell that to the rest of the coast!). Be sure to try the local Colatura di Alici, a local sauce made with freshly caught anchovies that dates to the Roman period.

• Best for: authentic vibes, world-famous seafood
• Next Stop: 16 – 21-minute drive

14. Vietri sul Mare  

Just two miles outside of Salerno, this small hamlet boasts good food, great views, and a long tradition of richly colored ceramics. Vietri sul Mare is the cradle of Italy’s famous earthenware pottery known as majolica. Because the town doesn’t cater to tourists, it makes a great stop for those looking for a peaceful and authentic Amalfi Coast town.

• Best for: authentic vibes, amazing ceramics, lower prices
• Next Stop: 16 – 22-minute drive

15. Salerno

Though not officially part of the Amalfi Coast, Salerno is the de facto end of the SS-163. That said, it’s an urban hub of culture, food, and transportation. From here, you can catch a train to Rome or Pompeii. The centro storico has many ornate churches, including the Medieval Cathedral. There are also many beaches, a variety of decadent restaurants, and an eclectic nightlife scene that ranges from quaint pubs to wild clubs. Like Sorrento, Salerno is a big city; however, it has a distinctly small-town vibe and fewer tourists.

• Best for: laid-back vibes, transportation, nightlife, gastronomy, architecture