🇮🇹Italy · Places to discover
What to see in Amalfi?
14 places selected by the community - landmarks, nature, hidden restaurants and activities.
Amalfi was once a maritime power before becoming a village of 5,000 people squeezed between cliff and sea. This tension between past grandeur and human scale is legible everywhere: in the alleyways that climb in steps, in the Cathedral of Sant'Andrea dominating the central piazza, in the converted paper mills of the Mulino della Carta now turned into a museum. The town makes no attempt to please; it simply exists.
Favour May–June or September to avoid the summer crush and tour buses disgorging onto the waterfront. Two days are enough to see Amalfi itself; allow longer if you venture to Ravello or Positano. The ferry from Naples or Salerno is vastly more pleasant than the coast road by bus. Don't hire a car: parking is virtually impossible and the SS163 becomes a nightmare in July and August.
Landmarks & heritage
4 places
1Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Atrani
Medieval village clinging to Amalfi yet overlooked by most visitors, with its tiny piazza on the beach, stepped alleyways and the Church of San Salvatore de' Birecto where the Amalfi doges were crowned.
2Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0Landmark
Arsenal of the Amalfi Republic
Maritime arsenal from the 11th century, one of the few surviving vestiges of the Amalfi Republic's naval power. The grand barrel-vaulted arches today house an exhibition on maritime history and the Amalfi Table.
3Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0Landmark
Piazza Flavio Gioia
Seafront square in Amalfi with a statue of the supposed inventor of the compass. This is where locals gather in the evening for the passeggiata, far from the bustle of Piazza del Duomo.
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Landmark
Landmark
Fontana di Sant'Andrea
Baroque fountain from the 18th century on Piazza del Duomo, a meeting point for locals in the evening. Observe the square after tour groups depart, around 7pm, to see a completely different atmosphere.
Museums
1 place
5Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Museum
Museo della Carta di Amalfi
One of Europe's oldest papermaking mills, installed in a 13th-century mill at the foot of the Valle dei Mulini. The original vats and mallets can still be seen, and visitors can make their own sheet of paper.
Religious sites
2 places
6Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Cattedrale di Sant'Andrea
An Arab-Norman masterpiece from the 9th century overlooking Piazza del Duomo. The mosaics of the facade and the Cloister of Paradise, a medieval garden with interlaced columns, are worth the visit alone.
7Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Religious site
Aurora Tower – Manarola
Medieval tower from the 14th century dominating the village of Manarola, a former lookout against Saracen pirates. It symbolises the resilience of Ligurian villages and makes an excellent photographic landmark.
Nature
2 places
8Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Nature
Valle dei Mulini
A wild gorge running behind Amalfi, dotted with ruins of old papermaking mills overgrown with vegetation. An easy 2km path allows you to escape entirely from the bustle of the waterfront.
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Nature
Nature
Valle delle Ferriere (from Amalfi, Positano side)
WWF nature reserve in the inland valley, with waterfalls, giant ferns and medieval paper mills in ruins. Less than 30 minutes from Positano, a complete change of scenery in lush vegetation.
Activities
3 places
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Activity
Activity
Amalfi–Positano Ferry Crossing
The best way to see the coast is from the sea. The local ferry (not the large excursion boats) connects Amalfi to Positano in 35 minutes with views of the cliffs, perched villages and Saracen towers.
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Activity
Activity
Limoncello Tasting – Limonoro
Artisan shop-workshop on Via Lorenzo d'Amalfi where limoncello is produced with IGP-protected lemons from the coast. Free tasting and visit to the maceration cellar – far more instructive than tourist chains.
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Activity
Activity
Sea Kayaking Excursion – Amalfi Coast
Kayak rental from Amalfi beach to paddle along the cliffs towards Atrani and explore caves inaccessible on foot. Depart at dawn to have the sea to yourself and the golden light on the rocks.
Beaches
2 places
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Beach
Beach
Spiaggia di Atrani
Tiny pebble beach at the foot of Atrani's alleys, frequented almost exclusively by village residents. A few sunbeds, a beach hut and remarkably clear water – a 5-minute walk from Amalfi.
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Beach
Beach
Santa Croce Beach
Wild cove accessible only by boat or via a steep path from Pogerola. White pebbles, turquoise water and no facilities – bring picnic supplies. One of the last undeveloped beaches on the coast.
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