3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary for spontaneous explorers: how to see the best of the coast without tours

Here, the main things are the views, the sea, the people, the pretty towns and none of them gets any better or any more authentic than if you just allow yourself to be here and be immersed in them.

That said, I do appreciate that when you go anywhere you want to make sure you see the nicest spots possible, so today I thought I’d share an itinerary that allows you to see the best places on the Amalfi Coast without being tied to a rigid schedule or organized trips.

I hope you enjoy it!

What you need to book on the Amalfi Coast

It is paramount to secure accommodation in advance, especially if traveling in high season (late spring to early autumn)

You can leave pretty much all ticket purchases to the last minute.

However if you are going in the busy season, it may be convenient to book the Ferry / hydrofoil to Capri in advance – this because the island is very popular and the line at the ticket office gets very long.

The best way to book tickets is from the ferry provider direct: depending on where you are going from, the provider may be NLG, Alilauro Gruson, Alicost, Positano Jet. I usually just pick whichever has the best price/ schedule on the day since the overall experience on on such as short trip is similar. Make sure you follow the provider’s instructions about arriving to the port on time and exact boarding procedures.

Where to base yourself for three days on the Amalfi Coast

To follow this itinerary, I recommend you stay in:

Minori – small, adorable, with a small beach. Not hugely connected yet still connected enough to allow for following this itinerary

Maiori – perfect if you have small kids as it has a nice beach, playground and flat promenade (rare in this area!)

Atrani – just beside Amalfi, with convenient access but quieter vibe than its famous neighbor. Sadly recently discovered by mass tourism but still quieter than many others.

Salerno – the area’s underdog! Very different from the towns on the coast, Salerno is a bigger center and it is a working city rather then a lemon-tree-on-the-terrace village like others on the coast.

However, it is a nice town with an authentic feel, it is budget friendly and it has the train which makes it convenient if you are are on a budget or want to avoid crowds.

This itinerary works from pretty much any home base with a ferry port. Since the last time we went we based ourselves in Minori, I am following out exact itinerary and writing as if you stayed there too.

How to get around the Amalfi coast to follow this itinerary

I recommend you use local ferries whenever possible, since they are a budget friendly and scenic way yo get around. However, you can find alternatives and tips to move locally on my transport guide to the Amalfi Coast.

Day 1 – Arrival and local exploration

In most cases, your travel day to the Amalfi Coast is itself part of your exploration, because the way to the coast is so beautiful, pretty much not matter the mean of transport!

If the season allows, I highly recommend you get the ferry to get to your destination.

The local ferries are efficient, budget friendly and they have an outer dock that is perfect to catch fantastic views of the high coastline.

On arrival, you can check in, stroll (no need for an itinerary for any of the towns, you can just wander!), have aperitivo and dinner.

As you stroll, if you see a restaurant you like it can be a good idea to put your name down for later in the evening, especially at weekends and in the busy season.

If you want to dine in one of the restaurants best known to international tourism, then you need to book well ahead instead.

You can find my guide to Minori here.

Day 2 – Vietri sul Mare, Ravello

Vietri sul Mare and Ravello are two of the prettiest towns on the Amalfi Coast and nice towns to visit on the same day since they are not far from on another yet different enough to give your day variety.

Vietri is most famous for its colorful ceramics.

The town has the typical layout of the Amalfi Coast village, with little alleys and unexpected views, but due to the local pottery craft, it stands out for being more colorful and vibrant than any other!

As well as the pottery, Vietri is a lovely place for spontaneous exploration as it is less overrun than other towns on the coast.

You can reach Vietri by ferry or by train from Salerno.

Ravello is one of the best known towns on the Amalfi Coast and it is still very much worth visiting as its position and views are out of this world beautiful!

Unlike other towns in the area, Ravello doesn’t have a port as it is not on the water but high up, so you need to reach it by bus or taxi.

Once here, all it take is a leisurely walk to stumble upon pretty streets with honeysuckle and the most beautiful views of the blue Mediterranean frame by green pine trees.

However, if you want a jaw-dropping experience and the iconic view you may have seen on photos of Ravello, make sure you specifically visit:

The Gardens of Villa Cimbrone and their terrace: access is ticketed but you can visit without a guide;tickets on the spot.

Villa Rufolo, its gardens and terrace: access is ticketed, tickets on the spot.

For day 3 I’m giving you two options: Capri or Amalfi/Positano. If the weather is good, you can choose either, while if the sea is rough, Amalfi and Positano are also reachable by road, which might make them more appealing than Capri.

Day 3 – Day trip to Capri

Capri is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited and despite the significant issue of mass tourism it is, for me, still very much worth seeing.

The best way to visit Capri as a spontaneous explorer is by getting the hydrofoil to get to the island and then get away from the main center as quickly as possible.

Like in most place, the masses tend to gather to a handful of areas and in the case of Capri these are the port (inevitably) and the main area with the piazzetta and the shopping street.

Anacapri and Marina Piccola are also busy but a little less than other areas and pleasant.

Even less busy are the many backstreets you have all over the island and that only leisure wanderers discover: Capri is beautiful and safe so don’t be afraid of following your curiosity and just venture where the crowds don’t go: you can still find beautiful and quiet corners on this busy island!

As you wander, places I especially recommend you to aim for as Anacapri (the upper town, which you can reach by bus), Marina Piccola and Villa Jovis, Emperor Tiberiu’s ancient villa: this one is not so popular with day trippers (no idea why!) so both the walk up there and the villa itself is usually quiet.

Getting to the Grotta Azzurra without a tour: you cannot enter the blue grotto on your own, you have to get one of the designated rowing boats serving the grotto (you cannot swim in either). Depending on how many people there are on the day, getting onto one of these boats is easy or may take a very long time waiting – with or without a tour. Patience is key no matter how you approach this! The same is true for a spontaneous bout tour around the island: you can get one on the spot from the main port but on busy days do factor in waiting time.

You can find here > my guide to Capri.

Day 3 alternative: Positano and Amalfi

I am going to be honest with you, even knowing this will be controversial for many: I do not love Positano (too overrun, too artificial, too expensive).

However, it is beautiful and I know it is hard to come all the way to this area, potentially form the opposite side of the world, and not even give it a chance; so I am including into this three day Amalfi Coast itinerary as an option.

Positano is the most famous towns in the area, in terms of tourism, and a well established destination for upscale overseas tourism. It is easy to see why: the town is a cluster of colorful houses hanging fro a vertical cliffs and it is fabulous to see form the water as well as a great vantage point for views over the sea.

The best way to enjoy Positano is from the sea: I highly recommend you arrive here by ferry, so you van see the stunning skyline of the town as you approach it.

As you get off the boat, you’ll notice Positano basically just one road so you really do not need a plan for it!

The most popular things to do in Positano are going to the beach, visit one of the shops to get hand made sandals made to measure or get a drink in one of the the now Insta famous Hotel Poseidon, Hotel Sirenuse or San Pietro, upscale hotel bars with views that are, objectively, stunning!

Amalfi is the town that gives the name to the whole areas and it is a historic, beautiful center with a significant history.

Amalfi used to be a powerful maritime trade center in the Middle Ages and the town still bears witness of this long history.

As you stroll, you will notice the maze-like layout and feel of its roads (intentional, to confuse invaders!) and the ancient duomo.

The Duomo nowadays is mostly baroque in style yet it still maintains an ancient cloister that is unique and work seeing (ticketed, tickets available on the spot).

As well as the Duomo, Amalfi has a maritime museum and a museum of paper that are interesting to visit and do not need reservation.

You can find my guide to Amalfi Town here.

Amalfi is very busy and, due to its architecture, may feel oppressive on a busy day.

However, just beside Amalfi and so close it is basically part the city, you have the pretty cente of Atrani, which is much quieter!

Atrani is now well known to tourism s it was chosen as a backdrop for a popular tv series but it still maintains a quieter more laid back vibe, so I do recommend you come here at the end of you Amalfi day, to relax and get a sense of what the Amalfi coast was all about before it became a social media star.

Fun fact: Atrani is famous for its production of fresh pasta, so it it worth having a meal here or buy some to then cook back home! before regaining the ferry to get back to your base.

3 days Amalfi Coast Itinerary with kids

One of the biggest concerns about tackling the Amalfi Coast without tours is that kids may not be be able to swim unless they get on a boat but this is not the case.

Beaches on the Amalfi Coast are small and not particularly sandy but they are perfect for playing in water and swimming.

You will find water access in most places but lovely ones are Vietri, Cetara, Maiori, Minori Amalfi and Positano. In Capri you can get them to the beach in Marina Grande, Marina Piccola and Bagni di Tiberio.

You can find all my tips to the area here >>> how to visit and enjoy the Amalfi Coast with kids.

I hope you enjoyed this 3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary idea and it helped you plan your trip. Safe travels!

3 day Amalfi Coast itinerary for spontaneous travelers – pin this!