Amalfi Coast packing list: how to dress on the Amalfi Coast for tours, hikes and restaurants

Full Amalfi Coast packing list for spring and summer travel + tips for winter trips. What to pack for the Amalfi Coast, best shoes and style tips to be comfortable and appropriate.

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful destinations in Italy and one offering a variety of entertainment options.

Pretty terraces to taste lemon granita with a view, boat trips, hiking, food tours, and town hopping are some of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast and each requires slightly different attire, which is why a packing list specific to this area is a handy thing to have!

I have been to the Amalfi Coast several times over the years and I have boating, eating, sunbathing, going to weddings and exploring with and without kids. So, I had a need to be dressed for pretty much all occasions.

On the basis of my experience, this is my Amalfi Coast packing list with must haves, nice to have and also things I should have left home!

This is my first-hand-experience guide to what to wear on the Amalfi Coast to be comfortable, stylish, and my family must haves to visit the Amalfi Coast with kids.

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What to pack for the Amalfi Coast: weather overview

The Amalfi Coast has 4 seasons: it is cold in winter, very hot in summer and has mild to hot temperatures in spring and autumn, when rain is also possible.

From the point of view of clothing, it is safe to assume in winter you’ll want coat, scarf and closed shoes, in summer light dresses and sandals and in the mid season layers, including a rain jacket.

How to dress on the Amalfi Coast: style tips for restaurants

You can wear pretty much anything you want on the Amalfi Coast in terms of style.

The web always shows this area as a glamorous one, with ladies in printed dresses or Capri pants and men in polo shorts and designer white shirts and this is definitely one of the styles you see here.

However, there is not such thing as a dress code for the area so you can be you, no matter what style you love. You don’t have to look like you are out of a fashion designer ad unless you want to!

The only exception to this rule is upscale restaurants. Some restaurants in the area do require abiding by a dress code.

This won’t be the case in most places you’ll encounter by strolling, but if you have a booking somewhere well known, upscale, popular with wealthy overseas tourism or attached to a 5-star hotels, some rules are likely to apply.

Usually these entail long pants for men and no athletic attire. However, I recommend you check the requirements of each place to make you know what to pack specifically for the occasion.

In my experience, some versatile items to pack in the good season are:

Linen trousers: they are a great day to night option, and can easily bring you from tour to dinner without a need to pop back into your accommodation for a change

Flat sandals: sandals are the ideal footwear for the Amalfi Coast in summer.

For daytime, good walking sandals like Teva are ideal but for the evening, you may want to opt for more stylish options.

Just make sure you opt for flats or wedges at most (the roads are really uneven here) and select rubber soles whenever possible.

You can find here >>> my guide to the best shoes for Italy travel.

Necklaces and scarves: Italian women adore necklaces and scarves and they are perfect for visitors too as they can dress up a simple outfit in no time.

A large scarf that can double up as shawl is great for chilly nights on the water and as a quick way to cover your shoulders when entering a church

Maxi dresses are also a good option when packing for the Amalfi Coast however, as I mentioned, don’t let Instagram make you believe people here are all flowery dresses and straw hats!

The style is much more varied than that and often includes much more fitted options so if a maxi dress doesn’t do it for you, you most definitely do not need one!

What to pack for the Amalfi Coast in summer: clothing essentials

Summer is hot and sunny on the Amalfi Coast so full-on summer gear is in order. Make sure you pack:

• Summer dresses (any length)
• Shorts
• Summer pants – linen trousers are popular with Italian women and perfect for hot, relaxing summer days. They can be dressed up or down and are a great item for day-to-night wear
• Short sleeve tops/ strappy tops / t-shirts
• Underwear + socks
• One light cardigan for late in the evening
• Light Pajama / nightgown
• Walking shoes (breathable trainers / walking sandals are perfect)
• Flip Flops for the beach
• Crossbody bag
• Sun hat

Good to know: you will not spend a long time visiting churches on the Amalfi Coast but you are likely to want to visit at least some of them such as the Duomo in Amalfi town or churches in Sorrento. For them, I recommend you also pack a long skirt or maxi dress so you can be sure you have dressed appropriately as larger churches do apply a dress code that doesn’t allow for very short skirts or shorts (not always enforced, but it is the respectful attire required anyway).

Amalfi Coast beach essentials

If planning time on the beach or boating, you will need to pack:

• Swimsuit
• Beach towel
• Sun hat
• Sunscreen
• Aftersun cream
• Sunglasses
• Beach bag
• Water shoes – they are exceptionally handy especially for the kids. The beaches here often have rocks and pebbles and water shoes will go a long way to help kids enjoy them
• Kindle for beach reading
• Reusable water bottle
• Kids life jacket if needed – I recommend you bring this from home. Sourcing one locally, especially in smaller centers, may not be easy and you can never be sure they’ll have the right size.

Amalfi Coast hiking essentials

If you are planning on hiking on the Amalfi Coast, it is paramount that you do not underestimate the terrain and exposure.

For hiking here you want to have proper hiking shoes, hiking pants / shorts, sun hat and sun protection, backpack with hiking essentials, water bottle, walking sticks (if normally using when hiking). If hiking with small kids it is also essential to have a good carrier such as a hiking one.

Amalfi Coast packing list tech and travel gear

From power banks to hairdryers, tis is my packing list for technology and electronics:

• Camera / Phone
• Charger
• Extra power bank for charging your phone on the go
• Italy (or Europe) travel adapter and converter (you need a converter for any electric item that is not dual voltage, such a hair straightener)
• Kindle for reading
• Kids tablet if using
• Action camera for fun photos and videos when boating or hiking
• Essential Italian phrases list

Good to know: wifi is available in most hotels and B&Bs but not in all public places or cafes. An international e-sim like Airalo goes a long way to help you stay connected and can save you a fortune in roaming charges.

Best luggage for visiting the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi Coast is a place of narrow alleys and uneven terrain so I always recommend bringing small luggage and opting for a rucksack rather than a large wheelie bag whenever possible.

Luggage I like is:

• Carry on backpack by Osprey, perfect for a short stay
• Super lightweight wheelie bag, so you can easily lift it for the occasional step
• Deuter or Osprey day bags for the kids

A good cross-body bag that can go day to night: I adore Gabs bags as they look stylish and are super versatile, some of them going from shopped to satchel in no time. Plus, they are made in Italy so you know you will blend in with the locals!

You can find here >>> my guide to picking the best luggage for Italy (and my top picks)

Packing for the Amalfi Coast: toiletries and personal items

Basic toiletries such as soap and shampoo are usually part of the hotel kit and available in most rentals. However, items such as conditioner won’t be provided, so you may want to bring your own or buy locally.

If staying in a very small town, which is likely in this area, it can be convenient to bring your own.

My Amalfi Coast packing list of toiletries and personal items includes:

• Shower gel (often provided)
• Shampoo (often provided)
• Conditioner (not usually provided)
• Children shampoo + conditioner if different
• Deodorant
• Hydrating cream (body and face)
• Sun screen and after sun lotions
• Shaving kit
• Feminine products
• Fragrance
• Brush and comb
• Hair ties
• After sun hair lotion
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Floss
• Mosquito repellent
• Family first aid kit

Packing for the Amalfi Coast with toddlers and kids

If you are visiting the Amalfi Coast with young kids, as well as all your basic clothing and beach essentials, you may need to add extra items to this list:

A baby carrier – this is paramount on the Amalfi Coast if you have a small child who needs more walking beaks than you. This area is not stroller friendly, with the exception of parts of Sorrento and Maiori, so even if you don’t normally baby wear, I would recommend you equip yourself with a carrier or hip seat – find here >>> the best baby carriers for Italy

I do not recommend a stroller for the Amalfi Coast as the terrain simply does not allow for easy rides.

If you are coming to the Amalfi Coast as one destination in a longer trip to Italy and are looking for good options, you can find here >>> my tips for strollers in Italy

Diapers, wipes and changing essentials

You can buy diapers on the Amalfi Coast of course but since some towns are little and have small shops, you may not find all the brand choices you may like.

So, I recommend you have at least a small stash that you bring from your previous destination. This is not necessary if you are in bigger centers such as Sorrento or Amalfi but can be useful is places like Praiano.

In terms of changing bags, I find the best ones are backpacks – either a specialized one or a standard backpack can hold a lot and leave your hands free at all times.

I also recommend you bring

• Kids’ water shoes, with good soles like these (not the sock ones, you want some proper protection and there is no sand here, it’s all pebbly at best)
• Kids sunglasses / sun hat / sun vest or sun protection in general
• Teether / bottles / etc
• A teddy or blanky
• For older kids, I also recommend a kids’ snorkeling set for those rockiest bit of coastline

If relying on car service as a mean of transport to explore the Amalfi Coast, make sure you ask them to provide a child car seat of suitable size.

Amalfi Coast packing list for winter

Winter gets pretty cold on the Amalfi Coast and if you are visiting this time, you will need to wrap up.

From October to March included, you are unlikely to be able to go to the beach (this is sipping coffee watching the raging sea rather than bathing time) so my recommendations is to dress for chilly weather and rain.

Must have for the Amalfi Coast in winter are:

• Woolen cardigan / sweater
• Long sleeve tops
• Long Pants / jeans
• Comfortable, waterproof walking shoes (winter trainers work well or you can opt for angle boots or even full boots for style)
• A warm jacket, ideally rain resistant
• Lightweight travel umbrella
• Overall rain gear for toddlers so they for rainy days at the playground
• Rain cover for stroller

I hope you enjoyed this Amalfi Coast packing list and it helped you decide what to pack and what to leave home. Safe travel planning!