Travelling to Italy’s Amalfi Coast for a perfect vacation? Check out our guide on where to stay, what to eat and buy, when to go and how to book your own yacht
You know we are absolutely committed when it comes to bringing you the most incredible travel experiences in Asia and beyond – it’s a true calling in life! We will research for weeks to ensure we find you the most amazing villas, apartments and hotels, all set against stunning scenery, alongside incredible food experiences; all within our travel budgets, of course.
When it comes to ticking all of those boxes, Italy is a real hot contender. And when it comes to a vacay worth remembering, don’t just settle for the touristy cities of Rome or Venice; we say head down South to the Amalfi Coast. While it is a little further afield, it is absolutely worth the extra travel time. And right now, there are some really affordable flight options – we snagged flights on Qatar for just $500 plus taxes. No excuses!
So take a week off and follow this simple guide… you won’t regret it one bit!
Stay in a palace
There are lots of great accommodation options here, but the key to finding the best place to stay at the best rate (hate to say it, but we can’t resist a good deal) is booking ahead.
We stayed at the gorgeous Palazzo Murat – a restored old palace from the seventh century, and worth a visit even if you aren’t staying there. Originally a palace of Gioacchino Murat, the brother-in-law to Napoleon Bonaparte no less, this grand dame has an amazing location. Right in the centre of the pedestrian area of town, this architectural marvel is accessible by walking through a stunning bougainvillea-covered walkway. Tough, but absolutely stunning.
If you are travelling with friends or kids, we totally recommend getting an apartment. We used Amanda Tabberer’s website and booking service, My Amalfi Coast, to book a two-bedroom apartment for our friends that were joining us for the week… with kids in tow, mind you. Oh and if you want a little pre-trip inspiration, her book – also titled My Amalfi Coast – has some stunning content; well worth a pre-trip read.
Cruise along the coast
See yourself snorkelling, swimming and sipping Prosecco on a yacht for the day? Snap. So did we.
Definitely a highlight of our week, this is a must-do for any trip to the Amalfi. For boat bookings, we used Lucibello. Not only were the staff passionate and friendly, they even did a yacht upgrade FOC for us – what more could you want??
Eat A LOT of seafood, gelato and wash it down with limoncello
We didn’t have a single bad meal while we were there. Being right next to the sea, the Amalfi Coast boasts seafood with freshness and quality that’s off the charts – even the simplest of dishes were just remarkable. And don’t get us started on the tomatoes; tomatoes have never tasted this good before… especially when followed by limoncello. What’s not to love?
Find a secret beach bar
There are a couple of amazing seafood restaurants and beach bars to discover. One standout is Da Adolfo, a legendary institution on the coast. But word of caution: you MUST book in advance (at least by two weeks!). Tip: if you can’t get through on their phone lines, ask an agent or your hotel to help you lock down that reservation.
The restaurant picks you up by boat at around 10.30am, and then takes you to their beach where you can laze around on sunloungers until you’re hungry (book the sunlounger in advance too). You’ll then wander into the restaurant for very traditional seafood fare, dining amidst laid-back ambience that pretty much comes close to paradise. Trust us, this makes one outstanding day-out.
But if you aren’t that organised (we get it), we also recommend the beach restaurant, Da Ferdinando, on the tiny beach, Fornillo. An easy walk from Positano, while encountering some of the friendless staff on the coast, this was something we had to do twice.
Shop a little
Don’t leave home without a couple of bottles of the delicious limocello (which you will require with every meal on your return to deal with the post-holiday Amalfi blues) and a pair of Italian hand-crafted sandals.
Snap it up
This place is just totally Insta-worthy. The contrasting colours of the famous orange sunloungers with the Mediterranean blue ocean, the stunning sunsets, and the cliffs that almost fall into the sea – well, it’s all a bit too much. We just couldn’t get enough.
When to go
The weather is good from May to October, but it is crowded during the summer months of July and August. We were there during the second week of September, which had perfect weather (20-25 degrees each day, with a water temperature of 20), and it also coincided with the Festival of the Fish – a seafood festival which was a rather tasty bonus.
This trip was not sponsored, but if you are Amanda Tabberer, or anyone else with a connection to the Amalfi Coast (or a yacht), we would be delighted to return for further ‘travel research’ and a fam trip… *wink, wink*.
