A Dreamy 5 Day Itinerary for the Amalfi Coast and Sorrento!

Are you dreaming about a vacation in Italy, spending your days eating pasta and pizza, drinking limoncello, and soaking up the sunshine?

Welcome to the Amalfi Coast! 🍋

After having the Amalfi Coast on my Pinterest board for years and seeing it all over Instagram, I finally made that dream a reality and spent 5 incredible days exploring the Campania region of Italy, including Naples, Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi, and Capri!

And now I can confirm, Italy is what dreams are made of! (Yes, that is a Lizzie McGuire movie reference).

But our trip was not without its hiccups, and there is a lot of planning and logistics that go into visiting the Amalfi Coast!

Now, I’m sharing my exact Amalfi Coast itinerary that we followed (which actually is based in Sorrento, but more on that later!). In 5 days, you can explore the best of this region, including swimming in the Mediterranean, exploring gorgeous seaside towns, plus day trips to the historic Pompeii and gorgeous island of Capri!

And of course, plenty of lemon-themed food and drinks, something this area is known for!

Itinerary Overview

Before we dive into the details of this Amalfi Coast itinerary, here’s a quick overview so you know what we’re getting into!

Also, I have a confession to make! While I am calling this an Amalfi Coast itinerary, you won’t actually be staying on the Amalfi Coast 🫣

Hear me out though!

For our time in this region of Italy, we decided to base ourselves in nearby Sorrento instead of one of the main Amalfi Coast towns like Positano or Amalfi.

Before we get too far into this itinerary, it’s important to understand the geography of this region of Italy, especially if you’ve never been before! Below is a graphic that shows the full Campania region, which includes Naples, Pompeii, Sorrento, and the Amalfi Coast!

Naples International Airport (NAP) is the main airport that serves the Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast area. From Naples, there are two main train lines that run along the coast and end in Sorrento (shown in red).

However, the train does not extend beyond Sorrento, which means to reach the seaside towns on the Amalfi Coast like Positano and Amalfi, you’ll either need to take a bus, a ferry, or book a transfer service!

While this is totally doable, it does add to your travel time (and cost). For us, we wanted to keep things as simple as possible, which is why we decided to stay in Sorrento!

Sorrento is the perfect middle point between Naples and the Amalfi Coast, with direct access to Pompeii on the train line and close to Capri by ferry.

On the other hand, staying on the Amalfi Coast means you are limiting your transport options significantly. And with a private transfer from Naples to Positano costing over $150, we decided it just wasn’t for us!

Sorrento is also much larger and budget-friendly than its neighbors on the Amalfi Coast. There are way more hotel choices, and you can find options in every price range.

So, now you know why we decided to stay in Sorrento for our trip! The rest of this itinerary will assume you are basing in Sorrento too, and I will cover all the transportation routes in detail from Sorrento.

However, you can absolutely use this itinerary and stay in Amalfi or Positano (or even Naples!), but you will need to make some adjustments when it comes to travel logistics.

With that, let’s get into this epic itinerary!

Day 1: Arrive in Naples, Transfer to Sorrento + Sunset Cooking Class

Morning: Fly into Naples

As mentioned above, to reach Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, you’ll be flying into Naples International Airport (NAP).

We flew directly from Paris to Naples on AirFrance, but tons of airports have direct flights into Naples, even some from the USA!

Ideally, you’ll be arriving before noon so you have plenty of time for your cooking class in the evening!

After arriving at the airport, you’ll need to make your way to the Naples train station, a 10-minute ride from the airport, in order to start the journey to Sorrento!

I’ll cover that in detail below, but know you also have the option of booking a ferry from Naples to Sorrento, which typically costs around $20 and takes about 45 minutes. This is a great budget-friendly and fast option! We just didn’t want to deal with hauling our suitcases on the ferry.

Or, if you want the most convenient (but pricey) option, book a private transfer from the Naples Airport directly to your hotel in Sorrento! Welcome Pickups has some of the best rates I’ve seen!

Afternoon: Train Ride from Naples to Sorrento

If you decide to go the train route like we did, I’ve got all the details for you! The main Naples train station (referred to as both Napoli Centrale and Napoli Piazza Garibaldi) is a 10-minute drive for the airport.

You can take a taxi, but we opted for the airport bus, which was very cheap and easy to use!

After picking up your bags and clearing customs (if needed), look for the green and blue signs for “Alibus”, as shown below! You can buy tickets inside the airport at the ticket machines, but we had issues with both we tried, and then found out you can purchase tickets right on the bus itself (either with card or cash!).

The cost of one ticket from the airport to the train station on the Alibus is €2.50. The pick-up point is right outside the airport (follow the signs and the crowds!).

The Alibus runs on a loop from the airport to the train station to the port, so if you decided to take the ferry, you’ll go this same route!

After arriving at the Napoli train station, make your way downstairs, following the signs for Circumvesuviana and/or Campania Express.

Both of these train lines run from Naples to Sorrento, so you can take either one. We opted for the Campania Express on this leg, since you are guaranteed a seat and the train is air-conditioned!

The Circumvesuviana train is the commuter train, which runs more frequently and does not have guaranteed seats or air conditioning.

Tickets on the Campania express cost ~€15, whereas the Circumvesuviana costs less than €5.

You can view the timetables for both trains and purchase tickets for the Campania express on Sorrento Insider! If you take the Circumvesuviana train, you can just purchase tickets at the train station.

Either way, the journey from Naples to Sorrento takes around 1 hour and 10 minutes by train!

Evening: Arrival in Sorrento and Cooking Class

Welcome to Sorrento – your home base for this Amalfi Coast itinerary!

The train station is located right in the middle of town, so you should be able to walk to your hotel without issues.

In terms of where to stay, I highly recommend either Hotel Palazzo Guardati or Palazzo Marziale. Both are located right in the center of Sorrento and have beautiful rooms and great reviews.

We personally stayed at Sea Room Sorrento, which was conveniently located, but the rooms were small and the beds weren’t very comfy.

Wherever you choose to stay, make sure to book in advance for the best prices and most availability! We planned our trip about a month before so we didn’t have many options.

After checking in and freshening up, it’s time to head to your first activity: a cooking class in the hills of Sorrento!

Pssst: If you have time to kill before your tour, head to Fauno Bar in the middle of Sorrento for your first limoncello spritz and aperitifs! 🍹

There are many cooking classes to choose from (duh, it’s Italy!), but we absolutely loved this pasta cooking class with Tirabusciò Sorrento.

After being picked up from the center of town, our group was whisked up to the hills of Sorrento, where we were greeted with wine and a lesson on homemade mozzarella. After tasting the mozzarella with different types of olive oil and fresh focaccia bread, we were escorted to the kitchens to start cooking!

During our cooking lesson, we learned how to make eggplant parmigiana (including frying the eggplant ourselves) as well as fresh pasta, which we turned into both ravioli and spaghetti!

We loved learning more about Italian culture and cooking traditions in this class, and getting to taste all of our hard work at the end (with more wine) was just the cherry on top!!

Don’t Wait! Book your own pasta cooking class here! 🍝👨🏻‍🍳🍷

Day 2: Boat Tour Along the Amalfi Coast

When you think of the Amalfi Coast, chances are you’re picturing pastel towns clinging to cliffs, winding roads hugging the mountainside, and sparkling turquoise water below.

Today is all about seeing (and exploring!) those adorable towns, specifically Amalfi, Ravello, and Positano!

And while you can absolutely see these towns by car or bus, I actually don’t recommend it! Because with those famous cliffside drives comes extremely narrow roads, packed buses, and hair-pin turns. Not ideal if you get car sick like me!

That’s why we decided to see the Amalfi Coast from the water instead of the road, where you get those jaw-dropping postcard views of the coastline from the sea with a limoncello in hand!

Our small group boat tour of just 6 people felt more like a luxury experience than a hectic day of transfers and buses!

In addition, the boat company You Know! is committed to sustainability and protecting our oceans, a value I very much appreciate, especially in a popular destination like the Amalfi Coast that has hundreds of tour groups.

Early Morning: Pick Up in Sorrento and Swimming in the Sea

The meeting point for this tour is Parcheggio Achille Lauro, located right in the heart of Sorrento! From here, you’ll board a small van that will take you to the port of Piano di Sorrento where you will meet your captain and skipper and board the boat!

We were greeted with a glass of Italian Prosecco (in a biodegradable and compostable cup!) and set off along the coast on our luxurious boat!

As we made our way out of Sorrento towards the Amalfi Coast, our skipper Francesca shared facts and history about the landmarks we passed along the way.

Our first stop of the tour was a dip in the sea at the Li Galli archipelago, a privately-owned group of three small islands, also known as Le Sirenuse. Steeped in Greek mythology, this spot is where sirens would lure sailors to their death!

Late Morning: Exploring Amalfi and Ravello

Our first land-based stop of the boat tour was the gorgeous seaside town of Amalfi! After docking in front of the colorful buildings and the most picturesque beach I’ve ever seen, we boarded a van to explore the hilltop town of Ravello, which sits above Amalfi!

We had about one hour in Ravello and spent most of that time exploring Villa Rufolo, a 13th-century villa with terraced gardens overlooking the sea. The entrance cost to the gardens were €8 and definitely worth it for the incredible views!

Afterward, we popped into a local ceramics shop (Ravello is famous for them!) and then grabbed a drink and Greek-style salad at a café before heading back down to meet our driver.

Note: The tour I’ve linked in this itinerary does not include the Ravello stop, in order to give you more time in Amalfi and Positano! While Ravello was beautiful, I think it’s better to have more time in the other 2 main towns, especially if this is the only time you have in them!

After our time in Ravello, we headed back down in the van to sea level to explore the town of Amalfi! We had about an hour in Amalfi town, which was buzzing with people!!

The centerpiece of town is the Amalfi Cathedral, sitting grandly at the top of a huge staircase in Piazza del Duomo. Inside, you can explore the main altar, cloister garden, and even the crypt (all for just a few euros).

After the cathedral, we strolled the main street lined with shops, grabbed a lemon sorbet served in an actual lemon (touristy, yes, but delicious), and then headed to the beach!

Even just 15 minutes floating in the Mediterranean with Amalfi’s colorful buildings behind us made the stop worthwhile.

Afternoon: Beach Drinks in Positano and Another Swim Stop

Just before 3pm, it was time to leave Amalfi and head to the most famous Amalfi Coast town: Positano!

Pulling into Positano by boat was definitely one of the most magical views of the trip. The pastel houses stacked up the cliffs, the yachts bobbing in the bay, the umbrellas lined up on Spiaggia Grande… it’s straight out of a movie!

With only an hour here, we decided to keep it simple. Since we had dinner reservations in Positano later in the trip, we saved the uphill climb through the winding streets for then. Instead, we walked along the beach and grabbed a round of cocktails at Ocean Bar, which is part of the main beach club.

Drinks were overpriced (as expected), but the view of Positano rising above us made it worth it!

Lana’s Tip: If this is your only stop in Positano, I’d consider tackling the stairs to explore the shops and get those Instagram worthy views of the cliffside from above. The town does feel totally different once you’re off the beach!

After leaving Positano, our captain anchored for one last swim in a quiet cove with insane views!

Evening: Arrival Back in Sorrento and Sunset Dinner

It took us about one hour to get back from Positano to Sorrento. My husband and I both fell asleep on the back of the boat on the way back and were woken up by fresh limoncello to close out the day!

This was truly the perfect tour and the best way to experience the Amalfi Coast in my opinion! Because it is a small-group tour, it does sell out, so make sure to book your spot in advance!

For dinner, we headed down to Marina Grande in Sorrento, stopping on the way to admire a gorgeous sunset! Once we arrived at the marina, we grabbed a table at Trattoria da Emilia, a local spot right on the water. Fresh seafood pasta, octopus, and a bottle of wine was the perfect way to end a magical day!

Day 3: Morning in Pompeii + Evening in Positano

Morning: Explore the Ruins of Pompeii

Today, you’ll be heading back towards Naples to explore the incredible ruins of Pompeii!

From Sorrento, it takes around 30 minutes to reach Pompeii on the Circumvesuviana or Campania Express train. I recommend just booking the cheaper Circumvesuviana train for this journey. You can buy your tickets directly at the train station for a few euros, just make sure to arrive early to snag a seat!

You’ll get off at the Pompeii Scavi station, and the entrance to Pompeii is right across the street!

Now, Pompeii is huge. You could easily spend two or three days exploring the ruins, so you have to prioritize what you want to see with limited time.

Instead of doing a bunch of research, we decided to book a 2-hour guided tour of the ruins, and I am so glad we did!!

Without a guide, Pompeii can just feel like a maze of stone streets and ruins. There is some signage explaining certain areas, but not much. With an archaeologist guide, you actually understand what you’re looking at and learn way more!!

Some highlights from our tour:

• The Forum with Mount Vesuvius looming in the background and the remains of the Temple of Jupiter
• Ancient bathhouses with surprisingly advanced heating systems
• Casts of bodies frozen in time from the eruption
• The stepping stones built into streets to cross sewage-filled roads
• Water fountains worn smooth by thousands of ancient hands
• A specific symbol carved into the ground pointing to the brothel

After our tour was over, our guide showed us where we were on the map, what we had seen so far, and then gave us recommendations for what else to see, which was very helpful!

We chose to walk the full length of the ruins in order to see the two large amphitheaters at the other end, which were totally worth it!

Once we finished up around noon, we had lunch outside the gates and then headed to the station to catch our train back to Sorrento.

Lana’s Tip: Our train back to Sorrento actually got cancelled, so we had to wait 30 minutes for another one. Don’t make any concrete plans right after Pompeii in case the same thing happens to you!

Afternoon and Evening: Drinks and Dinner in Positano

Once back in Sorrento, take some downtime to shower and relax before getting ready to experience your fancy evening in Positano!

For us, I knew one hour in Positano on the boat tour wasn’t enough, so we decided to splurge for the evening and spend more time there, grabbing sunset drinks followed by a fancy dinner.

However, you can totally skip this portion of the itinerary and stay in Sorrento if you would prefer that!

If you do decide to visit Positano again like we did, you’ll want to book a ferry from Sorrento to Positano in the late afternoon / early evening.

The ferry ride itself is about 45 minutes and gives you another chance to admire the Amalfi coastline from the water!

Note: There are a few different docks in Sorrento that ferries leave from, so arrive to the port at least 15 minutes early and ask the staff where your boat boards. Our ferry to Positano was one of the smaller ferries we had seen, so we opted to sit on the top deck! ⛴️

After arriving at the Positano port, we skipped the beach area (since we had already explored that the day before) and headed right up the staircase to get those incredible views of the cliffside!

The staircase up to the main road of Positano is located on the left side of the beach. After climbing up many, many stairs, you’ll reach Via Pasitea, which overlooks the right (east) side of Positano.

From here, you can walk downhill along Via Pasitea towards Via Cristoforo Colombo. For those epic views of the western cliffside you’ve seen on Instagram, you can head to Franco’s Bar (walk-in only) or Ristorante Bruno (make a reservation).

We had reservations at 6:30pm at Il Tridente (back on the west side), so opted not to walk too far and stopped near Delicatessen S.N.C. for pictures!

From there, we made our way back up the winding road to Il Tridente for drinks at their incredible cliffside bar.

Lana’s Tip: Il Tridente is the most popular restaurant in Positano. Reservations open up 2 weeks in advance for both the bar and restaurant. I wasn’t able to snag dinner reservations, but got bar reservations instead, which I think was even better!

Bar reservations at Il Tridente meant comfy seats overlooking all of Positano, with the beach and sprawling sea in the background, as the sky turned pink and purple at sunset! So dreamy!

The drinks were extremely pricey (like €30 for a spritz…) but 100% worth it for the incredible views and vibes! I had the yummiest lemon gin cocktail followed by an iconic limoncello spritz! (They really don’t mess around with their lemons here.)

After dinner, we headed a few minutes down the street to Ristorante al Miramare, located inside Hotel Miramare! Here, we had an amazing table overlooking the sea through huge windows, which we actually were able to open halfway through the meal!

The food and service here was superb, and I highly recommend making a reservation here for your dinner in Positano!

To get back to Sorrento after dinner, we ended up booking a private transfer to avoid dealing with packed buses on winding roads (I told you tonight would be a splurge!). Unfortunately the last ferry typically leaves around 7pm, so that wasn’t an option!

Day 4: Day Trip to Capri

Our day trip to Capri, a jaw-dropping island off the Sorrento coast, was the day I was most hesitant on.

I had read mixed reviews online — some people loved it, others said it was overcrowded, overpriced, and stressful. With limited time on the Amalfi Coast, I didn’t want to waste a whole day on an island I didn’t enjoy.

Honestly, I get both sides now. Capri can absolutely feel chaotic if you don’t plan your day well, but it ended up being one of our favorite days of the entire trip!

The key? Start early and use taxis when you can.

Early Morning: Ferry from Sorrento to Capri

Ferries from Sorrento to Capri typically cost around $30 and take between 25 and 35 minutes, depending on which ferry you book.

To enjoy your time in Capri to the fullest, I highly recommend booking the earliest ferry you can leaving Sorrento.

Our ferry left the dock at 8:30am, and it truly made all the difference!! When we arrived in Capri at 9:00am, the port was calm and quiet (a stark difference to later in the day, but more on that soon).

P.S. Book your ferry tickets in advance to avoid the early ones selling out! ⛴️

When it comes to getting around Capri, you can either ride the small public buses or grab private taxis. In addition to these, there is a funicular that you can take from the port up to Capri town.

We decided to take the funicular from the port to Capri and then a bus from Capri to Anacapri to start our day, but I don’t recommend this, unless you are trying to pinch pennies. Instead, skip the extra stops and lines and grab a taxi from the port directly to Anacapri for around 30 euros.

➡️ Read Next: For more information on the layout and logistics of getting around the island of Capri, read my full day trip guide here (coming soon!)

Late Morning: Monte Solaro Chair Lift and Lunch in Anacapri

Your first stop of the day is Anacapri, the smaller, quieter town up in the hills of the island. As soon as you arrive in Anacapri, walk up the street and buy tickets for the chairlift to Mount Solaro (€14 round trip).

The chairlift ride itself takes about 20 minutes and gives you sweeping views of the island, the Bay of Naples, and Mount Vesuvius in the distance. It was so quiet and peaceful gliding above lemon groves and rooftops!

At the top, there’s not much to do besides take in the views and grab a coffee or snack at the café, but honestly that was perfect for us!

We grabbed two cappuccinos and a delicious slice of lemon cake while looking out at the turquoise sea, not a bad way to start the day!

After about an hour, head back down to Anacapri on the chairlift (or hike down if you are feeling adventurous)! Then, spend some time exploring and shopping your way through the adorable streets of Anacapri.

At noon, make your way to Sciué Sciué for the most incredible lunch of lemon ravioli and lemon slushies – our favorite meal of the whole trip!

Afternoon: Gardens of Augustus and Marina Piccola

After lunch in Anacapri, make your way back down to Capri Town, the busier, more glamorous side of the island. The line for the buses in Anacapri were getting long by this point, so we walked up the street a bit to get to the earlier bus stop. Or, you can just grab a taxi!

Instead of sleepy streets and family-run trattorias like in Anacapri, Capri Town is lined with designer boutiques, luxury hotels, and bustling cafés. It’s beautiful, but it definitely feels more polished (and crowded) than Anacapri. For this reason, we didn’t linger long here.

Not to mention, arriving in Capri Town around 1pm was pure insanity – packed with people and bus lines down the road. We couldn’t get out of there fast enough!

Instead of exploring the fancy shops of Capri Town, walk about 10 minutes to the Augustus Gardens. Entry is just €3, and while the gardens themselves are fairly small, the views are absolutely worth it!

From here, you get an incredible perspective of the coastline and the winding Via Krupp pathway zigzagging down the cliffside (where you’ll be headed next!).

Once you’ve seen enough of the gardens, continue down the road towards Via Krupp, which will eventually lead you to Marina Piccola Beach!

The path down to Marina Piccola is steep but manageable, and one of the most scenic walks I’ve ever seen! Every hairpin turn seemed to reveal another postcard-worthy view, so give yourself time to stop for photos.

After about 20 minutes of walking, you will arrive at Marina Piccola, one of Capri’s most famous and most gorgeous beaches.

Seriously, I was absolutely blown away by this spot. The water here was the clearest shade of turquoise, and the cliffs tower dramatically around the cove. It felt like movie!

There are a couple of beach clubs where you can rent loungers (around €30 for the day), but we opted for the free public section of the beach.

It does get busy here, but we still found plenty of space to spread out our towels and jump in the water. Floating here with the view of Capri’s famous Faraglioni rock formations in the distance was pure magic.

We spent about two hours swimming, laying out on the warm pebbles (not sand), and grabbing cold drinks from the little beach café nearby. You can even cliff jump from the rocks if you want!

This ended up being one of my favorite parts of the entire trip. After a busy morning, it felt amazing to slow down, relax, and just enjoy Capri’s natural beauty.

Evening: Journey Back to Sorrento

To fully enjoy your day on Capri, I recommend booking one of the latest ferries back to Sorrento! And again, make sure to book your ferry in advance, as these ones will sell out!

By the time you leave Marina Piccola to head back toward the port, there will likely be a long line at the bus stop with people trying to do the exact same thing.

We decided not to waste precious time waiting in the endless bus line and instead hopped in a taxi straight back to the port. We were able to split the €30 with another girl, so it was absolutely worth it to avoid the stress and get back to the marina in plenty of time for our evening ferry back to Sorrento.

Once at the port (which was quite chaotic at this point), we grabbed some gelato and sat by the water while waiting for boarding. Unlike the ferries in Sorrento, the Capri marina has a large departure board that shows which ferries are leaving from which dock (see photo below!).

Back in Sorrento, we kept it casual with a simple dinner in the center of town, a little souvenir shopping (yes, more lemon-themed goodies), and of course, one last gelato before heading back to our hotel to pack our bags!

Day 5: Back to Naples and Journey Home

Optional Visit to Baths of Queen Giovanna

Sadly, all Amalfi Coast trips have to come to an end — and for us, Day 5 was all about getting back to Naples in time for our flight home!

Since our flight was at noon, we had to leave early in the morning to give ourselves plenty of time for the journey.

However, if you have extra time on your last day, I highly recommend a visit to Bagni Regina Giovanna – also known as the Baths of Queen Giovanna!

The site is named after Queen Giovanna of Naples, who is said to have bathed here in the 14th century. Today, it’s a natural swimming pool formed by a collapsed cliff, with clear turquoise water and rocky arches that open out into the sea. There are also ruins of a Roman villa that sit just above the cove!

Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to check it out on our trip, but we did get to see it from the water on our boat day. This would be the perfect morning activity if your flight isn’t until the evening! It’s a quick 30-minute walk from the center of Sorrento.

Travel Back to Naples

When it’s finally time to leave Sorrento, make sure to give yourself plenty of time to make the journey!!

We took the Circumvesuviana (commuter) train back to Naples since the Campania Express didn’t have an early enough departure for our flight.

Honestly, it worked out totally fine! We just made sure to get to the station about 30 minutes early so we could grab seats together and not have to stand with our luggage, since you’re not guaranteed a seat on the commuter train (and some people did have to stand the full hour and 10 minutes with their luggage).

Our train even had luggage racks above the seats, which made the ride much easier!

Once we arrived at Napoli Centrale station, we hopped right onto the Alibus shuttle again outside the station and made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare.

Final Thoughts

Spending 5 days exploring the Amalfi Coast was truly a dream come true!! From sipping limoncello spritzes in Sorrento to wandering the ruins of Pompeii, taking in sunset views in Positano, and swimming off the shores of Capri, every single day had a pinch-me moment.

If I had to pick a favorite, our boat day along the Amalfi Coast and our beach day in Capri probably tie for first – can you tell I love the ocean?!

Logistically, I’m so glad we based ourselves in Sorrento. It gave us the flexibility to explore everywhere without the stress of repacking or paying a fortune for transfers. If you’re short on time, this is the way to do it!

Would I go back? Absolutely — though next time, I’d love to slow down a bit more and maybe spend a night or two actually on the Amalfi Coast or Capri, just to experience what it’s like after the day-trippers leave.

But for a first trip, this 5-day itinerary was the perfect balance of culture, history, iconic views, and adventure!

If you’re dreaming of the Amalfi Coast, I hope this itinerary helped you plan your trip! Keep an eye out for more travel guides coming soon!