Best Things to Do in Amalfi

For the beauty of its landscapes and the warm water of its beaches, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most visited destinations in Italy. In the Gulf of Salerno, moreover, Amalfi is the main town and one of the most beautiful of the Campania region, especially for the combination of paradisiacal views and medieval architecture it offers.

Some of the best things to see and do in Amalfi include walking through the Piazza del Duomo, visiting the picturesque Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle, taking a swim at Lido Delle Sirene, taking in the panoramic views of the region from Torre dello Ziro and visiting the gardens of Villa Rufolo, which is located on the cliffs of Ravello.

The Piazza del Duomo, located in the heart of the city, is the main square of Amalfi and gets its name from its proximity to the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle, an Arab-Norman Romanesque style building that is also one of the most famous attractions in Campania. Piazza del Duomo is the epicenter of Amalfi's social and cultural life and a very popular place for tourists, so you can't miss it.

In Piazza del Duomo you can relax, have lunch and enjoy a panoramic view of the city and the Tyrrhenian Sea, but it is also the place where you can enjoy the typical dishes of the local cuisine, so it will also be the meeting point for the beginning of the best gastronomic tours of Amalfi, as the most outstanding restaurants and bars of the city are located in the surrounding area.

In the area near Piazza del Duomo you can also find cafes, where you can enjoy Italian coffee and watch from the terraces the center of the square, which is delimited by a marble fountain dedicated to St. Andrew, who is also the patron saint of Amalfi.

Interesting details

• Location: Piazza Duomo, Amalfi.
• How to get there: By bus lines 5070 and 5120.

Lido Delle Sirene is a famous stretch of coastline near the port and Marina Grande of Amalfi that is ideal for the best views towards the Tyrrhenian Sea and where you can relax, because unlike other beaches in the city, it is much less crowded and offers all kinds of services, such as changing rooms, showers, restaurants and umbrella rental.

Lido Delle Sirene, the beach of the Mermaids, is usually included in the tours of the best tours of Amalfi, and is considered one of the most beautiful beaches of the Amalfi Coast, although it has a rockier shore than the Marina Grande, which makes snorkeling and scuba diving excursions more difficult.

Note also that Lido Delle Sirene is one of the best beaches in Amalfi, but it has most of the services for a fee, so it might not be the cheapest option for a swim in town, but it is definitely worth discovering.

Interesting details

• Location: Piazzale dei Protontini 4, Amalfi.
• How to get there: By bus lines 5110.

The Torre dello Ziro is an ancient fortress that was built in the 15th century to keep the coast safe from pirates, since during the Middle Ages Amalfi was one of Italy's main ports on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This stone structure is built over the gulf of Salerno, so from there you can enjoy some of the best panoramic views of the Amalfi coast.

To the top of the gulf, to reach the access to the Torre dello Ziro, you can walk up a steep hiking trail, which will take about 3 to 4 hours, or you can also choose to take the bus lines 5110 and 5120. The entrance to the tower is free, but you can only climb the outer part of the fortress.

The Torre dello Ziro is one of the most famous viewpoints in the region and, if you plan on the summer months, when the sunsets are clear, you can catch a glimpse of one of the best sunsets in Campania.

Interesting details

• Location: Via Valle delle Ferriere 36, Pontone.
• How to get there: by bus lines 5110 and 5120.

Knowing the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast from the sea is one of the best alternatives to discover the colorful buildings and all the constructions that are located towards the Tyrrhenian Sea coast, so I recommend you to choose some of the best boat tours in Amalfi to enjoy a different profile of the city.

Most of the tours start at the Marina Coppola port and there are daily services, where you will have time to take a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea and discover from the coast other nearby towns such as Ravello, Atrani and Positano. In addition, you will also learn about the marine fauna of Campania. If you want, you can also opt for a night tour, which is one of the best activities to do at night in Amalfi

During the tours, you can also get to know the caves, grottoes, waterfalls and historical sites of the region on half-day excursions, which is ideal if you have a short stay in the city planned.

Details of interest

• Price: these excursions have an initial cost of approximately 35 euros per person.
• Duration: these excursions last approximately 3 hours.

Via dei Mercanti, or Ruga Nova Mercatorum, as it was called in the early days of Amalfi, is one of the main streets of the city and the epicenter of Campania's commercial stores. This artery extends from the coast to the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle and there you will find stores of the most famous Italian and European clothing brands, historic buildings, restaurants and cafes.

The best alternative to get to know Via dei Mercanti is to walk along it, especially if you plan to visit Amalfi in June or during the summer months, when the temperature is warm and the weather is pleasant. In this street, in addition, you will also find many handmade paper stores, as it is one of the main industries of the Amalfi Coast.

Another feature of Via dei Mercanti is that you will find many places that offer the traditional limoncello, which is a drink made from lemon peels that in Italy is as or more popular than wine. In Ruga Nova Mercatorum you will be able to taste this liqueur that is part of the local gastronomic culture.

During the night, Via dei Mercanti gathers part of the nightlife, so you can visit the main bars and restaurants in Amalfi.

Villa Rufolo is a historic building in Ravello that stands out mainly for its gardens, built on balconies overlooking the Tyrrhenian Sea and also for its Arab architecture, which has been popular in the town since the time of the conquest. There you can not only walk through the gardens full of flowers, fountains and sculptures, but also enjoy the panoramic views of the coast.

Villa Rufolo is also one of the main sites of Ravello, as it hosts the city's cultural events and is also home to Italy's most important music festival.

If you want to make the most of your visit to Ravello, you can also visit the Villa Rufolo museum, which exhibits works of art, archaeological finds and scores by Richard Wagner, who was a regular visitor to the gardens. You can also walk through the narrow streets of the town, which are often lined with craft stores and food stalls.

Details of interest

• Location: Piazza Duomo 1, Ravello.
• Hours: daily from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• How to get there: by bus lines 5110 or by car along the SS373 road.

The Paradise Cloister is one of the main attractions of Amalfi and also one of the most beautiful. This open gallery, decorated with Arabic elements, is connected to the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle, but is a different construction from it. It was built in the 13th century to house the tombs of the nobility of the Amalfi coast and, since then, it has attracted attention for its Byzantine mosaics and gardens.

This site occupies a central space in the history of the city, since there are the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle and also the ancient vault inlaid with precious stones that belonged to the bishopric of Amalfi. The Cloister of Paradise is also considered a masterpiece of Italian medieval architecture.

To access the Cloister, you must first enter the Cathedral, but they are two independent visits and attractions that can be visited each on their own.

Details of interest

• Location: Via Salita Episcopio 1, Amalfi.
• Price: Entrance to the Cloister has an initial cost of approximately 3 euros per person.
• Hours: Usually open daily from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm.
• How to get there: By bus lines 5110.

The Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle is the main attraction of Amalfi and also one of the most important on the Amalfi Coast, as this 9th century Arab-Norman Romanesque religious building houses the relics of the saint after they were transported from Constantinople in 1208.

The design of the cathedral shows the influences that the city has had throughout history, as Amalfi became the most important Italian port on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This cultural crossover can be seen in the Arab towers which, combined with the bronze doors from the Persian Gulf, form one of the most beautiful facades of a European cathedral. In addition, the interior houses medieval mosaics, frescoes and relics from the Holy Land.

The Cathedral also includes in its interior the sarcophagus of Archbishop Pietro Capuano, who became one of the most important persons of the Catholic Church in the 13th century, and also an altar inlaid with precious stones. In addition, the Cathedral includes the entrance to the Cloister of Paradise, which is the site where the relics of St. Andrew the Apostle are located.

Visiting the Cathedral is one of the must-sees of the city, even if you are planning a short stay in Campania.

Details of interest

• Location: Piazza Duomo 1, Ravello.
• Price: Entrance to the Cloister has an initial cost of approximately 3 euros per person.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
• How to get there: By bus lines 5110.

The Museo della Carta or Paper Museum, in Amalfi, is one of the main sites you can visit in town if you are a history buff, as it is housed in a stone mill and not only features exhibits of original instruments from the 13th century onwards, but is also a testimony to the town's industrial past, which was deeply connected to the production of paper and foils.

The museum, which you can also visit on a guided tour, has samples of printing presses, presses and wooden mallets, as well as manuscripts from the Middle Ages, which is a real treasure, since that historical period was known as the Dark Ages due to the little information and documentation that reached the present. In addition, you can also witness demonstrations to understand the operation of ancient machines.

At the Paper Museum you can also visit the store, which offers themed gifts and souvenirs for visitors, including paper crafts made from dried flowers and stationery.

Details of interest

• Location: Via delle Cartiere 23, Amalfi.
• Price: entrance to the museum has an initial cost of approximately 12 euros per person.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
• How to get there: by bus lines 5110.

Amalfi is the most famous of the Amalfi Coast towns, but the region also includes some of the most beautiful places in Italy such as Positano, Ravello and Atrani, all towns that you can visit on the best full day excursions from Amalfi.

On these excursions with an expert local guide you can visit the coastal towns using Amalfi as a base. You can also visit the sites on your own, but I recommend that you opt for a tour service, as it will be the simplest option and will allow you to save time and money during your trip.

Among the sites you can visit is Positano, which is a pretty village with narrow, steep streets and is considered the Pearl of the Amalfi Coast. The tour will also include a visit to Ravello, famous for its luxurious Arab villas, including Rufolo, and its narrow alleys.

Another of Salerno's villages that you can visit during your visit is Atrani, which is one of the smallest and most picturesque and stands out for forming a natural theater that will turn all the pictures you take there into magic. Some tours also include Minori, Maiori and Praiano, but in any case you can make the most of your visit to Amalfi by visiting the surrounding villages.

Any time is the right time to visit this paradise on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Whenever you go, you have plans to do in or around the town. Due to its mild temperatures all year round, even in winter in Amalfi you can enjoy boat trips or outdoor activities such as trekking or kayaking.

To know the best activities by time of year be sure to visit the posts that Hellotickets has prepared for you:

• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in January
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in February
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in March
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in April
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in June
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in September
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in October
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in November
• 10 things to see and do in Amalfi in December

Plus, if you like to organize your visits according to the number of days your getaway lasts, we give you the work already done with our travel guides to explore Amalfi without missing the best:

• What to see and do in Amalfi in 2 days
• What to see and do in Amalfi in 3 days
• What to see and do in Amalfi in 4 days
• What to see and do in Amalfi in 5 days

Finally, I recommend you to book your transfers between the nearest airport and Amalfi to know all the options and reach your accommodation in Amalfi comfortably. Now all that's left is... Enjoy!