The Amalfi Coast, Italy : A Perfect Holiday Spot
By Leo Savage on Jan 14, 2015
The Amalfi coast may be one of the top holiday destinations and Europe, but travelers from all over the world have walked along the postcard perfect 43-mile coastline. Its magnificent scenery has attracted lovers, families, writers, and some prominent artists.
It is definitely one of the best places to spend your holidays. Best of all, you won’t have to spend your life savings. In fact, you’ll be able to see all the best places on the Amalfi Coast even if you’re on a tight budget.
How to Get There
The easiest way to reach the Amalfi coast is through Naples. You can also fly in to Rome and then on to Naples. You could also take the scenic route and travel by train. There are three types of trains that regularly travel from Rome to Naples. The slowest train, Regionale, will take around 3 hours. The intercity train is a little bit faster and will complete the trip in just over two hours. The fastest train Frecce, will reach Naples in just over an hour but you’ll need to reserve a seat in advance.
If you want to continue the trip by land, you’ll need to continue to Sorrento by train. From there, you’ll need to take a bus to the Amalfi Coast. However, an easier option is to take a ferry from Naples direct to the Amalfi coast. The coastline views are truly spectacular, so don’t forget to bring a camera.
Accommodation
If you intend to spend some time in the area, you might want to arrange for accommodation in Sorrento. From Sorrento, there’ll be plenty of public transport going to the various towns like Amalfi, Positano, and Ravello. There are plenty of hotels in Sorrento so you won’t have a problem finding one that fits your budget.
However, you’ll need to remember that Sorrento is actually divided into two parts; the hills and the seaside. Most of the hotels are located on the hills, but there are some near the sea. If you’re a bit concerned about walking around the town, you might want to find a hotel near the bus routes.
What to Do
You’ll be doing a lot of travelling while visiting the Amalfi coast so it would be best to go there when you’re physically fit.
If you chose to find a hotel in Sorrento, you can either travel directly to Amalfi, the largest city along the coast and work your way back to Sorrento. Another option is to take a trip along the coast to Positano, see the various sites there, and then on to Amalfi and Ravello.
The best way to experience much of the Amalfi coast is to first take the SITA bus to Positano, spend some time there, then a bus again to Amalfi. Take the boat from Amalfi on your way back to Sorrento.
Places to Visit
Positano is a marvelous town with plenty of beautiful sceneries. The only problem is that there’s plenty of stairs as well. If you’re coming from the mountain and going to the seaside, it will be fun to walk down the stairs. Unfortunately, the trip back can be a bit tiring.
Amalfi is the largest city along the coast and there certainly be plenty of places to visit, but the only way to get around is by walking. It’s best to take your time and enjoy the scenery, talk to the locals or other tourists, and you’ll find that you’ve visited much of the city without even noticing the time.
Ravello is a beautiful town 6 kilometers from Amalfi. You can reach it by walking, but public transportation is available in case you want to reserve your strength visiting the beautiful landmarks of Ravello. The walking paths in Ravello are well maintained and so are the gardens. If you have the time, you might want to attend a performance by the Ravello Concert Society or enjoy the Ravello Festival if you visit the town during July.
If you’re in the mood for a true adventure, you can go on a walking holiday from Ravello all the way to Sorrento. The route will take you through Positano then on to Sorrento. However, you might need to spend the night in Positano as it will be too tiring to walk directly to Sorrento.
Driving Along the Coast
If you decide to rent a car at Sorrento or Naples, you’ll need to be aware that driving along the coast is not for the faint hearted. There are plenty of sharp bends and some of the roads are very close to the edge of cliffs. This shouldn’t be a problem for well-experienced drivers, but it can be a big challenge if you’re a new driver.