Amalfi Coast Travel Guide & Wedding Venues

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Italy holds such a special place in my heart. I spent a number of summers in college in Florence and Tuscany, using those locations as a home base to travel throughout the rest of the country. I traveled from Venice to Rome, and everywhere in between. While every region in Italy has it’s own characteristics and is beautiful in it’s own right, the Amalfi Coast truly beckons you to return. From the sun drenched lemon trees to the endless breathtaking views, from the freshest seafood to the most charming staff, this area is a must-see. When my husband and I took our trip to the Amalfi Coast last August, I had so many people asking for recommendations. So I’m happy to share a bit more about our trip, how we structured it, and all our favorite stops along the way. Plus a favorite Italian wedding venue or two!

Itinerary

There are so many beautiful towns within this region, so it’s important to do your research ahead of time and see what grabs your attention! I often use Rick Steves and his guidebooks as a baseline and then build off from there with my own research. His recommendations for restaurants in particular never disappoint!

We used Sorrento as a base for the first leg of our trip. Sorrento is technically not on the Amalfi Coast, but is stunning on it’s own. We arrived in Sorrento via a private car from the Naples airport, which was only about a 40 minute drive. Because Sorrento is larger in size, it can accommodate a lot of boat travel and transportation options to other areas in the region. While staying in Sorrento we took a boat trip to the Island of Capri, and another trip to Amalfi itself and Atrani. We stayed in Sorrento for four nights before moving on to Positano. We stayed in Positano for two nights and took an afternoon trip to Ravello. This short trip to Ravello certainly wasn’t long enough, so we’re looking forward to going back this spring!

One thing to note: I would definitely recommend NOT driving on your own along the Amalfi Coast. The twists and turns along the coast are not for the faint of heart. It was worth every penny to have a private driver take us to locations we couldn’t access quickly by foot. We definitely prefer walking when possible, as I’m always with camera in hand!

Below I outline each of the towns we visited, and include where we stayed, restaurants we dined in, and other helpful tips. I hope you enjoy! Grazie!

Sorrento

In Sorrento we stayed at the Hilton Sorrento Palace. We are Hilton Honors Members, so we always like to take advantage of this when traveling! Being a member often includes upgrades. For this trip, we were upgraded to a room with a huge balcony and stunning view of Mt. Vesuvius in the distance off the coast line. The first night we arrived in Sorrento was Ferragosto, a national Italian holiday. That evening we enjoyed an epic firework display with a glass of white wine from our balcony. Not the worst way to start off your vacation!

Here are our favorite restaurants in Sorrento:

Ristorante L’Antica Trattoria (Reservations recommended. Hands down the best meal on the entire trip.)

Il Buco (The service was impeccable.)

A favorite Amalfi Coast wedding venue near Sorrento is Villa Astor.

Day Trips from Sorrento

While staying in Sorrento we took a half day trip to Capri. I know so many people who rave about Capri, but we didn’t have the best experience! It was super warm that day and CROWDED. I’d definitely recommend heading early to the island so you can admire its beauty without the hustle and bustle of tourism attacking the island. We’d love to go back and do this so we can explore further!

Another stop on our trip was to the town of Amalfi. This town is beyond charming! While busy, it still maintains all the old world architecture, history, and beauty you’d expect from a town along the Amalfi Coast. The Duomo was a particular highlight for me. We dined on yummy pasta for lunch at Al Cancelletto.

While in Amalfi we walked to Atrani, the next town along the coast. If you take this walk, just be warned it is not for the faint of heart! There are no sidewalks and you are literally walking along the edge of the coast and the street. And don’t forget to turn around and look back at the view of Amalfi. Truly one of the most stunning sights along the coast.

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Along the walk to Atrani we stumbled upon a picturesque restaurant called Cantina del Nostromo towering over the cliff. With that view, it was the perfect spot to stop for an aperitivo (an aperol spritz being my constant drink of choice!) Our visit to Atrani was short – it is quite overlooked from its more famous counterparts, which means it was also less touristy. Its quaint town square was such a nice, quiet reprieve from the energy of Amalfi just a few steps away.

Positano

After our stay in Sorrento we headed to the iconic Positano. We stayed at Punta Regina. The staff here were incredible, and the rooftop pool and terrace were to die for. It’s super important to me that all of my warm weather hotels have beautiful pools, and this did not disappoint. The hotel offered breakfast on the terrace in the morning, and they served complimentary lemons granitas while we were lounging at the pool.

Positano is NOT to be missed. It’s view from the coast alone is worth the visit. It truly is a place to convalesce, breath deeply, and soak in the sun drenched views. We walked through the iconic Le Sirenuse and attempted to have a drink at Frank’s Bar around sunset. But so did the rest of the tourists in Positano, so we’ll have to go back next time! I also recommend waking up at sunrise and walking down to the beach. Perfect time to grab that iconic shot without any people in it!

Here are our favorite restaurants in Positano:

Next2 (the vibe here is amazing)

Il Tridente Positano (best grilled chicken and service!)

Two of my favorite Amalfi Coast wedding venues in Positano are the Hotel Marincanto and Villa Treville Positano.

Ravello

Ravello is another iconic Amalfi Coast town, well known for its luxury villas and sweeping views. We didn’t have the change to explore too much of this town on our past trip, but will certainly be returning! Ravello is also home to epic wedding venues. Villa Cimbrone is near the end of the town, with its impeccable gardens, cloisters, and jaw dropping Terrace of Infinity overlooking the Amalfi Coast. The Belmond Caruso also offers wedding guests a luxury Italian experience. Just beyond Ravello, in Praiano, is the white washed beauty Casa Angelina. A luxury boutique hotel, this Italian wedding venue was made for honeymooners.

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Planning a wedding in the Amalfi Coast? Contact me here.