Updated April 16th 2024
Choosing where to stay on the Amalfi Coast is no easy task. An enchanted land of picturesque towns perched on rugged cliffs, the jaw-dropping Amalfi coast is one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline anywhere in the world. Nestled between the soaring Lattari mountains and the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the Amalfi coast unfolds along terraces and vineyards cut into the mountainside, with narrow coves and thin stretches of sand providing access to the sea below. In this article, I will guide you through my favorite towns on the Amalfi Coast and the best hotels in each of them.
There is something for everyone on the Amalfi Coast. From the boutiques and plush hotels of Positano to the stunning Byzantine architecture of Amalfi, from the paradise villas of Ravello to some of the world’s most dramatic hiking trails, you simply won’t be able to resist the charms of a region that UNESCO has recognized as an outstanding example of the Mediterranean landscape.
If you are planning a trip to Italy, be sure to bookmark this page and read on to find our suggestions on where to stay in other great regions, such as Cinque Terre and Lago Maggiore.
Where to Stay in Positano
For a good reason, Positano is popular, with the jet-setting rich and famous, postcard-perfect Positano has been a resort town since antiquity when ancient Romans retreated here to take advantage of the restorative sea breezes.
The town is startlingly beautiful - think row after row of pastel-colored houses dramatically tumbling down the cliffs towards the Mediterranean below, narrow laneways wreathed in wisteria, and a lovely church at the heart of it all with a spectacular majolica-tiled roof.
Positano is known for its shopping: pretty little boutiques line the streets, selling everything from designer fashion to handmade sandals. Be sure to pack your walking shoes: the different levels of Positano are linked by a seemingly endless series of steep stairways that will eventually lead you down to the waterfront at the town’s two beaches: Spiaggia Grande and Spiaggia del Fornillo.
The Best Hotels in Positano
Hotel Villa Franca | Adult Only | Unbeatable Views
- Hotel Villa Franca: A dream amid sea and sky, reads the hotel's tagline. It is hard to disagree. In a town that is full of sumptuous and luxurious hotels, Villa Franca is as stunning as any of them. Now, I may not have the money to stay here, I barely have the money to eat at the on-site Michelin Star Hotel, but I was invited to explore their rooms, and I did enjoy a cocktail at the rooftop bar. My conclusion has been months of research about the black market rate for selling a kidney.
Hotel Villa Franca isn't a hotel, it is a retreat from the chaos of summer in Amalfi. It is one of the most beautiful hotels in the world, located in one of the most beautiful towns in the world.
Rates|Photos|Reviews - Casa Caprile: Budget doesn't really exist in Positano, but starting at $300 a night, Casa Caprile is a bargain. Beautifully decorated, clean, and modern apartments sit in the upper part of the town. The only downside is the walk-up, making this a poor choice for anyone with mobility issues.
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Where to Stay in Amalfi
These days, the city that gives the coastline its name is a charming but out-of-the-way town of just 5,000 inhabitants, but it wasn't always this way. It might be hard to believe, but for a period during the Middle Ages Amalfi counted itself amongst Italy’s maritime superpowers. A thriving population of 70,000 people and a fleet of ships that was the envy of the Mediterranean brought untold wealth to this isolated corner of the Campania coast before a devastating earthquake sent most of the town tumbling into the sea in 1343.
The most impressive reminder of Amalfi’s glorious past is the city’s magnificent Byzantine cathedral, built to house the relics of Saint Andrew - brought here by the empire’s ships way back in 1208. Next door, the 13th-century Chiostro del Paradiso (cloister of Paradise) lives up to its name: delicate Arabic arches surround a leafy garden, final resting place of the town’s most important citizens. If you’d like to visit Amalfi’s cathedral on a tour of the Amalfi Coast, then be sure to check out our private Amalfi coast itineraries.
The Best Hotels in Amalfi
Borgo Santandrea | Premium Luxury | Private Beach
- Borgo Santandrea: I find myself mesmerized by the tiles in this incredible architectural space, but when I can drag my eyes away, I am greeted by spectacular views from every room. The sea and sky seem endless. The upper suites have private pools, but all guests are free to use the private beach (one of the few in Amalfi) that is reserved exclusively for the hotel's guests.
Rates|Photos|Reviews - Lemon Garden Villa: Located in a patiently restored old mill, with a babbling brook beside for good measure, the Lemon Garden Villa is a perfect option for families or groups. With 3 bedrooms, this idyllic spot is an oasis of calm. There may be no pool, but the private 200m terrace with views of the surrounding countryside is a perfect place to unwind. The prices shouldn't offend either, with peak summer rates starting at $450 a night.
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Where to Stay in Ravello
Long a favorite amongst writers, the extraordinary views across the Tyrrhenian sea from the hilltop Ravello have to be seen to be believed. Perched 350 meters above sea level, rarefied Ravello was founded in the 5th century as a safe haven from Barbarian raiders, and even today, the town still feels removed from the chaotic bustle of life down on the coast. Just wandering its calm streets is a real pleasure: stop off at an open-air cafe in the central piazza or breathe in the fresh lemon-scented air in the town’s innumerable gardens.
The town is most famous for its two magnificent villas - Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbroneri. Beloved by German composer Richard Wagner (who was inspired by the villa for the staging of his opera Parsifal), the garden of Villa Rufolo is the fabulous setting for a series of world-class classical concerts that take place in Ravello each summer. Over the years, Villa Cimbrone, meanwhile, has played host to everyone from Greta Garbo to Winston Churchill and Salvador Dali, and its Terrazza dell’Infinito (Terrace of Infinity) is a breathtaking encapsulation of everything that makes the Amalfi coast so special: classical statues and blooming flowers frame a panoramic view of the entire coastline, while the blue waters of the sea look impossibly inviting far below.
The Best Hotels in Ravello
Ravello Art Hotel | Apartments and Hotel | Private Sea Access and Pool
- Ravello Art Hotel Marmorata: When I was just out of university, a good hotel meant cheap. In my thirties, it meant at least as nice as my own house, if not better. Now, with a young family, I like the luxury of a hotel, with cleaning, a pool, and amenities, but I also like a kitchen, where I can cook if we are all too tired to head out.
The Ravello Art Hotel meets all of this. If it was any closer to the sea, it would fall in. It has a private pool, private access to the sea via a dock, hotel rooms, and a small block of beautiful apartments right next door. All of this makes the Ravello Art Hotel a perfect base for any traveler through Ravello.
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Where to Stay in Praiano
Sleepy Praiano is the perfect antidote for anyone looking to escape the crowded centers of Positano and Amalfi during the height of the summer months. With no tourist attractions or town centre as such, Praiano is still passed over on most itineraries. But this little fishing village and a one-time important center of the silk trade is a lovely surprise for those who do stop here. Whitewashed houses speckle the hillside of Monte Sant’Angelo as it runs down to a small sandy beach enclosed in a lovely little cove, flanked by restaurants housed in former fishermen's dwellings - try Da Armandino for excellent fresh fish.
The Best Hotels in Praiano
B&B La Barbera | Pristine Views | Fantastic Price
- B&B La Barbera: If the B&B La Barbera was in Ravello, Amalfi, or Positano, you could add an extra $500 a night onto her price, and no one would bat an eye-lid. But if you did, you would lose half the charm. What makes B&B La Barbera so special is its location in the quiet town of Praiano.
If exploring by day but relaxing by night is your aim, then it is very hard to do better than this. I could sit on that balcony for weeks on end, admiring the view and never stepping foot out the door, and every single minute would feel well spent.
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Where to Stay in Atrani
Tiny Atrani is just a mile down the road from Amalfi, but it seems a world away from its often crowded big brother. A fishing village nestled between the Monte Civita and Monte Aureo, Atrani covers an area of just 0.1206 km2, making it officially Italy’s smallest town. Atrani’s tightly packed whitewashed centro storico is about as Mediterranean as you can get, a tangle of lanes and houses snaking up the hillside via vertiginous stairways. Keep climbing, and you’ll eventually emerge blinking into the sunlight at the Piazzetta, Atrani’s main square, where sunset views over the sea are hard to match.
Where to Stay in Vietri sul Mare
Standing at the far southern end of the Amalfi coast, Vietri sul Mare is the place to go if you’re interested in ceramics. Locals have been firing up their kilns here since ancient times, but production really took off in the 17th- century when the Bourbon court in Naples took a fancy to the town’s distinctive Mediterranean-inspired ware. Today the town is packed with shops selling Vietri majolica, so if you’re looking to bring back a memory of the Amalfi-coast be sure to stop off here.
Through Eternity Tours offer expert-led guided itineraries to the Amalfi Coast and throughout the Campania region. With private transport provided throughout, on our Amalfi Coast tours you’ll be able to spend your time admiring the jaw-dropping scenery rather than watching the road! Check out our range of Amalfi Coast itineraries on our website.
