On the Amalfi Coast, the town you pick matters more than the hotel you pick. The coast is a single winding road with towns strung along it, and moving between them takes real time and real money. Choose the wrong base and you will spend your week in taxis.
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Positano
The one on the postcards. Pastel houses stacked up a cliff above a dark sand beach, and the most photographed view in southern Italy.
Good for: couples, honeymoons, first visits, anyone who wants the iconic version of the coast.
The catch: it is vertical. Hundreds of steps between the top of town and the beach, and no way around it. Taxis within Positano start around €20 for a two-minute ride because the drivers know you have no alternative. Luggage is a genuine problem — check with your hotel how far the nearest vehicle access is before booking, because “five minutes from the centre” can mean 200 steps down.
Cost: the most expensive base on the coast. Mid-range doubles commonly €300–450 in June, more in August.
Amalfi town
Flatter, larger, and the transport hub of the coast. Ferries to Positano, Capri and Salerno leave from here, and the bus connections are the best on the coast.
Good for: families, longer stays, anyone planning day trips, travellers who would rather walk than climb.
The catch: it is less pretty than Positano and it knows it. The centre gets very busy with day-trippers between 10am and 5pm, and the beach is small and crowded.
Cost: roughly 20% below Positano for equivalent quality. This is the value pick.
Ravello
High above the coast, quiet, and genuinely beautiful in a different way — gardens, villas, classical music festivals, and views down over the whole coastline.
Good for: repeat visitors, people who want quiet, anyone who does not care about swimming.
The catch: there is no beach and no easy way to one. Getting down to the water is a bus or taxi ride down a switchback road, then back up again. If your holiday involves swimming daily, Ravello is the wrong choice.
Cost: varies enormously. Simple guesthouses are reasonable; the famous hotels are among the most expensive in Italy.
The ones people forget
Praiano sits between Positano and Amalfi, costs noticeably less than either, and has the best sunsets on the coast. It is quiet, with few restaurants, and you will rely on the bus.
Minori and Maiori are flat, unglamorous, genuinely lived-in towns near Amalfi with real beaches and prices 30–40% below Positano. Not beautiful in the same way. Excellent value.
Sorrento is not on the Amalfi Coast at all, but it is where a lot of people stay: better connected, cheaper, and a much easier arrival from Naples. The trade-off is a bus or ferry every time you want to see the coast proper.
How long to stay
Four to five nights suits most people. Two is not enough to justify the transfer from Naples; a full week is lovely if you are settling in rather than sightseeing, though many find the road journeys wear thin by day six.
Practical booking notes
Book early for June to September — the good mid-range places on this coast genuinely sell out, and what remains is expensive. Prices drop sharply in late October.
Ask three questions before booking anywhere in Positano: how many steps from the road, whether there is a luggage porter service, and whether the hotel has a shuttle. The answers change the trip.
Prices for the same hotel move around between platforms, so it is worth taking a minute to compare prices across booking sites before committing. For day trips and boat hire once you arrive, GetYourGuide covers most of the established local operators.
Still deciding between coasts? See Amalfi Coast or Cinque Terre. For the wider picture, our Italy travel guide covers costs, timing and transport.
Not sure which suits you?
Answer four questions and our Where to Stay matcher will rank the the Amalfi Coast neighbourhoods against how you actually travel — budget, who you are with, and whether you care most about walking, eating, nightlife or quiet.
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Frequently asked questions
Which is the best town to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
Amalfi town for most people — it is flatter, better connected by ferry and bus, and around 20% cheaper than Positano for equivalent accommodation. Positano is more beautiful but very steep. Ravello is quiet with no beach access.
Is Positano too steep to stay in?
It is genuinely very steep, with hundreds of steps between the upper town and the beach. It suits shorter stays and travellers without mobility concerns or heavy luggage. Always ask a hotel how far the nearest vehicle access is.
How many nights do you need on the Amalfi Coast?
Four to five suits most trips. Two nights barely justifies the transfer from Naples, and after about six days the winding road journeys start to wear on people.
Is Sorrento a good base for the Amalfi Coast?
It is a practical one rather than an ideal one. Sorrento is cheaper, better connected and much easier to reach from Naples, but it is not on the Amalfi Coast, so you take a bus or ferry each time you visit.
What is the cheapest place to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
Minori and Maiori, near Amalfi. They are flat, ordinary working towns with real beaches and prices roughly 30–40% below Positano. Praiano is another good middle option.
About the author
Born and raised in the Middle East, I’ve spent most of my adult life travelling — more than 40 countries so far. I write these guides the way I’d explain them to a friend: real prices, honest opinions, and a straight answer about when the cheaper option is the better one.
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