What to Do in Amalfi Coast in 3 Days

The Amalfi Coast has no through-train and no coastal highway wide enough for tour buses to pass each other without reversing. What it does have is a single-lane cliff road, a ferry network that runs April through October, and a dozen villages stacked so vertically that some count their elevation in staircases rather than meters. A three-day visit to the Amalfi Coast requires you to pick a base—most choose Amalfi town for its central location and year-round ferry connections—and then move outward by boat, bus, or hired driver. Positano anchors the western end of the coast. Its pastel houses cascade down to Spiaggia Grande, a narrow pebble beach where fishing boats share space with sunbeds. The town has no flat streets—every shop, restaurant, and hotel sits at the end of a staircase—so plan two hours just to walk from the upper bus stop to the waterfront and back. Arrive before 10:00 or after 16:00 to avoid the day-trip crowds. Amalfi town, the coast's medieval capital, centers on Piazza del Duomo and its Arab-Norman cathedral. The cathedral's Cloister of Paradise, reached by a 62-step exterior staircase, opens at 09:00 daily and sees its lightest foot traffic before 11:00. The €3 entrance fee includes access to the crypt, cloister, and diocesan museum; the nave itself is free. Ravello sits 365 meters above sea level, a 25-minute bus ride from Amalfi. Its two villa gardens—Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo—offer the coast's widest views, stretching from Paestum to Capo d'Orso. The Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei) is the coast's most-walked trail, a 7.8-kilometer route that begins in the mountain hamlet of Bomerano and descends through olive terraces to the village of Nocelle, 450 meters above Positano. The trail is unshaded and requires stable footwear; allow three hours walking time plus an additional hour for the bus transfer from Amalfi to Bomerano. An alternative to hiking is a boat trip from Amalfi to smaller villages like Praiano, Furore, and Conca dei Marini, where the coast's limestone cliffs drop directly into the sea. Ferries run frequently in summer but reduce service after mid-October. Three days gives you time to see the essential villages, complete one trail or boat excursion, and still leave an afternoon free for a slower meal or a swim. The coast rewards early starts—buses and ferries fill quickly after 10:00, and the midday heat between June and September makes walking uncomfortable. If your three days fall on a weekend, book restaurants in advance; the coast's dining capacity is smaller than its visitor numbers suggest.