Ciao! The Amalfi Coast is one of the world’s top travel destinations for a reason, and I was lucky enough to visit for my thirtieth birthday this past September because you never, ever need an excuse to do the things that make your heart happy.

My travel list is endless — with very few places I wouldn’t go — so my friend asked if she could surprise me with the destination (yes, anywhere in the world!) for my birthday trip. Of course I said yes, with one caveat: I wanted to spend at least one day dancing my heart out on a boat.

Spoiler: She picked the Amalfi Coast. The secret slipped sooner than expected, but it gave us a good laugh and it meant I could help plan every single part of the trip. What a way to celebrate turning the big 3-0! One thing is for sure: It will be hard to top, but the good thing is we’re up for the challenge 😉 Until the next big trip, enjoy these Amalfi Coast insider tips.

Where to Stay

With stunning coastal views no matter where you go, it’s hard to go wrong when picking a place to stay. If you do your research like any good traveler does, you’ll read a lot about Positano and Amalfi. They’re both central hubs with easy access to transportation.

We chose to split our nights in two places: Amalfi (because it’s cheaper than Positano) and the neighboring city of Atrani. Atrani isn’t visible from Amalfi (it’s around a big turn on a cliff), but they’re so close you can actually walk back and forth between them. So why stay in both? The better question: Why not? There’s nothing wrong with staying in one place, and I’m sure a lot of people prefer less disruptions, but we like to experience as many places as possible when we travel. We headed north to Tuscany for a few days, too, but more about that later…

Amalfi and Atrani are both charming in unique ways. Amalfi is a tourist hub, but that also means it’s bustling and alive. Atrani is Amalfi’s quieter sister with a more local feel. Honestly, we loved both and lucked out with two, perfect Airbnbs that I’d recommend to anyone. They were both in central locations, very clean, and the view from our Atrani Airbnb was an affordable dream!

Yes, there are so many stunning hotels that bloggers recommend, but they’re pricey and I prefer the charm of a local’s home.

The view from our Atrani Airbnb was everything (left) and our Amalfi Airbnb was a 30-second walk to the main piazza (right):

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What to Do

1,000% book a boat ride along the coast.
Picture an intimate boat ride (less than eight people) with a hot local captain, the dreamiest views you won’t see anywhere else in the world, snorkeling in grottos, limoncello shots, champagne toasts, cliff jumping, and dancing with strangers. IT JUST HITS DIFFERENT IN ITALY. I can remember every second of the boat ride months later. Book it early, book it twice … just book it! We chose GetYourGuide’s 4-hour Boat and Snorkeling Tour in Small Group, and it was perfect.

Hike the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods).
You are in the clouds when you hike this winding cliffside trail. The hike itself is a great way to break up a busy week, escape the hustle and bustle, and experience a peace you won’t find on other parts of your trip. It’s not easy or relaxing, but it is truly a different world. The locals who live in the mountains live off the land. They don’t have cars; they ride donkeys. They don’t have grocery stores; they grow their food on the land. It’s humbling to hike so high up, looking down on the beauty below. We chose to start our hike in Bomerano, heading towards Nocelle and eventually Positano. We didn’t allow enough time to go all the way, but I wish we would’ve. (By the way, the pictures do it NO justice).

I’d be reminisce if I didn’t mention the best part of our hike — the start. We took the bus from Amalfi to Bomerano early to avoid crowds, reaching the town before 7:30 a.m. when everything was still closed and hardly any other humans were out and about. With little signage leading us to the trail, we followed the only couple who looked like they were also going on a hike (sometimes you have to make judgment calls … insert hands up emoji girl) into a little place to get a cappuccino and that’s when we met Antonio.

Antonio was jolly. He was proud of the food he and his family grew on their land and eagerly started tossing different homemade goodies on our table. Remember, we just wanted coffee … but instead we got two wine tastings (at 8 a.m.), pizza, fresh figs, tomatoes, and grapes off the vine. It just. kept. coming. We stopped after the trip to buy three bottles of wine to remember our special friend and had to beg him to take our money. He was the sweetest, and I’m pretty sure I headed into the hike dehydrated and a little tipsy because of his hospitality (but it was worth it).

After the hike, we were waiting for the bus in Bomerano again and grabbed the best pastries of the trip at a tiny, tiny place on the side of the road called Panificio Manna Antionio. The ham and cheese pastries were everything.

Spend a day (or two or three) on the beach, including the must-see Fiordo Di Furore.

We penciled in the beach for the first day on the coast because we knew we’d be tired from flying all night, and we had no regrets. We stayed on Amalfi Beach because it was close to our Airbnb. It was small, but oh so beautiful. Honestly, don’t stress about what beach to head to — they’re all gorgeous. Proof:

The restaurants on the beaches are all about service. When you order drinks, they deliver them directly to your beach chair with the best salty snacks + olives on the house. Drink, swim, sunbathe, repeat. What could be better?

One of the other advantages of Amalfi being so central to everything is the quick bus ride (~20 minutes) to the stunning Fiordo Di Furore. We went twice because it’s unbelievable. Swimming in the water feels surreal when you’re looking up at the arch; it’s one of those places where you feel so small (in a good way), swallowed up the by the grandeur of the cliffs that it kind of takes your breath away. My sister also loves collecting sea shells so was in her element on the pebble beach. The pebbles were more like broken (but smooth) chips of pottery. Think sea glass but terracotta-style. We brought a bunch of treasures back to craft with in the future.

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Visit the coastal village of Positano and town of Ravello.

Positano is a beaut. So, so pretty … and charming … and romantic. We enjoyed exploring, shopping, and making TikToks on the iconic beach with one of the best backdrops in the world.

Don’t be surprised if you run into celebrities here. Spotted on our trip? Jay-Z and Beyoncé’s mom (without Beyoncé, ugh). Fun fact: We were buying these super fun paintings of Positano at the same time Beyoncé’s mom was (pic on right; Jay-Z on left)! If you want to know who else might be lurking around, it’s public information who is renting the massive yachts. The prince of Egypt was on the Sarafsa the week we were there; Beyoncé and Jay-Z were on the The Flying Fox.

Everyone will recommend eating seafood dinner at Chez Black. I’m sure it’s amazing, but we never made it there. Instead, consider grabbing a cliffside cocktail at Ristorante L’Ancora overlooking Positano while the sun sets. The views are unbelievable and it’s super close to the bus stop to return back to Amalfi at the end of the day. Life hack for the coast: Buses don’t run late so make sure you know the schedule and plan your day accordingly. There are other restaurants and shops along the road, so you have other options. My sister and I both bought jewelry from Ivi Gioielli (the cutest little shop). Well, actually, I was being cheap and would’t buy a necklace I liked, so my sister ordered it for a surprise birthday gift for me once we were back in the States. How sweet?

Ravello is also dreamy. It’s another place in the clouds with stunning views and a remote feel. We bought the cutest dried flower earrings for our mom at a jewelry store in the main piazza before heading to Mimi Pizzeria & Cucino for dinner. It was scrumptious and had the cutest vibe (we ate under a lush trellis).

Take a weekend trip to Tuscany to drink allll of the wine.
I suggest booking a tour; no research required. I already have the perfect guide for you! World, meet Stefano Coltellini with Get Tours:

He planned an absolutly brilliant tour to three beautiful vineyards, each with their own unique charm. He picked us up on time in a private luxury van that was super clean. He was so genuine with us and we all shared small talk for a few days while boppin’ around Tuscany. We visited:

We loved learning about the intriacte wine-making process, eating all of the charcuterie boards, and sippin’ wine among the cypress trees. My sister shipped bottles home from each winery we visited, which is such a fun keepsake.

We also walked to Avignonesi Winery on our own because it was close to our Airbnb. The staff were so friendly and we laughed the evening away sipping on wine. TMI: It was our first night in Tuscany and we hadn’t eaten all day because we were running around catching trains/didn’t realize our Airbnb was in the middle of NOWHERE with no access to transporation or food. We didn’t eat dinner that night, aside from the breadsticks the winery provided, and let’s just say it wasn’t fun in the moment, but the wine made it all better.

Eat lemon-flavored everything, gelato, pizza, pasta, caprese, and olive oil every. single. day.
Calories don’t exist when you travel, especially in Italy. Here were some of our favorite places:

  • Amalfi
    • Head to Enoteca e Gastronomia il Protontino for the yummiest lasagna.
    • Make a reservation at Pizzeria Donna Stella (and eat under the lemon trees).
    • Grab a bit to eat with locals at I Cartari (Macelleria Carrano Carni). The fish or Geneovese pasta are both great dishes.
  • Florence
    • Ciro and Sons Ristorante Pizzeria if you’re traveling with someone gluten free. The entire restaurant was gluten free (which is hard to find if you’re in Italy). My sister raved over the quality.
    • Venchi Firenze for the best gelato of your life

I could truly write a book about this trip. I’m so thankful I got to experience it with my sister and one of my best friends. I can’t wait to go back with my husband one day! If you can, go, go, go. Thanks for keeping up!

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