Are you planning a trip to Italy’s beautiful Amalfi Coast in the coming year, but are worried it might be out of your price range? Think again! Here are five tips to help you save money and get the best out of your visit to Italy’s famed coastline.
Travel Off Season
One of the secrets of visiting the Amalfi Coast is to come outside of the peak travel season. This tip will not only save you money at your hotel or bed & breakfast but will also bring you to Amalfi at some of the loveliest and least crowded moments of the year. Arrive during the spring or early summer to enjoy the beautiful coastline and less crowded beaches. Autumn brings with it equally stunning views, and beautiful beach days last well into October. While it can vary depending on the particular hotel or bed & breakfast, peak season is generally Easter, major holidays, and the months of July and August. Some hotels offer low season and mid season prices, so check to see when the rates change as you are searching for your lodging. A word of warning: During the low season from November to March, there are fewer buses and often no boat connections between cities. Many restaurants and shops also close down for holiday during the months of January and February.
Get off the Beaten Path
The Amalfi Coast is famous for the beautiful cities of Positano and Amalfi, but you will also find several charming cities tucked into and perched high above the coastline. If you are looking to save some expenses on your lodging, broaden your search and consider staying in some of the smaller cities along the Amalfi Coast. The city of Praiano, located next door to glamorous Positano, has many hotels with stunning views of the sea below. Just a short walk or bus ride from Ravello, famous for its yearly music festival, is the charming and quiet city of Scala, with family owned hotels offering stunning views of its well-known neighbor.
Look for the Local Touch
While the Amalfi Coast is home to some of the most luxurious and famous hotels in the world, you will also find many small, family run hotels and charming bed and breakfast options offering very reasonable rates. Many have locations and terrace views equally as stunning as their five star neighbors, and provide a local touch to your stay. Do your research in advance and discover some of these charming spots!
Hop on the Bus
The Amalfi Coast road is famous for its wild curves, narrow roads, and breathtaking views. For those wanting to experience the views without the cost of renting a car and the stress and expense of parking, the public SITA buses are the way to go. With connections between all the major cities on the Amalfi Coast, Sorrento and Salerno, the buses that run along the Amalfi Coast offer visitors an excellent way to travel between cities at an inexpensive price. (From 2-6 euros depending on the type of ticket.) Before hopping on the bus, don’t forget to buy your tickets at most tabacchi shops or bars where you see a SITA sign.
Hit the Beach like the Locals
Are you planning some major beach time during your holiday on the Amalfi Coast? The warm sun and dazzling blue sea are certainly not to be missed. While the comfort of sun beds and beach umbrellas can’t be denied, the costs can add up if you are planning to head to the beach every day. My final tip is to hit the beach like the locals. Every city along the coast will have different sections of the beach reserved for hotels or restaurants, but take a look around for where the locals have flung their towels down to catch the sun. Often they are the best spots around! Generally there will be a free shower of some kind nearby where the locals swim. Enjoy the sun, the beach and the beautiful sea for free!
Photo of Positano, Amalfi Coast by StrudelMonkey
19 responses to “How to Save Money while on Holiday on the Amalfi Coast”
Report an inappropriate commentApril 7th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
I loved the bus ride along the coast. Thrilling.
You can visit lots of interesting places whilst staying in Amalfi, my favourite being Pompeii (allow a full day). Ravello was beautiful, I was there during the eclipse in 1999, quite an unforgettable experience.
April 7th, 2009 at 7:16 pm
I am headed to ischia, procida and positano in 2 weeks – any great dining tips?
txs in advance
April 8th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Ciao Mike! Yes, the bus ride along the Amalfi Coast is certainly thrilling! You can get the same views from the public bus as you do from the private coaches, which is a great way to save a bit of money. Sometimes the public buses can be even more of an adventure!
I agree that Amalfi is very centrally located for a visit to the area. It is close to Naples, Pompeii and Paestum, and is right smack in the middle of the Amalfi Coast. It also has great boat connections from the Spring to the Fall. How incredible to have experienced the eclipse in 1999 from Ravello!
Ciao gsj! Wow, you have a great trip coming up very soon! On Ischia, I would recommend the Ristorante Da Raffaele (http://www.daraffaele.it/). Raffaele is a nice man and the food is wonderful. In Positano, I like Ristorante La Cambusa (http://www.lacambusapositano.com/). It is located right near the beach in the heart of Positano, and again the food is wonderful. I am sorry I can’t provide any recommendations for Procida. It is next on my list to visit! Have a lovely vacation!
April 8th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Thanks Laura – i made a reservation at Ristorante La Cambusa our first night in Positano. It looks perfect….will investigate your ischia rec too
April 8th, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Ciao gsj! You are very welcome! Have a wonderful time!
May 16th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Hi Laura. My first time in Positano, Ravello, Piano, ecc was many time ago, when I was just 13. This spring early summer I hopw to return with my 10 year old daugther and plan to stay in the zone about 15 days, a long time for a tight budget being 3 people. Could You please point me out where to stay in Sorrento, Piano di Sorrento, Positano or Ravello for such a long stay. Thanks a lot in advance. Thanks also for your tips on these beatiful places.
May 20th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Ciao Fernando!
How nice that you can make it back to the Amalfi Coast with your family! You will have a lovely time, especially since you have a nice long stay. I can’t speak personally for hotels in Sorrento or Piano di Sorrento, but for Positano and Ravello I can. My first thought is that if you are on a tight budget, you might want to consider staying nearby Positano and Ravello rather than right there. For instance you can stay in Scala instead of Ravello, which is only a few minutes driving or 30 minutes walking. There is a lovely hotel I have stayed in called Hotel La Margherita Villa Giuseppina, which you can find on Venere.com, that is a small family owned hotel. The people are very friendly and they have a pool with a fabulous view of neighboring Ravello. In Amalfi I would highly recommend Hotel Lidomare, great prices, great location right in the center of town, and lovely rooms. Hotel Il Nido, located just outside of Amalfi is also lovely, and is a very pretty little hotel. The rates in all those places are listed under 100 euros a night, and they are great choices. I hope that helps with your travel planning! Have a fabulous vacation!
July 31st, 2009 at 3:48 pm
Hi Laura
We are planning a trip next year June to the Amalfi coast. Would travelling by scooter be a good option, or should we stick to the SITA busses?
Thanks!!!!
August 5th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Ciao Tinka! June on the Amalfi Coast will be lovely! Many people find any type of driving – scooter or car – quite intimidating on the Amalfi Coast. With a scooter you don’t have to worry as much at the narrow roads, but you still do have to think about parking. If you have driven a scooter or motorcycle before and are up to a bit of an adventure, I think it would be a fabulous way to get around the Amalfi Coast. If it is your first time, all the twists and turns and crazy drivers might be a bit much. I am not sure about costs, but I know there are places in Amalfi and other cities along the coast where you can rent scooters for the day and for longer periods. Happy travel planning and safe travels!
April 16th, 2010 at 8:45 pm
Hello Laura!
I will go to Europe next September/october in a long trip. One of the places I will stay is Amalfi coast, wich I know is BEAUTIFUL!..
So, I have not many time for staying there. My plan: go to Rome for 2 days, then spend 3 or 4 days going through Napoli, Pompei and Amalfi.
My question is: are there a tour from Rome to the 3 cities? Can I have a tour from Rome and return to Rome in the same tour? If it’s not, are there another chance to take a tour? How about the cost??
Thank you in advance!!
Layla
From Buenos Aires!
April 16th, 2010 at 9:29 pm
Ciao Layla! Thanks for your comment. You’re going to have a wonderful time in Italy this coming autumn! There are options for organized tours from Rome to Pompeii and Naples. I’m not all that familiar with Rome tours, but contacting Danielle at When in Rome Tours would be a great place to start as I know they organize tours from Rome to Pompeii. Good luck with your travel planning!
May 18th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
Hi Laura,
Thanks for sharing these details. Me and my friend Nichelle will be traveling to the Amalfi Coast area from either Rome or Paris in August. I know its going to be high-season but this is the only time we can go. We are planning on staying in a cheap hotel or hostel. The places I’d like to see are: Capri (go swimming and maybe a boat tour in the caves/grotto), Positano, Sorrento and Ravello.
A wine tour would be amazing as well.
I’ve been looking online and all I can find is private car tours. We definitely dont want to be rushed so we dont necessarily want to go on a structured tour, but would like some sort of guided type tour. Do you know if we managed to get around on buses to these towns – if there are poeple waiting to give guided tours? What could you recommend for us? WEre also on a budget. Thanks so much!
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:48 am
Hi ya, Laura.
Could you recommend some options for selfcontained, private accommodation for 2 people with views and reasonable rates somewhere along the Amalfi Coast? We’re quite happy to be out of the main tourist areas in a less populated village for example, as long as transport is easily accessible. It’s nice to be able to tap into some local knowledge and experience. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Regards Nicola
November 12th, 2010 at 10:20 pm
keep me informed for my Jan trip.
December 1st, 2010 at 7:55 pm
Great Site Keep up the good work
December 3rd, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Hi! This is such a great article and I am sure a lot of money saving enthusiasts are going to benefit from this. Keep it up! I am Diana Mathew, an Australian ebook author (The Money Tree by Diana Mathew) and a Saving Money expert. If you have time, maybe you can visit me too.
January 31st, 2011 at 7:55 am
Hi Laura, great article, can understand why you live in Italy, beautiful country and friendly people.My husband and I are visiting Positano in July for 5 nights. He is determined to drive, I’m not so keen especially since we are Aussie and drive on the other side of the road so he would have to contend with that also. I don’t want to be stressed whilst on holiday. Would you recommend small or big buses and if so, any other companies besides SITA? We will have luggage so need a company who can accomodate that. I have also seen where you can hire a driver or taxi, is this expensive and is there any particular company you could recommend? I have heard that the ferry trip is fantastic, I see that the ferry terminal is in Amalfi, I assume that we could then catch a bus to Positano? Do you know where we could catch the ferry from, we will be driving down the east coast and I like to drop the car somewhere before the road gets too curvy? Thank you. I am going to check out your blog now. Ciao !!
June 17th, 2011 at 5:53 am
Hi Laura, this is my first visit to your website and I already love it. I will be visiting Italy in 2012 with my family and would like to rent a villa in the area. We will probably be travelling in late June or July because there will be school age children and that is the best time for them. Where do you suggest we look for a villa for 8 people that will be close to a town and beach and hopefully not too expensive? We hope to visit Pompeii, Capri, and, go back to Sorrento.
December 19th, 2011 at 9:16 am
Hi Laura,
My wife and I are planning a short trip to the Amalfi coast. Would April be too soon for to the beaches etc? We are flexible and can postpone this to May if required.
Would appreciate your comments on this.
Thanks
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