Amalfi is in Campania, Italy, in the heart of the beautiful Italian coastline and a must-see town on your Amalfi Coast adventure. Located 21 miles west of Salerno; 38 miles southeast of Naples. Amalfi was once a glorious Maritime Republic, and today is a busy tourist resort with a picturesque old center and a magnificent setting against the steep slopes of the Valle dei Mulini. Its active seafront and energetic piazza give the place more energy than most of the other towns on the coast, and its central location makes it a popular base for exploring the area.

Amalfi is one of the bigger towns on the Amalfi coast. It has squares connected by pedestrian streets full of restaurants and souvenir shops.

The SITA local bus network travels all over the Amalfi Coast. To and from Sorrento via Positano and Praiano and onwards to Furore Fjord, Conca and its Emerald Grotto. Buses also travel to and from Salerno from Amalfi via Minori, Cetara and Vietri. Local buses also link Amalfi to Ravello and the upper reaches of Furore, Pogerola, Agerola and Napoli.

Positano is about 40 minutes from Amalfi (depending on traffic). The trip to Amalfi from Sorrento is approx. 1 hour and 15 minutes (depending on traffic) otherwise this can take over two hours. July and August are considered peak season, so the buses can become very crowded. It`s best to be at the front of the crowd (that can get pushy) for when the buss pulls up, otherwise you will have to wait for the next one.

It is a comfortable way to travel along the Amalfi Coast and Sorrentine Peninsula on the bus, however if you are prone to motion sickness the twists and turns on these roads will certainly induce symptoms very quickly! SITA offers a very efficient public transportation service in the area, with expert drivers who glide along the zigzagged roads like they were driving on a highway.

When riding the bus system, make sure to purchase your ticket in advance. Tickets can be purchased at café bas, some have a black and white sign `Tabacchi` hanging out the front while some stores selling lotto tickets also sell bus tickets as well. Also, some shops display the SITA logo as well as the SITA ticket office at the Salerno train station.

Once you enter the bus, you must clip your ticket in the yellow/orange machine that you will see in front of you as you climb the steps. Do not forget to clip your ticket as this could result in a fine.

The boat companies mentioned offer transfers to nearby harbors. The SITA terminal on Piazza Flavio Gioia (tel. 089 405145) is the hub for all the local bus lines. Adjacent to the terminal is the taxi stand (tel. 089-872239).

The ferry season opens from Easter weekend and runs until mid to late October with connections from Amalfi to Positano, Salerno, Capri, Naples and Sorrento. Headquartered in Naples, the Metro del Mare is an extension of urban public transport (by sea). Operating since 2002, it connects the northern ports of Bacoli and Pozzuoli to Naples and from there goes to Sorrento, Positano, and Amalfi. There are several boats a day between Naples and Positano.

Headquartered in Amalfi, ferries are operated by Coop Sant`Andrea (a consorzio which includes Travelmar, Alicost and Linee Marittime Partenopee). Coop Sant`Andrea run the ferry service from Salerno to Amalfi, Amalfi to Salerno, Amalfi to Positano, Positano to Amalfi, Positano to Salerno, Salerno to Positano and connections in summer between Amalfi-Minori-Maiori. Tickets can be purchased at the ticket booth located on the main pier in Amalfi called Molo Pennello or at Divina Costiera, an information point in Amalfi opposite the SITA bus terminal.

The two main train stations serving the Amalfi Coast are Salerno, which has direct Eurostar and inter-regional trains connections to Naples and Rome, and the local Circumvesuviana over in Sorrento which is the main train line that connects Sorrento to Naples and importantly, Sorrento to Pompeii ruins. Conveniently, both stations are also hubs for cheap, efficient bus and ferry services radiating toward the major tourist destinations along the Amalfi Coast and inland.

The Circumvesuviana is the local rail line that links the towns in the province of Naples. It is a commuter line, much like a subway in a large city though above ground. There is limited seating and you can`t reserve a seat. There is no luggage storage and you may find that you have to travel standing up.

Ticket prices vary according to your route.

Driving in southern Italy is not for the faint-hearted! The Amalfi Coast roads are very narrow and cliff-hanging, and will provide a challenging drive, but there are many spots to stop along the coastal roads and small towns that are only easily accessible if you have your own car.

Amalfi is 168 miles from Rome, 43 miles from Naples, 37 miles from Avellino and 53 miles from Caserta.

The currency used in Italy is the Euro, US dollars are not accepted.

Summer is not the best time to visit the Amalfi Coast, as small towns swell with vacationers and the heat is often sweltering. The best times to visit are April through June and September through October. Visiting in winter is an appealing alternative since the temperature remains comfortable and rain is relatively rare, but be aware that some hotels and restaurants will not be open. Officially, the tourist season starts with Easter and ends on September 30th. Also notable, prices are usually lower from May to June than in July and August.

Get ready to walk and make sure to bring comfortable shoes. Amalfi and the surrounding towns are built into cliffs and very hilly. Anywhere you go is going to involve somewhat of a hike - either to or from.

You don’t need to speak Italian in the Amalfi coast area. Amalfi and the coastal towns are very American-friendly. You`ll find many of the locals and employees in the service industry all speak fluent English.

Italian is the language of Amalfi (and the entire Amalfi Coast in Italy), although many residents do speak English to some degree, we suggest you get a good English-Italian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.

Below is the list of the 13 seaside towns on the Amalfi Coast, from the East to the West. To reach these towns by car, drive the route of Highway 163 (Strada Statale 163) along the coastline between the towns of Positano and Vietri Sul Mare.

Vietri sul Mare
Cetara
Maiori
Tramonti
Minori
Ravello
Scala
Atrani
Amalfi
Conca dei Marini
Furore
Praiano
Positano

Amalfi is a very safe place to visit. In Italy, scams and pick pocketing are common dangers you`ll face, although it`s not overly common in Amalfi.

Always trust your gut instinct. Make copies of your personal documents, including your passport and ID.

Nightlife on the Amalfi Coast tends to gravitate around the glamorous seaside town of Positano. In the summer, visitors and locals alike have every excuse to stay up until the early hours of the morning, dining in one of Amalfi`s seaside panoramic restaurant`s, drinking in any of a series of fashionable bars and pavement cafes, and dancing the night away at any of the discotheques on the Amalfi Coast.

The top souvenirs to bring home when visiting Amalfi are the Cameo broches, Limoncello, fresh herb mixes for making spicy Southern Italian-style pasta, and unique handcrafted fine jewls, corals and cameos. All of these can be found throughout the boutiques and shops of town.

Note: VAT (Value Added Tax) is 22%. Travelers from outside the EU can claim back sales tax on purchases over 155 euros.