It can be slightly tricky figuring out where to stay in Amalfi Coast, Italy.
There are so many gorgeous towns to choose from.
Whether you are choosing the best Amalfi Coast town to visit to spend your next few weeks, it’s vital that you see best of Amalfi Coast.
This guide will share all of the best places to stay in Amalfi Coast so that you can do just that!
The best town will differ from traveler to traveler, as it really depends on various factors such as traveling style, budget, length of stay and more.
You want to have a spot that offers you everything that you need to experience this magical part of Italy in the best way possible!
There is a haven of beautiful things to see and unique things to do in the Amalfi Coast.
I wanted to compile a post that would be really beneficial in helping you choose what the best town to stay on Amalfi Coast would be for your personality as well as your holiday style.
How To Decide on Where To Stay in Amalfi Coast
So how do you choose where to stay in Amalfi Coast?
Where to base yourself in Amalfi Coast is dependent on a few different factors, they are:
- Getting around – are you relying on public transport or do you have a rental car?
- Location of the town in relation to your chosen activities
- What are the main things you want to do on the Amalfi Coast?
- What is your budget for accommodation?
- Do you want to relax in your chosen town or explore all the towns along the coast?
- Are you looking for the best beaches along the Amalfi Coast?
- Length of stay
- Whether you prefer a quiet town or a town buzzing with tourist activity
Map of Amalfi Coast Towns
We have 4 highly recommended towns at which you could choose to base yourself.
Below you will find a map showing their location in South Italy, so you can decide the best place to stay on Amalfi Coast for you!
I have also circled Naples as this will most likely be the starting point for your journey to the Amalfi Coast.
Where to Base Yourself in Amalfi Coast
Below you will find a helpful comparison table to help you pick the right town for you so you will know where to stay on the Amalfi coast!
You can also find a detailed outline of the positives and negatives of each of these towns in the sections below the table.
| SORRENTO | POSITANO | PRAIANO | AMALFI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IMAGE |  |  |  |  |
| LOCATION | Not on the Amalfi Coast. The closest town to Naples | Close to Montepertuso, Nocelle & Praiano | Close to Positano & Borgo di Furore | Central Location; Close to Atrani & Ravello |
| HOTEL PRICES | $$$ | $$$$ | $$ | $$$ |
| QUIET OR BUSY | Busy with day trippers from cruise ships | Busy due to popularity | Quiet | Busy with day trippers from cruise ships |
| PERFECT FOR | Due to the flat terrain, this town is great for families and older travelers Great for those who wish to go on many day tours | Romantic Stays For those who can afford to stay in the prettiest town on Amalfi Coast | Romantic Stays For those after more affordable accommodation.For those after a quieter town | Due to the flat terrain, this town is great for families and older travelers Great for those who wish to go on many day tours |
Positano | The Most Picturesque
Positano is our personal preference and in our opinion the top choice of town to base yourself in for your Amalfi Coast vacation.
Positano is also known for having amazing hotels, so you will never be short of exquisite accommodation! This town is certainly one of the best places in Amalfi Coast!
It is a truly beautiful little town, in the day you will see all the pastel colors of the buildings whilst at night the lights will illuminate the town.
Most accommodation options have beautiful views of colorful buildings with the Mediterranean in the distance.
There are also plenty of things to do and places to eat in Positano.
Positives:
- A really charming and colorful little town
- Beach access
- Day trips and tours make a starting point from Positano
- Local buses and ferries make it easy to explore the coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
Negatives:
- Pretty touristy
- Accommodation is more expensive than in surrounding towns
- Lots of stairs to get to the beach if you are staying in the top area
- Can get busy as it is the most popular town on the coast
Is this where you wish to stay? You can find our personal list of the best hotels in Positano to stay here.
Praiano | Quieter Alternative
This beautiful town is situated in an idyllic position, you will be able to do some incredible Amalfi Coast sightseeing and also keep away from any hustle and bustle.
We have decided that it had to be on our list of places to stay Amalfi Coast.
Praiano’s small-town atmosphere is really lovely.
A lot of people prefer to base themselves in Praiano simply because accommodation is cheaper here (almost around half the price per night in comparison to Positano) and it is typically less busy than at the other towns on the list.
This is an important factor to take into consideration when choosing the best place to stay in Amalfi Coast.
Praiano also boasts remarkable beachscapes and is a wonderful place if you want huge doses of fun in the Italian sun.
This is also one of the best places to stay in Amalfi Coast for honeymooners and those seeking a romantic paradise.
There are some beautiful sights to see here and most of the Praiano accommodation has splendid views over the Mediterranean Sea.
Positives:
- A town that is beautiful with white buildings and gold churches
- Less crowded and quieter
- Beach access
- Accommodation is more affordable than at Positano
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
Negatives:
- Lots of stairs to get to the beach
- You will need to head to Positano if you wish to join any day trips or tours
In high season the local buses fill up quickly and it can take a very long time to get to Positano or Amalfi due to backed-up traffic.
Is this where you wish to stay? You can find our recommended list of the best hotels in Praiano here.
Amalfi | Central Location
Amalfi, Amalfi Coast, Italy, view from the water
Amalfi is in a central location on the Amalfi Coast. Amalfi Town is also the largest town in Amalfi Coast and is incredibly popular.
We know Amalfi Town must be one of the places you consider when finding where to stay in the Amalfi Coast.
If you have limited days and you wish to explore the Amalfi Coast towns, then this will be a great town to base yourself at.
Everything is close to this town, making it an ideal central base for excellent tours and sightseeing trips.
Amalfi Town is also a great option if you wish to avoid stairs and steep roads.
The beautiful town of Amalfi has plenty of cultural attractions, including cathedrals and museums.
If you’re visiting Amalfi between February and October, it’s common to see lemons growing in terraced gardens around the whole island.
The scatterings of yellow make for a picturesque scene.
Because the island is so easy to navigate, with far fewer stairs and steep roads, this is also our top pick if you are choosing to travel with kids.
Positives:
- Flatter terrain in comparison to Positano and Praiano
- Easy Beach access
- Day trips and tours make a starting point from Amalfi
- Local buses and ferries make it easy to explore the coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- Great sights to see in the town itself
- Atrani is within walking distance away
Negatives:
- Pretty touristy and busy
- Accommodation is pricey and slightly more expensive than in Sorrento and Praiano
- Cruise boats make a stop at Amalfi, so it can get pretty overwhelming with waves of tourists
Is this where you wish to stay? You can find our personal list of where to stay in Amalfi Town here.
Sorrento | The Gateway to the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento isn’t really located on the Amalfi Coast, but it is named the ‘gateway to the Amalfi Coast’ as so many people choose to base themselves there.
It’s a larger town and makes a true impression due to the fact that it is built right on top of steep cliffs.
Sorrento is a marvelous town to begin your Amalfi Coast journey, as it has a way of easing you into the adventure.
A lot of people speak English in Sorrento so it can be easier to get your footing if it is your first time in Italy.
Sorrento offers a classic mixture of the new with the old, providing ways to enjoy the old traditional styles of Italy whilst also showing off modern features.
Sorrento is a great pick if you have a rental car and you wish to explore the famous 43-mile Amalfi Coast Drive.
There are plenty of good spots in Sorrento to base yourself on for day trips. It is not a good pick for those who wish to spend a lot of time on the Amalfi Coast unless you enjoy spending a lot of time hanging out on local transport.
Positives:
- A beautiful town set on high cliffs
- Beach access
- Accommodation is more affordable than on the Amalfi Coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- A brilliant starting point for the Amalfi Coast Drive
- Closer to Naples
- Great tours and day trips to enjoy from Sorrento
Negatives:
- Challenging to get down the cliffs to the beach
- Far away from the Amalfi Coast towns. It will take you around 40-60 min to get to Positano (if there is no traffic, and in summer there will be backed-up traffic) and around 1h15min to get to Amalfi.
Is this where you wish to stay? You can find our list of the best hotels in Sorrento to stay here.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay in Amalfi Coast
Now that you know all of the best places to stay in Amalfi Coast, we know that you will have the most unforgettable trip in this magnificent Italian heaven.
The Amalfi Coast is famous for its beauty, and each of these towns showcases just that!
These towns are each enchanting in their own ways and will have you falling in love with the exceedingly gorgeous Amalfi Coast!
Be sure to pick the one that best suits your travel needs and desires.
We have discussed our favorite Amalfi Coast towns, but there are so many for you to consider: Ravello, Maiori, Cetara…and the list goes on.
Hopefully, this post has helped you to figure out which town you would like to stay in for your Amalfi Coast holiday.
If you’re looking for the best things to do on your Amalfi Coast trip, be sure to check out our Amalfi Bucket List Experiences.
If you need more info to help you plan your Amalfi Coast trip, sign up for our Insider Amalfi Coast Travel Guide. We will send you bitesize info each day to help you make your travel planning a piece of cake!
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Leave us a Comment:
- Which town did you decide is the best town to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
Loving your detailed chart on the 4 options! Super useful for those planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast 🙂
I love charts myself so I’m glad somebody found it a useful way to compare information 🙂
Your info above was great-pictures, chart & general info on the area very helpful. We chose to stay in Positano! Thanks for your help 🙂
Love the chart, really useful to compare 🙂 We stayed in Sorento, and then Amalfi Town. We really wanted to stay in Positano but ended up choosing to stay in Amalfi. You can easily get from one to the other, which we did by boat. We absolutely love the Amalfi Coast!
Amalfi is beautiful too! A better choice for families too 🙂