Four days is enough to do the Amalfi Coast properly if you make two smart choices: base yourself in one town and move by boat, not the road. The coast looks tiny on a map but the famous corniche is a slow, nauseating crawl of hairpins and traffic, so the relaxed plan is one easy outing a day, mostly by ferry, with time to swim and sit. Pick Positano, Amalfi, or Sorrento as a base and settle in.
Forget renting a car. There is nowhere to park and the road will ruin your mood. Book ferries and any clifftop restaurant ahead in season, and pace yourself, because every town here is a staircase. One destination a day is the whole secret.
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4-Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary
Day 1: Settle Into Your Base
Spend the first day in your chosen base town: the beach, the main church, the lanes, and a long lunch by the water. If it is Positano, work down the staircase of boutiques to Spiaggia Grande. If Amalfi, its striped cathedral and harbor. Ease in, no day trip yet.
Day 2: Amalfi and Ravello
By ferry to Amalfi town, then a short bus or taxi up to Ravello, perched high with its garden villas, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, and the most famous views on the coast. One up-and-down, taken slowly, back by boat in the evening.
Day 3: Capri by Ferry
A day on the island of Capri, an easy ferry away: the town and its piazzetta (small square), a chairlift or walk for the views, and a boat around the sea stacks. One island, relaxed, home for dinner. Don't also try to squeeze in another town today.
Day 4: The Path of the Gods or the Beach
Finish active or lazy. The Sentiero degli Dei, the Path of the Gods, is a spectacular high trail done best in the morning cool, or take a boat to a quiet cove for a final swim and a long lunch. One thing, then a last seafront evening.
Q&A: Amalfi Coast in 4 Days
Where should I base myself?
Positano for glamour and the classic view, Amalfi for a central, slightly cheaper hub with good ferry links, or Sorrento for easier transport and more space. Pick one and use ferries out, rather than changing hotels.
Should I rent a car?
No. The coast road is congested, white-knuckle, and parking is scarce and costly. Ferries and the occasional bus connect everything far more pleasantly. A car is a liability here.
How many towns can I see?
One a day, comfortably: your base, Amalfi with Ravello, Capri, and a hike or beach. Trying to cram Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Capri, and Sorrento into four days by road means most of your trip in transit.
What should I book?
Ferries in advance in peak season, popular clifftop restaurants, and any villa or boat tour. The Path of the Gods needs no ticket but go early to beat heat and crowds.
When should I go?
May, June, and September are ideal, warm seas without the July and August crush. Much of the coast shuts from November to March, so the shoulder seasons are the sweet spot.
