Italy's famous coasts aren't near each other. The Cinque Terre is in the northwest and the Amalfi Coast is south of Naples, hours apart. So a smart week picks two stretches and connects them by fast train, then moves within each by ferry rather than the slow, jammed coast roads. Two cliffside paradises, properly enjoyed, beat a blur of five.
This route does the Cinque Terre first, then the Amalfi Coast, linked by a comfortable train through Rome or Naples. In both, leave the car behind. Trains and boats are faster, cooler, and far prettier. Book ferries and clifftop tables ahead in season.
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7-Day Italy Coast Itinerary
Days 1-3: The Cinque Terre
Five fishing villages strung along the Ligurian cliffs, linked by a little train and walking paths, with pesto, focaccia, and seafood. Base in one village and hop the others by train or boat. Swim, hike, and slow down.
Day 4: Transfer South
A fast-train travel day down the peninsula to the Bay of Naples, through Rome, arriving on the Sorrento or Amalfi side by evening. An easy, scenic transition.
Days 5-7: The Amalfi Coast
Base in Sorrento, Amalfi, or Positano and use the ferry: one town a day, Positano, Amalfi with Ravello above, maybe Capri. Lemons, cliffs, and long seafood lunches. The grand finale.
Q&A: Italy's Coasts in a Week
Can I see all of Italy's coast in 7 days?
No. The great stretches are far apart. Pick two, like the Cinque Terre and the Amalfi Coast, and connect them by fast train. Two done well, by boat and on foot, beat an exhausting dash between many.
Should I rent a car?
No. Both coasts are best by train and ferry. Their roads are narrow, congested, and short on parking. A car is a liability that you would leave parked anyway.
How do I get between the two coasts?
By fast train down the peninsula, changing at Rome or Naples. It is a comfortable half-day. Then local trains and ferries take over within each coast.
Which coast is better?
Different moods: the Cinque Terre is rustic, hikeable, and compact. The Amalfi Coast is grander, glitzier, and steeper. Doing both in one trip gives you the full range.
When should I go?
May, June, and September for warm seas without the August crush. Both coasts quiet down and partly close from November to March, so the shoulder seasons are ideal.
