Amalfi in 4 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

The Italian town of Amalfi has a variety of historical and architectural treasures that are well worth a visit. It also boasts beautiful beaches and nature reserves that are popular postcard images.

And beyond the town, you can explore the coastline by visiting the many different beaches with very different characteristics. These are just some of the best things to do in Amalfi in four days - get ready for an unforgettable holiday!

For the first day in Amalfi I recommend you focus on exploring the town. This town offers a great advantage, as most of its attractions are close to each other.

You can spend the day walking around at your leisure, enjoying the streets and the new sights you will find in Amalfi's historic centre.

Be prepared to walk all day long, stroll through squares, visit cathedrals and discover labyrinths of staircases. Amalfi is a charming town and this first day will prove it.

Start the day with a visit to the Fountain of St Andrew

For your first day in Amalfi I recommend you to organise everything very well so that you make the most of your time. One of the best things to do is to book a transfer from the airport to your hotel. This way you will be able to start touring the town as soon as possible.

The Fountain of St. Andrew will be the first stop. Here you will see the statue of St. Andrew, the patron saint of Amalfi, depicted next to the cross of martyrdom. Around the base are four angels with fish through which water flows.

In the vicinity of this fountain you will find several restaurants where you can have breakfast. Some of the closest options are Il Protontino or the Sant'Andrea restaurant. Most of these restaurants have tables outside so you can eat while admiring the scenery.

Visit the Cathedral of St. Andrew the Apostle

By around 10am you will have had breakfast and visited the Fountain of St. Andrew. Just a two minute walk away you will find the Cathedral of St Andrew the Apostle. You can enter free of charge any day of the week from nine in the morning until seven in the evening.

As you enter you will notice the baroque style of the cathedral covered in marble and with ancient columns. On the ceiling you will see different works of art that tell the story of St. Andrew. In addition, on the altar there is a large canvas depicting the crucifixion of St. Andrew the Apostle.

Visit the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi and the Cloister of Paradise

Right next to the cathedral you can explore the Diocesan Museum of Amalfi. When you enter you will be able to appreciate different works of art distributed in several areas. One of them is the Paradise Cloister which was built between 1266 and 1268.

You will also be able to appreciate the different paintings and murals dating back to the 13th and 14th century. Another exhibition you should see is the Cathedral Treasury, made up of liturgical objects and ornaments, as well as other paintings and sculptures.

To enter this area you have to buy an entrance fee of around €3. Please note that you cannot take photographs or videos of any part of the museum.

Head to Via Lorenzo D'Amalfi and have lunch in a restaurant

Via Lorenzo D'Amalfi is the main street of the town and is about five minutes from the previous stop. Take advantage of the time and walk along this street for a while. By this time it will be midday so you will most likely want to have lunch. I recommend:

• Il Tarì Amalfi Restaurant.
• La Rua Pizze e Delizie, if you're craving pizza.
• Nino and Friends, if you want something sweet.

If you want a different experience, you can book cooking classes in Amalfi. This way you can learn how to cook new dishes and taste your own creations. It's definitely a great way to learn about the culture and have a great time.

Walk the ancient staircases of Amalfi

After your lunch, you can continue walking along the Via Lorenzo D'Amalfi and discover all the things it hides. The historic centre of Amalfi offers multiple paths, curves, tunnels and, above all, a labyrinth of staircases to explore.

All these streets have a lot of history behind them. Some tunnels can even be a shortcut back to the Amalfi Cathedral. You can also take a detour to via Lorenzo D'Amalfi and pass through to Piazza Dogi.

The Fontana De Cape E Ciucci and the Piazza della Spirito Santo

If you have had a good walk up the stairs, it will probably be about three o'clock in the afternoon at this point. If you take the Via Lorenzo D'Amalfi path you can continue walking straight ahead until you come to the Fontana De Cape E Ciucci.

It is a small fountain made of stone and marble dating back to the 18th century. Since the 1970s it has several figures of a nativity scene. It is undoubtedly a very curious site that you can see on your walk along this street. The fountain is located right in the Piazza della Spirito Santo.

Enjoy dinner and nightlife in the historic centre of Amalfi

You can rest for a while and continue your tour. If you wish, you can enjoy the sunset in Piazza della Spirito Santo. After watching the sunset, you can wander around the various restaurants and bars in the surrounding area. I recommend:

• Bar Della Valle, with a varied menu of Italian food and drinks of all kinds.
• La Dolce Vita.
• Pizzeria Il Teatro.

For the second day I suggest the Valle delle Ferriere and the Paper Museum. This plan is a bit more relaxed, as during the first day you have to walk a lot.

Please note that from the historic centre of Amalfi it is about a 30 minute walk to the beginning of the Valle delle Ferriere.

Spend the morning in the Ferriere Valley

Booking an early morningexcursion to the Valle delle Ferriere is the best way to start your second day. It's a nature reserve where you'll find beautiful streams, plants, waterfalls and historic ruins.

Another option is to take bus 5110 from the Amalfi-Scala stop near Piazza Flavio Gioia and do it on your own. However, the journey takes about 40 minutes and then you have to walk an additional 20 minutes to reach the entrance of the valley.

Hiking in this area is not very strenuous so don't worry. On average you can spend about four hours here and you will be ready to continue exploring Amalfi for the rest of the day.

• Location: Valle delle Ferriere, Via Valle delle Ferriere, 84010, Scala, Italy.
• Price: The tour costs 41 Euros.
• Time: You can go at any time of the day, but I recommend going in the morning.

Visit the Paper Museum

When it is noon, I recommend you start your way back. You can take some snacks to eat on the way back or go to the Ristorante Amalfi Cantina Miseria E Nobilta. This is very close to the Paper Museum, so it will be a good option.

Here you will learn all the secrets of paper making with detailed illustrations. You will also learn about the history of paper in Italy and the variety of materials that were used in Italy to create it.

• Location: Museo della Carta, Via delle Cartiere, 23, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy.
• Price: around €15.
• Opening hours: from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Visit the Museum of the Maritime History of the City

When you leave the Paper Museum, it will be around 5 pm. You can head to the City Maritime History Museum.

The museum is dedicated to the golden age of the former Maritime Republic. Among the exhibited collections you will see, you will find a variety of items from the Roman and medieval times, ancient coins, nautical instruments, among others.

• Location: Largo Cesareo Console, 4, 84011 Amalfi SA, Italy.
• Price: free admission.
• Hours: from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Duration: about one hour is enough.

Have dinner and enjoy your favourite drinks in a restaurant or bar

To end your day, I recommend you to go to the coast and enjoy the view at sunset. At this point of the tour it will be about seven in the evening and you will be in an area where there are a variety of restaurants you can visit.

I recommend you to go to Marina Grande. From there you will be able to try delicious seafood and enjoy the view of the sea. Feel free to enjoy your favourite drink and get ready for the next day of your holiday.

For the third day it is a good idea to leave the town and concentrate on the sea. The Amalfi coast has a lot to offer and the first thing you should do is spend some quality time on the beach. Get ready for a day full of sea, sand and sun.

In addition to swimming in the sea, you can take tours to other locations near Amalfi. Choose the destination that suits you best and make every minute of your holiday worthwhile.

Enjoy a day at the beach in Lido delle Sirene

Amalfi has beautiful beaches along its coastline that you can visit. You can take a tour of all of them or simply choose one and spend the afternoon there. Among the beaches you can visit are:

• Lido delle Sirene Beach, ideal for its proximity to the town and for its shower facilities, changing rooms and nearby restaurants such as La Preferita.
• Il Duoglio Spiaggia.
• Marina di Vietri.

Boat trip along the Amalfi coast

After lunch you can book a boat tour in Amalfi. This is an ideal experience that lasts on average about 4 hours.

My recommendation is that you start this boat trip around one o'clock in the afternoon. The idea is to spend the whole time at sea enjoying the scenery and drinking wine or other beverages of your choice and eating.

Some of these experiences include fun activities such as snorkelling and scuba diving. This way you can enjoy the sea much more. At the end of the day you can have dinner in the ship's restaurant to end the third day of your stay in Amalfi.

From Amalfi you can make the best excursions of your holiday. Near Amalfi are several towns that you can visit on your last day on the Amalfi Coast. Among them are Salerno, Sorrento and the Isle of Capri.

My recommendation is to choose a private excursion that includes a boat transfer. This way you can stroll on the sea again for a few hours and enjoy the aperitif or lunch that is usually included in these tours.

Start the day with a boat trip to the Isle of Capri

As an excursion for the last day I recommend a visit to the island of Capri. According to legend, this is the island where the mermaids hide. It is a place full of interesting myths and a culture worth exploring.

To get to the island you have to take a ferry. My recommendation is to go on an all-inclusive private excursion. These usually cost around €100 or more. Ask your guide if breakfast is included in the trip so you can take your precautions.

Explore the island of Capri

When you arrive on the island by boat after booking an excursion to Capri, your guide will take you to explore the famous sites you must visit in Capri such as:

• The Arco Naturale.
• The Grotta di Matermania, Pizzolungo and Tragara.

But you will also have free time to explore the island at your own pace. Among other things, I recommend you to go to one of the restaurants with the best views of the sea. One of them is Le Grottelle where you can eat seafood specialities and enjoy the sea breeze.

See Villa Jovis and Mount Tiberio

After lunch you still have time to explore the island at your own pace. One of the most interesting sites is Villa Jovis and Mount Tiberius. You will be able to explore this ancient Roman palace and discover its history.

At the end of the tour it will be time to return to Amalfi while watching a beautiful sunset from the boat.

Amalfi is a town that you have to walk most of the time. Therefore, the first thing you should pack in your suitcase is comfortable clothes and a pair of ergonomic shoes. This will allow you to walk easily through the streets and even along the beaches of the coast.

You should also bring your swimming costume and sunscreen. This way you will be able to enjoy the sea with more peace of mind. Towels and moisturising creams are also essential to keep you comfortable and your skin healthy.

Within the town of Amalfi most attractions are accessible on foot. However, if you want to shorten the journey and explore further afield, you can use the Sita Sud buses. On average the cost of a trip is 4 €.

This means of transport can be used to reach distant beaches. However, if you want to visit other towns along the coast, you're better off travelling by boat. To do so, I recommend hiring private tours like the one above.