Italy, Europe
The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast
A seasonal coast: magnificent from May to October, largely shuttered from November to March.
- Best months
- May to Jun and Sep
- Think twice
- Jan and Feb
- Quietest
- January
- Cheapest
- January
The straight answer
The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is May to early June or September to early October, when the sea is swimmable, the ferries run full schedules, and the crowds and prices sit below the July and August peak.
Go in May to early June, or September to early October. Those two windows give you warm days, a sea you can actually swim in (by late May and all of September), full ferry timetables between Positano, Amalfi, and Salerno, and hotels that are open but not yet charging August money.
July and August are the coast at full volume: the single coast road (the SS163) jams with buses and scooters, beach clubs sell out their loungers, and mid August around Ferragosto (August 15) is the most crowded and expensive stretch of the year, when half of Italy is also on holiday.
The other thing nobody warns you about is how seasonal this place is. From roughly November to March, a large share of hotels in Positano and many restaurants along the coast close entirely, ferry service shrinks to little or nothing, and the vertical towns feel shut. Winter works only if you want quiet walking and lemon groves, and you base yourself in Amalfi or Sorrento, which stay more open year-round.
The Amalfi Coast, month by month
Every month gets a verdict. Tap one for its own page: weather, crowds, prices and what is on.
- 01JanuaryThink twiceMild but damp, highs near 57F (14C), frequent rainMuch of Positano is closed, ferries barely run, and many restaurants are shut until spring.CrowdsPrice
- 02FebruaryThink twiceCool and wet, highs near 58F (14C)Still deep off-season. Fine for a quiet walking trip from Amalfi town, poor for a classic coast holiday.CrowdsPrice
- 03MarchQuiet valueChangeable, highs near 62F (17C)Hotels start reopening late in the month, often around Easter. Ferries may not have started yet.CrowdsPrice
- 04AprilGoodSpring, highs near 66F (19C), some showersWisteria and wildflowers, most places open by Easter. Too cold to swim for most people.Hotels for April →CrowdsPrice
- 05MayBestWarm, highs near 72F (22C), sea warmingEverything open, hiking weather is ideal, and the sea becomes swimmable by late month.Hotels for May →CrowdsPrice
- 06JuneBestHot and sunny, highs near 79F (26C)Summer without the August crush. Early June is the sweet spot before rates climb.Hotels for June →CrowdsPrice
- 07JulyTradeoffsHot, highs near 84F (29C), dryPerfect beach weather, but the road traffic, bus queues, and hotel rates are near their worst.CrowdsPrice
- 08AugustTradeoffsHot and humid, highs near 85F (29C)Ferragosto week is peak Italy. Warmest sea of the year, but book months out and expect crowds everywhere.CrowdsPrice
- 09SeptemberBestWarm, highs near 79F (26C), sea at its warmestArguably the best month: August warmth in the water, thinning crowds by mid month.Hotels for September →CrowdsPrice
- 10OctoberGoodMild, highs near 72F (22C), rain returningFirst half is lovely and calmer. Ferry schedules and hotel openings start winding down late month.Hotels for October →CrowdsPrice
- 11NovemberQuiet valueRainy, highs near 64F (18C)The shutdown begins: many hotels close early in the month. Cheap, quiet, and limited.CrowdsPrice
- 12DecemberQuiet valueCool, highs near 59F (15C), wetNativity scenes and Christmas lights in Amalfi town are charming, but most of the coast is closed.CrowdsPrice
Book The Amalfi Coast for May.
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- Hotels for May
Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in The Amalfi CoastOpens a hotel search for The Amalfi Coast in May, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
- Rentals on Vrbo
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in The Amalfi CoastWhole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
- Tours and tickets
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in The Amalfi CoastTimed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in The Amalfi Coast for May. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Why go to the Amalfi Coast
Towns stacked on cliffs
Positano, Amalfi, Atrani, Praiano, and Ravello are built vertically into the mountains above the sea. The views are the point, and they change with every switchback.
Some of Italy's best coastal hiking
The Path of the Gods runs high above Positano with the whole coast below it. The Valle delle Ferriere behind Amalfi is shaded, green, and far quieter.
Lemons, seafood, and long lunches
The big Sfusato Amalfitano lemon shows up in everything from limoncello to pasta. A seaside lunch of fresh fish at a family trattoria is the local ritual.
Easy history day trips
Pompeii and Herculaneum are a train or drive away, and the Greek temples at Paestum sit just south of Salerno.
Things to do, and when to do them
Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)
Start in Bomerano above Agerola and walk down toward Nocelle and Positano. Go early; there is little shade and it gets hot by late morning.
Villa Rufolo, Ravello
The terrace garden view that inspired Wagner, and the stage for the summer Ravello Festival concerts.
Villa Cimbrone, Ravello
Walk the long garden path to the Terrace of Infinity at the end; mornings are quieter before tour groups arrive.
Amalfi Cathedral (Duomo di Sant'Andrea)
The striped facade at the top of the steps dominates the town square. The Cloister of Paradise sits beside it.
Positano by ferry
Arriving by boat is faster and prettier than the road in summer. Ferries run roughly spring through autumn, not in deep winter.
Pompeii
A full day trip. Go at opening and bring water; the site has very little shade.
Capri by boat
Day boats leave from Positano and Amalfi in season. The island is extremely crowded midday in July and August.
Events and seasons worth planning around
Ravello Festival
Summer, generally July into August
Classical concerts on a stage built out over the cliff at Villa Rufolo. Book the popular evening concerts ahead.
Feast of Sant'Andrea, Amalfi
June 27 and November 30 every year
Amalfi's patron saint. The statue is carried through town and famously run back up the cathedral steps, with fireworks over the harbor.
Ferragosto
August 15 every year
Italy's biggest summer holiday. Fireworks and festivities along the coast, and the most crowded week of the year.
Regatta of the Ancient Maritime Republics
Rotates yearly between Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa, and Venice; Amalfi hosts every fourth year, usually late spring or early summer
A historic rowing race with a costumed parade. Check whether Amalfi is the host city in your year.
Beat the crowds
- Stay in one of the smaller towns (Praiano, Atrani, or Minori) and day-trip into Positano and Amalfi before 10am or after 5pm, when the tour buses and day boats are gone.
- Use the ferries instead of the SITA buses between Salerno, Amalfi, and Positano in summer. Buses fill fast and the road traffic can double journey times.
- Hike the Path of the Gods at first light. By late morning the trail is busy and exposed to full sun.
- Shift to the first two weeks of June or the second half of September for the best balance of warm sea and manageable crowds.
Open or closed
- From roughly November to March, a large share of hotels and restaurants in Positano and the smaller towns close. Amalfi town and nearby Sorrento stay more open through winter.
- Ferry service between Salerno, Amalfi, Positano, and Capri generally runs from about Easter to late October or early November, then shrinks sharply or stops. Always check the current timetable.
- Beach clubs with sunbeds and umbrellas generally operate from May to early October only.
- Around Easter and Italian public holidays, especially Ferragosto on August 15, expect sold-out hotels and packed buses.
With kids in tow
- The coast is built of stairs. Strollers are nearly useless in Positano, Ravello, and Atrani; bring a carrier for small children.
- Beaches are mostly pebbly and drop off fairly quickly; water shoes help. Maiori has the longest and easiest sandy beach for kids.
- For homeschool families, Pompeii and Herculaneum are hard-to-beat living history lessons, and they are far more pleasant in May or late September than in August heat.
- Boat days are the family win: a small-boat tour lets kids swim off the side, see sea caves, and skip the hot, winding bus rides.
Getting there
- Naples International Airport (NAP) is the closest gateway. From there, private transfers, the airport bus to Sorrento, or a train to Salerno plus a ferry reach the coast in about 1.5 to 2.5 hours.
- From the US, most travelers connect through Rome or another European hub. Rome to Naples is about 70 minutes on the high-speed train, and seasonal summer nonstops to Naples from the New York area have operated in recent years.
- Salerno is the smart ferry gateway in season. There is no train on the coast itself, and driving the SS163 in summer is stressful and parking is scarce and expensive.
Packing? Packing cubes and the airport kit.
The Amalfi Coast for the holidays
Holiday and school-break weeks where the Amalfi Coast makes our ranked list.
Memorial Day Weekend
May
The unofficial start of summer, and the first weekend the national parks and beach towns fill up. Pick a place that is fully open but not yet full.
Labor Day Weekend
August, September
Summer's last long weekend, and the first week of the best travel season of the year. Just keep an eye on the tropics.
Honeymoon Seasons
May, June, September, October
The right honeymoon depends less on where you want to go than on when your wedding is. Match the place to the week.
The Amalfi Coast timing, quick answers
What is the best month to visit the Amalfi Coast?
September. The sea is at its warmest, the weather is still summer, and crowds ease noticeably after the first week. Late May and early June are close seconds.
What is the cheapest time to visit the Amalfi Coast?
April and late October are the cheapest months when most of the coast is still open. November to March is cheaper still, but many hotels, restaurants, and ferries are closed.
Is the Amalfi Coast closed in winter?
Largely, yes. Many hotels in Positano and the smaller towns close from about November to March, and ferries shrink to little or no service. Amalfi town and Sorrento stay more open, so a quiet winter trip is possible if you base there.
When is the Amalfi Coast most crowded?
July and August, peaking around Ferragosto on August 15. The coast road jams, buses fill, and hotel rates hit their annual high.
When can you swim on the Amalfi Coast?
From late May or June through early October. The water is warmest in August and September; April and October swims are for the brave.
Is it better to stay in Positano or Amalfi?
Positano has the famous view and the highest prices; Amalfi is the transport hub with more year-round life. Praiano and Atrani are quieter, cheaper compromises between them.
Weighing alternatives
Similar trips, with their best months.
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