Resort Guides › Italy › Amalfi Coast
The coast’s namesake town, with a genuine medieval cathedral and a flatter, more walkable centre.
Overview
Amalfi town itself, which gives the whole coast its name, has a real working history as a medieval maritime republic, centred on a striped cathedral reached by a dramatic flight of steps, and has a flatter, more compact centre than its neighbour Positano.
Families & toddlers
The town’s small beach and harbour area are manageable for families, and the cathedral steps (while a climb) are a genuinely engaging free attraction for older children.
Couples, teens & nightlife
A pleasant harbourside evening scene with good seafood restaurants, calmer than Positano’s clifftop glamour but still a good night out.
Seniors & accessibility
Amalfi’s main piazza and harbourfront are flatter and easier than Positano’s, making it a more comfortable coastal base for older visitors, aside from the cathedral steps themselves.
Best time to visit
May to October, in keeping with the Amalfi Coast generally; boat transfers between towns are the easiest way to get around in peak-season traffic.