How To Do It ALL in 3 Days || Amalfi Coast Travel Guide

The Amalfi Coast of Italy has been at the top of my travel bucket list for as long as I can remember. I’ve been pinning pictures of Positano since I first saw Aspyn Ovard travel there during her prime days. So, when my study abroad semester began, planning a trip there seemed inevitable. I’ve been on the go every weekend since I got to Italy and can safely say, I haven’t loved anywhere nearly as much.

I spent a lot of time researching different ways to get to the Amalfi Coast and realized that it’s a lot to plan logistically, especially if you’re working with a tight three-day schedule. Many of my college friends who studied abroad before me booked the Bus2Alps weekend trip to Amalfi and had amazing things to say—it seemed like a no-brainer to go ahead and do the same.

I went with them to Cinque Terre and Croatia and had a blast so I figured this trip would be no different. Their all-inclusive package takes you to Sorrento, Capri, Positano, and Pompeii so you’re truly able to do it all in just a few days! I had the most incredible time here and would love to plan a longer trip back once I’ve graduated.

Plus, now that I’ve been and have a better idea of the navigation, I’m confident that I could plan a bomb trip! In the meantime, here’s how we did it all in just a few days. Enjoy!

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TRANSPORTATION

One of the main reasons booking a trip through Bus2Alps seemed like the easiest option is because they handle all of the transportation for you. Each tour comes with roundtrip transportation from the Florence bus station, Piazzale Montelungo, and is led by a few twenty-something travel guides who speak English. Most people on your tour will be fellow study abroad students so this is an amazing way to meet new people from other programs.

Like most of their trips, we left Florence Thursday at 7:30 pm and arrived at our hostel in Sorrento by 2:00 am. The buses are rather spacious with space to stretch out. There are bathrooms on board and they stop every four hours at a rest stop so that everybody can get up and walk around for a bit. We took the same bus back Sunday, arriving back in Florence around 10:30 pm.

In order to get from island to island, you have to travel by boat, water taxi, or ferry. Thankfully, Bus2Alps handles all of this, booking your tickets and arranging pick-up times beforehand. Not having to stress about this was so convenient and gave me such peace of mind.

WHERE WE STAYED

In addition to transportation, Bus2Alps also handles your lodging. We stayed in a hostel called Seven in Sorrento, Italy. Our room had ten beds however there were only seven of us in the room so we had plenty of space to stretch out + a locker to safely store our belongings. Bathrooms were communal, similar to how they are in a college dorm so I recommend bringing shower shoes and your own towel. We also had a gorgeous rooftop that overlooked Sorrento.

Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of staying in hostels, as I do love a chic hotel experience, but for two nights and a budget-friendly option, we always make it work! Unfortunately, I don’t have any pictures but it was very clean and in a great area. 

CAPRI

On Friday morning we set out for a day trip to Capri. Of all the study abroad adventures I have planned, this is the one I’ve been looking most forward to. My mom studied abroad many years ago and still talks about the time she visited this beautiful island. Now that I’ve been, I can understand why this place remains so special to her!

mommy and me in Capri, Italy. 32 years apart.

Private Boat Tour

So many people recommended a private boat tour while in Amalfi and thankfully Bus2Alps already had this arranged. Although you can take a short ferry from Sorrento to Capri, we enjoyed a three-hour boat ride, passing through the bluest waters and prettiest views.

Typically on this trip, you’re able to stop at the Blue Grotto where you can get out and swim through the caves however the day that we were visiting it was closed due to high tides. It was still beautiful to look at but I would love the chance to come back someday and swim through them. They take you through a few different structures that I’m sure you’ve seen all over Instagram and Pinterest before. Pictures don’t do them justice, they were truly so beautiful in person!

Our boat also stopped for about forty-five minutes so that we could take pictures, swim, and dive off the boat. Despite it being the end of September when we visited, the water was still plenty warm, although I do recommend having a button-up or shawl to throw over your shoulders while cruising.

Lunch In the Lemon Farms 

We made it to the island just in time for lunch. We went to a place called Ristorante Aumm Aumm per our tour guide’s recommendation. While the restaurant looked rather boring from the outside, on the inside you’re greeted by an incredible lemon garden with tons of trees around.

I got their pesto pizza with mozzarella and tomato and it was one of the best pizzas I’ve had since being abroad. I also ordered a limoncello spritz, as limoncello is what the Amalfi Coast is known for and it was amazing. I love how fresh and sweet these are! I wish we could’ve stayed here all day as there were so many adorable restaurants I would have loved to stop in.

Buying Handmade Sandals 

If you know me then you know I am such a sandal girl. I’ve had a pair of gold lace-up sandals from Express that I’ve worn thin after all of my years of walking in them. Since Capri is known for their handmade leather sandals, I’ve always known this would be the trip I invested in a pair! For just 80 euros I was able to get these customized to my feet right in front of me.

It was so special getting to buy these authentic shoes. It turns out the store I bought them from, Capri Handmade, is known worldwide. In fact, the man who made my new gold lace-ups has made shoes for tons of famous people including Jacquee Kennedy. Isn’t that neat? I’m so excited about this purchase and know I will wear these for many years to come.

Chairlift To the High Point 

Included in our Bus2Alps package was a ticket to ride the chairlift in Capri. This chairlift takes you all the way up to the highest point of the island where you’re greeted by an incredible 360 view of the Amalfi Coast. The ride itself is about 15 minutes each way but you’re able to spend as much time as you want to enjoy the view. And trust me, you’re not going to want to leave.

I’ve been to lots of cool places over the years and yet nothing has stopped me in my tracks quite like this moment. If there’s one thing you must do while in Capri it is this; truly some of the best 11 euros you’ll ever spend.

POSITANO

On Saturday we day tripped to Positano, another picture-esque town along the coastline. I’m sure you’ve seen these views all over your Pinterest feed as it’s Italy’s most famous view. We ferried from Sorrento to Positano which took a little over an hour. If there’s room, try to get a seat up top so you can enjoy the views—they are truly incredible.

Enjoying The Views

Once we arrived in Positano, we walked up a gazillion flights of stairs and up tons of hills so that we could enjoy the views at a distance. The coastline looks even crazier from up here and the pictures I took—I mean come on, these could be literal postcards.

Sending a virtual one from me to you. <3

Picture Perfect 

I know it sounds silly but one of the things I was most looking forward to doing in Positano was taking pictures. This was a surreal place to visit with my college best friends so we made sure to capture it. I encourage you to keep climbing to a higher view as that’s where the crazy crowds thin out and you’re able to get the best pictures!

A Chic Level 10 Lunch

It was also up along these hills that I found the most incredible restaurant I’ve ever been to. In the words of Jules, this was a chic level 10 experience. A full view of Positano and the bluest water you’ve ever seen coupled with amazing dishes incorporating some of Amalfi’s freshest ingredients. Don Giovanni was a hit!

I got their lemon shrimp risotto and it was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. The perfect mix of sweet and tangy, bursting with flavor and fresh seafood. The girls got a mix of eggplant parmesan, mussels, and clams and everyone raved about their food. If I’d give all of it an 11/10 if I could— the food, the atmosphere, the service. I hope to come back someday. Truly a MUST!

Lemon Gelato 

Positano is also known for its gelato served inside of lemons. Yup, literally lemon gelato plopped right inside of a carved-out lemon. I can never say no to a sweet treat. I’ll admit, these are definitely over-priced so make sure to snap a cute photo while you’re at it, lol.

Check Out The Local Shops

There are so many amazing local artisans and boutiques lining both sides of these streets. Ceramics, handmade clothing, painted art, and more. If I could buy and bring everything back to the United States I would, trust me. I kept up with my travel transition and made sure to pick up a handful of postcards here as they were all too cute!

Beach Day 

Of course, Positano is known for its beach. This water is a part of the Tyrrhenian Sea, not an ocean, so there are no waves. I always wondered how people got these amazing photos in the water, and now you know! It’s like a lake, haha. However, similar to most Italian beaches, there is no sand here, it’s all rocks so it’s not the most enjoyable coastline to walk along. You’ll see lots of people wearing water shoes around here.

This area is known for its strips of matching umbrellas and beach chairs. These actually belong to different beach clubs that play music and serve alcohol all day long. it’s about 30 euros to rent one for the day or else you can join the masses of people along the small public beach area.

It’s so crowded over here so if you’re looking to get some killer photos, pull a McKenzie and ask the lifeguard by the private area if you can “just take a quick photo” and you’ll get about 15 minutes of peaceful water time before you’re asked to leave. So worth it, lol!

SORRENTO

As I said, our hostel was in Sorrento and just a short bus ride to the main city center. There were tons of little shops, boutiques, restaurants, and bars around this area. Unfortunately, we didn’t get to spend any time during the day over here but we did make it downtown for both evenings which was lots of fun!

Welcome Dinner 

Bus2Alps provides a “welcome dinner” on Friday night at a cute little restaurant along the doc. They had the whole place reserved for us so we could meet so many other study abroad students on the same trip as us. We were served three courses—tons of mini traditional appetizers, gnocchi with pink sauce and parmesan, and a tiramisu.

Our food was free (included with our booking costs) but the drinks were not. I still got a limoncello spritz because “you only study abroad once!”.

Night On the Town  

On Saturday night we went into town with some of the boys we met on our boat ride. We had dinner at a cheap, total tourist trap type of restaurant but it was so fun getting to mingle with new friends and eat shitty pizza, lol! There are tons of chic restaurants in this area if you’re in the mood. Avoid menus with pictures on them unless you’re in the mood for what we got!

Drinks Downtown 

We then ventured from bar to bar. Shot Bar was our personal favorite where they had all kinds of mixed shots in fun syringes. We had control of the aux here and at 10 pm the place was dead, meaning we had it to ourselves which is always my favorite! From there we hit up an American karaoke bar—the drinks were terrible but we never turn down the chance to sing a few songs. From there we went to a cute Irish pub.

Amalfi is definitely not known for its nightlife but it was still fun to explore the area a bit! To get back to the hostel you can either pay 35 euros for a taxi or walk 45 minutes—pick your poison.

POMPEII

On Sunday we checked out of our hostel and made our way to the city of Pompeii. Unfortunately, the weather did not hold out for us so it was absolutely downpouring the entire time we were here. Certainly not ideal as I would have loved the chance to see more of the ruins but we made do.

Exploring Pompeii 

Pompeii is huge. This was once a thriving Roman city that was buried under meters of ash after Mount Vesuvius ruptured in 79 A.D. The site has since been preserved with excavated ruins of streets, houses, and people that visitors can now explore. If you’re into history, you’d love this!

This wasn’t a must-see for me but it was certainly cool to see.

Lunch Time 

Right outside of the Pompeii grounds there are a few different restaurants, food stands, and touristy shops. We stopped into Suisse for a quick bite to eat and had another incredible pesto pizza. This one had tons of fresh tomatoes and basil on it and was busting with flavors. The Italian pizza is definitely soggy in the center but the crust is to die for. For such a touristy area I was shocked at how good (and authentic) this meal was.

WHAT TO PACK

We visited Amalfi in late September and were greeted with seventy-five degrees and sunshine *almost* our entire trip. To my surprise, it was still warm enough for swimsuits and sandals and I was delighted to put them to use for one last water weekend. I put together an entire outfit guide for this trip with outfit ideas and links to shop; check it out here. 

In the meantime, here are a few “must-pack” items.

• Swimsuit— I don’t care what time of year you visit Amalfi, you’re going to want to get in that water even if it’s just for a split second. Bring a swimsuit, you’ll regret it if not! 
• Button up— It’s warm enough for a dress during the day but in the mornings and evenings temperatures get chilly. Make sure you’ve packed a button-up and/or cardigan with you to toss over. 
• Pants— It was much chillier in the evenings than we expected. While it was warm enough to swim during the day, I found myself itching for jeans or linen pants rather than a skirt come dinner time. A few layers wouldn’t hurt to bring!
• Tote— For these beach trips a tote bag is an absolute must. You can throw in your towel, swimsuit, change of clothes, etc. I’ve been using this handmade bag from Burano, Italy, and scoring all kinds of compliments on it but really any larger bag will do!
• Portable charger— For pretty much all of these weekend trips, you need, and I mean need to bring a portable charger with you. These are lifesavers after a day away from your hostel as everyone’s phone is dying. I recommend getting an Anchor charger as they charge twice as fast as an Apple cord and have a huge battery life that lasts several uses. One of my best travel investments.
• Umbrella/Poncho— After a full month of traveling in Europe I’ve decided that every single weekend, no matter where you are going, you must bring an umbrella and/or poncho with you. It’s bound to rain on your parade at least once every trip and it makes it so much more enjoyable to just be prepared. They sold pink ones for five euros outside of Pompeii but I’ve started packing them for every trip, haha. 

WATCH THE WEEKEND

Want to see what our weekend in Amalfi looked like on camera? I vlogged our entire trip and it’s one of my favorite videos so far. Be sure to hit the subscribe button and stick around so that you don’t miss out on more travel vlogs every single week. xo

Well, that’s a wrap for my trip to the Amalfi Coast. It was an incredible weekend away, to say the least, and by far the best Bus2Alps experience I’ve had so far. If you’re interested in booking this trip OR any other trip with them, you can use my code STYLEDBYMCKENZ to save an additional 5%.

If you have any additional questions about our trip, be sure to leave them below and I’d be happy to answer them. I know this won’t be my last time here…. until then!

With love, McKenz

Latest Post: What to Wear to The Amalfi Coast, Italy
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