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Would I Go Back: The Amalfi Coast
The first time you see the Amalfi Coast, it almost doesn't feel real.
Pastel buildings stacked into cliffs. Bougainvillea spilling over stone walls. The Mediterranean stretching endlessly in front of you. It's the kind of place that feels like it belongs on a postcard or maybe even a movie.
And because it is often depicted on those things, this is a destination that often ends up high on people's bucket lists. With any iconic destination, there's always the lingering question after a trip...
Would I go back?
This post is part of a new series where I answer that exact question with honestly and practicality so that you can decide if a destination is truly worth your time and money. Not just whether it's beautiful {because many places are}, but whether the experience matches the effort, cost, and expectations.
So would I go back to the Amalfi Coast?
The short answer is yes.But not in the same way.
Would I Go Back: The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is Beautiful {and a Bit Complicated}
There's no denying the beauty of places like Positano. It's the image most people associate with the Amalfi Coast, and for good reason. The vertical landscape, the colorful buildings, the beach clubs...it's dreamy in a way few places are.
But Positano is also crowded, expensive, and logistically challenging.
And that's the part people don't always talk about.
The Amalfi Coast isn't just a destination you "see". It's one you have to navigate. And how you choose to do that shapes your entire experience.
Where I'd Stay Next Time {and Why It Matters}
If I went back to the Amalfi Coast, I wouldn't stay in Positano.
Instead, I'd choose somewhere quieter, more spacious, and a little bit more removed from the chaos. Someplace that feels a bit more authentic...like Montepertuso.
Montepertuso sits high above Positano, and that elevation changes everything. The views are still incredible, I'd argue that they might even be better, and the pace is slower. It feels more local and less like you're in the center of a constant stream of day-trippers.
We actually happened upon a stay in Montepertuso on our first visit to the Amalfi Coast, and we were thrilled that we did! There weren't very many Airbnb's or VRBO's, but we found one with an amazing view and multiple bedrooms that happened to be very close to a bus stop and the ancient stairs that connect to the city.
This is where we stayed, and while the price seems to have doubled since our visit, I would highly recommend it! The owners were fabulous, and the view was incredible. I'd 100% book there again.
I liked being able to see the view of Positano and that incredible cliffside, but also liked being removed from the busiest part of a destination. It was easy to dip down into the energy, but you aren't surrounded by it all day.
Another place I'd seriously consider is Ravello.
Ravello feels entirely different from Positano. It's perched above the coastline, but instead of beaches and beach clubs, you'll find gardens, quiet streets, and sweeping views that feel like the postcard without the noise. It's an area that attracts a different kind of traveler, one who has a desire to be in the beauty but not in the busyness.
If your vision of the Amalfi Coast includes peaceful mornings, slow dinners, and space to breathe, Ravello delivers that in a way Positano just can't.
Why I Wouldn't Rent a Car on the Amalfi Coast
This is one of the biggest takeaways from my trip, and something I would do differently without hesitation.
I would NOT rent a car on the Amalfi Coast.
At first, having a car seems like it would give you freedom. But in reality, it often creates more stress than flexibility.
The roads along the Amalfi Coast are famously narrow and winding. They cling to cliffs, with tight turns and limited visibility. Add in tour buses, scooters weaving in and out, and heavy traffic during peak times, and driving become less about enjoying the scenery and more about making it to your destination alive!
There are also restrictions in place that limit when and how rental cars can be driven along certain stretches of the coast, particularly during high season. These alternating license plate rules are designed to reduce congestion, but they can complicate travel plans if you're not familiar with them.
And then there's parking or the lack there of! Finding parking in towns like Positano can feel like a challenge in itself, often involving long walks or expensive garages.
After a scary attempt navigating a winding road and coming to a hairpin corner facing head on with a tour bus who assured us we had "much room", we actually parked our rental car for the duration of our trip and only moved it when we left the area!
If I were to do it again, I'd rely on a combination of public and private transportation. We used the bus system which was not always as predictable as we would have liked, but when you are dealing with steep hillsides, you learn to be patient if you don't want to walk up! We also had dinner and they provided a pick up/drop off service at no additional charge. We also walked wherever we could when possible.
Sometimes the best way to experience a place is to let someone else do the navigating!
Timing Matters More Than You Think
When we planned our trip, I didn't realize how very lucky we were by scheduling it when we did. It was mostly because that's when the kids had school break and we found cheap airfare, but all that aside, I'd choose early to mid April again, especially on a year when Easter falls later.
Here's why.
Spring travel in Italy doesn't fully begin until after Easter. That's when you start to see an increase in tourism, more seasonal businesses opening, and a shift in overall energy.
But if you arrive just before that surge, you get a quieter version of the Amalfi Coast.
Fewer crowds. Easier reservations. More space to actually enjoy the views without feeling like you're part of a constant flow of people.
The weather in April can be a bit unpredictable, but it's often mild enough to explore comfortably. We actually got lucky with several days of beautiful weather in the 60's with sunshine! But it might also mean cooler weather, which honestly, if it means I can walk through a popular tourist area without shoulder to shoulder crowds, I'll take it!
Traveling just ahead of peak season feels like a small shift, but it will change your whole experience.
The Amalfi Coast is Best Experienced Slowly
One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when visiting the Amalfi Coast is trying to do too much.
They treat it like a checklist. Positano. Amalfi. Capri. Sorrento. All in a few days. Or heck, maybe just on a day trip. Gross.
But the Amalfi Coast isn't a place that rewards rushing.
It's a place for slow wandering. Long lunches. Wandering without a plan. Sitting with a view and letting time pass without urgency.
If I went back, I'd choose one location and linger.
I'd build in time to just be there, rather than trying to constantly move through it.
One of our best days on the Amalfi coast started with a slow morning, a hike on Path of the Gods until we decided to turn around, lunch on a cliffside, wine on our patio, and dinner in a restaurant where we were one of two tables occupying the space. That restaurant has since exploded and you're lucky to get reservations! But we were lucky to get to wander the farm at their restaurant, practice English with the owners young son, and experience a meal that we will never forget!
Learning to slow down in a destination is something I've learned over time, not just on the Amalfi Coast, but in travel in general. The more iconic a destination is, the more intentional you have to be about how you experience it.
Some of my best travel memories are because slowed down.
Would I Go Back to the Amalfi Coast?
Yes.
But I'd go back knowing a few things that worked and I'd change a few things that didn't.
I'd stay in Montepertuso again or try Ravello.
I'd skip renting a car and embrace slower, simpler transportation.
I'd plan my trip again for early to mid-April, just before the rush that follows Easter.
And most importantly, I'd give myself permission to experience the Amalfi Coast at a slower pace.
Because places like this, the ones that are just as beautiful as you imagined, aren't meant to be rushed through!
They are meant to be absorbed.
Is the Amalfi Coast Worth It?
The Amalfi Coast is one of those destinations that lives up to the hype, but only if you approach it thoughtfully.
It's not the easiest place to navigate. It's not the most budget-friendly destination either. And it's not somewhere you can fully appreciate if you're trying to see everything in a short amount of time.
But if you're willing to slow down, choose your base carefully, and travel just slightly outside of the busiest window, it becomes something else entirely.
Not just beautiful.
But memorable in a way that stays with you long after you leave.
And that, to me, is always worth going back for.
Looking for more? Don't miss these posts!
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