Hotels
The best hotels on the Amalfi Coast: eight places to stay, Positano to Ravello
From a terrace in Positano, the houses tumble down the mountainside in pink, yellow and terracotta towards the beach. Between them wind the steps, hundreds of them, and down by the water the fishing boats lie pulled up on the pebbles. The Amalfi Coast is built vertically, and the first thing you learn is that your hotel decides how many steps you climb each day.
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The Amalfi Coast is a stretch of about 50 kilometres along the southern side of the Sorrento peninsula, south of Naples. The mountains plunge straight into the sea, and Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Ravello are built in terraces on the cliffs. Lemon groves, churches and stairways fill the gaps between the houses. The coast is UNESCO listed.
The beauty comes at a price. The coast road, the SS163, is narrow and winding, parking is close to impossible in summer, and there are steps everywhere. Most visitors travel between villages by boat or bus. From Naples airport it takes around an hour and a half to two hours, and flights from the UK to Naples take under three hours. We have chosen eight hotels in Positano, Praiano, Amalfi and Ravello, and explain who each one suits. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: where to stay on the Amalfi Coast
On a first visit, stay in Positano or Amalfi, where the boats leave from and restaurants and beach are on foot. Praiano is quieter and catches the sunset. Ravello sits high in the hills with no beach, but with calm, gardens and the finest views on the coast.
Our first choice: Le Sirenuse. Check availability and prices
Best for romance: Il San Pietro di Positano
Best for families: Anantara Convento di Amalfi
Best for a first visit: Le Sirenuse
Best for value: Hotel Villa Franca
Best for design: Casa Angelina
How to choose a hotel on the Amalfi Coast
The steps are real: almost every hotel sits on steep ground. Check how many steps lie between the road and your room, especially with children or heavy luggage.
Do not drive in summer: the road is narrow, traffic heavy and parking expensive. Use boats, buses or a hotel transfer.
Boats are easiest: ferries link Positano, Amalfi, Salerno and Capri from spring to autumn. Stay near the harbour if you plan to use them.
Beaches are small: most are pebbly and crowded in summer. Many hotels have their own beach area or boat.
A short season: many hotels close from November to March. Check opening dates before you plan.
The view
The view from Le Sirenuse.
Positano: the most famous village
Positano is the classic image of the Amalfi Coast, with colourful houses, shops selling linen and ceramics, and the Spiaggia Grande beach at the bottom. It is beautiful, expensive and packed in summer.
Le Sirenuse: classic luxury above the village
Le Sirenuse stands in the middle of Positano, in an old red family house with terraces, a pool and views over the village and its church dome. Rooms are furnished with antiques and ceramic-tiled floors.
It makes an easy first choice and one of the best-known hotels in Italy. It is a good fit for couples who want classic luxury in the heart of Positano, with shops and restaurants outside. Rates are very high and there are steps down to the beach. In the evening its terrace bar is one of the loveliest spots on the coast for a drink.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Le Sirenuse
The pool
The pool at Il San Pietro.
Il San Pietro: built into the cliff
Il San Pietro di Positano sits on the cliff just outside the village, built into the mountain, with flower-filled terraces. A lift through the rock takes you down to a private bathing area by the sea.
This is our romantic pick, quiet, private and in one of the most beautiful positions on the coast. It works best for couples who want peace and luxury. It is outside central Positano, but the hotel runs a shuttle into the village, and its restaurant and bathing area mean many guests rarely leave by day.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Il San Pietro
The terrace
The terrace at Hotel Poseidon.
Hotel Poseidon: family-run with a view
Hotel Poseidon sits high in Positano, with terraces, a pool and rooms with balconies looking over the village and the sea. It has been run by the same family for several generations.
It is made for travellers who want personal service and views without the very highest prices, and it works well for couples and older travellers. It is high on the hill, so the walk down to the beach is long, but you can take the bus back up. Breakfast on the terrace is a fine way to start the day.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Poseidon
The pool
The pool at Villa Franca.
Villa Franca: a rooftop pool above Positano
Hotel Villa Franca sits at the top of Positano, with a rooftop pool and views over the whole village and the sea. Rooms are bright and simple, in white and blue.
It gets our vote as the value pick, offering a rooftop pool and a view for less than the most famous hotels. It is ideal for couples and friends who want a good base with a view. It is high up, so there are plenty of steps to the beach, but the hotel runs transport down. In the evening the pool is quiet as the village lights come on below.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Villa Franca
The beach
The beach at Casa Angelina.
Praiano and Amalfi: sunsets and the old republic
Praiano lies between Positano and Amalfi, quieter and facing the sunset. Amalfi was once a powerful maritime republic, with a cathedral and a lively little town around its harbour.
Casa Angelina: white and modern in Praiano
Casa Angelina sits on the cliff at Praiano, with an all-white contemporary interior, glass art, a pool and steps down to a private bathing area.
It takes our design pick and an alternative for anyone who prefers modern style to antiques. It is right for couples who want calm and views towards both Positano and Capri. Praiano is quieter than its neighbours, so you take a boat or bus to their restaurants. The Path of the Gods, the Sentiero degli Dei, starts in the hills above.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Casa Angelina
The pool
The pool at Santa Caterina.
Santa Caterina: lemon gardens above the sea
Hotel Santa Caterina sits on the cliff just west of Amalfi, with lemon gardens, a seaside pool and a lift down to a private bathing area. Many rooms have sea-view balconies.
It is a strong pick for couples and families who want a classic luxury hotel with swimming and a short hop into Amalfi. It is one of the most elegant hotels on the coast. Rates are high and the road outside is busy, but the gardens bring calm, and the seaside restaurant is one of the best places on the coast for lunch.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Hotel Santa Caterina
The pool
The pool at Anantara Convento di Amalfi.
Anantara Convento di Amalfi: a monastery above Amalfi
Anantara Convento di Amalfi Grand Hotel occupies an old monastery on the cliff above Amalfi, with cloisters, gardens, a pool and views over the town and coast. A lift runs down to town.
It earns our family pick, spacious, with a pool and right above Amalfi, with the boats and beach just below. It also suits couples who want a central base with calm and space. The cloisters and gardens stay peaceful even in high season, and from the terrace you watch the boats come and go.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Anantara Convento di Amalfi
The building
Belmond Caruso from the outside.
Ravello: gardens and views in the hills
Ravello sits on a ridge about 350 metres above the sea, above Amalfi, with villas, gardens and a celebrated summer music festival. It is quiet and beautiful, but has no beach.
Belmond Caruso: a palazzo with a pool in the sky
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel occupies an old palazzo at the top of Ravello, with gardens and a pool that seems to hang over the coast. Rooms are elegant, with frescoes and antiques.
It appeals to couples who want calm, luxury and one of the most beautiful views in Italy. It is one for a special occasion. There is no beach and getting down to the sea takes time, but the hotel provides transport. In summer, concerts are held in the gardens of Villa Rufolo, minutes away.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Belmond Hotel Caruso
When to book
High season: June to August is full, hot and very expensive. Book months ahead.
April, May, September and October: the best months for many, with mild weather, lemons on the trees and fewer people.
Winter: November to March is quiet, and many hotels and restaurants close.
Our first choice on the Amalfi Coast
Le Sirenuse
We recommend Le Sirenuse because it is the classic luxury hotel in the middle of Positano, in an old red family house. The terraces look out over the village and the church dome, and the rooms are furnished with antiques and ceramic floors. Shops and restaurants are right outside.
Hotels on the Amalfi Coast: frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
Positano or Amalfi for a first visit, Praiano for calm and sunsets, and Ravello for gardens, views and quiet. Positano is the best known and most expensive, Amalfi more practical with boats and buses in every direction. Ravello sits high above the sea, so expect a bus or taxi down to the water.
How do you get around the Amalfi Coast?
By boat or bus. Ferries link Positano, Amalfi and Salerno, and SITA buses run along the coast road. Buses fill up in summer, and the coast road is narrow and winding. Boats are faster and have the best views, but run less often out of season.
How far is Naples from the Amalfi Coast?
From Naples airport it takes around an hour and a half to two hours by car to Positano. Boats also run from Naples and Sorrento. Arrange a pick-up with your hotel, so you avoid changing transport with luggage on the winding road.
Is the Amalfi Coast good for children?
It can be demanding because of the steps and small beaches. Choose a hotel with a pool, a lift and ideally its own bathing area. Maiori has one of the longest sandy beaches on the coast. Maiori is also easier for families, with flatter streets than Positano.
How many nights do you need on the Amalfi Coast?
Three or four nights suit most visitors. Many combine it with Naples, Pompeii or Capri, reached by boat from Positano and Amalfi. Summer is busy, so May, June and September bring calmer days and a sea that is still warm.