Wondering where to stay in the Amalfi Coast? With so many beautiful villages and world-class hotels, it can be hard to choose the best base for a memorable holiday. Including hotels with private pools, hotels with direct beach access, and the best hotels in the main towns on the route, here’s a guide to where to stay along one of the world’s most spectacular coastlines.
The cliffs plummet down the sea and it looks as if the homes piled upon each other will tumble into it. Behind the vertical rows of colorful homes are miles of lemon groves and wineries. Hiking, sailing, diving, eating, and having a shot of limoncello – these are what Amalfi coast memories are made of.
Best Towns and Hotels: Where to Stay in the Amalfi Coast
Fortunately, because of Italy’s robust tourism industry, there is an abundance of places to choose from along the Amalfi Coast. In this article, you’ll find accommodation gems all the way from Capri, just off Naples, to Salerno, further southwest around the peninsula.
Read on for a list of primary towns with the best places to stay, arranged in the order you would encounter them if you were traveling west to east along SS163.
First though, some tips on booking accommodation in Italy.
Tips for booking accommodation in Italy
Book Early and Book “Fee Free Cancellation” Hotels
- The first thing to do when considering a holiday to Italy is to book an early saver fare.
- Once you know where you’re heading, book hotels straight away! I always book several or the same hotels for different periods. I use booking.com so that I can cancel without penalty until a couple of weeks before I’m booked to stay there.
- I only choose hotels with free cancellations for this reason. When you are thinking about booking a holiday months ahead, your dates will often slip by a couple of days, and this strategy works well for these inevitable changes.
- Just make sure you write down everything you’ve booked and the date by which you need to cancel to make sure you aren’t charged!
Italian Accommodation
Tiny shoeboxes, elevators that will only fit you or your luggage, steep flights of steps to your room or apartment, noisy gondolas, church bells, late-night revelers, and neighbors – welcome to Italy!
If you have lots of money or it’s a special occasion and you’re going to stay at the Gritti Palace on your honeymoon, then ignore what I say next!
For the rest of us, we need to book early. It’s important to take a very good look at the hotel. Look at it on Google Maps – the number of stairs you need to climb, the number of floors between your apartment or room and the ground floor – and is there a reliable elevator?
The truly vital thing for me when staying on the Amalfi coast is somewhere I can sit and stare out at the sea and the Amalfi coastline. I tend to splurge on accommodation here to get the views that I spend so much time daydreaming about!
Economy Room and Small Double Ded or Small Double
These words often mean that a small double bed fits in the room. It will also fit you in the room if you are lying on the bed but you need to check the photos carefully to see if there is any other space in the room at all!
Hotels versus Airbnb
In some parts of the world, Airbnb is easy and the properties are cheaper than you would find apartments on hotel booking sites.
In general, hotel booking sites work out better for most parts of Italy. Where the same accommodation exists on both, I’ve been surprised to find the Airbnb price 3-10% higher.
Rome and Cinque Terre are examples of destinations where I don’t bother with Airbnb. However, at short notice, and in Venice, and for stays of 3 weeks or a month, Airbnb is a good idea.
I’m a little wary of booking with Airbnb from June to August in Europe because I had a wonderful Airbnb in London canceled on a day when I had flown in from Australia with my children.
Italian Hosts
Many European countries have very friendly hosts but Italy is at the far end of the “wonderful and gracious hosts” spectrum.
If you need help, just ask for it. Need your luggage stowed for a week? Need to know where a good doctor is? I don’t want to generalize, but I love communicating with Italian hosts – they’ve all been warm and helpful!
And now on to Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!
Size of the Towns and the Number of Hotels on the Amalfi Coast
This table will give you an idea of the number of facilities for tourists you can expect to find in each town.
| TOWN | POPULATION | NO. OF HOTELS |
|---|---|---|
| Anacapri | 7003 | 114 |
| Capri | 7201 | 191 |
| Sorrento | 17,000 | 958 |
| Positano | 4000 | 376 |
| Praiano | 1900 | 220 |
| Conca Dei Marini | 7000 | 72 |
| Amalfi | 5500 | 311 |
| Ravello | 2500 | 146 |
| Minori | 3000 | 85 |
| Maiori | 5600 | 162 |
| Salerno | 34,850 | 564 |
Except for Capri, all of these coastal towns are connected by SITA bus lines, which run from just before 6 am until about 9 pm.
1. Capri and Anacapri
Luxury Hotel – Capri Palace Jumeirah
Guest Rating: 9.1/10 | Location: Anacapri | View on Booking.com
Capri and Anacapri make up two sides of an island off the lower peninsula that forms the Gulf of Naples, so they are listed first.
This Leading Hotels of the World property clings onto the cliff beside the Bay and several rooms have private pools and gardens. The spa pool is delightful and the breakfast area – not something I would usually comment on – is impossibly charming.
The hotel has a 2-star Michelin restaurant, l’Olivo, and a private beach. A shuttle bus takes you between the hotel and the beach club. The spa features a Turkish bath and has won several awards.
Impeccable service for a romantic splurge on romantic Capri!
Check the price and availability of Capri Palace Jumeirah
Luxury Hotel – Hotel Caesar Augustus
Guest Rating: 9.5/10 | Location: Anacapri | View on Booking.com
This lovely hotel is romantic and sophisticated, and sometimes Mt Vesuvius feels so close that you can almost touch it!
The infinity pool perched above the Bay of Naples and the hotel itself was previously the summer house of a Russian prince.
The spa has a Turkish Bath and Hammam. The rooms and suites have been built to incorporate as many sea views as possible.
The restaurant is the sort of place where lovers propose and there is a private hotel car service from Rome to Caesar Augustus.
Check the price and availability of Hotel Caesar Augustus
Oltremare Capri Relais
With air-conditioned rooms overlooking Marina Piccola Bay, this luxurious accommodation features private hot tubs within guests’ quarters as well as spa and wellness facilities.
Each unit offers a furnished kitchen, free WiFi, and a terrace view. This accommodation is ideal for couples.
Prices start at €453 per night
Hotel Il Girasole
Just 15 minutes walk from the center of Anacapri and 5 minutes walk from the bus station, this air-conditioned hotel offers guests spectacular views of the Gulf of Naples and Anacapri.
Il Girasole also offers a free shuttle service to and from the harbor for those interested in traveling by ferry! Free WiFi is available, and guests have access to a sun terrace and swimming pool. Breakfast is included.
A lovely 3-star hotel, wonderful for couples or families. Prices start at €141 per night
Monte Solaro Bed and Breakfast
This intimate B&B boasts sweeping views of the Mediterranean from its panoramic sun terrace.
Monte Solaro is just 5 minutes walk from the historic center of Anacapri, and buses stop just a few hundred feet away from the accommodation, with service to the beaches at Lido del Faro, Marina Piccola, and Marina Grande.
Italian breakfast is served every morning, and rooms offer air conditioning.
Great for couples. Prices start at a modest €99 per night
Hotel Victoria Place
Just one mile from Marina Piccola Bay, this modest 3-star accommodation features free private parking, a bar, 24-hour front desk service, free WiFi, and a lounge and garden.
Continental breakfast featuring freshly-baked cakes and coffee is served every morning. In a relatively quiet area of the island, public buses can connect you to the surrounding area as well as Capri.
Great for couples or families. Prices start at €211 per night.
Sorrento
Hotel Bristol
Located just above Sorrento with a panoramic swimming pool featuring breathtaking views of the Gulf of Naples, this air-conditioned hotel has a gym, sauna, and rooftop restaurant for visitors to enjoy.
Check out the garden, ping-pong table, and miniature golf course, or unwind at the piano bar.
Hotel Bristol is good for families and couples alike. Breakfast is included; prices start at €219 per night.
Hotel Antiche Mura
The citrus gardens around the swimming pool form a peaceful oasis in the middle of Sorrento. Hotel Antiche Mura has generous-sized rooms and large suites with jacuzzis. The Junior Suite, for example, has six French balconies!
The hotel has been recently fully refurbished and the included breakfast is served in the garden. It is 100 meters from the center of Sorrento and 450 meters from the beach.
free wi-fi, private parking, and pet-friendly – there are a lot of reasons to like this central hotel.
Hotel Mignon Meublè
Near Sorrento’s cathedral and historic area, this cozy hotel offers garden space, free WiFi, and room service featuring highly-recommended meals to visitors, including continental breakfast.
With a terrace and bar, Hotel Mignon Meublè is acclaimed for its location as well as its atmosphere.
Great for couples. Prices start at €112 per night
Romantic Relais Sorrento
With a hot tub, sun terrace, and garden, this accommodation offers rooms with a patio or a balcony, free WiFi and flat-screen TV, and even a restaurant and bar.
Peter’s Beach is less than a mile from the property, and an airport shuttle service is offered. The hotel is in a private park and the terraces overlook the bay.
Room service is also offered, as is free parking. Wonderful accommodation for couples. Rooms start at €151 per night.
Positano
The supermodel of the Amalfi Coast comes with divine views and seriously good food and accommodation.
Il San Pietro di Positano
This very special hotel has a Michelin-starred restaurant and its own private beach. Il San Pietro di Positano is the only hotel with direct beach access in Positano and it has an elevator that is carved into the cliff that takes you down to the Beach Club.
One of its two cocktail bars is at the beach and there is a well-equipped fitness center. The tennis court is perhaps the most scenic in the world.
The rooms and their terraces overlooking the sea are lovely, but it is the location and the food that are the stars of this elegant hotel.
Le Sirenuse
Proving that luxe accommodation seekers are spoilt for choice in Positano, Le Sirenuse is in an enviable location with its own Michelin-starred restaurant. It also has an oyster bar, hammam, fitness center, and pool.
The hotel has terraces along the cliffs and is immediately above the church of Santa Maria Assunta and is 200 meters from the sea.
Villa Rosa
Some of the private terraces at Villa Rosa have remarkable views of the cliffside of Positano as well as a wide sea view. It is a 150-year-old building built into the cliff and is only a few minutes’ walk from the beach as well as shops and restaurants.
Guest rooms have their own balconies with magnificent views of the sea and of Positano.
Alcione Residence
Located in the heart of Positano with incredible views of the Tyrrhenian Sea, this accommodation offers spacious, luminous rooms with private terraces just 10 minute’s walk from the beach.
With private parking nearby, guests are served a sweet Italian breakfast on their terrace with the option of savory meals by request. The view from the private terraces is what we imagine Amalfi coastal hotels to be like!
Good for couples. Prices start at €269 per night.
Praiano
Considered by many travel writers to be the most beautiful town on the Amalfi Coast, and a bit of an undiscovered gem, it has a lot of accommodation options but is much smaller than Amalfi. It’s a romantic spot for lots of beach time and is a central location on the Amalfi Coast Drive between the towns of Positano and Amalfi.
Hotel Onda Verde
An absolutely beautiful 4-star hotel comprised of 5 villas with a total of 25 rooms. There are local beach clubs located 50 meters below the hotel. One of the hotel’s terraces has a pool and deck chairs and is set in a lovely garden.
Directly below the hotel are landing stages for boats that go daily to Positano, Capri, and Ischia.
Make sure to get a room with a terrace and sea view!
La Divina Amalfi Coast
Just over half a mile from Gavitella Beach, air-conditioned rooms feature a flat-screened TV and private bathroom. The accommodation also provides a shared lounge and kitchen as well as a sun terrace for their guests to enjoy.
Parking and free WiFi are available, as is a continental breakfast. Good for couples and families.
Prices start at €245 per night.
Il Corallo
Located just over a mile from Fiumicello Beach and very near San Gennaro Church, this air-conditioned hotel offers an airport shuttle service for those flying into Naples.
With parking, free WiFi, and glorious sea views, Il Corallo rooms start at €188 per night. Great lodging for couples and families
Conca dei Marini
This lovely little fishing village has a big history. It was probably founded as an Etruscan town before the Romans invaded it in 272 BC.
In the Middle Ages, the Republic of Amalfi used it as a trading base but it was sacked by Turkish pirates in 1543. Thankfully these days it is just one of the many fishing villages between the larger towns on the Coast and a perfect spot for finding a hotel with views.
Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel and Spa
One of the best hotels on the Amalfi Coast – winner of the Top Hotel in Italy in 2019, Hotel of the Year 2020, European Hotel Awards, and the Conde Nast Travel Readers’ Choice Award, Best Hotel Pool, in Smiths Travel Awards, and Architectural Digest’s 11 Best Designed Spas Around the World.
In the 17th Century, the hotel was a Dominican monastery. There are four levels of gardens and a magnificent cliff-edge infinity pool. It is considered the most dramatic pool on the Amalfi Coast.
There is also an outdoor-fitness center and spa in this Adults-only hotel.
A real highlight of the Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa is the Restorante Il Refettorio which has had a Michelin star since 2016.
Hotel Le Terrazze
Featuring rooms complete with a balcony, and some with coveted views of the sea, Hotel Le Terrazze offers rocky beach access to guests who meander down a flight of stairs from the cliff-top.
With free parking and WiFi, this hotel also offers complimentary breakfast to visitors and will organize trips and bus transfers for guests looking to venture out and explore.
This hotel works for both couples and families. Rooms start at €178 per night.
Hotel Belvedere
With fantastic views of the coast and the Gulf of Naples, this hotel also includes a restaurant specializing in seafood as well as private rocky beach access. It is surprisingly good value for its quality and accommodation but needs to be booked early.
With a sea-water swimming pool and a sun terrace, this hotel also offers airport shuttle transport and continental breakfast to boot. Perfect for couples, families are welcome too. Free WiFi throughout.
Prices start at €351 per night
Amalfi
Amalfi Town has the atmosphere, status name, and a wonderful sandy beach. Accommodation here suits all budgets, although the top-end accommodation is spectacular!
Hotel Santa Caterina
Credit: Travelive Photos
Hotel Santa Caterina is an art nouveau villa with terraces reaching down the cliff to the seaside pool and Beach Club. The Beach Club has a restaurant and fitness center and glass elevators connect the Beach Club to the hotel.
Glicine is a Michelin-starred restaurant, the ‘wellness area’ includes a Turkish Bath, and the suites overlook the sea or the garden. A perfect choice for a romantic Amalfi stay.
La Bambagina
Close to major attractions like Amalfi Cathedral, Amalfi Harbor, and Arsenale Della Repubblica, this air-conditioned accommodation offers guests continental breakfast every morning as well as airport shuttle service and parking space.
With free Wifi and proximity to three gorgeous beaches, it will be no trouble deciding how you spend your time at La Bambagina! Families and couples are welcome.
Prices start at €176 per night
Antica Residenza Amalfitana
Located near the Chiostro del Paradiso (Cloister of Paradise) and Arsenale Della Repubblica, this accommodation offers guests air-conditioned rooms (some with garden views!) as well as a desk, private bathroom, and fridge.
The sun terrace is a wonderful addition to the building, and there is free WiFi throughout. Good for couples and families alike.
Prices start at €149 per night
Ravello
Known for its amazing views down to the Bay of Salerno, Ravello is second only to Amalfi as being a summer retreat for the very wealthy.
The gardens of the 13th-century Villa Rufolo are some of the most photographed in the world. The truth is, the pictures don’t do justice to the beautiful gardens with views along the Amalfi coastline. Hotels in Ravello often have lush gardens and infinity pools – it’s just that kind of place!
For me, Ravello is for looking out at the views on a romantic break. It’s not a high-summer, hit the beach each afternoon kind of holiday, but more the kind of holiday where one day is hiking the Path of the Gods, another is sailing to Capri, another is discovering the lemon orchards around Sorrento, another is wandering the gardens of the villas of Ravello and it’s market – I guess it’s a more active holiday than staying on a golden stretch of beach.
The coastal town also holds a large music festival in the summer.
Belmond Hotel Caruso
This hotel is in an 11th-century building surrounded by 100-year-old gardens. The historic interiors with their frescoed ceilings and the striking infinity pool at the edge of the cliff create a dramatic atmosphere.
The hotel has two restaurants and in summer offers complimentary boat tours along the Amalfi Coast.
Hotel Villa Cimbrone
“Magnificent” is an apt description of this hotel in a renovated 12th-century residence. The gardens were remodeled at the beginning of the 20th century and visiting the gardens is a must-do activity for visitors to the Amalfi Coast. They are considered
the most important examples of the English landscape and botany culture in south of Europe.
The Terrace of Infinity is perhaps the most photographed part of the whole Amalfi Coast.
The rooms and suites feature frescoed ceilings and Majolica floor tiles from the end of the 18th century. There are several restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Il Flauto di Pan, a cellar, a gin bar, and a ‘balcony bar.’
A wonderful Ravello institution that is one of the Mediterranean’s finest properties.
Palazzo Avino
5-star Palazzo Avino has both a Michelin-starred restaurant, Rossellinis, and a Lobster & Martini Bar. Adding to the 5-star experience is a limousine and helicopter service and a Beach Club, Club House by the Sea.
The Beach Club is 15 minutes and 350 meters below the hotel which was a 12th-century private villa for a noble Italian family. At the hotel proper, is a 20-meter outdoor pool and a sundeck with an infinity hydro pool.
Its 33 rooms and 10 guest suites have an incredible staff-to-guest ratio of 2 employees per room. The suites and rooms are amongst the most beautifully decorated on the Amalfi coast – an elegant luxury with terraces, private pools, and jacuzzis.
Hotel Villa Fraulo
A popular 4-star hotel for weddings because of the large sea-facing large terrace, this hotel is set in a renovated medieval villa.
The rooms are minimally furnished and the hotel is popular for weddings and honeymooners because of the use made of its lovely terrace.
Gala Residence Villa Giovanna
This is an affordable luxury – the view down to the Amalfi Coast and across to the lemon groves and gardens of Ravello comes with a more modest price tag than the ultra-lux 5-star hotels in Ravello.
Gala Residence Villa Giovanna has terraces with sea views, a sea view from the rooms, and smartly decorated modern interiors. The rooms are much nicer than the comparative Hotel Villa Fraulo.
There is also an outdoor swimming pool. It is a consistently highly-rated hotel.
Villa Piedimonte
Villa Piedimonte has a botanical garden on its terrace (rows of citrus trees) and a pool. Its suites are decorated in a contemporary minimalist style. This 4-star hotel has stunning sea views from the rooms, a sparkling pool, and a bar. There are generously-sized private balconies and terraces.
This is a great choice for Ravello but sells out fast.
Minori
Casa Amorino
This little B&B has modern rooms and sits in a lovely garden. It is only a 4-minute walk from Maiori beach.
The rooms have free wifi, continental or buffet breakfast is included, and there is a handy airport shuttle.
Villa Isabella
Some rooms at Villa Isabella come with a lovely sea view with a balcony or terrace.
Villa Isabella is easy to access from the airport. You can even book your airport transfer in advance for greater peace of mind.
Villa Isabella also comes with easy access to the neighborhoods around the hotel, shuttle service is offered at the hotel. For those who wish to drive their own cars, Villa Isabella has a car park available for guests. Parking is free for guests. Parking options include a full-service valet for total ease.
Maiori
La Serenata Luxury
Every unit features a private bathroom and bidet, air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, WiFi, a fridge, and a great sea view.
A minibar and kettle are also provided. You can enjoy an à la carte or an Italian breakfast.
The nearest airport is Naples International, 40 km from the accommodation, and the property offers a free airport shuttle service.
Hotel Botanico San Lazzaro
The terrace, pool, and views are the standout features of this 5-star hotel. That is, apart from the private beach!
Each room has a private terrace or balcony with sea views or a garden. Meals are eaten on the sea-view terrace and guests can have drinks in the garden.
This lovely hotel also has a wellness center with a Turkish Bath. The hotel is accessed via a glass lift and two flights of stairs.
B and B Maiurè
This guest house is located in an old palace across from the sea, with Maori Harbour 800 meters away. The elegant rooms incorporate the art of the region and the B&B was completely renovated in 2016.
There is an outdoor terrace where breakfast is served.
Vietri Sul Mare
Monca’s House
Comfortable and new rooms have access to a terrace, bar, garden, and jacuzzi.
Monca’s house has free WiFi. It provides continental and Italian breakfasts and some units allow for self-catering.
Aquaboutique Wellness and Spa
Located just over a mile from Spiaggia Scavatella and just under two miles from Due Fratelli, this spa offers guests charming décor and amenities.
Visitors can relax and unwind at the hot tub or spa, shared lounge, or private, air-conditioned rooms. Room service and free parking are available, and this accommodation is pet-friendly.
Ideal for couples. Prices start at €282 per night.
Salerno
Salerno is the largest town on the Amalfi Coast. It is also considered the last stop on the Amalfi Coast. It’s a popular town for getting to and from the archaeological park of Pompeii. Being a larger town, it has more reasonable prices than most other spots along this pricey coastline.
Il Reticolo
Just 1,000 feet from the sea, this air-conditioned accommodation provides flat-screen TVs and balconies for some guests. Salerno’s train station is just a matter of feet from the property, and airport shuttle services are provided.
Works well for couples. With parking space and room service as well as free WiFi, this exceptionally-rated accommodation starts at €70 per night.
Solidea Bed and Breakfast
Located just feet away from Lido La Conchiglia and near Central Station, this charming B&B offers guests free WiFi as well as Italian style breakfast every morning.
Notably, it is near the Provincial Pinacotheca of Salerno, Salerno Cathedral, and the Medieval Aqueduct of Salerno.
Families and couples are welcome. Prices start at €75 per night.
Casa Santangelo
This stunning beachfront property boasts beautiful, air-conditioned accommodations with a balcony as well as free WiFi. Nearby points of interest include Lido La Conchiglia, Casa Santangelo, Provincial Pinacotheca of Salerno, Complesso Monumentale di Santa Sofia, and Garden of Minerva.
With airport shuttle service as well as room service, continental breakfast is included. Great lodging for couples.
Prices start at €149 per night.
Further Resources
- There are so many things to do on the Amalfi Coast, Italy. See all of the best things to do in the Amalfi Coast, from Get Your Guide and all of my Italy articles for more inspiration.
- The Amalfi Coast is only a hop, skip, and jump from two of the most famous Italy landmarks, the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum. And if you’re not sure which to see, read Pompeii vs Herculaneum: Pros, Cons, How to Visit
- Thinking of a trip to that other wonderful Italian coastline – the Cinque Terre on the Ligurian Coast? Read How to Get to Cinque Terre – Avoid the Crowds and Enjoy the Beauty
- Where to Stay in Cinque Terre: A Guide to Choosing Your Favorite Village – read about the best accommodation options in each of the villages of Cinque Terre and its surrounds
- For a comprehensive article on the iconic village of Vernazza, read Vernazza Italy: The Colorful UNESCO Masterpiece of Cinque Terre.