Best Day Trips From the Amalfi Coast: What We Learned From Maiori

One of the reasons we chose Maiori as our base on the Amalfi Coast was its location. While it may not have the name recognition of Positano or Amalfi, it offered relatively easy access to many of the destinations we wanted to visit while providing a more relaxed and affordable home base.

Over the course of a week, we explored Ravello, Positano, Capri, Sorrento, Pompeii, and even squeezed in a few hours in Naples before heading back to Rome.

Looking back, I learned something important.

The Amalfi Coast rewards slowing down.

The places we enjoyed most weren’t necessarily the places where we checked off the most attractions. They were the places where we gave ourselves time to simply be there.

Ravello Was Worth Every Step

One of our first real exploring days started with what is often called the “Lemon Walk,” following the coastline from Maiori through Minori before climbing up to Ravello.

Looking back, I definitely underestimated both the heat and the climb itself. We started later in the morning after breakfast, which meant we were tackling the uphill sections during some of the hottest hours of the day. Parts of the trail offered welcome shade, while others were completely exposed to the sun. By the time we reached Ravello, we were sweaty, exhausted, and more than ready to sit down somewhere beautiful for lunch.

It was worth every step.

Ravello ended up becoming one of the highlights of the entire trip. Compared to some of the more famous Amalfi Coast towns, it felt calmer, greener, and far less chaotic. Perched high above the coastline, it offers a completely different perspective of the region.

We had lunch at Trattoria Cumpa’ Cosimo, where my mom declared her meal the best of the entire trip. Considering how selective she is when it comes to restaurants, that might be the highest praise any establishment could receive. For the rest of the vacation, every meal was measured against “the Ravello meal.”

As much as we enjoyed the hike up, there was never any serious discussion about hiking back down. After several hours of walking, sightseeing, and climbing, we happily boarded the bus back to Maiori. To be fair, our journey took nearly three hours because we stopped constantly for photos, water breaks, and any patch of shade we could find.

Ravello doesn’t have the beach clubs of Positano or the bustling waterfront of Amalfi, which may cause some travelers to overlook it in favor of its more famous neighbors. That would be a mistake. Ravello offers something entirely different: a slower pace, incredible viewpoints, and a welcome break from the crowds.

If your itinerary allows for it, I think it’s an absolute must-visit.

The Positano Day That Wasn’t Planned

Our Positano day technically wasn’t supposed to happen at all.

Originally, we had planned a full day visiting Capri and Sorrento, but after standing at a bus stop far longer than expected, it became clear we were going to miss our ferry entirely. Instead of letting the whole day unravel, we pivoted and booked a different route that eventually led us to Positano.

Looking back, that unexpected change ended up creating one of the most relaxing days of the trip.

My sister had specifically wanted a classic Amalfi Coast beach club experience, so we decided to lean fully into it. We rented beach chairs and an umbrella, ordered drinks and pizza directly to our seats, and spent most of the afternoon simply enjoying the view and listening to the waves.

Positano often gets criticized for being overcrowded, overhyped, and expensive. After visiting in late June, I can confidently say the crowds are real. It was by far the busiest place we visited along the Amalfi Coast.

And yet, I still think it’s worth visiting.

The key is setting realistic expectations. If you’re visiting for the day, arrive early and decide what matters most to you before you get there.

For us, that meant choosing the beach club experience over spending hours exploring the winding staircases and narrow streets climbing up the hillside. The beach club we selected sat directly along the main waterfront with the iconic cliffside views in the background. Chairs and an umbrella cost roughly €70 for two people, not including food and drinks. For a family of four, that quickly becomes a significant expense.

Positano is iconic for a reason. Yes, it’s crowded. Yes, it’s expensive. But for a first visit, I think it’s an experience worth having at least once.

Capri and Sorrento Taught Me a Lesson

I was under the somewhat delusional impression that we could comfortably visit both Capri and Sorrento in a single day.

The only reason I thought this was even possible was because I was trying to optimize logistics. Looking at a map, it seemed perfectly reasonable to combine the two destinations into a single day.

In theory, the plan made perfect sense.

In reality, it left me wanting much more time in Sorrento.

Capri was beautiful. One of our favorite moments came when we accidentally wandered onto a scenic walking path and eventually emerged at a viewpoint overlooking the famous Faraglioni rock formations. It was one of the most memorable views of the trip.

But Capri was also where I most strongly felt the pressure of ferry schedules and time limits. The funicular line, ferry schedules, and crowds constantly reminded us that our time was limited.

Sorrento suffered even more from our ambitious planning.

The town itself felt charming, with lemon-themed shops, lively piazzas, cafés, and beautiful viewpoints overlooking the Bay of Naples. We simply didn’t have enough time to explore it properly before turning our attention back to ferry schedules.

If there’s one destination from this trip I’d like to revisit with a slower pace, Sorrento might be at the top of the list.

Ironically, one of the highlights of the day ended up being the journey home. Sitting on the top deck of the ferry with the Amalfi Coast unfolding beside us provided some of the most beautiful coastal views of the entire trip.

Sometimes the transportation becomes part of the experience, and this was one of those days.

Pompeii Was Worth Doing Right

Pompeii was another major highlight of the trip, especially because my dad loves history.

We booked a small-group tour for roughly $250 total for four people, and honestly, I think having a guide there is essential.

Without context, Pompeii can quickly start feeling like endless ruins and stones under the hot Italian sun. Having a knowledgeable guide efficiently lead us through the city while explaining what we were actually looking at made the experience significantly more meaningful.

Getting there turned into one of our most stressful transportation days after a rail strike forced us into an expensive last-minute taxi ride.

Still, it was worth it.

Pompeii is likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many travelers, and because of that, I think it’s worth prioritizing quality over saving money. Visiting alongside my dad and seeing history come alive through the stories our guide shared ended up making the entire day worthwhile.

A Final Surprise in Naples

On our final travel day, we routed ourselves through Naples instead of immediately leaving southern Italy behind.

Knowing we only had a few hours available, I decided our sightseeing should revolve around what Naples is most famous for: food.

We booked a food walking tour, which ended up being the perfect introduction.

Naples surprised me in the best way. After spending nearly a week among the small coastal towns of the Amalfi Coast, the city felt energetic, chaotic, authentic, and alive. It was completely different from anywhere else we visited during the trip.

Of course, it wouldn’t have been a proper family trip without one final transportation mishap. Despite my efforts to keep things simple, I somehow managed to navigate us toward the wrong train station, resulting in one last hurried walk before catching our train back to Rome.

Thankfully, we made it.

The Biggest Lesson

Looking back, my biggest takeaway from the Amalfi Coast is that trying to see everything often means fully experiencing nothing.

The destinations we remember most weren’t necessarily the ones where we accomplished the most. They were the places where we slowed down long enough to enjoy them.

A leisurely lunch in Ravello.

An afternoon at a Positano beach club.

A scenic ferry ride back to Maiori.

A conversation with our guide in Pompeii.

The Amalfi Coast is beautiful enough that you’ll never see it all in one trip.

And that’s perfectly okay.