Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast: Why We Chose Maiori
Planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast? This post is part of my Amalfi Coast series, where I share why we based ourselves in Maiori, the day trips we took, what I’d do differently, and why this ended up being one of my favorite family trips in Europe.
Before planning our Amalfi Coast trip, I spent far more time choosing our home base than I expected. Every town looked beautiful online, but once I started comparing transportation, hotel prices, walkability, and crowds, I quickly realized that where you stay can completely change your experience. For our trip, I narrowed the decision mainly to Amalfi and Maiori.
Practicality ultimately pushed Maiori ahead. I already knew I didn’t want to spend my vacation dragging suitcases uphill or constantly climbing steep staircases just to reach the water. That ruled out many accommodations higher up in Positano and some of the more vertical towns. Maiori stood out because we could find more affordable hotels close to street level while still being near the bus stop, within walking distance of the ferry port, and directly next to the beach.
Popular Bases for Exploring the Amalfi Coast
| Town | Best For |
|---|---|
| Maiori | Families, relaxed pace, easier logistics |
| Amalfi | Transportation hub and ferry access |
| Positano | First-time visitors and iconic views |
| Ravello | Scenic views and a quieter atmosphere |
| Sorrento | More accommodation options and train access |
| Capri | Luxury travelers and short stays |
While Sorrento and Capri aren’t part of the Amalfi Coast itself, they’re commonly considered when choosing a base for exploring the region.
Why We Chose Maiori
We ended up booking six nights at the Reginna Palace Hotel in Maiori, paying roughly €2,500 total for two rooms during peak June travel season. The hotel wasn’t ultra-luxurious, but it ended up being exactly what we needed: comfortable rooms, breakfast each morning, outdoor patio seating, and a pool where we could relax after long days of exploring.
More importantly, the location made the entire trip dramatically easier. We could walk to the beach, restaurants, bus stops, and ferry port without dealing with endless stairs or complicated transfers. That convenience became something we appreciated more with each passing day.
Looking back, I think Maiori also offered excellent value for the Amalfi Coast. For roughly €208 per room per night during peak season, we had a beachfront hotel with a pool and plenty of space to relax. Had we stayed in Amalfi or Positano, we likely would have paid more for a similar setup—or sacrificed amenities, room size, or the easy street-level access that mattered so much to us.
As evening settled in, Maiori became noticeably quieter, the beach emptied, the lights came on across the hills, and the town settled into a much slower pace.
What Maiori Was Actually Like
What I immediately liked about Maiori was how much more relaxed it felt compared with some of the busier towns we visited. It felt like people were actually on vacation there rather than racing around trying to check attractions off a list.
During the weekdays, getting around felt relatively easy. Amalfi was only about three miles away and roughly a 15-minute bus ride along the coastline. The ride itself became part of the experience, with beautiful views of the sea and cliffs along the way. We could also use the ferry for many of our day trips, while Maiori itself felt compact and manageable.
The evenings ended up becoming some of my favorite moments of the trip. While places like Positano felt crowded and energetic during our visits, Maiori became noticeably quieter after the day-trippers left. We still had plenty of restaurants to choose from, but many of our dinners felt surprisingly intimate. There was a quiet luxury in sitting outside on a warm evening, enjoying a slow meal without feeling rushed.
Why the Reginna Palace Worked for Us
We stayed six nights at the Reginna Palace, and while the hotel itself wasn’t the reason we chose Maiori, it reinforced why the town worked so well as our base. The ferry port, bus stop, beach, and main plaza were all just minutes away, which made getting out for day trips—and coming home afterward—easy.
We especially loved the included breakfast each morning. Starting the day with a freshly prepared omelet, fresh fruit, and coffee on the outdoor patio quickly became part of our routine. It was a small part of the trip, but exactly the kind of simple routine that made Maiori feel like a home base rather than just another stop.
The hotel also had a relaxing pool that we definitely didn’t give ourselves enough time to enjoy. On the occasions when we did slow down long enough to use it, though, it offered a refreshing break after a day of exploring—and another reason I wish we’d built a little more downtime into the trip.
The Beach Experience
We didn’t spend as much time on Maiori’s beach as I originally expected, but I loved how naturally the beach fit into the town.
In Positano, going to the beach can feel like an activity in itself. In Maiori, the waterfront felt more integrated into everyday life. During our walks to and from the ferry, we’d see people laying out towels, swimming, or simply relaxing along the shoreline. You didn’t need to plan a beach day for the beach to become part of your day.
Maiori’s appeal wasn’t limited to the beach. Quiet streets, casual restaurants, and relaxed evening walks made it feel like an easy place to settle into for a week.
Comparing Maiori to Other Amalfi Coast Bases
As we explored more of the region, I became even happier with our decision. Each place had something I liked, but I kept coming back to why Maiori worked better for the kind of trip we were taking.
- Positano: Every bit as beautiful as the photos suggest, but also the most crowded destination we visited. I loved spending a day there, but I wouldn’t have wanted to navigate those crowds every morning and evening.
- Amalfi: Convenient, lively, and hard to beat if ferry access is your top priority. For me, though, it felt busier than I’d want for a week-long home base.
- Ravello: One of our favorite experiences of the trip. The views were incredible and the atmosphere felt peaceful and refined, but staying there would have made our day-trip transportation more complicated.
- Sorrento: Honestly deserved far more time than we gave it. With more accommodation and restaurant options and train access that you don’t have along the Amalfi Coast, it can make the logistics of exploring the broader region easier.
- Capri: Beautiful, lively, and great for boat views, shopping, and exploring. For our trip, I preferred it as a day trip rather than a week-long base. The higher costs and dependence on ferries would make it a very different kind of vacation, one I’d associate more with a shorter or slower, luxury-focused island stay.
Exploring the Amalfi Coast made me appreciate our choice of Maiori even more: we could enjoy views like this during the day without giving up the easier logistics and relaxed evenings we wanted from our home base.
Who Should Stay in Maiori?
Maiori worked especially well for our family because we wanted to be well connected for day trips without making every day harder than it needed to be. We wanted easy access to buses and ferries, restaurants within walking distance, a beach nearby, and as few hills and stairs as possible. Maiori gave us all of that while still feeling like we were very much on the Amalfi Coast.
I think Maiori is particularly well suited for families and multigenerational groups, travelers planning several day trips, and anyone who wants to balance sightseeing with actual downtime. It’s also worth considering if you’re traveling with a lot of luggage, don’t love climbing endless stairs, or simply want to be able to walk out of your hotel and easily find dinner, reach the beach, or get to your next ferry.
What Maiori doesn’t give you is the instant name recognition or iconic cliffside setting of Positano. If waking up in one of the Amalfi Coast’s most photographed towns is a major part of the experience you want, you may be happier elsewhere. But if you value convenience, a more relaxed atmosphere, and having a comfortable base to return to after exploring the coast, Maiori deserves serious consideration.
Final Thoughts
Every town we visited along the Amalfi Coast was gorgeous. Choosing a home base isn’t really about finding the “best” town; it’s about finding the town that best matches how you want to travel.
For us, Maiori struck the perfect balance. It was beautiful without feeling overwhelming, well connected without feeling hectic, and relaxed without feeling isolated. The real magic of Maiori wasn’t any single landmark or attraction, it was how easy it made it to enjoy the rest of the Amalfi Coast while still giving us a peaceful place to return to at the end of each day.
If your ideal Amalfi Coast trip involves day trips, relaxed evenings, easy beach access, and fewer hills and stairs, Maiori deserves a place near the top of your shortlist.
Next up in the Amalfi Coast series: Best Day Trips From the Amalfi Coast: What We Learned From Maiori.
Maiori gave us easy access to some of the Amalfi Coast’s most famous destinations—but after six nights of day trips, I also learned which ones I’d prioritize, which I’d skip, and where I wish we’d slowed down.