The town of Amalfi is one of the most iconic places along the Amalfi Coast. It has lemon farms, a stunning coastline, and a gorgeous town center. In this blog post I will share the ultimate Amalfi one day itinerary to help you plan a fantastic day trip in this beautiful town. This post contains affiliate links. When you make a purchase I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Find out more here.
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- Flights
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The best way to visit the Amalfi Coast
Before I go into the itinerary for Amalfi, I wanted to let you know what the best way is to visit the Amalfi Coast: by boat. A sailing trip is what you want!
That’s because you can visit multiple towns and their main attractions in a short amount of time.
At the same time, you can admire the spectacular views of the picturesque villages from the water, something you can’t easily do if you just visit the towns by land.
And, most importantly, you don’t have to drag your luggage up hundreds of stairs every time you go to a new town.
I joined this group trip and it was fabulous. You can read about my experience here. And you can take $50 off with code IOANA if you decide to join any group trip organized by Tryps.
Visit the Amalfi Cathedral
This cathedral is an iconic place in the main square of Amalfi. In my opinion it is also one of the most beautiful churches on the Amalfi Coast.
It is a medieval Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Andrew, whose relics are kept there.
Besides visiting the church you can also sit down on the steps and take in the view of the main square.
Have gelato in the Piazza Duomo
Before you sit down on the steps of the cathedral, head across the piazza and buy some gelato from Andrea Pansa. It’s one of the best gelato spots I discovered on the coast.
All flavors are amazing. I tried pistachio, nocciola (hazelnut), and tiramisu and I recommend them all.
Eating gelato in the heart of the town is the epitome of il dolce far niente. Just one of those little moments that makes life so fun and exciting.
Take a leisurely stroll through Amalfi Town
Amalfi is a small town and it has one main street that is full of shops and restaurants. If it’s your first time in Amalfi it’s worth just strolling through town and maybe buying some souvenirs.
If you visit during peak season there will be a lot of people in this area of the historic center, but it’s still worth exploring. I think one hour is enough time to spend here.
Explore the Museo della Carta
Another cool thing you can do in Amalfi is to visit the Paper Museum. It is located in an old paper mill from the 13th century.
You can learn about ancient paper making techniques. You can explore at your own pace or join a guided tour in English, German, French, Spanish and Italian.
Depending on the ticket you opt for you can also receive a handmade paper as a souvenir.
It’s a very unique experience, I personally haven’t seen a similar museum anywhere else.
Go on an Amalfi lemon farm tour
Which lemon farm tour to join
This was my favorite activity in Amalfi. I joined this lemon farm tour with tastings and a visit to the rural museum offered by Amalfi Lemon Experience.
Since I was on an Amalfi Coast sailing trip with Tryps (use code IOANA for $50 off any trip with them), we had a private tour. But you can sign up for the experience and you’ll share it with other tourists who sign up for the same day and time slot.
Just make sure you book your tickets in advance. It’s a popular tour and it can get sold out.
I loved the fact that it’s a family business that spans 6 generations, I learned about the techniques of organic lemon farming, and I enjoyed the delicious tasting of slices of Amalfi lemons, fresh lemonade, lemon cake, and limoncello.
It was an immersive journey and overall I had a great time. I highly recommend you go on this tour while in Amalfi. You won’t be disappointed.
Tips for joining an Amalfi lemon tour
The terraced lemon groves you will be visiting grow vertically on a hill. So be prepared for some steep stairs and steep slopes.
Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. I recommend a pair of sneakers. But whatever you wear, make sure they are flat shoes. Heels are not suitable for this activity.
It gets really hot on the Amalfi Coast during the day. And, as you can imagine, this tour takes place outside. Make sure you wear sunscreen and bring a sun hat and sunglasses.
This little portable fan was our life saver during this trip. It has 5 speeds and it is rechargeable (it comes with a USB-C charging cable). It might seem extra, but trust me, when it’s close to 100F / 40C and there is no breeze, you will be so grateful you have this little fan with you.
Walk to the tour site, don’t drive. Amalfi has very limited parking spots and the tour provider does not have parking available.
The farm is about a 10-15 min walk from the Amalfi town center, so you can easily walk there. You just have to keep the main road from the Cathedral Square. Use Google maps to help you navigate.
In case you’re traveling with your pets, they can’t join you on this walking tour. That’s because they have dogs that roam freely, so they don’t allow other animals on the property.
What to expect at the start of the lemon tour
After everyone arrives and is checked in, the tour guide greets everyone and introduces herself. I had Andrea and she was a wonderful guide. You could tell she loves that family farm and her job as a tour guide.
The tour starts by going up some slopes, but then you get a quick stop in the shade to learn a bit about the Amalfi lemon and try slices of fresh lemons.
What might seem unusual is that you eat these lemons with the peel on. They are not bitter and they are not that sour either.
You don’t have to worry about pesticides on the peel since these are organic lemons and they don’t use any harmful chemicals during the growth process.
I never thought I would enjoy eating lemon slices, but those Amalfi lemons are truly different and I loved them.
Exploring the Museum of Rural Culture
Then the guided tour continues with a stop to the Museum of Rural Culture. Here you can see pictures of the people who started the farm generations ago. You’ll also learn more about the history of her family from the tour guide.
Today they use a cable car for carrying lemons up the hill. But back in the day the local farmers were carrying them on their shoulders using these large baskets.
We were able to hold one of these baskets and it was heavy with no lemons in it. I can’t imagine how these people were doing this job back in the day. Such hard work!
I feel like the museum brings this authentic story to life with all the wonderful information it provides and with the objects you can touch. It makes everything real.
We also learned that nowadays they have issues with recruiting workers for their lemon farm. A lot of locals left Amalfi to look for opportunities in other coastal towns or somewhere else in Italy.
And even though they export their lemons to other EU countries, the price per lemon is only 80 cents. So this is no longer a very lucrative business. But they persevere.
I had no idea about this situation. I loved that this tour gave us a unique glimpse into real issues an entire industry is facing.
When I heard about these struggles, knowing that they have been in business for 6 generations, it made me happy I signed up for the tour. At least I supported a small business and helped them a bit.
Walking through the vertical lemon farm
After the museum you start going up the vertical lemon grove on some steep slopes. But don’t worry, there will be a few stops in the grove to take pictures with the lemon trees and catch your breath.
They also created some instagrammable places by adding some props to the lemon gardens. So you can take lots of cute pictures along the way.
In addition, you can also enjoy some breathtaking views as you go up the farm. It’s a really beautiful farm located in a beautiful place.
I was talking to the other people on the group trip and we were all saying that what for us is a lovely experience in Amalfi, for the farm owners it’s their day-to-day reality. It’s crazy to think how we all live the same life, but how life can look so different for each of us, depending on where we live.
Seeing how other people live is one of my favorite parts about traveling. It just opens your mind so much. There are always different ways to live life and you can learn something from every place and culture.
After you reach the top of the farm and enjoy the best views from up there you will start descending via stairs to get to the terrace where they do the tasting of lemon treats.
The stairs are pretty steep, so take you time going down.
Tasting delicious lemon treats
The tasting part of the tour was so nice after all the hiking we did. It started with organic lemonade, squeezed on the spot. The lemons are so good and surprisingly sweet, that they didn’t have to add much sugar to the lemon juice.
Then they brought each of us a slice of lemon cake. It was a sponge cake with a nice lemon syrup. Simple, but fresh and delicious.
Fun fact: another Amalfi dessert is delizia al limone. It’s a mini sponge cake filled and coated with lemon custard. You won’t try it on this tour, but you should buy it while in Amalfi or anywhere else on the Coast. You won’t be disappointed.
After we ate the cake, they brought us a shot of limoncello made by them at the farm.
And they also showed us how to make limoncello. You only need lemon peel, alcohol, water and sugar. You’ll learn the full recipe during the tour, so I won’t give it to you here.
The limoncello was very good and strong. I tried it even though I rarely drink. When in Amalfi, you got to try the limoncello.
And you should also try the pistachio, melon, and strawberry liquors they sell along the Coast. But make sure you buy the ones that have less bright colors. That’s the good stuff. It’s the same with gelato.
Overall, I had a great time at this lemon tasting tour. If you’re able to go, I highly recommend it.
Eat at Trattoria dei Cartari
There are plenty of restaurants in Amalfi serving delicious food, but I fell in love with Trattoria dei Cartari.
Seeing the nonnas cooking your food, interacting with the funny servers, the quality of the food, and the affordable prices make this restaurant a great place to eat.
I tried pasta al limone for the first time here and I loved it. I thought I wouldn’t like the combination of pasta and lemon, but Amalfi can do anything lemon taste good.
Make sure you also try delizia al limone when in Amalfi. It’s a local dessert made from sponge cake and lemon cream.
Their fish was delicious, as well as the smoked mozzarella appetizer, and grilled vegetables. It’s one of the best restaurants in the area.
If you have an extra day, take the bus to the nearby town of Ravello
Ravello is only about 30 minutes away from Amalfi by bus. A one-way bus ticket costs only 1.5 euros, so visiting Ravello should be on your Amalfi Coast itinerary, especially if you have Amalfi as your home base.
Another perk of taking the local buses to Ravello is that you will be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and lush vegetation along the way.
You can read my full Ravello itinerary here. Alternatively, if you don’t want to create your own itinerary, you can book a guided walking tour instead.
Ravello is one of the most stunning coastal towns and its main attractions are Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. I think both villas are worth visiting since they have different vibes and you can enjoy gorgeous views from different heights and points of view.
Villa Cimbrone
Villa Cimbrone is famous for its beautiful gardens and its infinity terrace, or Terrazza dell’Infinito in Italian. This terrace is at the top of the hill and it overlooks the sea and the coast. The views from up there are truly impressive.
Throughout the terrace you can find many statues and some balconies where you can take pictures. Even though there are many people visiting, everyone is patient and lets you take pictures without photobombing you. I loved this.
Villa Cimbrone is large, so plan to spend 1-2 hours here to explore everything.
Villa Rufolo
Across from the Ravello Duomo you can find Villa Rufolo. This villa dates from the 13th century and it was remodeled in the 19th century.
It originally belonged to the rich Rufolo family and then it had multiple other owners along the years.
Some rooms also have balconies that you can open and take pictures with the views.
When I was there they were building a stage that will be used for concerts during the summer. If you’re there when they start offering these concerts I think it could be a very special activity.
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Ioana was born and raised in Romania, lived in NYC for 14 years, and is now back in Romania. She fell in love with traveling when she was little and used to visit her aunt in Vienna. Then in high school she was able to visit Siberia, Turkmenistan, Istanbul, and Tokyo through chemistry competitions. As an adult she started to travel solo once she turned 30 and visited 20+ countries so far. Ioana is a full time travel blogger and content creator with an audience of 80K+ people on Instagram. She loves to share travel recommendations and tips.