7 Ways to Save Money on the Amalfi Coast

The breathtaking views from Strada Statale 163, also known as Amalfi Drive, feature villages, headlands, beaches, cliffs overhanging the sea and mountains for an unforgettable journey. If road trips are your travel style, you can't miss Strada Statale 163. It's around 37 miles long and goes from Vietri sul Mare, located right after Salerno, to Positano.

After passing this famous town, the road heads up towards the northern coast of the Sorrentine Peninsula. There are open spaces and parking areas along the route for taking photos. Our tip: Don't wait until the next lay-by to stop, as the view changes around every bend to surprise you with a new perspective.

Laurito Beach in Positano features hidden coves and a beach (Spiaggia di Laurito) for sunbathing. To reach it, there's a stairway leading down from the little square in front of Hotel San Pietro. The sand and pebble beach has rocks you can lie on and vegetation lush with the laurel bushes that give the place its name.

It's popular with diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. There's an area with a lido as well as an open space, and if you'd like to dine by the sea, there are 2 restaurants to choose from.

The Roman Villa of Minori is believed to have belonged to an important figure. It is laid out around a central core featuring a pool and gardens. The complex had thermal baths and ceremonial rooms accessible from the sea and decorated with mosaics in the Pompeian style.

Frescoes and other finds from archaeological excavations in the area are preserved and on display on the top-floor terrace. Entry is free. On summer evenings, you can also attend shows and events in the internal courtyard.

The Sounds of the Gods tours feature classical music you can enjoy along with the beautiful scenery along the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods), a route about 6 miles long in the Lattari Mountains. It runs from Positano to Agerola, following the trails once used by shepherds. In spring and autumn, classical music is a magical addition to the scenery, thanks to the Suoni degli Dei (Sounds of the Gods) concerts.

These events take place on natural stages such as the churchyard of the Church of Santa Maria a Castro and ruins of ancient cave houses. The concerts are free and held in the morning and evening hours, with evocative nighttime events on evenings when the moon is full.

The colourful architecture of Paolo Soleri is on display when you visit the Solimene ceramics factory in Vietri sul Mare. It's an opportunity to see and buy unique craft pieces produced by hand and decorated with typical figures from Mediterranean culture. Even the building that houses it is a work of art in itself.

It was designed in 1954 by architect Paolo Soleri, who created a work that expands vertically in the small space available between the street and rocky wall. The façade is characterised by upside-down cones, covered with over 16,000 coloured vases, joined by triangular windows. The interior is characterised by elaborate reinforced concrete pillars that support the perforated vault.

Trekking to Punta Campanella, a protected natural area at the eastern end of the Sorrentine Peninsula, lets you discover extraordinary surroundings, enjoy views looking out over the Gulf of Naples to Ischia and Procida, and immerse yourself in legends.

Remember the sirens who enchanted Odysseus? It's said they lived where the temple of Minerva stands today. If you go all the way to the Baia di Ieranto, an inlet with crystalline waters between limestone rock walls, you'll be able to see the Capri's famous stacks in the distance and go for a swim in a captivating cove.

The Valley of the Mills in Amalfi is where the Mediterranean vegetation and cheerful liveliness of the coast give way to rare, prehistoric ferns and silences broken only by the sound of flowing streams. The Valle dei Mulini once bustled with the activity of paper mills driven by the force of the water.

Today, the only remnants of that past are the ruins of the old works, immersed in nature that has reclaimed its spaces and dominates lushly in settings formed by rocks and waterfalls. The meeting point for excursions is the village of Pontone, but if you'd like to savour the beauty of a walk among lemon groves, you can depart directly from Amalfi.