Amalfi Coast help
 

We are looking at staying on the Amalfi Coast for 6 days in July. Family of four, two young teenagers. We will have been to Venice, Florence and Rome.

Criteria for picking the best place to stay:

1. Near the water to swim

2. Near a town that we can walk to within 5 minutes

3. Walkable grocery stores, will be cooking in apartment

4. Not a hotel, would like a kitchen and a view of the water

5. Near transportation to take us to Capri and other coast towns for the day

6. Preferably not insanely touristy



With these in mind, it seems Atrani and Praiano fit the bill. Any others? Advice appreciated - this will be the longest place we will stay in Italy and it is our last stop before heading home.

I'm no expert, having only visited the area for a week, but I recall that the standard ferry schedule does not stop at Praiano. You can check that online (it may be different in peak season). Also the buses can be full from prior stops which may make it difficult to get on. From a transport point of view, I'd go for Atrani. It's an easy walk from Amalfi which is a transport hub for the local area.

However, I didn't like the beach at Atrani. I liked the town of Positano (it's beautiful) but it is very busy and touristy which may not suit you (mind you, the whole area is). Ravello is not near the beach but was the most beautiful town we saw in that area. Perhaps also consider Capri or one of the other islands?

dreamon is correct. There is no ferry service from Praiano. I have stayed in Praiano twice and love it for its non-resorty feel. However, I would not stay there in the summer. Buses will already be full from their starting point in Sorrento. They will be either a total no show or will not stop for you at all because they are already jam packed.

You definitely want to be near enough to one of the towns with ferry service so you can walk to boat transportation. Atrani may be it for your parameters.

I'd opt for Positano. Bus, Ferries to Capri etc, lovely beach, delightful village with groceries and cafes. Everywhere will be busy and touristy at that time of year and staying in Positano and relaxing would not b a bad thing !

I know it's not what you're looking for but everything I have read says that Amalfi Coast in July and August is extremely busy. The Amalfi coast is beautiful (in my opinion the beaches are just so-so but I'm definitely in the minority on that) so if you enjoy the buzz of happy holiday makers then go for it. Are there things that you would especially like to do/see in that specific location or are you just seeking a beach holiday? If the latter and you are looking for somewhere less crazy, perhaps you could seek a different beach location, somewhere less well known internationally?

Atrani is walking distance from Amalfi which has the beach and transport requirements you want.
Everywhere on the Amalfi Coast is touristy in July.

We were in Amalfi mid May and it was already quite crowded, can't imagine what it would be like in July! And I agree, Ravello is by far the loveliest town IMO, but high up and hence not near the beaches. Maybe Positano would be better for the OP, but remember that the Amalfi Coast is a hot tourist destination:)

Check ferry options out of Maiori/Minori. I thought the beach looked much better there. But I agree with others about July crowds--in July I might look a little further south (or north of Rome).

I would look at Vietri Sul Mare. Very large beach, and you can catch the train or bus for the 10-minute ride to Salerno where you can catch the ferry to Amalfi/Positano/Capri.

How about Castiglione di Ravello? Looks like the bus stops there and there is a small pebble beach. Anyone know about grocery stores in this small hamlet?

Any comments on Castiglione di Ravello?

Castiglione di Ravello is fine for swimming for the day, but there is no real town there. It is the "official beach" of Ravello, which is high in the hills above Amalfi.

I'll join Dreamon's minority. Imho, Amalfi Cosat beaches are "meh" at best--and wow, are they crowded! That time of year most of the AC will be "touristy."

That said, we loved Sorrento!! It was in mid-June, and sure, it's s busy, and sometimes crowded but it's busy as a true Italian town, not just 90% tourists as Positano was. There are lots of little streets and shops and I think your teens would enjoy it, more than some of the smaller towns. And you can't beat the transportation availability to other nearby towns and sights.

However, for a quieter nearby area, check Massa Lubrense.

I would vote for Positano for sure. We spent a week there with our three kids in an apartment up the hill from town. There are beaches, grocery stores, a great butcher and everything else you need. We were there in July and it wasn't insanely busy. The town really slowed down towards the end of the day when the tourist buses and ferries left. Evenings were amazing!
We chartered a little boat for a day and it was the highlight of our time there. Well worth the money to be able to pull into any little cove you see and jump off the boat for a swim. Caves to explore as well. We went all the way to Amalfi. Our kids still talk about it!
If you don't like stairs and walking uphill, then this is NOT the town for you! We are a really athletic family and enjoyed the exercise and adventure but be prepared for lots of stairs!

Thank you for all of the replies. We decided to stay here: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1219917...s=0&s=DdniPKFI

Also, we do not have the option of not coming in the summer, kids are still in school. We are leaving as soon as we are able in late June. Amalfi is our last stop.

Giesen5 it looks lovely. Since not many here stay in the small towns why not do a quick report after your trip? I'd love to hear the pros and cons and it could be useful to others...

Yes, I would be happy to do that.