A trip to the Amalfi Coast is a dream holiday for loads of people yet the thought of breaking the bank prevents some from ever actually going. Notorious for its lavish hotels, classy restaurants, and expensive nightlife, there is no denying that you could spend thousands of euro in a few days on the Amalfi Coast. However, with some strategic budgeting and smart planning, anyone can enjoy the beauty of the Italian coastline. Here is my five-day guide to the Amalfi Coast for under €500:
Thanks to Ryanair, flying around Europe has never been cheaper. Currently, you can buy flights from Dublin to Naples for under €80 roundtrip. To get these prices, travel during the shoulder season: May, June, September, or October. Not only are flights cheaper then, but you also miss the packed crowds. I recommend traveling light so you don’t have to pay for checked-in luggage (plus this guide involves a lot of movement).
Once in Naples, head right to L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele. Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and this pizzeria claims to be the oldest in Naples. The pizza is cheap (€4 for an entire pizza) and comes in two types, Margherita and Marinara. You will probably have to wait a while to get a seat, or you can just get the pizza to go.
After you have gotten your fill, head to Piazza Garibaldi where you can get the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Stop at Pompeii on the way, as the ancient city is a must-see! There is a place you can store your luggage right before the entrance. The train ticket will cost around €3, entry to Pompei will cost €5 if you are 18-25 and the luggage storage will cost €2.
While Sorrento was one of my favorite towns on the Amalfi Coast, I would recommend getting an Airbnb in Sant’ Agnello where they are much cheaper; as low as €20 a night! From there, it is only a 15-minute walk to Sorrento where you can find somewhere for dinner and enjoy a few Aperol Spritzes. Throughout the entire Amalfi Coast, food can cost anywhere from €15 to €100 per meal depending on what you’re willing to spend.
On the second day, head to Positano by ferry which will cost between €10 and €15. While there are cheaper means of transportation, I felt that the water was the best way to travel to appreciate the splendor of the coast.
Positano is perhaps the most famous towns on the Amalfi Coast, and the cost reflects that. When I was booking accommodation, I saw hotel prices up to €2000 per night. Luckily, Brikette Hostel, the only hostel in Positano, is only €50 a night. It is a hike to get there but I think it is well worth it. If you need a break on the way up as we did, stop at a Posides Café for lunch. There we had fresh pesto, pasta and local wine that was so good, we ended up eating there twice more.
The rest of your time in Positano you can explore the town or just relax and swim at the beach as we did. I would recommend Laurito Beach, a hidden gem that is much quieter than the main beach.
For the third day, hop on a ferry to the town of Amalfi. From there walk 5 minutes to Atrani and stay at a place called A'Scalinatella Hostel for as low as €35 a night. It is run by very friendly brothers who converted their father’s textile factory into a hostel. It is not the most luxurious accommodation, but it is a two-minute walk to the beach and breakfast is included!
After you settled in and seen a bit of Amalfi and Atrani, I would highly recommend walking to Ravello which will take about 45 minutes. It is a peaceful town located on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast with views unlike anything I have seen before in my life.
There are many more towns to see on the Amalfi Coast but on our final day we decided to rent a boat out from Atrani, so we could visit the Island of Capri. The prices vary depending on how many people you are with, but we ended up paying something like €60 per person to hire a boat for the day.
For lunch, we stopped at the tiny fishing village of Nerano which I would highly recommend. We then had the rest of the day to admire some of the other towns from the water such as Minori and Maiori. Your itinerary will be dependent on your funds, but for me, renting a boat was the highlight of my trip.
I found that the easiest way to get back to Naples was to ferry to Salerno and get the train from there. That train ticket only cost us €5. Depending on how much time you have before your flight, you can explore Salerno or even Naples some more.
Wherever you decide to go, book everything ahead and be smart with your money. I hope this guide proves that you don’t need to be a social media influencer to enjoy the beautiful Amalfi Coast!