When I planned a family trip to southern Italy for the end of July—including a stop on the Amalfi Coast—I knew it would be hot and crowded.
July and August are some of the warmest months in the region and it is notoriously a crowded tourist hotspot that can be expensive to visit in summer. I have also seen many videos online of unprepared tourists lugging their suitcases up the cliff-side steps in the heat and fighting for an inch of space at famous landmarks across the region.
But I always wanted to go there and had to work around my children’s school holiday schedules, so we went during peak season.
While we had many great memories, there were also plenty of inconveniences. Here are four things that made our trip more enjoyable—and one thing I wouldn’t do next time.
We regularly took our food with us and saved money
During our walk along the Amalfi Coast we stopped for photos. Alesandra Dubin
If you’re willing to save your feet and have time for a restaurant experience, go for it. But if you’re just craving a quick snack, you can save a few bucks by eating it while strolling.
This is because some restaurants charge a coperto or additional surcharge for eating on site – even if you are just grabbing a quick coffee or ice cream at a table on the sidewalk.
That may not seem like much, but for budget-conscious travelers, it means saving a few euros wherever possible. And did I mention how expensive this destination can get in high season?
I was glad we didn’t rent a car
There are so many famous sights on the Amalfi Coast, and they are all crammed into a seemingly manageable number of miles that can be covered in a few days.
While you can rent a car, this area is not suitable for a leisurely road trip unless you are adventurous, fearless and well insured.
Many roads were dangerous because they were narrow and went over dramatic cliffs leading to the sea, and sometimes they were only passable in one direction.
If you don’t want to stay in one place and explore the area mainly on foot, I recommend hiring a driver (like we did) or booking another organized tour.
Fashionable yet practical packing was the key
Comfortable shoes are helpful when walking along the Amalfi Coast. Alesandra Dubin
The Amalfi Coast is like a high-season fashion show – a feast for the eyes for chic Italian coastal style.
But given the heat and the rocky landscape, you also need to pack practical things, otherwise you will pay with inconvenience.
I was glad we had packed breathable clothes that could withstand the oppressive heat and humidity.
Comfortable footwear is also important as the beautiful path to Positano is steep and has many ramps and stairs. Some beaches have pebbles instead of sand, so remember to pack water shoes or other footwear with grip as well.
Eating a lot of pizza was also a great idea for our wallet
Pizza is plentiful in the region, it’s authentic and truly delicious, but there’s a less obvious reason to eat it in abundance on the Amalfi Coast: it’s cheap.
Prices in the tourist centers of this region were astronomically high, especially in high season. Our accommodation, transportation, souvenirs and meals added up, but we tried to save where we could.
In many places we ate, pizza was by far the cheapest item on the menu. Luckily, it’s also a crowd-pleaser with our whole family, so sharing it seemed like a real cost-saving strategy.
Still, I wish we hadn’t overbooked and tried to do too much
We tried to see a lot of the Amalfi Coast in just a few days. Alesandra Dubin
Our Airbnb in Sorrento was our base from which we took day trips to the Amalfi Coast and the surrounding area. This was a good move, but trying to do a lot of activities in a few days amidst hectic crowds and intense heat was not successful.
I had booked many excursions online in advance, but my family was just too tired to go on many of them. Unfortunately, I had to pay for them even if we didn’t show up.
In fact, my husband and daughter canceled our semi-private boat trip to Capri because they just couldn’t get up in time. (They ended up having FOMO and meeting the rest of my family there later on the ferry, which meant we paid double. Bummer.)
In my experience, trying to do too much only exhausts you at the expense of having an enjoyable or meaningful experience.
If I were to do this trip again, I would tick off fewer of the so-called “must-see” sights so I could spend more time relaxing and soaking up the scenery and local culture, spritz in hand.
