Amalfi Coast on a Budget: Secrets to Affordable Travel
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. It does have a reputation for being pricey. You came here because you were wondering “is the Amalfi Coast expensive?” Well, I would say it depends on how you do it. You can definetly do the Amalfi Coast on a budget and in this post I’ll show you exactly how! I have visited 5 times and have a deep love for the area. Since I’ve visited so often, I’ve got a few tips and tricks for visiting this beautiful region without breaking the bank.
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Before you go:
FREE! 🗺 I’ve curated a list of 100+ recommendations on the Amalfi Coast and everything is saved as pins that will open straight on your Google Maps app on your phone. You can get it here!
🚪The season opens in April and closes in October. Outside these periods, sun beds will be gone and many things will be closed. The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast without the crowds and for lower prices is May or September.
⛴️ Book ferry tickets with Omio so you can easily get around the Amalfi Coast.
🚗 Driving is not recommended due to tiny scary roads and taxis are expensive! Consider booking a scooter instead of a car to get around the coast if you’re a skilled driver.
🚣 Top Tour: A private boat tour at sunset!
🧷 Travel Insurance with SafetyWing in case of any accidents. Better safe than sorry!
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📱Mobile E-sim card to stay connected while traveling without the hassle of changing out your sim card!
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How to get there
The Amalfi Coast has 2 nearby airports:
- Salerno Costa d’Amalfi Airport (newly opened in 2024!)
- Naples International Airport
Which one you fly into depends on which side of the Amalfi Coast you wish to explore.
The Naples airport is closer to the western side of the Amalfi Coast where Positano begins, while the Salerno Airport is closer to the eastern side of the Amalfi Coast where Vietri sul Mare is the closest town of the Amalfi Coast.
The newly opened Salerno Airport makes it more convenient than ever to access the Amalfi Coast affordably. When I visited from London, I could fly directly there for only £40 return! And Vietri sul Mare was a short 30 minute drive from the airport.
You can book a transfer from the Salerno Airport to Amalfi here. Otherwise you can take a ferry from Salerno and ferry tickets can be booked here.
How much do you need to budget for a trip to the Amalfi Coast?
While the Amalfi Coast is not the cheapest place to visit in Italy, you can still manage to visit affordably!
A week-long trip to the Amalfi Coast on a budget typically costs €980 for a solo traveler and €718 each for two people. The average daily budget for a affordable trip to the Amalfi coast is €140. This budget covers lodging, meals, local transportation, and sightseeing activities. There are not many hostels on the Amalfi Coast so the hotels referenced include standard B&Bs or cheaper hotel accomodations.
Is the Amalfi Coast Expensive?
Well, Positano is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe. A luxury trip there can cost up to €2k a night! But you can also do it on the cheap. The top tip for that is to NOT stay in Positano!
See the table below for a comparison of the Amalfi Coast, Italy trip cost for daily and weekly visits.
| Time-frame | Budget | Mid-Range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| daily trip cost | €140 | €390 | €1,550 |
| weekly trip cost | €980 | €2,730 | €10,850 |
How much do things cost on the Amalfi Coast?
Below is an indication of what you can expect to pay for things on the Amalfi Coast.
| Expense | Daily Cost (On a Budget) | Daily Cost (Mid-range) | Daily Cost (Luxury) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotels | €50-100 | €150–250 | €500-1,200 |
| Food and Drink | €20-40 | €50–100 | €150–250 |
| Transportation | €10-20 | €50–100 | €200–400 |
| Activities | €10-30 | €30–50 | €150–250 |
| Total (Excl. Flights) | €90-190 | €280 -500 | €1,000–2,100 |
Top Tips for visiting the Amalfi Coast on a budget
Italy on a budget is definetly feasible if you follow these tips!
👉Join my Amalfi Coast Facebook group for tips, hidden gems, and to connect with other travelers!
1. Stay in less touristy towns
Instead of staying in Positano or Amalfi, stay in one of these towns for a fraction of the price:
- Salerno
- Vietri sul Mare
- Scala
- Maiori
- Cetara
- Praiano
- Sorrento
I shared this travel hack with my followers on Instagram and the video got 9 million views!
While staying in Positano is a pure dream, you can easily get there from one of the towns mentioned above. The towns above are all so wonderful too. I really love a hidden gem and it makes me happy when I find a stunning hotel for a fraction of the cost just by staying somewhere lesser known.
For example, I’ve stayed in Scala, the oldest town of the Amalfi Coast. While there’s not much to this town, my hotel (pictured above) had a private balcony overlooking Ravello. This hotel only cost $100 a night with that view and breakfast delivered to your room!
I was able to take a bus to Amalfi and get there in just a few minutes. From Amalfi, you have ferry access to most towns on the Amalfi Coast including Positano and even Capri (which is not part of the Amalfi Coast but often visited).
2. Book Accommodation in Advance
The Amalfi Coast books up fast as it’s a super popular destination. To get the lowest prices, be sure to plan in advance and book 3-4 months early. This way, you have more options to choose from. The good priced hotels will be the first to go!
3. Fly into the new Salerno Airport to save on transfer costs
Flights cost £17 one way from London & private taxi transfers are £25 to the Amalfi Coast.
Salerno has both train and ferries connecting you to the Amalfi Coast towns.
It’s more affordable than ever to get to the Amalfi Coast now. Transfers from Naples to Positano can cost upwards £100.
4. Use Public Transport
Taxis in the Amalfi Coast are SO EXPENSIVE. Even short distances will cost you around €60. Avoid taxis if you want to save money. Instead, take the public bus, SITA or the ferry to go between towns in the Amalfi Coast. Ferry tickets typically cost around €10–€14 (depending on the destination) and buses cost between €1.40 and €2.20.
5. Travel in off-peak season
May or October have wonderful weather, lower prices, and fewer crowds. I have visited for 2 years in a row in October. And, I’ve also visited in peak season – in both July and August. Let me tell you, the crowds were insane in the summer which can sometimes ruin the experience. Especially if your plan is to visit the most popular destinations like Positano. I found that October was so much less touristy, the prices were much more reasonable, and aside from some occasional rain, it was perfect. The picture above was me in October in a sundress!
6. Eat like a local
Dining out doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive in the Amalfi Coast. My favorite affordable lunch is heading to a salumeria. A salumeria is basically a delicatessan. You can build your own delicious sandwiches and they can be only €5!
Also, I was able to dine in Positano and get pizza for literally only €5 at Ristorante Cera una Volta. A local told me about this place and it’s not on the tourist path but way high into the hills of Positano! You can take a SITA bus there.
7. Visit the free attractions
There are many free things to do on the Amalfi Coast, believe it or not! You can visit the secluded beach, Fiordo di Furore for free. Or, you can simply soak in all the amazing views from Positano or Amalfi. Praiano has a cathedral that is just stunning. You can wander and admire all the ceramics in Vietri sul Mare. The opportunities are endless!
Things to do on the Amalfi Coast on a Budget
- Wine tastings & lunch at Le Vigne de Riato, a winery with amazing views of Vietri Sul Mare. For €55, you get wine tastings, lunch with a view, and a tour of the winery. Book a Tour!
- Shop for ceramics in Vietri sul Mare, the hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast. Free to explore unless you of course buy an amazing ceramic souevenir here!
- Explore Ravello by visiting the town Center, Villa Rufolo (Ticket Price €8) and Villa Cimbrone (Ticket Price €10).
- Check out the impressive Amalfi Cathedral, take the steps to the left of the cathedral up to Belvedere Cimitero for views of the town, and go shopping. Don’t miss a coffee and pastries at the oldest bakery in the Amalfi Coast, Pansa.
- Take a boat ride to Fiordo di Furore. Instead of a private boat tour, you can do a shared boat tour (around €80) for a more affordable price. Or, bring up to 6 friends to split the cost of a private one!
- Visit the cathedral in Praiano & have sunset drinks with a view of Positano at Voce ‘e Notte Sunset Bar.
- Take a photo at the cute fruit stand near Positano (just buy some fruit to do this).
- Chill at the beach in Atrani (it’s free!). Or, in Positano you can find some sections that are designated as free. Otherwise, you’re are required to book a sunbed but there are small areas for free at a first come first serve basis. If you go to Marina Grande Beach, sunbeds at L’incanto are €25 and €5 extra for a towel.
- Soak in the many views in Positano from the main road Via Cristoforo Colombo.
- In Positano, you can have heart pizza at Chez Black for dinner or go to Le Tre Sorelle for seafood pasta. Chez Black has pizzas starting at €12. Le Tre Sorelle has pastas for €15.
- If you’re feeling adventurous, hike the path of the Gods for insane views of the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi Coast Affordable Hotels
As noted earlier, you should stay in cheaper towns to save money on accomodation. I’d recommend the following places.
Salerno: Salernum Monte Mare, ~€80 a night
Vietri sul Mare: Villa Carosino, ~€90 a night
Scala: Hotel Zi’ntonio, ~€90 a night
Praiano: Hotel Villa Bellavista, ~€140 a night
Hostels in the Amalfi Coast?
If you’re looking to go even cheaper and wanting to find hostels in the Amalfi Coast, sadly there aren’t many of them.
You can find a few hostels in Sorrento just outside the Amalfi Coast. I’d recommend Seven Hostel which has dorm beds at €30 a night.
For more reading, you might also like these posts!
📅 Amalfi Coast Itinerary
🍋 Positano in a Day
🏖️ 20+ Best Things to do on the Amalfi Coast
🍝 Must-Try Food in Naples, Italy for Foodies
𐃢 Things to do in Vietri sul Mare
🌈 Procida – the most colorful island on the Amalfi Coast
🏖️ 10 Beautiful Seaside Towns along the Coast in Italy
♥ Solo Female Travel Guide to Italy
🇮🇹 For more Italy travel, visit my Italy Section!
