Things to do in Vietri sul Mare, the hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast
Instead of heading straight to the tourist spots of Amalfi, Sorrento, or Positano, lose the crowds and make your way to Vietri sul Mare, the hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast. There are plenty of things to do in Vietri sul Mare, Italy’s best-kept secret. The highlights include visiting its quiet and peaceful beach and shopping for ceramics, which the town is famous for. Vietri sul Mare is also the gateway to the Amalfi marking the beginning of the Amalfi Coast. It is located just 10 minutes from Salerno in the Campania region of Southern Italy. If you’re stuck wondering about the best things to do in the Amalfi Coast or Salerno, then don’t miss this stunning town.
If you search on google, you won’t find much about this undiscovered town. That’s what made it so special for me. I exited the station and to my surprise found a beautiful gorgeous view of the town.
And as I entered to explore more, I found a stunning beach so quiet and much less crowded than anywhere else nearby. I found shops full of ceramics and pathways full of tiles everywhere. The town is known for its ceramics and I really loved every moment of my visit here in this creative unheard-of town.
You will enjoy stopping by all the decorative tile storefronts and feel the breathing creativity this town brings. I adored walking down the cute street corners and seeing a tile on the ground I walked on or a decorative wall on each path I took. Not only did the ceramics fill the pretty shops (like you will see below) but also each street you turned. It warmed my heart ♥️ to feel the vibrant cheer of this special town.
Quick links:
🏨 Book B&B Sogno with incredible views of Vietri sul Mare and located very centrally.
🎫 Best Tour Option is a sightseeing cruise from Salerno passing villages like Vietri sul Mare.
🧷 Travel Insurance with SafetyWing in case of any accidents. Better safe than sorry!
📱Mobile E-sim card to stay connected while traveling without the hassle of changing out your sim card!
⛴️ Use Omio to book ferry tickets so you can easily get to Vietri sul Mare.
🛵 Rent a scooter to get around Vietri sul Mare better!
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Here are the top things you can do in a day visit to Vietri sul Mare
Don’t miss adding the stunning small town of Vietri sul Mare to your Amalfi Coast dream vacation. Here are the best things to do in Vietri sul Mare!
1. Enjoy Panoramic View of Vietri sul Mare
First, see the stunning cityscape view mentioned above as soon as you exit the Vietri sul Mare train station. You will see the full landscape of the beautiful town.
Another great view can be found near 14 Corso Umberto (pictured below).
2. Relax at Spiaggia della Crestarella
Next on the agenda, visit Spiaggia della Crestarella, a secret beach in Italy and possibly the quietest beach on the Amalfi Coast. It is also breathtaking! What’s so special about it, is that it is one of the few sandy beaches around and often bypassed by tourists. This is a great escape from the overcrowded beaches of the more touristic spots along the Amalfi Coast. Note: It is a private beach and you will need to reserve and pay to visit.
3. Vietri sul Mare Ceramics Shopping!
A visit wouldn’t be complete without going ceramics store shopping! Vietri sul Mare is the ceramic capital of the world. You will see so many great shops and even see the creativity happening in front of you. My favorite was called Ceramica Pinto – behind the store was a secret back alley that was simply stunning! The walls and flooring were full of tiles and there was a beautiful fountain. I loved stumbling upon this beautiful courtyard.
Take a guided tour of Vietri with a local! You will learn about the original ceramic style of Amalfi and witness how it is made. Your guide will lead you through the charming streets to picturesque outlooks and introduce you to delicious local food products.
If you can’t get enough of the ceramics just out and about on the streets, be sure to also visit the Museum of Ceramics as well as the Solimene Ceramics Factory, a ceramics factory built in 1954 by famed architect Paolo Soleri. The Solimeme factory is pretty famous and it is a treat to go inside and see all the amazing ceramics!
4. Take a Ceramics Workshop
If you want to learn more about the process of ceramics making, then take a tour like this one! You’ll be able to get creative and make your own beautiful piece to take home from the capital town of ceramics!
5. Wander the beautiful streets full of tiles and intricacy
Another fun thing to do in Vietri sul Mare, is to simply walk down all the winding alleyways, get lost, and admire the intricate detail and colors of this inspiring town. You don’t need an agenda here to just soak in the pretty colors of this vibrant town.
Here are some of my photos from exploring this adorable hidden gem of the Amalfi Coast.
6. The Colorful buildings by Marina Di Vietri
For the most instagrammable spot along the Almalfi Coast and in Vietri sul Mare, walk towards Marina Di Vietri from the main square and you will find this colorful building. The exact location can be found here on Google Maps.
7. Visit the Cathedral of Vietri
The Church of San Giovanni Battista is another must-see thing to do when visiting Vietri sul Mare. It has easily become the symbol of Vietri.
8. Eat at Pane & Panorama at Sunset!
Finally, eat at Pane & Panorama at sunset and admire the view! This place had great sandwiches and you can sit outside in front of a view over the sea.
9. Check out the Park and Amphitheater over the sea
After dinner, right behind Pane & Panorama is a garden with views over the sea called Villa Comunale. It features a really cool winding road full of colorful tiles! As you circle down the staircase you will also find an amphitheater dedicated to Michele Siani, a well-known doctor who passed away in 2018.
10. Visit a winery
Le Vigne Di Raito is a stunning winery located just 10 minutes from Vietri sul Mare. You can enjoy a wine tour in front of some incredible views of the town.
Read more about the best wineries on the Amalfi Coast.
Best Places to Eat in Vietri Sul Mare
Vietri Sul Mare has some great options for food despite being a small town. Here are the top places to eat there.
Pane & Panorama: Go at sunset, sit outdoors with a view & enjoy delicious sandwiches.
Gallo Salumeria: Great custom made sandwiches in focaccia bread, pizzas, and more.
Divina Vietri Pizzeria Marinara: Pizzeria
Ristorante 34 da Lucia: Family run, Traditional seafood
Private cooking class with lunch or dinner in Vietri sul Mare
How to get to Vietri Sul Mare
Salerno to Vietri Sul Mare
From Salerno, you can get to Vietri Sul Mare by taking the train from Duomo – Via Vernieri to Vietri sul Mare-Amalfi. It’s only 1 stop and takes 4 minutes! [Google Maps Journey]
You can take the Sita Bus and it takes about 15 minutes. For the bus times click here.
The easiest but more pricey way to arrive is by taxi. You can book one online here. It will cost around 10 Euros.
Positano or Amalfi to Vietri Sul Mare
From Positano, you can take a ferry or a bus which passes through Amalfi. From Amalfi, there is a direct bus that will take you to Vietri Sul Mare. Plan your journey here.
🛵 Rent a scooter to get around Vietri sul Mare better!
Luggage Storage Vietri sul Mare
There is no official luggage storage in Vietri sul Mare. If you’re visiting for the day, the best thing to do is store your luggage at the Salerno Train Station. When you enter the station, on the left there is a convenience store that stores luggage for €5 per bag per 3 hours. You can pre-book the luggage storage here. Then you can get to Vietri in under 10 minutes from there as it’s only 2 stops from Salerno.
Best Places to Stay in Vietri Sul Mare
This hotel has a lovely spa and amazing views of Salerno Bay and the Amalfi Coast.
Amalfi Coast Family Luxury Suite
With beautiful tiled flooring to match the aesthetic of the ceramic city of the world, this apartment is all you’d hope for. Sergio will make you feel at home and the views are breathtaking.
A wonderful bed and breakfast is located on a hill surrounded by a gorgeous garden and huge lemon trees. The host, Mario is also extremely helpful and is a super host.
Best Places to Stay in Salerno
Since Salerno is so nearby, you can definitely stay here and reach Vietri Sul Mare very easily.
This BnB offers free breakfast with delicious baked goods and the nicest host. It’s located centrally and within easy reach of public transport.
If you want to be super close to the main train station, this is a great option.
Still unsure where to stay? Check out the best hotels by searching below!
Booking.comI hope you loved reading about Vietri Sul Mare – the town truly excited me the moment I arrived and please let me know your thoughts in the comments if you decide to go too!
For more reading, you might also like these posts!
🌊 Amalfi Coast Full Itinerary & Travel Guide
🏖️ 20+ Best Things to do on the Amalfi Coast
🍝 Must-Try Food in Naples, Italy for Foodies
🍋 What to see in Positano, Italy in One Day
♥ Procida – the most colorful island on the Amalfi Coast
🏖️ 10 Beautiful Seaside Towns along the Coast in Italy
🌈 Travel Guide to Burano, the most colorful town in Europe
🇮🇹 For more Italy travel, visit my Italy Section!
Glad you covered Vietri. Ive been starting my Amalfi trips from Vietri since the early 90s and it’s a great little spot. Every year( which is almost every year) I’ve been taking back ceramics from there. Its a great stop just to get the feel of the coast if you don’t want to drive any further.
yes, it’s such a special place!
This time next week I will be starting a weeklong stay in Vietri sul Mare. Hoping to see and do many of the things you mentioned in this article! There will be 12 of us in our group and we also have a tour guide staying with us. We will be seeing many places in the area including going to Amalfi and Positano, taking a boat cruise along the coast, and cooking classes! I am so looking forward to this trip and reading this article today made me even more anxious to go! Thank you!
Karen
Hershey, PA
Thanks! You will love it. Enjoy your trip.
Hi, I’m so glad to have found this blog post, thank you! I’m hoping to travel to Naples in June and wanted to do a day trip to Amalfi coast – but since I don’t want to drive into the Amalfi to Positano, the train will take me straight to Vietri sul Mare:) I was wondering what did you think of places to eat there? Is there a selection? Or is it quite a small place for that? Thank you again
The food is good there! There’s definitely some options. And also you can get to Salerno in under 10 mins by train too! Vietri is an incredible place and I think you won’t have trouble though!
Thank you for sharing such amazing recommendations! Do you know where to reserve a spot at Spiaggia della Crestarella?
Hi! I just did it when I got there 🙂