Amalfi Coast: Trip Preparation & Destination Information

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Amalfi Coast: Trip Preparation & Destination Information

About the Amalfi Coast

Overview

The Amalfi Coast is a 25-mile stretch of coastline in the Campania region of Italy’s southern Sorrentine Peninsula. The famous winding coast road between the cities of Salerno and Sorrento, with breathtaking views of luxurious villas and ancient buildings, terraced vineyards and lemon orchards overlooks the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Salerno and the Tyrrhenian Sea. This popular holiday destination, with its colorful villages perched on the cliffs along the rugged coastline, has some of the most beautiful beaches on the Peninsula.

 

Disclaimer: Space is a precious commodity in Europe, especially in its most dense cities, be prepared for smaller hotel rooms. The same goes for bathrooms and elevators, don’t be surprised if they feel cozier than those in the US.

 

Established: the 6th Century 

Area: 11,231 ha (43.36 sq mi)

Elevation: 19.69′

Time Zone: Central European Summer Time (CEST)

Emergency number:  113

Outlet: Type C, F & L

 

Lemons
Unbrella

Packing List

Speak the Language

Language: Italian is the official language of Italy, although you are more likely to hear English due to the large tourist population.

 

  • Hello - Ciao (chow)
  • Goodbye (formal) - Arrivederci (ahr-ree-veh-dehr-chee)
  • Thank you - Grazie (grah-tsee-ay)
  • Do you speak English? - Parla inglese? (pahr-lah een-gleh-zeh)
  • I (don’t) understand - (Non) capisco (non kah-pees-koh)
  • How are you? - Come stai? (koh-meh sty)
  • I’m fine, thank you - Sto bene, grazie (stow beh-neh, grah-tsee-ay)
  • What’s your name? - Come ti chiami? (koh-meh tee kee-ah-mee)
  • My name is… - Mi chiamo... (mee key-ah-moh)
  • Where is... - Dov'è (doh-veh)
    • the bathroom - il bagnoan (eel bahn-yoh)
    • ATM - un bancomat (oon bahn-koh-maht)

  

Google Translate: Download the Google Translate app or click here 

Amalfi-Coast

Fun Facts


  • Pay attention to your surroundings when you visit the coast, you will see stone towers up on the cliffs. There are actually 30 towers on the coast: they were used to signal every incoming ship and a potential pirate attack, to allow the villagers to retreat and defend their city.
  • Many of the houses in Positano, and on the coast, have beautiful white sand-filled domes. Sand is a great insulator. It was used to keep the houses warm in winter and cool in summer.
  • The huge, aromatic lemons, called Sfusato d'Amalfi that grow on Amalfi Coast lead to a well-known local product, Limoncello. The whole lemon could be eaten, peel and pulp included.
  • The island of Capri is known for its beautiful grottos. The most famous is the Blue Grotto, a sea cave with sunlight passing through the underwater cavity giving the water an almost mystical color.

Tipping

Tipping Suggestions: Tips for Guides, drivers and restaurants are not included. Tips provide supplemental income, and, while not mandatory, are greatly appreciated. If the local teams have added to the experience, please reward them.

Guides USD $5-10 per person/per day
Drivers USD $2-5 per person/per day
Restaurants (full service)  USD 10% of total bill

 

FAQ

Where can I find information on travel safety? Check out the US Department of State's website for the most up-to-date information on safety while traveling. To minimize the risk of pickpocketing it is recommended to be discreet: don’t flash anything of value, keep a firm hand on your camera, and carry shoulder bags slung across your body. Overall it’s a good idea to avoid badly lit areas completely at night and deserted inner-city areas by day.

 

Is the water safe to drink? Tap water is generally safe to drink except in some rural areas. The inscription 'Acqua Non Potabile' means water is not drinkable.

 

Do I need a Visa? For Visa information, click here. Make sure your passport is valid for at least six months after you return home and has two or more blank pages. Otherwise, some countries may not let you enter.

 

What about vaccines? For vaccination information, click here. 

 

Do you recommend travel insurance? While not required, we highly recommend all travelers get travel insurance for their trip to protect themselves from the unknown! Check out travel insurance options from our partner, worldnomads.com or from a provider of your choice.

 

How much should I pack? As we will be using shared transfers and spaces throughout our tour we recommend all travelers pack as lightly as possible. Please review our luggage restrictions below.

 

What does public transportation look like?  Buses run between all the towns on the Amalfi Coast. Although buses are frequent, the volume of traffic on the SS163 often means they do not run according to schedule. Be prepared for the crowds: in the summer, at peak times, you might not always find a seat on buses filled with local holidaymakers heading to the sea. At times, you will have to ride standing up, and at times the driver will not allow additional passengers to board. Taxis also run on the Amalfi Coast and it's easy to find a taxi in the main towns along the coast. Many taxis are minivans that can transport up to 7 passengers. 

 

Is Uber or Lyft available? There are no Ubers or Lyfts available. 

 

What about Wifi? Most of the hotels on the Amalfi Coast offer wifi either free or at an extra charge. There are no public hot spots and even cellular coverage can be spotty along the coast. The stretch between Punta Campanella and Positano is where the signal is weakest or non-existent.

Luggage Restrictions

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