Best Things to Do in Amalfi

Piazza Duomo is the bustling main square in Amalfi, off Via Lorenzo, one of the main thoroughfares in town. It serves as a popular gathering place and hosts a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shops, with its eastern edge home to the elegant façade of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew, also known as the Amalfi Cathedral, which is worth a separate feature of its own. In the middle of the square, you’ll see the famous Fontana Sant’Andrea, a marble fountain with intricate details that’s dedicated to the patron saint of Amalfi, Andrew. The baroque-style fountain dates to the 18th-century and represents the apostle with a nymph and four cherubs at his feet. On the 27th of June every year, the patron saint is celebrated with the procession running through town starting at the fountain. Most of the time, it’s a great place for photographs and people-watching while unwinding at one of the sidewalk cafes.

One of the best things to do in Amalfi town is to simply wander through the alleyways. Getting “lost” among them is how you’ll discover the many hidden delights, from pretty corners ideal for photo ops to “secret” courtyards, passageways, balconies, and unique shops. There are many narrow alleyways that branch out from the main thoroughfare connected to Piazza Duomo, providing a maze of enticing streets. Much of the architecture was designed to protect citizens from rising threats during the days that it dominated the Mediterranean trade routes, along with Genova, Pisa, and Venice. The meandering alleyways form a labyrinth, constructed this way to keep potential invaders lost. You’ll find access to the upper part of town for a fabulous view overlooking the gulf along with many other surprise spots for romantic glimpses of the town’s magical setting. As you roam, it’s easy to imagine life as it was here in the distant past.

Amalfi has many interesting shops with everything from beachwear to gifts, souvenirs, and Limoncello. The majority of shops can be found around Piazza Duomo, the center of shopping, and along the main street, Ruga Nova Mercatorum. There are designer boutiques if you’re looking for high-end clothing, including apparel by famous Italian brands tucked between restaurants and cafes that offer the perfect break in between your shopping exploits. Don’t miss the specialty food shops and grocery stores which sell aromatic Mediterranean herbs, premium olive oil, dozens of different cheeses along with jams and honey from local farms. With this region famous for its lemons, the fruit is a common ingredient in many sweets, and, of course, Limoncello liqueur is always a popular souvenir. Many restaurants serve it as a finale to a meal throughout southern Italy, so you’ll find plenty of places to sample it and buy a bottle to bring back home.

Not only is Limoncello commonly sold in Amalfi shops and served in restaurants, there are tours that will bring you through the entire production process with a sample included at the end. The lemons that are grown in this region are known for their sweet flavor that are perfect for making this liqueur and you’ll get to learn how its made right here. The most popular will take you into Amalfi’s lemon gardens which are unique vertical farms, often with forests, bees for pollination and honey production, and crystal-clear spring water, before heading into the factory where Limoncello and other lemon products are made. There will be other products available for tasting and for sale at special discounted prices too, such as Limoncello cream, lemon cakes, lemon jam, lemon honey, and lemonade. Other than the tasting, one of the highlights is time to relax by the lemon groves while enjoying the sweet aroma of the lemons.

Hiking is a popular activity among visitors to the Amalfi Coast, with The Path of the Gods a favorite. It can easily be reached from the town of Amalfi by taking the bus to Bomerano. The four-hour trek will take you to pretty Positano while providing some of the most magnificent views from high up in the mountains. Or climb from Amalfi, hiking through the Valley of the Ancient Mills (Vallone dei Mulini), passing lemon groves, waterfalls, and crumbling buildings before finishing in Ravello. No matter how busy the piazzas and coastline are, within minutes you’ll be far from the crowds while experiencing a way of life that’s existed for generations. See the old paper mills that the Earth is now reclaiming, residents tending to their lemon trees, precariously perched atop a wooden lattice, and meandering streams flowing through pristine landscapes, all within an amphitheater of dramatic cliff faces.