Best things in Amalfi, Italy?

Question

I'm going to Amalfi, and I'm curious about what to expect of the town. Could you help me out here with some inside facts, ie really nice places to eat, where to have coffee, what to see and such...

Answer 1

In Amalfi there are some cool things to do.  As mentioned below, a day trip to Ravello is nice.  You can get there on the SITA bus that leaves from the port in Amalfi.  You can also hike up and/or down... it's a steep climb but extremely beautiful.

You can also walk FIVE minutes down the road from Amalfi (towards Salerno, not Naples) and find Atrani, a completely seperate village.  It's soooo tiny but there are fewer tourists over there.  

In Amalfi itself there isn't a lot to do.  You can relax on the small beach, visit the cathedral (which is beautiful and worth the admission fee), take a boat to La Grotta Smerelda or shop for souvenirs.  Busses connect Amalfi to other coastal towns like Positano (basically a mirror image of Amalfi... it's not worth visiting both towns) and Sorrento (bigger and more exciting).  You can also boat to Capri (very touristy) or Ischia (not so touristy with great beaches and hot springs).  

Amalfi is really tiny and you'll certainly see all the restaurants you have to choose from!   Pizzeria da Maria has good pizzas, and any of the gelaterias in the main piazza are good for gelato.  There are also a few cafes in the main piazza that are good for coffees and aperitivos.

Further afield are Paestum and Pompeii (in opposite directions).  With a very early start you could make two day trips from Amalfi to see both.  If you have never seen Greek temples then Paestum is a must.

Answer 2

Amalfi, is famous for its views and its gardens. The town was once part of the Republic of Amalfi; now it is a peaceful historic village popular with tourists and honeymooners.

The principal Ravello tourist attractions are the two famous gardens, Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo. Both of these panoramic gardens are open to the public, and you can wander through the tropical plants and enjoy fabulous views of the coastline.

Ravello also has an impressive cathedral, the venerable Duomo, dedicated to San Pantaleone whose blood is a treasured relic.

Ravello Tourist Information Office is easy to find in Piazza Duomo.