Amalfi Coast

What sort of weather can I expect?

Meteorological records for the area, taken over a period of more than 10 years, are represented in the Weather Chart provided
with each itinerary. In April it is cooler and the air is relatively fresh; there may be showers. May and June are hot with regularly balmy evenings and only occasional thunderstorms to clear the air. July and August are intolerably hot for walking and the route is closed. In September the heat begins to tail off and walking becomes pleasant again, while the sea retains its warmth for swimming. October is cooler with clearer air and longer views.

What sort of walking can I expect?

8-day: Walks are offered on on 6 days.  5-day: Walks are offered on 3 days. The walk lengths vary from 3 hours to a maximum of 6 hours.

Hours of walking, which may vary from individual to individual, means hours of actual walking and does not include stops for lunch, sightseeing, rests or siestas. On certain days the walk takes you into the hills where the paths cross a more rugged terrain – please make sure that your foot­wear provides sufficient ankle support.

The fitness level of this trip is Grade 3-3+ (many steps!). The nature of the terrain on this trip is often rugged and most days the walk will take you up old stepped paths into the villages and mountains above the coast. There are a lot of steps and you should not rush. Although the mileage is not great, the
walking is physically demanding due to the altitude gains and losses. On two days the route passes through more notably inhabited areas.

The route combines steps, woody and rocky paths and sections of surfaced road. As all hotels are at the bottom of the coast road and most of the walks are high up in the Monti Lattari, most
climbing is done on the stepped pathways that historically connected the villages. A small section of path, where the coastline ‘appears’ to drop dramatically to the sea, may be unsuitable for vertigo sufferers. If you have any concerns please discuss this stretch with your Route Manager.

What if I don't want to walk?

You don’t have to! You can get a lift with the Route Manager to the next hotel when your bags are moved on, or we can arrange taxis and advise you of local transport options to facilitate shortening the walks.

How do I get to the start of the route?

The recommended airport for this route is Naples.

There are various ways to get from Naples airport to Amalfi, from where you take a bus on to Ravello.

You can either:

a) Take a train from Naples to Salerno, then a ferry or bus to Amalfi.

b) Take a train or bus from Naples to Sorrento, then a bus to Amalfi.

c) Take a boat from Naples to Sorrento or Capri, then another ferry to Amalfi.

a) From Naples to Salerno by train, then ferry or bus to Amalfi:

From the airport, take the ALIBUS shuttle (frequent departures) to Piazza Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale train station. Journey time 15 mins, €5 (buy ticket on board).

From here there are regular trains to Salerno. They vary in journey time and cost depending on what the type of train. Journey time 40 mins-1.5 hours (€4.70-€19) Timetables: www.trenitalia.com.

From Salerno: There are regular buses and ferries to Amalfi.

Option 1: Ferry to Amalfi. Timetables: http://www.coopsantandrea.com and www.travelmar.it/en Journey time 35 minutes, € 8. It’s a 10-15-minute walk from Salerno station to the Salerno Porto Turistico, from where the ferries depart.

Option 2: SITA bus to Amalfi. Check location of bus stop on arrival at the train station. Buy your ticket (either at station or a bar/tabacchi) before boarding the bus. Timetables: www.sitasudtrasporti.it(select Orari, then Campania, then Amalfi- Maiori-Salerno line). Journey time 1 hour 15, € 4.

b) From Naples to Sorrento by train, then bus to Amalfi:

 From the airport, take the ALIBUS shuttle to Piazza Garibaldi and Napoli Centrale train station. This takes 30 mins (frequent departures) and costs €5 for the ALIBUS (buy ticket on board). From here there are regular trains to Sorrento on the inexpensive Circumvesuviana train line, which passes by the ancient Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum and offers a spectacular view of Capri and Vesuvius. Journey time 1 hour 10, €3.60. Timetables: www.sorrentoinsider.com/en/naples-to-sorrento-train-schedule

Alternatively, CURRERI bus direct from the airport to Sorrento (1 hour 15). See www.curreriviaggi.it. There are 7 buses each day from 9am, the last departing at 7.30pm (arriving Sorrento 8.45pm). Tickets cost €10. 

From Sorrento: take a SITA bus to Amalfi (buy ticket before boarding). Buses leave from outside the train station. Journey time 1 hour 40, €6).  Timetables www.sitasudtrasporti.it : (select Orari, then Campania, then Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento line).

c) From Naples (Molo Beverello) to Amalfi by ferry:

There are no direct ferries to Amalfi - you will need to change at Sorrento or Capri. However, it is a very scenic introduction to the Amalfi coast. From the airport, take the ALIBUS shuttle (frequent departures) to Molo Beverello (port). Journey time 30 mins, €5 (buy ticket on board).

From here, in high season ferries connect Naples to Capri and Sorrento and other ports along the Amalfi coast. Tickets range from €9-€16 depending on the type of boat (ferry or hydrofoil) and the time of day.  A shorter trip during rush hour will cost more, so be sure to consult a fare schedule beforehand. Beware - departures are somewhat seasonal (and weather dependent). For further details please see www.napoliunplugged.com/naples-maritme-transportation

From Amalfi to Ravello:

The bus station in Amalfi is in Piazza Flavio Gioia, the town’s main, central roundabout, adjacent to the port. The bus stop for buses to Ravello is located on the far/east side of the piazza, on the sidewalk that runs along the beach Marina Grande. There are two gazebos - with signage: BUS TO RAVELLO- SCALA. Take a bus that has Ravello written on the front. The local SITA bus ticket (€2.30) is called unico and is valid for 45 minutes from when you get it stamped.  You can use it in all the towns along Amalfi Coast. Buy your ticket before you get on the bus, from the tabacchi on the corner, opposite the roundabout. The journey to Ravello takes 35 mins if there is no traffic, however it can take up to two hours when busy!  There are no luggage compartments on smaller SITA buses so you will have to carry your bags with you.

Once on the bus stamp your ticket in the machine to validate it. You may find it helpful to buy a few of these tickets as they can be used on any of the short bus journeys on the route and are not always easy to find. Generally, there is one fare for any journey within the coastal area.

Alternatively, there are always taxis at the bus terminal in Amalfi. The journey to Ravello by taxi takes around 20 mins (without traffic) and costs approx. €60.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please remember to validate any train ticket you purchase in Italy before you board the train by stamping it in the green and white or yellow machines at the entrance to the platform; your ticket is not valid for travel unless you do this and you can be fined if you fail to do so.

NB:  Timetables change twice yearly in Italy, with many trains running between the last week of May and the end of September than during the rest of the year.

First Hotel

On approaching Ravello you will know you are near your destination when the bus passes through a brightly lit tunnel. Beyond that it will soon stop at the mouth of another tunnel..

Get off the bus at the second bus stop in Ravello (called ‘Fermata Gradillo’), which is the bus stop just above the red line in your Route Booklet. Follow the Viale Parco della Rimembranza uphill for about 200m until you reach Piazza Fontana Moresca, where you will see your hotel on the right.

If you have very heavy bags you may want to contact the hotel in advance with your arrival time and they can come and meet you.

Hotel Bonadies

Piazza Fontana Moresca, 5

84010 Ravello SA

Travel by Taxi

We can book you a taxi from Naples airport to the first hotel. The taxi for up to 4 passengers costs from €200 (€250 for a minivan for up to 6 people). Prices may be significantly higher at weekends, Bank Holidays or late at night.

Please place your booking with the ATG office at least two weeks before departure. The cost of the taxi will be confirmed to you once the booking is secured. Payment of the taxi fare should be made locally, not to ATG. The driver will have your flight details and will be waiting in Arrivals with a sign showing your name or ATG.

·  If you change your flight, please notify us on 01865 315678 so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule the taxi for you.

·  If, on the day of departure, your flight is cancelled or you miss or change it, please immediately contact the ATG emergency number 01865 315600 so we can contact the taxi company to reschedule or cancel the taxi for you.

·  If your flight is delayed and you have arranged for the taxi to meet you at the destination airport, your taxi driver will wait for you.

·  If you are delayed and you have arranged for a taxi to meet you at a non airport location (e.g. a train station) it is essential that you contact your Route Manager or call the ATG emergency line to notify us at the earliest possible moment, so we can contact the taxi company to re-schedule or cancel the taxi for you.

·  Please note that failure to advise ATG that you cannot meet the taxi booked for you may result in the taxi costs being passed back to you.

Important: Taxi prices quoted apply to the local firm used regularly by ATG – and are guaranteed only if you book through the office in advance. If you get a taxi off a taxi rank please ask the driver to confirm the price for you.

Where can I leave my car if I drive to the route?

Parking along the Amalfi coast is extremely limited and very expensive. We therefore strongly suggest you don't drive to the route.

What should I bring?

Bring whatever clothes and footwear you find most comfortable for everyday wear, and a change or two for the evenings – smart/casual.
Some trips include quite distinguished hotels and restaurants, for which you may wish to ‘dress up’ in the evening, however on Independent trips you have more flexibility in determining how casual you wish to be. For walking we recommend lightweight walking boots with firm ankle support (make sure you wear them in before the trip!), a small daypack for your lightweight waterproof clothing, camera, fleece etc. An increasing number of people bring telescopic walking poles. For a comprehensive packing list click here: what to bring

What sort of food can I expect?

The Campania region is famous for its pasta, mozzarella and pizza. As well as these staples there are a number of speciality dishes such as all types of seafood, fish, parmigiana di melanzane – aubergine baked in parmesan cheese,
roasted and preserved vegetables, and a number of speciality cakes made for every festivity. The ice cream is excellent!

Breakfast

Most of the hotels we use offer a buffet-style breakfast with a wide range of both hot and cold choices. 4- and 5-star hotels almost always offer ‘cooked’ breakfast. Occasionally, in more remote areas, or in some 2 or 3-star hotels, breakfast can be a decidedly more ‘Continental’ affair – i.e. bread, croissant, juice, coffee.

Lunch

The ATG Route Booklets and our ‘Sustainable Shopping Guides’ are filled with information about markets and shops in which to buy your lunch. From seasonal fruits, local cheeses, cured hams and freshly baked breads, you are limited only by what you can carry in your pack!

Dinner

On some routes, usually where there is no other restaurant within walking distance, half-board accommodation is included (see ‘what is included’ for this trip). In other areas where there is a selection of restaurants, ATG includes a list of recommendations in your ATG Route Booklet. Some restaurants are recommended because they have provided meals that have been regularly enjoyed by ATG clients; other restaurants are renowned internationally (e.g., within the Guide Michelin).

Restaurant bookings

Your Route Manager will be delighted to book restaurants for you if required, ensuring the places you eat at are...

•Your first choice

•The highest standard

• The best value

...and you are not disappointed by finding the restaurant full.

Wine

There are few accredited DOC wines from the Amalfi Coast. However, Ravello produces some excellent red, white and rosé
table wines under the labels of Vino Gran Caruso, Vuilleumier and Ettore San Marco. Also try Divina Costiera and Marisa Cuomo wines from Furore; and from Tramonti: Apicella & San Francesco. From neighbouring regions, accredited wines of quality include Feudi di San Gregorio, Sannio DOC, Solopaca DOC, Taburno DOC, Fiano d’Avellino DOCG, Greco di Tufo DOCG, Taurasi DOCG and Cilento DOCG.

Several of our independent routes pass through well-known wine producing regions. If you are particularly interested in wine you may also like to consider...

• Classic Alsace

• Provence: Vaucluse & the Lubéron

• Tuscany & Siena

• Siena to Florence

• Southern Tuscany

• Tuscan Hills

• Ancient Volcanic Landscapes

• Roman Roads to Orvieto

• Etruscan Lanes to Orvieto

• Umbria & Assisi

• Sintra & the Portuguese Coast

What if I have a dietary restriction or food allergy?

When you book, let us know about any restrictions. Most dietary restrictions do not present a problem on our routes due to the wide variety of shops and restaurants available. Your Route Manager will provide you with advice and recommendations at your briefing.

What should I bring to wear in the evenings?

There is no need to dress up very much for dinner – ‘smart casual’ dress is acceptable in all but the smartest restaurants in Italy.

Do the hotels have WIFI, hair dryers, laundry service?

All have WIFI and hair dryers; several offer laundry service.

How much should I budget for items not included?

You can get an idea of transport costs in the ‘getting there’ section of
the trip page. For lunches, costs will depend on whether you choose to buy picnic items or eat in bars/restaurants. Dinners: some are included (see ‘what’s included’). For evening meals not included, the route book provides restaurant recommendations to suit a wide range of budgets. Entrance fees to museums, churches, galleries and other sightseeing costs will vary considerably depending on how much you want to see and how old you are (!). Over 60s enjoy significantly reduced prices at many attractions, so it is worth carrying (safely) some form of identification showing your age. Other costs are items of a personal nature, shopping expenditure and transport if you choose to limit your walking with public transport or taxis.

City Tax (Italy only)

In March 2011, the Italian legislature passed a decree that created a new tourism tax to be paid by visitors to Italy and collected by the accommodation where they are staying. The purpose is to raise revenue that municipalities can use to maintain local facilities and infrastructure and to help in the preservation of cultural and historical treasures, all of which benefits tourists. The roll-out of the tax has been gradual, with each council determining the way in which it should be implemented. First introduced in the big cities, since 2012
the tax has been introduced by many other town councils. The tax is charged by guest per night, with an upper limit to the number of nights that can be charged. The rate (usually €1-2 Euros per person per night) is determined by the rating of the accommodation. This tax is not included in the price of independent holidays but where applicable will be payable direct to your hotel in cash.

What if I want to extend my trip?

We are delighted to book extensions for you at either end of your trip. We only book hotels with which we have an established relationship and where we can ensure a high level of service and enjoyment. If you would like an extension booking please indicate this during the booking process and we will contact you with pricing information.

Where can I find general FAQs?

For FAQs relating to the Company and general trip questions, click here