A six-day road trip · 28 May → 2 June 2026

The Amalfi Coast
from a hilltop in Salerno

Cliffside villages, lemon groves, Roman ruins and the most photogenic 65 km of coastline in Europe — planned around a budget base, the SS163 narrow-road reality, and the 2026 alternate-plate ZTL.

🛬 Rome FCO → 🚗 Salerno (~3 h) 🏠 5 nights · budget base 🍝 12+ restaurants 📍 20+ pinned spots ⚠️ Narrow roads highlighted
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The Trip at a Glance

Six days, one car, one of Italy's great drives

Fly into Rome FCO...

Driving time FCO → base
~3 h
A1 + A30 motorways, mostly easy
Weather late May / early Jun
19–25 °C
Sea ~21 °C, swimmable
Daylight
~14.5 h
Sunset ~20:30 — long evenings
SS163 length
65 km
~2.5 h end-to-end without stops
ZTL rule (10–18)
Even/odd plates
Plan ferry days accordingly
Budget guide
~€110–140 / day
Excl. flights & car · for two
Where to stay

Use Salerno (or Vietri sul Mare) as your base

The smartest budget play...

★ Top pick

Salerno (or the hills above it)

Lively Italian port city...

  • Drive to Vietri sul Mare in 10 min, to Amalfi in 40–55 min, to Positano in 60–80 min.
  • Take a fast ferry from Salerno port to Amalfi (35 min) or Positano (70 min) — bypassing all driving stress.
  • Hop the regional train to Pompeii (~40 min) or to Naples (~45 min).
  • Find actual free or cheap parking outside the historic centre.

Look for Airbnb in: Salerno centro storico (walkable), Pastena / Mercatello (cheaper, parking easier, bus to centre), or the hills of Cava de' Tirreni for the lowest prices and quietest nights.

Other budget bases

Vietri sul MareThe ceramics town & gateway to the coast...
Cava de' TirreniInland mountain town...
CetaraTiny fishing village on SS163...
Maiori / MinoriOn the coast, sandy beach...
AgropoliFurther south...
Interactive map

Your itinerary, pinned

Click any marker to read about the spot...

Your base
Towns / villages
Viewpoint / nature
Cultural / historical
Hike / outdoor
Day-trip route
Narrow / dangerous road
Day by day

The plan — click any day to expand

Designed to dodge the ZTL...

Thursday · 28 May

Arrival

Rome FCO → Salerno · settle in
  • AMLand at FCO, pick up rental car
  • ~3 hDrive A1 → A30 → A3 to Salerno
  • PMCheck in, light walk on Lungomare Trieste
  • EveDinner in Salerno old town
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Friday · 29 May

Ease into the coast

Vietri · Cetara · Erchie
  • AMVietri sul Mare — ceramics shops & Marina di Vietri
  • LunchCetara — colatura di alici tasting
  • PMErchie cove swim · Maiori beach walk
  • SunsetDrive back to Salerno via Cetara
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Saturday · 30 May

Amalfi & Ravello

The cultural heart of the coast
  • AMFerry Salerno → Amalfi (35 min)
  • Late AMDuomo di Sant'Andrea + Cloister of Paradise
  • LunchAmalfi or Atrani (Le Arcate)
  • PMBus / shuttle up to Ravello — Villa Rufolo & Villa Cimbrone
  • EveAperitivo on the Terrace of Infinity at sunset
  • 21:00Last ferry / bus back, or scenic drive home
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Sunday · 31 May

Positano & the West

Positano · Praiano · Furore · Conca
  • EarlyLeave by 07:30 to beat traffic west
  • AMPositano — Spiaggia Grande & Santa Maria Assunta church
  • LunchPraiano — La Gavitella (cliffside, reachable by 200 steps or boat)
  • PMFurore Fjord — photo stop at the bridge
  • Late PMConca dei Marini — Emerald Grotto + Marina di Conca swim
  • SunsetDrive back via Amalfi — gelato break
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Monday · 1 June

History day

Pompeii morning · Paestum or Capri afternoon
  • EarlyTrain Salerno → Pompeii Scavi (~40 min, €2.80)
  • AMPompeii archaeological park (3–4 h)
  • LunchLunch in modern Pompei or back in Salerno
  • PMOption A: drive to Paestum (Greek temples, 45 min south)
    Option B: ferry to Capri from Salerno (90 min)
  • EveEasy dinner near base — early night
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Tuesday · 2 June

Back to Rome

Drive to FCO · buffer for traffic
  • AMCheck out · final pastry & espresso at base
  • DriveSalerno → FCO (~3 h + buffer)
  • StopOptional: 1 h in Caserta to see the Royal Palace gardens (Reggia di Caserta)
  • PMReturn car at FCO (allow 90 min before flight)
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Attractions

The 16 spots worth your time

Click any card to expand...

Where to eat

Restaurants — book 3–7 days ahead

From cliffside fine dining...

Behind the wheel

Driving the SS163 — the honest brief

The Amalfi Drive is breathtaking and stressful...

⚠️ Narrow sections — drive these slowly

⚠️ 2026 ZTL — alternate plates rule

✅ Rules to live by

⛽ Fuel & parking

🚢 When to skip the car

🚓 Italian driving quirks

Practical

Useful things to know

💶 Money

🎫 Ferry tickets

🥾 Path of the Gods

🌊 Best beaches

📱 Apps to download

👕 What to pack

Italian survival phrases

Buongiorno / BuonaseraHello / Good evening
Grazie / PregoThank you / You're welcome
Un tavolo per dueA table for two
Il conto, per favoreThe bill, please
Quanto costa?How much does it cost?
Dov'è il parcheggio?Where is the parking?
Acqua frizzante / naturaleSparkling / still water
Senza ghiaccioWithout ice