Ciao Bella!
Last month, my boyfriend and I spent a week on the beautiful Amalfi Coast. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Italy several times, and it never fails to leave me in awe. The incredible food, stunning scenery, and slow, relaxed atmosphere — it’s definitely one of my favourite countries in Europe.
The Amalfi Coast was everything I expected and more — everywhere we looked was picture-perfect. My photos really don’t do it justice!
Where We Stayed
GRAND HOTEL VERSUVIO – Via Nastro Verde, 7, 80067 Sorrento NA
Following recommendations from a friend, we decided to base ourselves in Sorrento. We stayed in the Grand Hotel Versuvio, which overlooks the Bay and has incredible views of Mount Vesuvius. It’s around a 10 minute drive into town, and there’s a free shuttle bus that runs to and from the centre every hour or so.
We were both really impressed with the hotel – it was much bigger than we expected, with a large pool, restaurant and beautiful gardens.
The view from our balcony
Our Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Sorrento.
We flew from Birmingham to Naples and arrived in Sorrento at around 4pm. As soon as we’d dropped our bags, we headed straight to the hotel terrace for a much-needed cocktail. We then got changed and took the shuttle into town for a wander and to find somewhere for dinner.
Day 2: Explore Sorrento and Leonelli’s Beach.
Sorrento is full of quaint little shops and eateries, so we spent the morning having a mooch around! We came across an amazing coffee shop — ORBIT — that served the most delicious iced lattes and matchas.
We knew we wanted to visit a few of Sorrento’s beach clubs, so we decided to head to Leonelli’s for lunch and a bit of sunbathing. It cost around €25 for a sunbed, and you can stay all day. We enjoyed a couple of cocktails and shared a pizza — the food at all the beach clubs was so good. We ate at our beds, but there’s also a small restaurant you can sit in if you prefer.
Day 3: Daytrip to Positano.
Positano was the place I was most looking forward to visiting, and it did not disappoint. The cliffside, with its famous colourful houses, was even more spectacular in real life. There are a lot of steps to climb if you’re wanting to explore – no mean feat when it’s 30 degrees – but it’s worth it for the breathtaking views.
Positano was probably my favourite place for shopping – there were so many gorgeous artisan stores and boutiques, all tucked along charming, cobbled streets. It really was like something from a fairy-tale.
Day 4: Peter’s Beach.
Peter’s Beach had been recommended to us by a friend so we decided to visit on our fourth day. The food didn’t disappoint — we tucked into huge bowls of pasta, complete with fries and salted bread on the side (pure carb heaven). We spent the rest of the afternoon lazing in the sun and consuming copious amounts of Prosecco.
Day 5: Day trip to Amalfi.
Amalfi is smaller than Sorrento and Positano, and is centred around its main piazza and cathedral. It feels a little more laid-back and historic, though it was still busy the day we visited. The cathedral is absolutely beautiful and well worth a visit. We spent much of our time here in one of the many cafés, playing cards and people-watching.
Day 6: Boat trip to Capri.
Probably my favourite day of the whole trip — my boyfriend and I knew we wanted to take a boat to Capri, so it was one of the first things we booked when we arrived. Unfortunately, we didn’t visit the Blue Grotto, as we only had four hours on the island and knew the queue would be long. Capri itself is impossibly glamorous — I loved strolling wistfully down Via Camerelle, marvelling at the beautiful boutiques. It’s larger than Positano and Amalfi, so we could have easily spent another afternoon here — there’s so much to see!
Make sure to take the chair lift up to Monte Solaro, where you can enjoy panoramic views of the island. There’s also a small café and terrace at the top — we couldn’t resist having a glass of wine here before heading back down.
Day 7: Bagni Salvatore Beach.
We knew we wanted a chilled last day before heading home, so we decided to spend it at another beach club. This time, we tried Bagni Salvatore. Once again, lunch was delicious — I’m still dreaming about the calamari and Caprese salad, all washed down with a couple of cocktails as we celebrated and looked back on our trip.
Surrounded by ancient Roman ruins, Bagni Salvatore was my favourite place to swim. It felt like the perfect way to end the holiday.
Where We Ate
STROCIO8 – Via Padre Reginaldo Giuliani, 8, 80067 Sorrento NA
We came across this restaurant on our first night, tucked down one of the many bustling side streets in Sorrento. I had truffle gnocchi (delicious) and my boyfriend had lasagne, which he raved about for the rest of the trip! It’s a small place, so we had to wait a little while for a table, but it was 100% worth it.
BELLEVUE SYRENE – Piazza della Vittoria, 5, 80067 Sorrento NA
You may recognise the gorgeous terrace of Bellevue Syrene from Instagram — it’s a hotel located on the coast of Sorrento, offering spectacular sea views. We came here for dinner and drinks, and the atmosphere was wonderful — there was even a pianist! It’s on the pricier side, and there is a minimum spend if you dine in the evening, but it’s the perfect place for a special occasion. I’d 100% recommend going for at least a drink to enjoy the beautiful view!
O’Parrucchiano La Favorita – Corso Italia, 71, 80067 Sorrento NA
This was one of the places I knew I wanted to try after doing some research beforehand (yes, I fell for the TikTok hype). The restaurant itself is stunning, set in a lemon garden where you dine beneath a canopy of citrus trees. Unfortunately, we found it a bit touristy and were a little disappointed with the food. Still, we had a gorgeous evening, and I’m glad we visited nonetheless.
CHEZ BLACK – Via del Brigantino, 19, 84017 Positano SA
My boyfriend and I came here after spending the afternoon walking around Positano, so we were absolutely famished. It was very busy, but that didn’t take away from the experience. We shared an enormous pizza and a bowl of seafood pasta—both delicious and reasonably priced. The drinks were fantastic, too.
TAVERN ALLEGRA – Via Santa Maria della Pietà, 30, 80067 Sorrento NA
This was probably our favourite restaurant of the trip — we hadn’t booked anywhere for our last night, so we came across this place by chance. It was super busy, but we managed to get a table outside, which was perfect for people-watching. The food was beautiful — the bruschetta with aubergine and parmesan was one of the best starters I’ve ever had. They also have live music every night, which was so much fun. Highly recommend!
BELLAVISTA COCKTAIL BAR – Via Torquato Tasso, 61, 80067 Sorrento NA
A gorgeous rooftop bar located at the top of the 5* Grand Hotel. Again, it’s slightly more upscale and there’s a minimum spend, but it’s the perfect spot for a sunset cocktail. We enjoyed a few glasses of wine and shared some delicious bar snacks. Despite the location, it was quiet and peaceful — a wonderful way to end the evening.
The Amalfi Coast was just as spectacular as I’d hoped. It really was the holiday of a lifetime, and it was wonderful to slow down for a week and take it all in. Hopefully I’ll be back before too long!
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