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Italy’s stunning Amalfi Coast is the stuff of magazine covers. Colorful buildings perch precariously on rocky cliffsides overhanging ocean water that is the bluest of blue. The Amalfi Coast’s dramatic coastline, beautiful beaches, and quaint colorful towns form the trifecta of a perfect summer vacation.

Unfortunately, they also form the trifecta of popularity and high prices. But the Amalfi Coast isn’t all resorts and sunset sails on the Mediterranean. Luckily, for those of us on a budget, the saying “the best things in life are free” couldn’t be more true in Amalfi.

After spending a few days exploring the towns and countryside lining Italy’s Amalfi Coast, we left realizing that our best memories came, not from the popular hotspots, but from the off the beaten path places and hidden gems. It was like finding the rough amidst all the diamonds.

Sounds kind of weird, I know, but in a place as beautifully manicured as the Amalfi Coast it was truly exhilarating to find a spot that was still very much raw and untouched. Where you didn’t have to fight through the crowds for a good view, and where the only other people you saw were kindred, hidden gem discovering souls.

If you love the outdoors, beautiful views, and secluded beaches, then this list of the best free things to do on the Amalfi Coast is for you. While this is technically a list of free things to do in Amalfi, it’s really simply a list of the best, most epic, things to do on the Amalfi Coast period. All of those things just so happen to all be free.

I mean, holy box of donuts, can we just take a second to let that soak in. The best things to do on the Amalfi Coast are completely free. Doesn’t that just bring a smile to your face?

Keep smiling my friends, and let’s dig in.

Read More From Italy

• The Ultimate Self Guided Tuscany Bike and Wine Tour
• How To Hike The Path of The Gods Trail
• The Best Places To Go In Italy With 2 Weeks Vacation

10 Best Free Things To Do On The Amalfi Coast

1. Hike the Path of The Gods Trail

The Path Of The Gods Trail is by far the most famous walking path on the entire Amalfi Coast, but for good reason. While walking the 7 km path across the ridge from Nocelle to Bomerano, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the Amalfi coastline from the moment you step foot onto the trail, until the moment you leave. The trail’s heavenly views are, in fact, its namesake.

The Path of The Gods, or II Sentiero Degli Dei in Italian, is a historic trail connecting the two mountainside hamlets of Nocelle and Bomerano. In the past, it was the only way for locals to get from one town to the other. Now, of course, there are roads, but the orginal path was preserved for tourism and all of our hiking pleasures.

The most challenging aspect of the Path of the Gods Trail is just getting to and from the path itself. Public transportation to the trailhead is highly inefficient. Depending on where you’re staying and what modes of transport you have access to, expect it to take between 1 and 3 hours to get to either the Nocelle or Bomerano trailhead.

Don’t worry, you’ll forget all about the annoyance of getting to the trail once you start hiking. The Path of The Gods Trail is home to, arguably, the best views on the entire Amalfi Coast.

Once you get to the path, the trail itself is relatively flat and is quite an easy hike, so in a way, we should all be glad that the trail takes some effort to get to, otherwise I’m sure it would be completely overrun with tourists.

Click here for a detailed guide about how to hike the Path of The Gods Trail.

2. Hike down to secluded Ieranto Bay

Ieranto Bay, or Baia di Ieranto in Italian, is, without a doubt, one of the most beautiful secluded beaches on the entire Amalfi Coast. The bay sits back in a little cove and looks almost directly out to the Isle of Capri.

Baia di Ieranto has both a black pebble beach and a concrete dock. The beach is small but by far a much more comfortable spot to spend a couple hours. The dock is mostly used as a diving board and is a great spot to jump off of into the ocean as it sits about 6 feet (2 meters) above the water.

Around the corner from Ieranto Bay to the right, there’s another even more secluded beach that’s only reachable by swimming. Unfortunately, that makes it hard to really hang out there unless you have a dry bag or someone to watch your stuff.

The bay can only be accessed via a 6 kilometer hike starting from the village of Nerano. The hike is, like all hikes on the Amalfi Coast, stunningly beautiful.

How To Get To Baia di Ieranto

To get to Nerano take a Sita bus from the Sorrento Train Station. From the square in Nerano, you’ll see the trail veering off into the mountains just a few meters up the road. Once on the trail simply follow the signs for Baia di Ieranto that will lead you down the mountain to the beach.

3. Swim in a lagoon at Bagni della Regina Giovanna Natural Arch

The Regina Giovanna Natural Arch is by far Sorrento’s best hidden gem. This incredible natural pool is surrounded by towering circular rock walls. The lagoon is filled with water via a narrow archway that leads into the ocean.

For those daring enough to try it, the pool is actually deep enough that you can jump off of the rock wall above into the water. We know this because Justin jumped multiple times. It was too high for me, plus the water here is insanely cold due to the fact that this area is shaded almost all day, being surrounded by rock walls and all. Long story short, I’m a chicken when it comes to cold water was not all about submerging myself in the frigid ocean pool.

If you’re going to jump, the safest spot to do it from is on the left-hand side of the rock wall. Here you can climb down onto a little ledge and jump out into the middle of the pool where there are no rocks.

Don’t worry, there is a way to swim in the pool without having to jump. Once you arrive at the pool, walk around the top of the rock wall and over the arch. After crossing over the arch look for the stairs leading down into the pool on your right. There’s not much of a beach here, but there are some rocks for you to sit and store your stuff on while you play in the water.

How To Get To Bagni della Regina Giovanna

Bagni della Regina Giovanna is a beautiful secluded spot right next to the Roman Ruins of Pollius Felix Villa. There’s no sign for the arch so to find the pool follow the main ocean road out of Sorrento towards Amalfi and look for signs for the ruins. Go slow as it’s a small sign, but once you see it, follow the cobblestone path down to the water. The arch and pool will be on your right.

Also, there’s this incredible view of Mount Vesuvius from on top of the natural arch.

4. Take in 360-degree views from Chiesa San Costanzo

Chiesa San Costanzo is a small little church that sits on top of the mountain right at the tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. Unlike most churches in Italy, the beauty of Chiesa San Costanzo lies not in the church itself, but in the view from the church. Walking around the perimeter of the church gives you a 360-degree view of the entire Amalfi Coast!

But wait, it gets better. If you continue up the road from the church you’ll come to a locked gate where the road ends, but if you walk around the fence there’s a little footpath that leads around the fence to the other side of the gated area. This is where the real magic happens. From here you have an incredible view looking straight out to the tip of the peninsula and the Isle of Capri. The grassy hilltop would make a great picnic spot for sure.

How To Get To Chiesa San Costanzo

Take a Sita Bus to Termini and then follow the mule track up the mountain to the church.

Alternatively, if you have your own transportation you can drive to Termini and then continue on Via Capo D’Arco up the mountain to the church. Once you pass through the last town, you’ll continue onto an unnamed road that winds up to Chiesa San Costanzo.

5. Admire the Isle of Capri from Punta Campanella

Punta Campanella is the strip of land at the very tip of the Sorrento Peninsula. It juts out into the sea looking directly towards the Isle of Capri it was once connected to many thousands of years ago. Punta Campanella offers the best views of Capri and the mesmerizingly blue Mediterranean Sea.

In addition to the beautiful views of Capri, ancient ruins and a 14th century watchtower can also be found on Punta Campanella. From this point, you can also hike up the hill 485 meters to Chiesa San Costanzo by following the red and white trail markings on the rocks.

How To Get To Punta Campanella

Take a Sita Bus to the Termini Bus Station. From the town square, facing the sea and Isle of Capri there are signs pointing down the road towards Punta Campanella. Follow the road until you see the hiking trail that diverges from the road. The trail is downhill, with the ocean on one side and gardens and olive groves on the other.

Eventually, the path divides in two, the lower trail staying flat and the upper trail leading up the mountain. Follow the lower path to reach Punta Campanella. It’s a total of 4 kilometers from Termini to Punta Campanella.

6. Hike down to the ocean at Cala di Mitigliano

Similar to Ieranto Bay, Cala di Mitigliano is another beautiful secluded beach with views of Capri and Punta Campanella. This black pebble beach is famous not just for its views and crystal clear waters, but also for the cave that you can swim into when the tide is low. The Cala di Mitigliano Cave was actually once an active cave used for the mining of limestone. On the beach, you can still see the circular building that was used in the production of lime.

How To Get To Cala di Mitigliano

Cala di Mitigliano can only be reached via a footpath starting in Termini. To get there, take a Sita Bus to Termini. Once in town, follow Via Campanella for 1.5 kilometers before turning off onto the paved footpath to your right that leads down to the ocean. Follow this footpath until you reach Cala di Mitigliano. From Termini, it’s a total of 3 kilometers to walk to Cala di Mitigliano and takes around 30-40 minutes.

7. Take a road trip down scenic Amalfi Drive

Amalfi Drive is one of the most epic scenic highways in all of Italy. Comparable to California’s Highway 1, it snakes around the Sorrentine Peninsula following the stunning Amalfi coastline from Sorrento to Vietri Sul Mare, the last town before the city of Salerno. The road is literally carved out of the cliffside and offers stunning views of the coastline, the Isle of Capri, and the beautiful Meditteranean Sea. In terms of road trips, you can’t get any more scenic than Amalfi Drive.

Along the way, be sure to stop in the beautiful seaside towns of Positano, Praiano, and Amalfi. Explore the colorful cliffside towns and grab a gelato or some lunch before continuing down the road.

How To Road Trip Amalfi Drive

The best way to road trip down Amalfi Drive is on a bicycle or vespa. For high-quality road and e-bike rentals check out Cycling Amalfi. Alternatively, to rent a vespa, you can’t go wrong with Amalfi Rent A Scooter. Both companies can deliver bikes or scooters to any town on the Amalfi Coast, so whereever you’re staying, your transportation can come to you!

8. Hike down to the tiny secluded beach of Fiordo di Crapolla

Fiordo di Crapolla is a stunning secluded beach tucked back into a fjord near the town of Massa Lubrense. The area is protected by towering rock walls that stretch out into the ocean on either side of the beach. Like the other beaches on this list, Fiordo di Crapolla is also made up of smooth black pebbles instead of sand.

Due to the surrounding rock walls, Fiordi di Crapolla is in shadow most of the day, so to enjoy this beach in the sunshine it’s best to go around noon. Make sure you take plenty of water for the hike down though as in contrast to the beach, the path offers no shade whatsoever.

How To Get To Fiordo di Crapolla

Fiordi di Crapolla is reachable via a hiking trail starting in the village of Torca. From Torca’s piazza, take Via Nula, and then Via Casalvecchio. From Via Casalvecchio, follow the trail marked in blue down to the fjord.

Follow the blue marked trail until you reach the 667 steps down to the beach. There’s a lot of steppage involved for sure, but, as with all of Amalfi’s hidden gems, the experience is totally worth it.

9. Summit Monte Faito, the tallest mountain on the Amalfi Coast

Towering over the surrounding mountains at 1400 meters tall (4593 feet), Monte Faito offers the absolute best views of the Amalfi Coast. From the top, you can see the entire peninsula stretching into the ocean before you, peak after rolling peak until the land eventually crashes into the sea.

For the best view, summit Monte Faito for sunset and watch the sun dip down right over the tip of the peninsula. For the second best view, head up the mountain at sunrise to watch the beautiful golden light rise over the mountains.

How To Summit Monte Faito

The summit of Monte Faito is actually one of the most easily accessible places on this list, surprisingly. You can access it by hiking, by bus, by car, by bike, by scooter, or by cable car. You can find the cable car station at the Curcumvesuviana train station in Castellammare di Stabia. The bus departs from a different Curcumvesuviana train station in Vico Equense.

To drive, bike, or scoot to the top of the mountain take Via Faito, which winds its way to the peak. To hike to the summit, start in the main piazza of Castellammare di Stabia. Follow the main road by the ocean, Via Giuseppe Bonito, towards Vico Equense. At the hairpin turn where the road splits in three, continue straight onto Via Visanola. When the road dead ends, follow hiking path 349.

At Castello Medievale the path crosses two roads and then continues as part of a small road. Follow the road until the path diverges again at a hairpin bend on your right. Once the path diverges it will shortly meet up with another hiking trail. At the junction, make a 180 degree turn to stay on trail 349 and continue up the mountain. Now simply follow the 349 trail until it meets the road at the top of the mountain. Make a 180 turn onto the road and follow path 336 to the upper cable car station.

You are now on the ridge of Monte Faito, but, the actual peak of Monte Faito has a “molar” or tip on top of it, so to reach the actual summit, continue following path 336 from the upper cable car station across the ridge. Path 336 merges with and becomes trail 350. Follow trail 350 which will lead you past the cross and up the peak of the mountain, called Molare.

10. Cliff jump (or watch other people cliff jump) at the Fjord of Furore

Touted as one of Europe’s best hidden beaches, the Fiordo di Furore beach is tucked way back inside of a gorge where a mountain stream meets the ocean. If you’re paying attention as you ride along Amalfi Drive you can actually see this beach from the road. You’ll have to keep your eyes peeled though because it’s definitely one of those, “blink and you’ll miss it” kind of places.

The scenic Amalfi Drive runs straight across the Fjord of Furore over an arched bridge. If you’re crazy enough to try it, you can actually jump off of the 30 meter tall bridge (98 feet) into the ocean below. There’s actually a legitimate high diving competition that’s run in July every year off of this bridge. Crazy sauce. But for real, only try this if you have some previous cliff jumping experience. And even then, you might want to keep your shoes on.

How To Get to the Fjord of Furore

The easiest way to access the beach is from the bridge. There’s no parking lot, so you can’t get there by car, but there are spots to park a bike or scooter on the side of the road. For those of us who don’t feel like crash landing into the ocean from a 100 foot tall bridge, there are steps that lead down to the beach instead.

You can reach Fiordo di Furore by bike, scooter, or Sita Bus.

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