Amalfi Coast Small Group Tour Positano Amalfi Ravello Sorrento

The Amalfi Coast road from Sorrento

The drive is part of the experience. The coast road climbs out of Sorrento, crosses the ridge of the peninsula and then follows the cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea, with hairpin bends, tunnels and views that open at every curve. This Amalfi Coast tour by van from Sorrento leaves the driving to a professional who knows the road, so you can look at the scenery instead of the traffic.

Because the group is small, the van can pull into viewpoints that large coaches cannot use, and there are no long waits for a big group to reassemble. Many visitors ask whether it is better to drive themselves or go on a tour: the road is narrow and busy, and parking in the towns is limited, so a driver makes the day easier.

Positano: the vertical village

Positano is the most photographed town on the coast, with pastel houses stacked up a steep hillside above a pebble beach. The dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, covered in coloured majolica tiles, marks the centre, and narrow stepped lanes lead up from the sea past boutiques, sandal makers and ceramic shops.

Allow your free time for a slow walk down to the beach, a look at the shops and a coffee with a view. Visitors searching for a day trip to Positano from Sorrento will find that the town is compact, so a few hours are enough to see the highlights and enjoy the atmosphere.

Amalfi: the old maritime republic

Amalfi was one of the powerful maritime republics of medieval Italy, and its Cathedral of Sant'Andrea, with a striking striped facade and a wide staircase, is the town's landmark. Next to it the Cloister of Paradise, with slender columns and a quiet garden, is a calm place away from the crowds on the harbour front.

Behind the main square, small lanes hold ceramic shops, paper workshops and cafes, and the town has a local tradition of making paper that is still celebrated. For anyone planning Amalfi Coast tours from Sorrento, this stop adds history to the scenery of the previous one.

Ravello: gardens above the sea

Ravello sits on a ridge about 350 metres above the sea, calm and elegant, and it is known for its gardens and its music festival. Villa Rufolo, with its cloister and terraced garden, is said to have inspired Wagner, and Villa Cimbrone ends in the Terrace of Infinity, a balcony over the sea lined with marble busts.

The cooler air and quieter streets make Ravello a pleasant contrast to the busier towns on the shore. The best time to visit the Amalfi Coast is spring or autumn, when the gardens are at their best and there are fewer crowds, though the views from Ravello are rewarding all year.