Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Exploring Italy’s Amalfi Coast with Viator

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I’ve been home from Europe since mid-July and while I am still processing all I saw and did—not to mention, detoxing from everything I ate and drank—I couldn’t wait a second longer to tell you all about one of our first stops on our 11-night cruise: the charming waterfront towns of the Amalfi Coast.

I’ve been to Italy a half a dozen times, but Positano has always been my Italian Holy Grail. And when my Travel Mindset asked me if I’d do a day trip with Viator while in Italy to write about it, I didn’t need any convincing. It was the opposite of saving the best for last, as the Amalfi Coast was undoubtedly one of my favorite parts of our three-week trip to Europe.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

I blame Diane Lane for first introducing me to the beauty of Positano; after all, she sipped limoncello from a seaside cafe there in her 2003 hit, Under the Tuscan Sun. But she certainly wasn’t the last. When I was in Naples a few years ago, I desperately tried to get down there, but I was on a work agenda that allowed for zero free time. Last year on the ship, we went to Florence due to proximity to our Livorno port, but once again, I was hoping for Amalfi. However, this time? I was thrilled to discover it was only a half-hour drive from our port of Sorrento. But how to get there when we didn’t have a car and were on a limited timeframe? was the problem.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Luckily, Viator has many such day trips that allow for a tight cruise docking schedule. We opted for a private day tour of the Amalfi Coast without a guide, as it would enable us a bit of flexibility. Our driver, Gianni, arrived punctually—actually, he was there early, as were we—and as we’d already tooled around Sorrento on our own a bit, we made straight for Positano, so as to not waste a moment.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

En route, Gianni began told us all about the area in broken, but charming Italian. He kept saying embarrassingly, “my English is no good,” but we understood him perfectly, and the fact that he wasn’t even meant to be our guide, just a driver, and took on that role anyway was endearing.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

There are plenty of cliffside pull-outs where you can park a car and admire the view, and Gianni stopped at each one, offering to take our photos.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

We couldn’t believe the views—each stop one-upped the last—and then we arrived at the outskirts of Positano.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

It took no time to see what everyone had raved about. The red roofs, the sprays of bougainvillea, the way the town cascaded down the mountain—I loved every bit of what I was seeing.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

But before we’d set out to explore, there was something more important to do first: eat lunch.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Lunch became a two-hour endeavor as Gianni took us to Da Contanstino, a family-owned restaurant where we ate an Italian feast for 25 euro apiece (not included in the price of the tour).

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

I even helped to make the bruschetta. And man, was it GOOD, too.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

These were the experiences we craved in Italy, the peek at local life away from the maddening crowds. And the food was perhaps the best meal we had the entire time we were in Europe: unlimited house wine, a Caprese salad, a trio of pasta, orange cake and, of course, limoncello to finish the culinary journey.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Oh, and did I mention the views? Gianni had called ahead and scored us a prime table right by the window.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

They may carbo-load on the regular, but Italians take a “digestive walk” after filling their bellies with so much bread and pasta, so we decided to do the same. Gianni drove us to the heart of the town and let us out at the entrance to the pedestrian walkway. We climbed down narrow cobblestone alleys, peeked in local shops, then eventually found ourselves at Positano’s base, where everyone seemed to have the same idea we did: beach time.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

We didn’t have much time to stop and work on our tans—we were at the mercy of the ship’s schedule after all—but we took our pictures, sat for a moment to take in the frenetic energy that surrounded us, and made our way back up to find Gianni. We had half an hour of twisty, windy coastal road ahead of us to the delightful town of Amalfi.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Amalfi may have been smaller than Positano, but I think I liked it even more, if that’s possible. We barely had an hour here, but we peeked inside the Amalfi Cathedral in the Piazza del Duomo. It’s so easy to get churched out in Italy, but this was one of the prettier ones we saw and is definitely worth a gander (3 euros to get in).

Touring the Amalfi Coast with Viator
Touring the Amalfi Coast with Viator
Touring the Amalfi Coast with Viator

Then, as to not go a day without our gelato fix, we tried the limon per Gianni’s rec and devoured it out by the Fountain of Sant’Andrea.

Then, as to not go a day without our gelato fix, we tried limon per Gianni's rec and devoured it out by the Fountain of Sant'Andrea.

If we’d had more time, Gianni also would have taken us higher up into the mountain to the town of Ravello, but we were already pushing it time-wise as it was, so we turned around and drove the hour and change back to Sorrento, where our ship awaited us. There’s only one real way to venture down the Amalfi Coast, so we did an out-and-back, but we were all happy to be see that view twice so no one minded in the slightest.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast-16

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

We made it back to the ship with 15 minutes to spare and gave Gianni a big squeeze, for he’d already made our vacation and it was only day three. Next time, though, we might not let him leave without taking us home with him.

Viator tour of Italy's Amalfi Coast

COMMENTS
  • July 28, 2014

    I should not have read this when I am ravenously hungry! So much food envy and the views, of course, are enviable too. Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast are for sure on the to-do list and this tour looks great with Italian charm to boot too!

  • July 29, 2014

    This tour sounds (and looks) so perfect. I haven’t been to those areas of Italy and now I’m begging my husband to plan a trip!

    • August 2, 2014

      You should go on a Viator day trip! =)

  • July 29, 2014

    I remember my day doing this very same route – unforgettable & delicious! You definitely made me want to schedule a redo…

    • August 10, 2014

      Maybe go in fall months…the summer crowds were bad in places like Sorrento and Positano (though not terrible in Amalfi)!

  • July 29, 2014

    That view though!!! Of the food I mean =P.

  • July 30, 2014

    The view looks absolutely perfect. I must definitely return to Italy one of these days and check this out!

  • August 1, 2014

    Bad idea reading this post in the morning. I’m so hungry now 😀
    These places look awesome, plus I really enjoyed discovering your blog.
    Happy travels!

    • August 11, 2014

      I think I stretched my stomach in Italy as I’ve been hungry ever since, ha!

  • August 2, 2014

    Now this is my kind of tour, I need to get to the Amalfi Coast.

    • August 11, 2014

      You of all people would LOVE it here!

  • August 3, 2014

    Looks like such a great tour! My only visit to Amalfi was in the pouring rain — I really need to go back!

    • August 10, 2014

      Oh, that’s such a bummer! Yes, you definitely owe it to yourself to return in sunny weather 😉

  • August 3, 2014

    This makes me miss Italy SO MUCH!

    • August 10, 2014

      Nowhere does food better than Italy, that’s for sure!

  • August 4, 2014

    You look so cute in your bruschetta baking pic! And I’m not sure if this was post or pre-luggage reunion, but you’re looking adorbs either way — great dress.

    • August 10, 2014

      It was the day we got our bags. Hallelujah! 😉

      H&M purchase from yeaaaaars ago. Funny story, Angie has the same one (in green), and the second time we went to the Bahamas together, we both happened to wear it on the same day!

      • August 11, 2014

        UGHHHH Let me join in on the twin pack! (Well, I guess in that case we’d be triplets…)

  • August 4, 2014

    Ohhh Italy, Te Amo. We really want to stuff our faces with that fresh baked bruscetta!

    • August 10, 2014

      I make a mean bruschetta if I do say so myself 😉

  • August 7, 2014

    I’ll never stop dreaming about gelato in Italy- breakfast, lunch and dinner. Looks beautiful there but that’s so strange they charge you to go into the church- I’ve never seen that before.

    • August 10, 2014

      Really? I feel like that’s so common in Europe. I don’t think I’ve ever not paid to go in a church! Usually, it’s just a couple euro, which is more a donation to the preservation and upkeep of the structure.

  • August 8, 2014

    Great, now I’m hungry 🙁

    This is exactly what traveling through Italy is all about. The beaches are gorgeous, the ocean blue, and the lunches drawn out. Those bruschettas look delicious, and having been to Italy a gazillion times, I can almost *taste* that coffee (which will be 100x better than whatever Starbucks serves).

    You’re doing Italy right Kristin 🙂

    • August 10, 2014

      Thank you 😉

      The eating party especially, I’ve got down pat…

  • August 8, 2014

    What a great trip! I love Italy. The views, the people, the food! We were in Tuscany just two years ago, but it’s been years since I’ve been to the Amalfi coast so this post is a wonderful reminder of how beautiful that coastline really is.
    Thanks for sharing Kristin. 🙂

    • August 10, 2014

      And it’s been years since I’ve been to Tuscany! Clearly, we need to flip-flop next time 😉

  • August 10, 2014

    It looks like the views are worth the plane ticket over there! Such great pictures to highlight a great trip! 🙂

    • August 10, 2014

      I’ve been to Italy so many times, that I’ve become a bit jaded…until visiting the Amalfi Coast. A completely new level of beauty!

  • August 10, 2014

    The Amalfi Coast is the stuff of dreams … you should consider yourself lucky to have seen it!

    • August 10, 2014

      Oh don’t you worry, I never take a thing for granted!

  • August 14, 2014

    Ahh you’re making me crave Italian food so much now. And Italy in general. I’ve been to Italy many times but never visited the Amalfi coast – it looks ah-mazing!

  • August 28, 2014

    I’m currently in Rome and this post has created a serious temptation to head down the coast to see Amalfi, the sights are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing and inspiring!

  • August 31, 2014

    What a breathtaking view! It’s just wow. Thank you for sharing this.

    Now I want to eat some Italian food and sip limoncello. Cravings in the middle of the night…

  • December 15, 2014

    I absolutely love reading your blog! I am studying abroad in Italy for 4 months and these photos and tips are so helpful. Thank you so much 🙂

    • December 15, 2014

      That’s amazing! Make the most out of every moment. You can sleep when you’re back 😉

  • March 18, 2015

    What a gorgeous post! Your pictures are lovely and I can only imagine how much more stunning these places must be in reality! I especially love your photo of the cathedral, as well as the one above it, with all the green grass – beautiful! Your driver seems fantastic, and what a great photo of him to end the post!

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