Villas in the Amalfi Coast

Amalfi Coast Villa Rentals

Located on the southwestern shores of Italy, the Amalfi Coast is well-known for its dramatic and rugged coastline, where steep cliffs plunge into the sea and the shores are dotted with pastel-coloured seaside villages. A firm favourite with Italian and European holidaymakers alike, charm and authenticity are at the heart of southern Italy’s Campania region. Expect sweeping vineyards, cliffside lemon groves and dazzling waters.

Oliver’s Travels’ selection of unique villas have been handpicked by destination experts and vary in location – from the coast to the lush green interior. Our villas in the Amalfi Coast are close to the action, whether that’s near to a beach, with a private pool, or within walking distance to restaurants and villages.

Why visit?

On the Amalfi Coast you’ll find a kaleidoscope of landscapes – from the mosaic of colourful villages to the cliffside lemon groves, terraced vineyards and cluster of small beaches.

This diversity of terrain, mixed with the architecture and artistic significance of the area is the reason behind its UNESCO World Heritage site status.

Read the Amalfi Coast Travel Guide

Why stay with us?

Style and character are everything at Oliver’s Travels, and our collection of handpicked villas in the Amalfi Coast have this in spades. We have destination experts who know the ins and outs of all our regions, picking villas that aren’t only unique, but also in the best locations. What’s more, our villas are 100% family-friendly, and have the ‘wow’ factor.

Our helpful concierge team are on-hand to make your stay extra special. Whether you want a fully-stocked fridge, a local in-house chef to cook your meals, housekeeping or any other extra service – consider them your holiday genie, who will happily grant your wishes.

Why visit the Amalfi Coast?

If you want sunshine, out of this world food, and plenty of ancient history to explore, it doesn’t get much better than the Amalfi coast. It was the playground of Rome’s emperors for centuries, so if it’s good enough for Caesar, it’s good enough for us! And with such a glorious collection of luxury villas, you won’t be disappointed.

The landscape is typically southern Italian, with green hills and steep, rocky cliffs that tumble down towards the sea. Dotted throughout the landscape you’ll find tiny towns and villages that have remained unchanged for centuries.

If you’re a hopeless romantic, a history lover with a penchant for ruins, or a family looking for a beach to laze on, our villas in the Amalfi Coast won’t disappoint.

Coastal Road, Amalfi Coast

Food and drink on the Amalfi Coast

Kick off the day with coffee and the local sfogliatella, a delicious sweet pastry you’ll fall in love with at the first bite.

If you want to eat like a local, make lunch your main meal of the day, and seeing as you’re just a short distance from Naples, the birthplace of pizza, we’ve got a good idea what you should go for!

In this part of Italy the locals still believe in eating seasonally, so all year round you’ll see variations on the local menus, from fresh asparagus in the spring through to black truffles and chestnuts in the autumn. Wash everything down with the favourite local tipple, limoncello, probably the best palette cleanser in the world!

If you want more information, you can also check the Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Travel Guide or get some inspiration from locals in our blog.

Best time to visit

Our advice: Peak holiday times are between July and August, meaning things can get crowded. To beat the crush, head here during the shoulder seasons of April through to June, and throughout September and October.

Weather: Expect average temperatures of around 20-26°C from April to June, and the mid to high 20s in September and October. July is the driest month.

What Oliver loves

A combination of the warm welcome you’ll get everywhere, wonderful food and drink, and those gorgeous beaches all come together to make you feel like a local.

Why it's perfect for families

For babies

‘Bambinos’ are adored all over Italy, so expect restaurants, shops and practically everywhere else to welcome them with open arms, and spoil them rotten!

For kids

Pretty, pebbled beaches and ice creams galore are a sure winner for the little ones.

For teens

The preserved remains of the victims of Pompeii and Herculaneum should appeal to older children, or head here for a spring break in February or March for the Carnevale, which is always a colourful event.

Top Tips

Head to the Parco Nazionale del Cilento, the spooky caves and grottos are a great way to escape the heat of the day.
Plan your visit to coincide with the Giffoni film festival, Europe’s biggest children’s film event in July.
You can’t miss a trip to Pompeii, or tick Herculaneum off your list.
If you’re here with very young tots then bear in mind that the cobbled streets can be challenging if you’re pushing a stroller or buggy.

Things to do on the Amalfi Coast

From sparkling waters and quaint towns to historic architecture and areas of natural beauty, the Amalfi Coast is a playground for adults. If you want to explore the turquoise waters, take a boat tour to Li Galli Sirenuse, visiting the archipelago made up of La Castelluccia, Gallo Lungo and La Rotonda. Listen carefully and you might hear the song of the Sirens on this little cluster of islands off the coast!

History lovers should explore the atmospheric fishing town of Amalfi, once a powerful marine trading centre.The 9th-century Amalfi Cathedral is a great way to discover this town’s interesting past.

If you want to be thrown into the natural beauty of the area, head to the Ferrier Valley Nature Reserve. Full of lemon groves and gorgeous spring flowers, the reserve was once home to a number of old ironworks dating back to Roman times. Now it’s best known for its tranquillity and its spectacular waterfalls, making this the perfect spot for a day’s hike.

Fancy some more ideas when staying at our villas in the Amalfi Coast? Check out our Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Travel Guide.

Beaches on the Amalfi Coast

The Amalfi coast is not exactly famous for its beaches, but the ones that do line the coast are small, friendly, and usually relatively quiet. There are some larger ones with all the usual facilities, but they get pretty busy in July and August. Instead, head away from the regular haunts and you’re bound to find your own little secret cove somewhere along the coast. The coastline is quite rugged, with towering cliffs and small inlets, some of which can only be reached by boat.Keep an eye out for the characteristic black volcanic sand, which makes them a little unusual.

Almost all of our villas in the Amalfi Coast come with their own pool, and if what you really want is having the coast close by, we suggest you to check these properties near the beach.

Oliver's Hidden Gem

Spiaggia della Gavitella beach. Due to the number of steps you have to walk down to get to it, this little gem tends to be a lot less crowded than its neighbours. The walk is absolutely worth it – it’s stunning.

Minori

Our top pick for families, this beach is easily accessible, has good facilities, and plenty of sun loungers. For a special treat, check out the amazing lemon cream pastries at the local shop called Sal de Riso.

Marina Grande

Right in the middle of Amalfi is this great beach for families, where you can also catch a boat to some of the nearby coves and quieter beaches along the coast. Avoid during the peak season unless you love crowds!

Atrani

Our top choice if you want a paddle in safe, shallow water. Just a 2-minute drive from Amalfi, this beach is popular with local families, with easy access to the town centre for a quick lunch break or ice cream.

Maiori

This is the longest beach on the Amalfi coast and has plenty of facilities for families as well as safe, clean water, jet skis and pedalos for hire. Great if you’re here with the family and love your water-sports.

Erchie

If you want that romantic sunset walk along the surf with your other half, this is the beach to do it on. Afterwards, check out the local fish restaurants. Quieter than the other beaches, and perfect for relaxation.

Marinella r'e Ninnilli

Translating as ‘Children’s Beach’ and also known as Calypso Beach, this charming spot is sunny almost all day long, quiet, and perfect for a little rest and relaxation. Grab a snack and a drink at the Calypso bar.

Towns and villages on the Amalfi Coast

You can’t move along the Amalfi coast without tripping over gorgeously pretty little villages and towns. There are charming little villages to explore, with pastel-painted houses tumbling down the side of the hills.

They’re not all modern towns, either, and no trip to this part of Italy is complete without at least one visit to the eerie remains of Pompeii and Herculaneum. Hop on the Circumvesuviana Railway and take the train up towards Naples. Get off at Pompei Scavi (Villa dei Misteri). The trip takes around 35 minutes from Sorrento, so it’s a great day trip and easy to get to. Our top tip: don’t drive! The parking is limited at best, and the only word to describe the traffic as you get closer to the suburbs of Naples is ‘madness’!

The best spot for shopping has to be Naples. It’s mad, it’s loud, it’s insanely busy, but with so many tiny backstreets and piazzas to explore, it’s an absolute gem of a city and well worth a visit. Use public transport to get here, pay-and-display parking is very limited, and most spots are permit parking only. If you want to be close to the main towns, discover these villas close to villages.

Oliver's Hidden Gem

Capo: It’s a little off the beaten track, but if you want to see a village where time seems to have stood still, Capo is our hidden gem.

Described by writer Isaac Babel as an ‘earthly paradise’, it’s tranquil, charming, and colourful. Look out for the Roman ruins, and the stunning Bath of Queen Joan.

Ravello

Six kilometers north of Amalfi, Ravello’s known as the City of Music and home to the beautiful Villa Cimbrone, with its classical gardens filled with statues. It’s been the muse of writers and poets for decades and was given UNESCO World Heritage status back in 1997, so you know it’s going to be ridiculously pretty! Keep an eye out for the Ravello music festival in the summer.

Atrani

This charming little town clings slightly precariously to the rocks, but if you don’t mind getting in your 10,000 daily steps on some pretty steep cobbled streets, it’s stunningly pretty with some great views of the coast. Check out the Torre dello Ziro fortress, which overlooks the town and gives you some great views, or pop your head into the Grotto of the Saints (below the Tower of Ziro), which dates all the way back to the 10th century.

Praiano

Wander down narrow cobbled streets, peer into boutiques and tiny bars, and feel yourself slow right down in this delightful little town that’s all potted geraniums and amazing views. You’re heading off the tourist trail here, so expect it to have a laid-back vibe and a much more authentic feel of ‘old’ Italy. For amazing views and the ultimate place to watch the sunset on the Amalfi coast, head up the Torra a Mare.

Positano

Supposedly named after the sea god Poseidon, a 25-minute ferry trip from Amalfi will bring you to this charming village. It has two rather sweet little beaches that are usually pretty crowd-free as long as you don’t head here in July and August. Its famous church, the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, is home to a 13th-century Byzantine icon, and the coastline is littered with Roman villas. See it at its best during the early spring.

Paestum

For a few euros you can hop onto a bus and head out to the incredible ruins at Paestum. You may be in southern Italy, but the Greek influence is strong in this part of the world (it was hotly contested between the Greek and Roman empires during ancient times). Paestum is home to some of the best preserved Greek Doric temples not just in Europe, but in the world. This is a must-see if you love ancient history.

Furore

If you like something a little different, this tiny village ticks all the right boxes. Tucked away between Amalfi town and Positano, it clings to the side of a rocky gorge and is a mass of tiny tumbling cobbled streets and alleyways. At its heart is the Fiordo or fjord and its arched, 30m-high bridge, where determined young men and women leap off and into the water every summer for the International Diving Championships.

Top Tips

Hire a bike: Cycling is popular in southern Italy, and if you can cope with some pretty monumental hills to start with, the cycling and hiking paths along the Amalfi coast are spectacular.
Tipping: Optional but appreciated. For restaurants, leave a 10% tip but watch out for ‘Servizio’ on your bill as that means a service charge has already been included. Round it up to the nearest euro in taxis, and put a 10cent coin on the bar when you order your coffee to show you’re ready to be served.
Watch out for: Pickpockets in Naples and other main tourist spots like Pompeii.

Getting around the Amalfi Coast

Wondering how best to explore this beautiful region? We’ve found the easiest ways to get to get to our villas in the Amalfi Coast, avoiding traffic and crowds on the way!

By plane

If you’re planning a break in one of our Amalfi Coast villas, it couldn’t be easier to get here. Flights are regular, with over 100 flights from airports across the UK every week to Naples. The flight time is around two and a half hours from London or roughly three hours from most regional airports.

By car

Expect plenty of winding roads and traffic if you’re planning to rent a car on the Amalfi Coast. There is also a lack of parking so public transport may be a better option.

By bus

Although buses are frequent, they can often get caught in traffic. You’ll need to buy tickets in advance from the majority of bars or tabacconists. Be aware, buses don’t run at night so taxis are your best option.

By train

Italian trains are fast, clean, incredibly cheap, and very reliable. The two main train stations on the Amalfi coast are Salerno, which connects directly to Eurostar as well as the main Italian network, and Sorrento.

The Sorrento line connects to Naples and the ruins at Pompeii and is an excellent way of getting around to see some of the region’s essential tourist spots. You also get the benefit of a fantastic coastal view along the way.

From the blog…

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