When to visit the Amalfi Coast? A season-by-season guide

With its chalk-colored towns clinging to the wooded coast, glorious food, fragrant citrus groves and glamorous beaches backed by stunning sea cliffs, the Amalfi Coast is a highlight of any trip to Italy.

Yet there is a downside to such marvelous attractions: the whole world now seems to be in on the secret, and this small region swells to almost a bursting point at peak times. Yet each of its seasons has its particular charms, and there are pros and cons to traveling to the Amalfi Coast at different times of the year.

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During peak times – including summer and Easter – prices are high and things get very crowded, but there’s a festive atmosphere, and you can still find a bit of tranquility away from tourist hot spots. Traveling in the low season brings unpredictable weather – and also lower prices, plus the feeling that the coast has been turned back over to locals.

However, this year, the Amalfi Coast is expected to be exceptionally busy with many visitors combining their Amalfi Coast trip with the Jubilee celebrations in Rome, which are anticipated to draw up to 35 million additional visitors to the capital.

With a bit of planning, you can navigate high- or low-season challenges more easily than the bends of the region’s famous coastal road. Here’s a season-by-season guide to the best times to visit the Amalfi Coast.

July and August are the hottest months on the Amalfi Coast

These are the months to aim for if you want guaranteed high temperatures, bright sunshine and plenty of beach action. The warmest month is August, with temperatures over 30°C (86°F); July is not far behind. Expect crowds, heat and traffic. This is when Italy takes its annual summer holiday and international tourist numbers are high – and it will be a struggle to find a space on the small, pebbly beaches to lay down your towel.

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The upside is a festive, party-like atmosphere, streets that are alive and vibrant, and lots of festivals along the coast, including the festival of lemons on the third weekend in July. On the Night of San Lorenzo on August 10, people camp out on the beach to see shooting stars – and the Dawn Concert takes place at the Ravello Festival at daybreak. On the big Italian summer holiday of Ferragosto (the Assumption of Mary) on August 15, processions are held in various towns, including Positano.

During peak times, there are travel restrictions on the famous 37km (23-mile) SS163 coastal stretch between Vietri sul Mare and Positano. On weekends from June 15 to September 30, and for the entirety of Easter week and the month of August, non-resident cars with a license plate ending in an even number cannot drive along the coast on even-numbered days between 10am and 6pm; likewise, cars with a license plates ending in an odd number cannot travel on odd-numbered days. If you’re planning to drive and aiming for a particular hotel, contact your accommodation to find out their arrangements for this period. Or count on getting around using public transit.

May and October are great for hiking

In May, temperatures hover around 20°C (68°F), wildflowers are blooming and the landscape is at its greenest. It’s usually warm enough to wear a t-shirt by day, though evenings are much cooler. Mid-May is a great window to visit for some sunshine without the usual crowds.

Early autumn brings similar temperatures, only the sea is warmer after all the summer heat, and truffles and funghi grace the menu. October is a great time to hike along the coast’s many walking trails: it’s sunny without being too hot, and the paths are less busy.

April and November have cooler weather and fewer crowds

April temperatures hover around a cool but often sunny 13°C to 20°C (55°F to 68°F), and wildflowers are blooming in the countryside. This is a good time to visit to avoid big crowds – with the exception of Easter week (March/April), which is very popular and brings traffic restrictions along the SS163 (see above).

Temperatures in November average 13°C to 18°C (55°F to 64°F), and the sea is warmer than in spring. While towns and villages are quieter and the ferry schedule lighter, there’s more of a sense of day-to-day local life during this time. The Festival of Sant’Andrea, Amalfi’s largest religious festival, is celebrated twice a year – once in July and again on November 30.

Early June and September deliver summer sun without peak crowds

June and September temperatures are very warm, hovering from around 20°C to 27°C (68°F to 80°F). The coast only begins to get busy in mid-June, when Italian school holidays start, and this high season continues until the end of September.

Early June is a better time to visit than later in the month, when the crowds start rolling in. There are several saint days in Amalfi in June that feature processions and food stalls. The sea is warmer in September, after all the summer sun. Although the coast remains busy during these two months, it’s not as packed as the peak months of July and August.

December to March is the cheapest time to visit the Amalfi Coast

The cheapest time to visit the Amalfi coast is the winter season. The weather is unpredictable in this timeframe: you’ll often get bright skies, but this is also when the coast receives the bulk of its annual rainfall. Bear in mind that local heating systems tend to be not particularly effective in this usually warm climate, which can lead to chilly accommodation.

Beach clubs are closed, giving resort towns a somewhat forlorn if evocative atmosphere. The exception is Christmas and New Year, when celebrations, nativity scenes, processions and New Year fireworks along the coast all take place.

If do you seize the chance to go to Amalfi in winter, dress like an onion (layers, layers, layers), and relish the chance to explore at your own pace – without crowds of visitors jostling for every last square inch of space.