Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

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Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Is it weird that I’m a little sad about today’s post, because it’s our last post from Italy?! The Amalfi coast was the last leg of our trip, and I think it was truly the place where the locals were the most excited to welcome our family, especially the kiddos. If we thought they were kid-friendly in Florence, Rome, and Sorrento, this was next level. I was so happy to have that experience with our family. So even though we only spent one day in each of these cities, I wanted to share our favorite things to do on the Amalfi coast with kids in Amalfi, Ravello, Positano, and Capri.

I can honestly say that I never actually thought I would visit some of these places in my lifetime. They’re cities that I’ve seen in photos and movies since I was little, and they almost seemed too glamorous or remote or far-off to even consider. So believe me when I say, walking through these cities felt like an actual dream. They’re better than they look in photographs and more charming than you can even imagine. The little old ladies who passed us on the street would pinch our kids’ cheeks, or tousle Maggie’s curls. The little streets and walkways are so tiny and winding and lead to something beautiful around every curve.

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Because we were city hopping every day on this part of the trip, I’m sure we missed lots of local gems. We just really wanted to get a flavor for each place and experience the cities overall. So these suggestions really just scratch the surface of each of these places. Particularly in Positano and Capri, I wanted to stay for days and explore every little street.

Amalfi

We took the time to tour through the Cathedral of St. Andrew, and I’m so glad we did. The architecture is insanely beautiful, and the tiled dome is beyond. It’s a great way to let the kids walk around and tire them out. There’s a huge stairway leading up to it, so once you’re inside the views are lovely. And inside, one of my favorite places on the coast is waiting — the Cloister of Paradise. White columns, sunshine, an amazing garden, and a view of the duomo.

The little streets and shops were really busy in Amalfi, but we did find a couple of really great local artisan shops with clothing and ceramics (I brought home a bowl with an amazing sardine pattern on it!). The streets are definitely worth wandering through.

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Ravello

The Villa Cimbrone in Ravello has got to be one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever visited. It’s a huge, sprawling garden, with twists and turns and stairs and walkways. It ends on a cliff with a view that literally makes you feel like you’re on the edge of the world. The cliff face drops off into the ocean. Scattered throughout the garden are lots of statues and points of interest. Don’t miss the view from the catacombs. (This is one place to leave the stroller behind if you’re traveling with kids!)

We ate at Villa Maria Ristorante, and had one of the most hilarious and heartwarming “dining with kids” incidents EVER. It’s a fairly upscale place, but the servers didn’t flinch when we came in with kids. We got them settled with coloring books and got going with the meal. At one point, as Maggie was eating, she leaned to the side too far and fell out of her chair. She immediately started crying, and before I could even react, one waiter picked her up and started making bird whistle sounds, another straightened her chair and brought an EXTRA chair to make her sitting area wider, and a third waiter showed up with a little cookie for her. She was looking at me so confused but also like she had won the game because of the cookie.

It was hilarious because these waiters were like, professional serving staff, suits and ties, and totally falling all over themselves for Mags. It was a perfect example of how warm the locals were to our children.

Also, the lasagne was amazing.

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Positano

Ahhhhh, Positano.

I could have stayed for days. The kids had been dying for a day at the beach, so we rented beach chairs and posted up for most of the day. (Beach chairs are around 15 Euro for the back rows and 25 Euro for the front row. Kids don’t pay.) The beaches are mostly rocks with sandy patches here and there, so be sure you take some beach shoes so you can walk around. We ordered lunch and drinks to the chairs and just lived our best Italian vacay life.

Really the only other thing we did was to wander the little streets and shops. You could spend forever doing just that! The higher you climb, the better the views are. So get some gelato every few blocks and just keep going. 🙂

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Capri and Anacapri

I don’t know what I was expecting in Capri, but it surpassed anything I ever thought it would be. Down by the water, it feels like a little fishing town, small and quaint. There are a few shops and restaurants and you can find some snippets of rocky beach to let the kids throw rocks around.

But! Take a cab (or the Funicular!) to the main piazza and it’s a whole different world. It’s wayyyyy fancier than I realized, with tons of really great high-end shopping. Super fun for wandering and window shopping. It’s unimaginably beautiful, so manicured. From there, take a cab to Anacapri and wander around there too. It’s much less upscale but really relaxed and laid back. Equally beautiful.

If you’re in Capri, you kind of can’t miss the Blue Grotto. You can rent a boat to take you out to the entrance, where you hop in a little rowboat and pay your boatman. They row you inside and you have to lay down in the boat to get into the little grotto because the entrance is like a tiny cave! Once you’re inside, the water looks like it’s lit up from the bottom because of the way the sun shines on the water. It’s unreal.

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

Other Things to Know about Visiting the Amalfi Coast with Kids

I think the key in any of these cities if you’re traveling with kids is to just take it slow. To me, they’re places that you want to wander through, soak up, and really sink into. So just relax. Sneak in lots of gelato stops, toy shops, and let the kids take the lead here and there. Stop for drinks for the adults and snacks for the kids. Take them down by the water and let them loose. The Amalfi coast isn’t the first place you’d think of when you’re planning a family trip with little ones, but we had the most incredible experience and it was so, so worth it. xoxo

Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast with Kids

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10 Comments

  1. All these posts are making me seriously reconsider going to Italy with the kids next summer…

    We were thinking of an adults-only trip but if we take the kids we can stay longer…

  2. Hi! We have ONE day to spend on the Amalfi coast at the end of our Italy trip. If you had to pick one town to spend your day in, which would you pick? I know we could probably hop from city to city, but I’d love to just soak one in for a day. We have two fairly adventurous kids, ages 7 and 4.

    1. Honestly, probably Sorrento! I just loved the vibe there — so much for both parents and kids. It’s beautiful and friendly and so, so fun.

  3. We stay in amalfi for 2 days. One day we keeping for Capri what should we see on the other day ? Kids are 1 and 4? Am so confused the more I read the more i feel that we should stay there for long but problem is budget ???

  4. Hello,
    Loved reading your post. We are heading to the Amalfi Coast with 3 kids aged 4yr, 9yrs and 11yrs but not sure which is the best place to base ourselves. We are staying for 6 or 7 nights, should we do some at Sorrento then move further around to Amalfi or just stay put.

  5. Embark on a memorable family adventure to the enchanting Amalfi Coast! With its picturesque towns, crystal-clear waters, and delicious gelato, it’s a dream destination for kids and adults alike. Need to plan your trip quickly? Use a fast flight search tool to find the best deals and make your journey to the Amalfi Coast a breeze. Create lasting memories with your little ones in this Mediterranean paradise!