The Amalfi Coast has always been at the top of my dream travel list. Open water, vertically trellising cities, and sienna-hued rooftops sounded like a dreamy warm weather getaway—visiting the Amalfi Coast in the winter wasn’t on my radar at all.
With my premiere Italy trip falling at the end of November and early December, visiting the Amalfi Coast seemed out of the question. All of the research I had done warned against visiting during the off-season due to cloudy skies, rainy days, and closed businesses.
Several businesses and hotels do close during the off-season, but traveling to the Amalfi Coast in the winter was one of the best decisions of the whole trip.
Here’s why you should consider traveling to the Amalfi Coast during the colder months:
Click below to discover some of the best things to do on the Amalfi Coast in winter:
1. Save money on Amalfi Coast hotels in the winter
I stayed at La Bambagina Guest House in Amalfi and paid $135 USD per night. It had a great view of the Piazza Duomo and was incredibly convenient.
During the peak of Amalfi Coast tourism season, this hotel is over $300 per night. The same is true for the majority of open hotels on the Amalfi Coast during the off-season.
Although several of the Amalfi Coast’s most iconic hotels, such as Hotel Marincanto and Hotel Poseidon, are closed during the winter, there are still several fantastic hotels that remain open, such as Hotel Eden Roc.
2. No crowds on the beach in Positano or Amalfi
It’s no travel secret that the Amalfi Coast, along with the entire country of Italy, gets crowded during the summer. Going during the off-season meant no overcrowded beach, packed town square, or sidewalks reminiscent of a state fair.
Being able to take in the shore with unobstructed views was priceless.
On the way to the coast, stop in Pompeii for a few hours. It’s an incredible experience. Going on the off-season meant being able to find parking immediately and experiencing Pompeii with very few people around.
When planning your winter vacation in Europe, keep in mind that there are similar benefits to visiting the Amalfi off-season at other beachy destinations! For example, Algarve in December is inexpensive and typically relatively empty.
3. See the holiday lights and Christmas festival in Amalfi
Nowhere in my research of the Amalfi Coast during the off-season did I see any mention of their holiday lights or Christmas festival.
It was a pleasant surprise that the day I stayed in Amalfi, they had a Christmas festival. A full band took over Piazza Duomo, the town square, playing fantastic live music all night long.
As many of the open restaurants have patios on the town square, you can dine and listen. The night was complete with a large fireworks display.
Amalfi also had a brightly lit Christmas tree in their rotunda and lights strung across the streets.
Find popular experiences on the Amalfi Coast:
4. Avoid traffic when driving on the Amalfi Coast during the off-season
Traffic through Italy is notorious—the Amalfi Coast’s tiny, winding roads are no exception.
With blind bends and single-lane roads pressed between mountain and straight cliff that go both ways, driving almost feels like real-life Mario Kart with serious ramifications. If you want to know fear, go down a road facing a large bus on a road the width of a single lane.
Although traveling during the off-season won’t fix the Amalfi’s harrowing roads, it will mean fewer cars, fewer buses, and better parking.
5. The Amalfi Coast in the winter is still probably warmer than it is at home
With New York a warm and toasty 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the 75-degree weather of the Amalfi Coast was a warm welcome during Thanksgiving and early December.
Contrary to all the warnings, the Amalfi was clear skies and sunny for the two days I spent down there. It may not have been steamy enough to lay on a yacht all day, but it was perfect weather for walking around town and sitting on the beach.
The Amalfi Coast stays around 90 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, which, in my opinion, is almost too hot.
6. No reservations are needed for Amalfi Coast restaurants during the off-season
Don’t worry about making a dinner reservation or waiting for a table. You won’t need to wait in line for a valet to take your car or to check in at the hotel, either.
Amalfi definitely is not as dead as people make it out to be during the off-season. However, although the city is still bustling, there are few enough tourists and enough businesses open that service is fast and friendly—no waiting necessary.
Amalfi Coast in the Winter: FAQ
It is definitely worth going to the Amalfi Coast in the winter. The glamorous Italian beach destination empties out during the cooler months, giving tourists the opportunity to visit the sought-after location without crowds. I visited early in December, and the weather was still beautiful.
Restaurants and hotels partially shut down in the winter. Many smaller businesses close for the season after mid-to-late October. Larger restaurants and hotels typically remain open. Ferries and boat charters shut down almost completely until the spring.
There is still plenty open in Positano in the winter—you can definitely go! Just keep in mind that the Amalfi Coast rains much more in the winter than it does in other months. If you get inclement weather, there isn’t a lot to do.
The Amalfi Coast was truly one of the most beautiful places I have seen to date! I highly recommend taking the trip regardless of when it is.
xx,
E
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