10 MISTAKES I DID ON THE AMALFI COAST (so You Do't Have to )

Let me save you stress, money, and possibly a herniated disc.

Here’s everything I did wrong — so you don’t have to.

✅ 1. I drove there.

That road isn’t scenic — it’s a survival test. Cliff on one side, buses inches from your mirror on the other. If you’re not a confident driver, skip the drama.

✅ 2. I didn’t know my rental car license plate controlled when I could drive.

Even plates on even days. Odd plates on odd days. Break the rule? You could get fined €500 and be stopped at the checkpoints. Not worth it.

✅ 3. I thought I could just park when I got there.

Spoiler: Amalfi doesn’t really do parking. I finally found a spot at Luna Rossa — a lot literally carved into the rock. €5/hour, €40–€45/day in high season. Long stay is an option… but only if you stay over 24 hours. Day stays don’t count. And you need to check in/out at 12:00 sharp, or you pay more. Also, no cars over 2 meters high, and no gas-powered vehicles allowed. It's a maze of rules.

✅4. I didn’t realize my hotel was inside a ZTL zone.

So I had to park outside town and carry my luggage uphill. Google Maps said “5 minutes.” What it meant was 900 stairs, uneven stone steps, and absolutely no shade. I looked like I’d climbed Mount Vesuvius dragging a suitcase.

✅ 5. I went in July.

I thought I was going on vacation — instead, I found myself packed into narrow streets with half of Europe at 38°C. That’s not a holiday, it’s a heatstroke simulator.

Go at the end of September. The weather’s still lovely, the crowds thin out, and you might actually enjoy yourself.

✅ 6. I shouldn’t have based myself in Amalfi.

It was beautiful… but also chaotic, expensive, and exhausting with a car. What I should have done?

Stayed in Sorrento, left the car there, and used ferries to explore the coast. It’s outside the ZTL madness, easier to navigate, and way more relaxing as a home base.

✅ 7. I thought I’d relax on a big, free beach in Amalfi.

Spoiler: Amalfi’s main beach, Marina Grande, is not the peaceful escape I imagined. It’s right in front of the ferry dock and bus stop, which makes it super easy to reach — and completely packed. Most of the beach is taken up by private clubs, and the tiny free section is usually full by 10 AM.

The water? Gorgeous. The experience? Crowded, noisy, and far from relaxing.

If I could do it over, I’d skip Amalfi’s beach and head to Maiori, where the beach is wider and more comfortable — or even better, the hidden cove of Erchie, a tiny village with a beach that still feels like a secret.

✅8. I had to figure out how to move around on the day I couldn’t use the car.

Because of the license plate rule, I wasn’t allowed to drive. So I thought, “No problem, I’ll just take the bus.”

I stood on the roadside and watched five buses fly past without stopping — completely full. When one finally did stop, it was a sauna on wheels.

Overpacked, no seats, barely any air. It took over an hour to go what should’ve taken 15 minutes.

At that point, I would’ve paid double for a boat, a Vespa, a donkey — anything.

Lesson: don’t rely on public transport here. Book ferries, walk early, or plan a day to stay put.

✅9. I didn’t rent a boat — and I should have.

Everyone talks about the views from the Amalfi Coast… but the real magic is seeing it from the sea.

I skipped it because I thought it was too expensive or complicated. Turns out, you can rent a small dinghy without a license, and it’s one of the best things you can do.

No traffic, no crowds — just cliffs, hidden beaches, and freedom.

✅10. I brought the wrong shoes.

Flip-flops. Wedges. Cute sandals. All completely useless.

The Amalfi Coast is not made for fashion shoes. It’s made of stairs, cobblestones, steep alleys, and slippery stone paths.

By the end of day one, I had blisters. If you don’t pack real, comfortable walking shoes, you’ll regret it.

📌 Save this post if you’re planning to go.

It might not be glamorous — but it could actually save your trip. #amalfi #guide