7-Day Amalfi Coast Itinerary: Capri, Positano, Amalfi & Cilento

Updated May 2026.

The Amalfi Coast is the most-photographed cruising ground in the Mediterranean and the most regulated. Mooring buoys are mandatory in many bays, day-tripper boats own the anchorages from 10:00 to 17:00, and overnight rules in marine reserves are strictly enforced. This itinerary works around all of that — early morning starts, paid buoys booked in advance, and one full day on the quieter Cilento coast south of Salerno.

Day 1 — Salerno to Procida (28 NM)

Pickup at Salerno’s Marina d’Arechi or Marina Stabia. Provision near the marina before pickup. The first leg is the long one — Salerno northwest around the Sorrento Peninsula to Procida, the smaller and quieter neighbour to Capri. Aim to leave by 14:00 to clear the Sorrento Peninsula before late-afternoon traffic. Procida’s harbour at Marina Grande is small but charter-friendly; the anchorage at Chiaiolella on the west coast is the alternative.

Day 2 — Procida to Capri (10 NM)

The famous leg. Capri’s marina (Marina Grande, the only one) is fully booked in season — reserve months ahead. The alternative is a paid mooring buoy in the Bagni di Tiberio anchorage on the north coast, with a tender ride to Marina Grande. The Faraglioni at Capri’s south end are a mandatory swim-and-photo stop. Walk up to Anacapri in the late afternoon.

Day 3 — Capri to Positano (16 NM)

The Amalfi Coast proper begins. Positano has no real harbour — boats anchor or take a buoy in the bay below the town and tender in. The bay fills with day-tripper boats from 10:00 onward; arrive by 09:30 to secure a buoy. Positano is a 30-minute walk from the beach to the upper town, all uphill — wear shoes, not flip-flops.

Day 4 — Positano to Amalfi Town (8 NM)

The shortest sailing day. Amalfi roadstead is the same setup as Positano — anchor in the bay, tender to the dock. The harbour is intense in season; the secret is to do it on a Sunday or after 17:00. Visit the Duomo, walk up to the Valle delle Ferriere if you have time. Conca dei Marini, the next bay east, is the best swim stop on the coast.

Day 5 — Amalfi to Salerno via Cetara (15 NM)

A working day on the southern half of the coast. Cetara is a small fishing town famous for its anchovy paste; lunch at one of the seafront tavernas is the right call. Continue to Salerno for the night — the marina is calm, large, and a good provisioning stop for the second half of the week.

Day 6 — Salerno to Acciaroli, Cilento Coast (38 NM)

The long southern leg, and the part of the route most charterers skip — at their loss. The Cilento coast south of Salerno is a UNESCO biosphere reserve with empty bays, fishing villages, and a fraction of the Amalfi crowd. Acciaroli is the standard overnight, with a small harbour and a working seafront. Palinuro, further south, is the dramatic alternative.

Day 7 — Cilento to Salerno (38 NM)

Direct return up the coast. Long day but mostly calm afternoon water. Fuel up at Marina d’Arechi before mooring. Plan a 14:00 arrival for the 16:00 handover.

Total distances and difficulty

Approximately 153 NM across the week. Two longer Cilento legs (38 NM each) balance the short Amalfi-coast hops. A skipper-friendly route in calm summer weather; gets harder in late September when southerly fronts can roll up the coast.

Marina booking and mooring buoy logistics

Pre-book Capri Marina Grande and Salerno Marina d’Arechi at the time you book the charter. Pre-book the Positano and Amalfi mooring buoys via the official Costa Amalfitana app — buoys are released 30 days ahead. Cetara and Cilento are first-come-first-served. Marina overnights run €120–250 in season; mooring buoys €60–120 per night.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Amalfi Coast worth the regulatory hassle?

Once, yes. The scenery is genuinely unique. After your first time, the Cilento and the Aeolian Islands offer a similar feel with a third of the rules.

Can I do this route on a catamaran?

Yes, but Amalfi-coast moorings have catamaran upcharges of 30–60%. Most repeat charterers in the Bay of Naples take a monohull.

Should I add Ischia to the route?

Optional. Ischia is bigger and more developed than Procida; the Castello Aragonese is the best stop on the island. If you have an extra day, swap a Cilento leg for an Ischia overnight.

How much should I budget for the week?

A 45-foot bareboat monohull from Salerno in late June 2026 runs €5,500–7,500. Marina overnights and mooring buoys can add €1,000–1,500 across the week. Provisioning is around €600 for a crew of 6.

What about the Aeolian Islands instead?

Different week. Aeolians require a 90 NM transfer from Salerno or pickup in Milazzo. Volcanic, dramatic, less polished. We cover them in the Italy guide.

Mooring buoy reservations — the operating manual

Mooring buoys on the Amalfi Coast are the stress point of the week. The official Costa Amalfitana app releases buoys 30 days before each date; the popular ones (Positano, Amalfi roadstead, Conca dei Marini) sell out within hours. Set a calendar reminder for the 30-day mark before each leg of your trip and book at 09:00 the moment the system opens. Outside the app, some larger restaurant moorings (Marina Coppola at Praiano, La Tonnarella at Conca) book directly by phone. Cetara, Cilento and Procida are first-come-first-served. Day-tripper boats own the buoys from 10:00 to 17:00; charter boats arriving for the night usually find space after 18:00.

The day-tripper boat reality

Mid-day on the Amalfi Coast is dominated by day-tripper boats from Sorrento, Salerno and Positano. The system has changed character — what used to be charter-friendly bays in the 1990s now host 300-person catamarans on commercial routes. The smart operating model is to arrive at the next bay before the tour boats (07:00–09:00), swim and explore in the morning, then rest on the boat through the busy mid-afternoon, and walk into the town in the evening when the day boats have left. Crews who try to fight the day-boat traffic spend their week fighting; crews who time around it enjoy the coast.

Realistic budget breakdown for an Amalfi week

For a 7-day Amalfi/Cilento week with 6 crew on a 45-foot bareboat monohull from Salerno: boat charter €6,500 + fuel €450 + marina overnights (Capri + Salerno × 2) €450 + mooring buoys (Positano + Amalfi + Procida) €250 + provisioning €750 + dinner ashore (5 nights × 6 people × €60) €1,800 + incidentals €200 = ~€10,400 total, €1,733 per person. The number is high relative to Greek and Croatian equivalents — Amalfi is the most expensive 7-day cruising ground in this guide.

Trip prep for the Amalfi-specific challenges

Amalfi prep specifics: book Capri marina now (April–October, the Marina Grande books months ahead); install the Costa Amalfitana app for buoy reservations; bring decent walking shoes — almost every Amalfi village requires uphill walks of 100–300 vertical metres; have cash for cash-only tavernas on the Cilento coast; plan the day-tripper-boat avoidance pattern (early mornings ashore, midday on the boat, evenings in the village). The Amalfi week rewards preparation and punishes improvisation.