Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast: The Best Hotels by Town
Last Updated on October 16, 2026 by Lauren Belzer Sanford
When most people picture the Amalfi Coast, they’re already picturing Positano: colorful houses tumbling down the cliffs into the Tyrrhenian Sea. Positano is absolutely iconic (I’ve been twice, a day trip in 2019 and three nights on our honeymoon in June 2025, and it never gets old), but the Amalfi Coast is really a string of distinct towns, each with its own personality, pace, and incredible hotels.
So where should you stay? It depends entirely on the trip you want. Positano is the most glamorous and the most expensive. Amalfi town is the most central, with the best transport connections. Ravello sits high above it all, the most romantic, with some of the most extraordinary luxury hotels on the coast. Praiano, tucked in between, has the same coastal magic with far fewer crowds.
I haven’t stayed at every hotel below. We stayed at Hotel Buca di Bacco in Positano and nearly booked Onda Verde in Praiano; the rest were hand-picked for design, amenities, location, and consistently glowing reviews.
Stay in Positano for the iconic, glamorous Amalfi Coast (we stayed at Hotel Buca di Bacco, right on the main beach). Stay in Amalfi town for the best ferry and bus connections. Stay in Ravello for the most romantic luxury hotels, like Belmond Hotel Caruso and Palazzo Avino. Stay in Praiano for Positano-style views with fewer crowds and lower prices.
Amalfi Coast Options
For Glamour
Positano
For Romance
Ravello
For Getting Around
Amalfi
For Relaxation
Praiano
The Best Hotels in Positano
Positano is the coast’s superstar: glamorous, photogenic, and home to some of its most famous hotels. It’s also one of the most expensive places to stay, so I always suggest weighing it against the other towns instead of defaulting to it. That said, if you can swing it, there’s nothing like waking up here. For more, see my full guide to the best hotels in Positano.
Hotel Buca di Bacco – Spiaggia Grande (Where We Stayed)
Best for: Couples who want to be steps from the beach, the boats, and the best restaurants.
Hotel Buca di Bacco sits right above Spiaggia Grande, Positano’s main beach, so you can step out of your room and be on the sand in minutes. We stayed here on our honeymoon and loved every moment: the staff were warm and genuinely wonderful, the bar and restaurant lovely, and the terrace views the kind you could sit with all afternoon. Read my full review of our stay at Hotel Buca di Bacco, and for dinners nearby, my guide to the best restaurants in Positano.
Le Sirenuse – Positano
Best for: The once-in-a-lifetime Positano splurge.
Le Sirenuse may be the most iconic hotel in Positano, known for its chic interiors, Michelin-starred dinners at La Sponda, and world-famous views over the rooftops to the sea. Hand-painted tiles, antique furnishings, rooms that feel composed rather than decorated: it makes Positano feel like a film set, and it earns its legendary status.
The Best Hotels in Amalfi
For a central base with historic charm, Amalfi town is a wonderful choice. It’s walkable and lively, home to the striking Duomo di Sant’Andrea, and with ferries and buses running both directions along the coast, it’s the best base for exploring beyond your own town.
Hotel Santa Caterina – Just Outside Amalfi
Best for: Timeless Amalfi luxury with a private beach club.
A legendary five-star retreat on the cliffs just outside Amalfi, Hotel Santa Caterina winds down through terraced lemon groves to its own private beach club, a rarity on this coast. I haven’t stayed, but everything I’ve heard is glowing: impeccable service, lush gardens, and sea views that stretch forever.
Hotel Miramalfi – Amalfi
Best for: Swimmers and sea lovers who want water views from every window.
Built right into the cliffs, with terraces that seem to float over the water, Hotel Miramalfi is pure Amalfi drama: an infinity pool carved into the rocks, seafood restaurants, and classic coastal style with contemporary comforts. The sea is framed through every window. It rewards slowing down: long lunches, afternoon swims, evenings watching the light change over the water.
The Best Hotels in Ravello
Perched high above the coastline, Ravello is often called the most romantic town on the Amalfi Coast, and I agree. When I visited in 2019, it felt entirely different from Amalfi or Positano: calmer, slower, and effortlessly elegant. It’s known for its views (arguably the best on the coast), summer concerts at Villa Rufolo, and grand hotels that feel like another era. In my opinion, this is where you’ll find the best luxury hotels on the Amalfi Coast.
Caruso, A Belmond Hotel – Ravello
Best for: Honeymoons and the most iconic infinity pool on the coast.
Set in an 11th-century palace at the very top of Ravello, Belmond Hotel Caruso is the epitome of Amalfi Coast luxury. As part of the Belmond collection, the service and style are in a class of their own. The infinity pool seems suspended between sky and sea, the terraced gardens look lifted from a Renaissance painting, and inside, vaulted ceilings and frescoed salons sit easily beside modern comfort.
Palazzo Avino – Ravello
Best for: Bucket-list glamour and Michelin-starred dinners.
Known as the “Pink Palace,” Palazzo Avino is a 12th-century villa turned five-star hotel and the epitome of Ravello glamour: cliffside views of the sea, Michelin-starred dining, and interiors balancing old-world elegance with coastal charm. It’s been on my must-stay list for years.
The Best Hotels in Praiano
For Positano’s views without the crowds, Praiano is a lovely alternative. This fishing village between Positano and Amalfi is slower and more local, a little more affordable, and still well placed for exploring the coast.
Hotel Onda Verde – Praiano (Our Near-Pick)
Best for: Couples who want warmth, sea access, and a slower base with water taxis to Positano.
On our honeymoon, we almost booked Hotel Onda Verde before deciding to stay in the middle of it all in Positano. Family-run for generations, it sits over the rocks with direct access to clear water below and quick water taxis to Positano’s main beach. Terraces draped in bougainvillea, cozy rooms over the sea, and true Italian hospitality.
Casa Angelina – Praiano
Best for: Design lovers who want minimalist, all-white style.
Casa Angelina is a design lover’s dream: a minimalist, all-white boutique hotel carved into the cliffs, with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the sea, a rooftop pool, fine dining, and sleek rooms. One of the most stylish hotels on the coast.
While You’re There: Things to Do on the Amalfi Coast
Some of the best Amalfi Coast days happen on the water. A boat from Positano, to Capri, the Blue Grotto, or simply drifting along the coast with something cold to drink, is a day you’ll talk about for years. We took a boat to Capri on our honeymoon, and it was one of the highlights of our whole Italy trip.
Book These Before You Go
A boat day: Book a private boat tour from Positano on Viator.
A cooking class: Amalfi Coast cooking classes.
The Path of the Gods: One of the most breathtaking coastal walks in the world. Browse Amalfi Coast experiences on Viator.
Get around by water: Ferries and water taxis beat the winding road, and the views are better.
More ideas in my guide to things to do in Positano, and if Capri is calling, here’s how to plan a day trip to Capri.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which town is best to stay in on the Amalfi Coast?
Positano for glamour and the iconic view, Amalfi for the best ferry and bus connections, Ravello for romance and grand luxury hotels, and Praiano for a slower, more affordable base. For a first trip, Positano or Amalfi make getting around easiest.
Is it better to stay in Positano or Amalfi?
Positano is more glamorous and more expensive, with the famous cliffside view. Amalfi is more central, with better transport along the coast. We stayed in Positano on our honeymoon to be in the middle of it all.
What is the most luxurious hotel on the Amalfi Coast?
Le Sirenuse in Positano and Belmond Hotel Caruso and Palazzo Avino in Ravello are the coast’s most celebrated luxury hotels.
How many nights should you spend on the Amalfi Coast?
Three to five nights in one base lets you add a boat day to Capri and a day in another town. We spent three nights in Positano on our honeymoon.
Wherever you anchor, your hotel will become part of your Amalfi Coast story.
Choosing where to stay on the Amalfi Coast is about more than a beautiful room; it’s choosing the backdrop for some of your most unforgettable memories. The glamour of Positano, the historic heart of Amalfi, the elegance of Ravello, the unhurried charm of Praiano. To me, the luxury hotels of Positano and Ravello are the most extraordinary on the coast, and places like Le Sirenuse, Belmond Caruso, and Palazzo Avino stay with you long after you’ve left. But wherever you anchor, your hotel becomes part of the story.
Planning the wider trip? Our 12-day Italy honeymoon itinerary covers Puglia, Positano, Florence, and Rome, and if you’re choosing between Italy’s southern coastlines, my guide to where to stay in Puglia is the place to start on the Adriatic side.