The Circumvesuviana train from Naples to Sorrento runs every thirty minutes, costs €5, and takes about seventy minutes — the kind of reliable connection a time-pressed family needs. The Amalfi Coast’s famous road is spectacular but slow, so a three-day window works best when you base yourself somewhere with real transport links and plan one focused activity per day.
Yes, if you base in Sorrento, book one major activity per day, and use ferries rather than buses for the coastal legs. The trade-off is that you won’t linger in any one village — you trade depth for breadth. Families with very young children may want to skip the Capri day in favour of a second morning on the beach.
Sorrento makes the logistics work
Sorrento sits on the northern edge of the Amalfi Coast with ferry connections to Capri, Positano, Amalfi, and Naples, plus the Circumvesuviana rail line that reaches Naples in just over an hour. For families, that means you can arrive from Naples airport by train (€5 per person) or private transfer (from €90 per car) and have your bearings within minutes of checking in. Apartments in the old town start around €80 a night, which keeps the accommodation budget manageable.
The old town itself is walkable and compact. Corso Italia runs from Piazza Tasso down to the Marina, with Via San Cesareo branching off into narrower lanes lined with shops and gelaterias. A granita di limone costs about €3 and makes an instant hit with kids. The Vallone dei Mulini, visible from Via Fuorimura, is a deep gorge where an abandoned mill sits overgrown — it takes two minutes to see and gives children something genuinely unexpected to talk about.
Day one — Sorrento and a cooking class
Arrive, drop bags, and walk the old town before the heat peaks. The Museo Correale di Terranova (€10 entry) takes about an hour and displays decorative arts in a former noble palace — manageable for short attention spans. After lunch, a three-hour cooking class with a market or farm visit runs from €85 to €120 per person and typically covers ravioli caprese, gnocchi alla sorrentina, and Neapolitan pizza, with wine for adults and recipes to take home. Evening aperitivo at the Foreigners’ Club terrace costs about €8 for a spritz, and the view over the Bay of Naples is the real draw.
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If a cooking class appeals, there are options for cooking classes on the Amalfi Coast worth browsing before you travel — some run in private homes rather than commercial kitchens, which suits families with younger children.
Day two — Capri by boat
A group boat tour from Sorrento to Capri costs around €120 per person and includes coastal cruising past the Faraglioni rock formations, a stop at the Blue Grotto (€18 cash entry, weather permitting), and free time in Capri town. The funicular from Marina Grande to the town centre costs €2.20 and saves weary legs. Lunch at Lo Sfizietto (panini from €6) is quick and kid-friendly; Da Paolino, set under a lemon grove, is more atmospheric but requires booking weeks ahead for a summer table.
Private boat charters for up to eight people run from €900 to €1,300 for a full day, which works out at €225–€325 per person in a group — a significant jump but worthwhile if your family wants swimming stops and a flexible schedule. Sunset cruises start around €600. Worth knowing: the Blue Grotto can involve a long queue in a small rowboat, and some children find the low-ceilinged cave claustrophobic. If that sounds like a problem, skip the grotto and ask the skipper to spend more time on swimming stops instead.
You can look into day trips from the Amalfi Coast to Capri to compare group and private options side by side before committing.
Day three — Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello by ferry
Ferries are the family-friendly choice for the coastal villages: they skip the hairpin bends of the Amalfi drive and run on schedule. From Sorrento, a fast ferry reaches Positano in 35 minutes (€18). Spiaggia Grande is the main beach, pebbly rather than sandy, so pack water shoes. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta has a striking majolica-tiled dome and a short visit is enough. Lunch at Cuoppo d’Amalfi (fried seafood cones from €6) works for kids who eat on the move.
A ferry from Positano to Amalfi takes 25 minutes and costs about €10. The Cathedral of St. Andrew dominates the piazza — entry is €3, and the 62 steps up are manageable for most children. The Paper Museum (€4.50) shows how Amalfi’s paper was made by hand and has enough tactile exhibits to hold a child’s interest for thirty minutes. From Amalfi, the SITA bus to Ravello runs 25 minutes and costs €1.30 — sit on the right for the view. Villa Rufolo (€10) and Villa Cimbrone (€10) both have gardens with famous terraces; Villa Cimbrone’s Terrace of Infinity is the one you’ve seen in photographs.
Return to Sorrento via the seasonal ferry (70 minutes, €14) or the SITA bus (90 minutes, €2.50). A private transfer from Ravello starts around €90 per car and saves the schlepping if energy is low.
Ferries run reliably only from April to October. Outside that window, you’re reliant on SITA buses, which can be crowded and subject to road delays. Buy bus tickets at tabacchi before boarding — drivers do not sell them.
Three-day itinerary at a glance
The table below summarises each day’s rhythm and notes where the itinerary bends for families. The pacing assumes you’re based in Sorrento and using ferries for the coastal legs.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening | Family note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arrive Sorrento, settle in | Old town walk, Vallone dei Mulini, Museo Correale | Cooking class (3 hrs, €85–€120 pp) | Cooking class suits ages 5+; market visit keeps it interactive |
| 2 | Ferry to Capri (20 min, ~€22), boat circumnavigation | Free time in Capri town, lunch at Lo Sfizietto | Return ferry, casual dinner in Sorrento | Blue Grotto queue can test patience; skip it if kids are restless |
| 3 | Ferry to Positano (35 min, €18), Spiaggia Grande | Ferry to Amalfi (25 min, ~€10), Paper Museum, bus to Ravello | Ferry or bus back to Sorrento; private transfer option | Ferry hopping is easier than buses with a stroller or tired legs |
The table doesn’t capture one constraint: on Day 3 you’re checking out of your Sorrento accommodation, so luggage needs a plan. Most hotels hold bags until late afternoon, or you can book a private transfer from Ravello that collects you and your bags together.
Making it work — transport and timing
The numbers stack up reasonably for a family of three or four. Budget roughly €150 per person per day including accommodation, transport, and one paid activity. A three-day trip for a family of four using the cooking class, a group Capri tour, and apartment accommodation runs approximately €1,800–€2,400 total, not including flights. Private transfers and the premium cooking class push that higher.
Book the cooking class and any Capri boat tour at least two weeks ahead in summer. Restaurants like Da Paolino and La Tagliata need reservations months in advance for peak-season dinner slots. For everything else — ferries, SITA buses, museum entries — you can buy on the day.
There are also water tours on the Amalfi Coast that combine coastal sightseeing with swimming stops if you prefer a full-day on the water instead of the village-to-village approach on Day 3.
What about the Path of the Gods?
The hike from Bomerano to Nocelle takes about 3.5 hours and offers views that justify its reputation. For families with children under ten, the 1,700-step descent into Positano at the end is a genuine challenge — expect to carry tired kids for part of it. Swap Day 3’s ferry itinerary for the hike only if your children are confident walkers and you’re prepared for a slower pace. The path is best done early morning before the sun is high, which means a 7:30 transfer from Sorrento.
Is three days enough for the Amalfi Coast with a family?
It’s enough for a solid introduction. You’ll see Sorrento, Capri, Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello without feeling rushed each day, but you won’t have time for spontaneous discoveries or lazy beach afternoons.
The Amalfi Coast destination guide has more detail on each village if you want to swap one stop for another.
What’s the biggest downside of this itinerary?
Day 3 involves three ferry rides and a bus, which means you pack and unpack the family multiple times. If anyone gets seasick or overwhelmed by transitions, the day can feel long rather than rewarding.
Consider substituting the Ravello leg for extra time in Amalfi if your family prefers a slower pace.
How much spending money should we budget for a family of four?
Roughly €600–€900 per day for accommodation, transport, meals, and one paid activity, depending on whether you choose group tours or private options. Apartment accommodation with a kitchen helps cut meal costs.
When should we book to avoid disappointment?
Book accommodation and the cooking class at least three weeks ahead for June–September. Capri boat tours and popular restaurants need two to four weeks’ lead time. Ferry tickets are bought on the day and rarely sell out.
Is Sorrento or Positano a better base for families?
Sorrento has better transport links, more apartment options, and a flatter old town that’s easier with a stroller. Positano is more visually dramatic but requires navigating steep steps and has fewer direct connections to Capri and Naples.
You can browse private sightseeing tours on the Amalfi Coast if you decide a dedicated driver for the day would reduce the logistics burden.
The Amalfi Coast reveals itself differently when you slow down to a family pace — you notice the lemon scent in a courtyard, the tile pattern on a church floor, the way a six-year-old’s hand fits into yours on a ferry deck. Three days is enough to feel that shift. For a deeper look at the quieter side of the coast, Praiano offers authentic Amalfi Coast views without the crowds.
Sources and further reading
Amalfi Coast Itinerary 3 Days. BlueKeys, 2024.
Positano’s Cliffs Deliver Stunning Views and Old-World Charm. Curated by Isabella, 2024.
How to See the Amalfi Coast for Under $1,000. Curated by Isabella, 2024.
