Visiting the Amalfi Coast with children is easy if you know how!
We know very well how much the travel experience changes if we do it in the company of the little ones: the whole trip must be better optimised to reduce sources of stress for the whole family and to provide moments that are enjoyable for everyone.
If you are planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast with the whole family, we can reassure you: you have made the right choice and we are sure that you will have a wonderful experience, especially because you are taking the little ones to discover a wonderful place that will remain unforgettable in their memories.
In this article you will find all the indispensable tips and recommendations for visiting the Amalfi Coast with children.
We have been living here all along and we decided to collect all the information, requests, and questions from travellers who, like you, are journeying with children in tow. This is the idea behind this guide, which aims to provide you with all the indispensable advice and recommendations for living, all together, the most beautiful and authentic experience ever!
Enjoy reading!
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Is the Amalfi Coast suitable for those travelling with children?
It essentially depends on three things: the age of the children, how used they are to travelling, and how experienced the whole family is with travel.
If you are an experienced traveller, you will know that the travel experience changes a lot depending on how adaptable you are, how much you spend and the itinerary you have planned.
In other words, the first thing you need to know is that the Amalfi Coast may be a slightly more complicated destination if you are travelling with children for three basic reasons:
1 – There is no railway line on the Amalfi Coast:
If you decide to reach your destination by public transport, remember that all the towns on the Coast are connected to Salerno by the SITA SUD service or the Travelmar service. Buses leave Salerno on average every hour and so do ferries. This should be kept in mind if travelling in the summer, when temperatures are very high, because one has to take into account the possibility of having to wait for the bus for 50 minutes. In high season, one must also consider the case of finding the buses very crowded and having to travel standing up, which is certainly not easy for a child, especially if he or she is not used to it.
2- The road is difficult
Whether you decide to travel by car or by bus, remember that the conformation of our roads is very peculiar.
The SS63 is difficult to drive on: if it is your first time, you will be faced with a road full of bends and twists. This is crucial if you know that your child suffers from car sickness.
If you are travelling in the high season, remember that you may find traffic jams along the road: it can happen that less experienced drivers or tourist buses, finding themselves in difficulty, get ‘stuck’ along the road. This can slow down traffic and force you to wait for long minutes.
3 – If you are travelling with a baby carriage or pushchair, remember the stairs!
Many towns on the coast stretch vertically. Think of beautiful Positano: it seems that one fine morning, a gentle giant took a pile of houses and gently laid them down the mountain.
To access some particular spots, you often have to climb many steps: this can be uncomfortable if you are moving with a babycarriage or pushchair.
This premise is not meant to discourage you: we are sure that with the right planning, it is possible to travel comfortably and have an unforgettable experience.
That’s why we have written this guide!
The child-proof towns and villages of the Amalfi Coast
So if you have decided to visit the Amalfi Coast with children, the most suitable towns to choose as a base for your stay are Minori, Maiori and Amalfi.
These three towns have one fundamental thing in common, for those travelling with a pram and pushchair: places of interest can be reached without having to climb too many steps.
Minori offers a number of small beaches, both serviced and public, that can be reached directly from the promenade and small restaurants that overlook the town centre.
A kilometre away, Maiori is a good compromise between a small town and a typical coastal village: it offers more restaurants, shops and services, more beaches, and a more extensive seafront promenade, which is also home to a small playground that the little ones love!
Amalfi offers yet another advantage: it is easily accessible and well connected to all the other towns.
In fact, all transport means – buses and ferries – leave from here to reach all the destinations of your trip.
It is certainly the most crowded of all the towns on the Coast, especially in high season and on weekends from April to October, when it seems as if a river of people has poured into the streets.
This disadvantage, however, is compensated for by its attractions, which are also suitable for children: along the road leading to the port, you will find a small playground, you can visit the arsenals or the Paper Museum, which also organises interactive guided tours, great to do with children.
Plan your itinerary in Amalfi Coast and explore attractions!
How to get around the Amalfi Coast if you are travelling with children
If you have decided to visit the Amalfi Coast with children, consider very carefully the means of transport you will use to reach your destination.
We fully understand the convenience of travelling by car when travelling with children.
However, we would like to remind you that the State Road 163 Amalfitana, with its curves and hairpin bends overhanging the sea, puts even the most experienced drivers to the test.
If you cannot do without it, choose an accommodation facility that guarantees you a parking space and, once you arrive at your destination, prefer public transport – by sea or road – to move from one town to another.
Of course, it may seem the least comfortable solution, as it involves waiting for transport, the possibility of losing it or having to travel on foot, but we assure you that it is the wisest choice!
Here are some tips that are sure to come in handy:
- Remember that Sita buses leave Salerno every hour to reach the various towns on the Amalfi Coast. If you want to make sure you don’t travel standing up, once you arrive outside the station, go and catch your bus at the terminus in Via Vinciprova: it is only a few minutes from the railway station.
- Another useful solution is the Travelmar fast ferries, which leave every hour from Molo Concordia. Without a doubt, this is the solution we prefer and the one we recommend most often, because it allows you to avoid any traffic jams on the Coast, but above all to enjoy the spectacle of the Coast from the sea. Even the children will appreciate it!
- For getting from one place to another, prefer ferries: they are more comfortable, faster and on average less crowded than buses. The Travelmar service usually runs from April to October. However, if you are travelling with children, remember to always have the bus and ferry timetable screen at hand so that you always have an overview of the situation and can find the right combination if you have to make a last-minute change.
Escape the crowd and embrace the beauty by sea! Book your ferry journey now!
What is the best season to visit the Amalfi Coast with children?
The perfect seasons to plan your trip to the Amalfi Coast if you are travelling with children are spring and autumn. Discovering the Amalfi Coast at these times of year will allow you to avoid the scorching heat of July and August. Besides this, you will find less crowded places and less traffic: in short, a more authentic and family-friendly Amalfi Coast!
The perfect suitcase if you come to the Amalfi Coast with the little ones
What should the perfect suitcase contain?
We have compiled this checklist for you
- high or very high sun protection;
- hat and glasses, especially if you are travelling in high season;
- if your children suffer from carsickness or you fear that the curves of the Coast may cause discomfort, put an anti-emetic and plastic bags in your bag;
- water bottles to always have fresh water on hand. There are numerous fountains around the Costiera to fill your bottle.
- comfortable shoes to walk a long distance without hurting your feet;
- for transporting small children, we recommend you get an ultra-light and super-fold pram: it will be very useful if you travel by bus. Alternatively, if you are travelling with very small children, a backpack or the classic baby carrier might come in handy.
- don’t forget a pocket umbrella or waterproof jacket to cope with sudden showers or rainy, grey days.
