comparisons
Amalfi Coast vs Cinque Terre
Italy's two most famous cliff-coast destinations. The Amalfi Coast is glamorous, steep, and road-bound; Cinque Terre is five hiking-connected villages on a rugged Ligurian shore. They suit very different travelers.
Curatorial note
Choose the Amalfi Coast for the glamour, the sea views from a rented villa, and a relaxed resort base like Positano or Ravello. Choose Cinque Terre for hiking between villages, a more rugged and egalitarian feel, and a tighter budget. Amalfi is the better splurge and the easier trip if you don't want to walk; Cinque Terre is the better trip if you do. Avoid both in peak July–August.
Coastline · Campania
Amalfi Coast
The UNESCO cliffside coast — Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello, with the lemon groves and the blue sea. Worth a few days; avoid July-August (the crowds and the SS163 traffic are punishing).
Coastline · Liguria
Cinque Terre
Cinque Terre is worth one or two nights if you go in shoulder season. In July and August it is a crowd-management exercise. Hike the trails, take the train between villages, and don't try to drive.
Coastline · Campania
Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast is worth two or three nights if you base in one town and ferry to the others. Driving the coast road in season is miserable — use the ferries. Positano is the photograph; Amalfi is the town; Ravello is the view.
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