Campania, 5–6 days
Positano is the postcard, but it’s also the most crowded and most expensive town on the coast — Ravello, perched higher up with terraced gardens and sweeping views, and Atrani, a genuinely tiny fishing village a five-minute walk from Amalfi town, deliver the same cliffside drama with far fewer tour groups.
Base in Amalfi town itself rather than Positano — it’s more affordable, better connected by ferry to every other coastal town, and still puts you steps from the water. Take the ferry rather than the coastal road bus whenever possible; the SS163 gets genuinely gridlocked in summer, while boats between towns run reliably and offer the better view anyway.
Skip late July and August if flexible — June and September deliver the same weather and water temperature with meaningfully thinner crowds and lower prices.
Typical range: €150–€450 per night depending on town and view.
Sephari’s Curated Travel Outfits collection has the breathable, boat-friendly pieces this coast’s ferry-hopping itinerary rewards.