Cycling information

All you need to know before cycling Amalfi Coast!

Cycling Amalfi Coast is an experience of its own, quite different from the regular cycling destinations, which has some downsides paid off by unique rewards. We want to make sure that you know what to expect from such activity, and if it's the right choice for you.
While we have no flat roads at all, the main coast way is relatively easy to cycle through, with its many short ups and downs, and viable to anyone in good health, without requiring high fitness levels. As soon as you leave it for the secondary routes, which lead to more fulfilling high viewpoints, you'll have to face some quite long climbs, with occasional steep sections. Those can be an appreciated challenge for experts, but what about anyone else looking for a relaxing ride? That's where e‑bikes come into play! With them, even the steeper slopes turn flat, allowing everyone to conquer the summits in a relaxing way.
Safety is another important topic: there are no dedicated bike lanes here (nor there would be any space to build them!), and roads are mostly narrow and winding, so basic riding skills are required. You need to be able to steadily ride a bicycle in order to handle eventual hazards on narrow or busy road sections. We try to stay away from traffic as much as possible but, especially on the main coast road in high season, having to share it with motor vehicles is inevitable, and it's necessary to follow the traffic laws. Keeping that in mind, it's not nearly as dangerous as it may sound, since drivers are well aware of the many cyclists around, and they can't drive too fast anyway because of the many bends. However, we suggest to those who can barely stand on a bike, or ride very rarely, to choose a different activity in this area.
But when is it the best time to come here for a ride? Believe it or not, it is possible to cycle in Amalfi Coast all year long! Each season has its features, so let's learn more about that…

What to bring:

  • comfortable sportswear;
  • trainers or cycling shoes;
  • sunglasses.

If riding on long routes or for more days:

  • gloves;
  • padded cycling shorts or underwear.

While we provide helmets free of charge for rentals and tours, we usually suggest to bring your own for hygiene and safety reasons, as we can't always guarantee a fitting size. Wearing a helmet is not mandatory, but highly recommended.

When to come?

Spring

Spring icon

Spring starts quite early here: March and April are usually quite warm already, especially on sunny days, but it gets chilly in shady places or during descents, and there's still some chance of rain now and then. May and June have the best weather for cycling, as it's already very warm, but not yet too hot! In early spring, the coast is still not crowded, while it starts getting busy when approaching summer.

Also bring:

  • long sleeves in early spring, short sleeves in late spring (but better have both);
  • windbreaker;
  • raincoat.

Autumn

Autumn icon

September and October are also the best months to visit and cycle Amalfi Coast. While still having summer-like warm and sunny days, it's usually not too hot or overcrowded. In November and December it slowly gets colder, but rains are more frequent, so winter rules about planning apply.

Also bring:

  • short sleeves in early autumn, long sleeves in late autumn (but better have both);
  • windbreaker;
  • raincoat.

Summer

Summer icon

In July and August it gets quite hot and overcrowded, so we suggest going for secondary roads and gaining altitude to reach fresher air. While in the warmest days the best would be just going for a swim, if you wish to visit the coast by land, bikes are the most refreshing way to do that. You won't melt in a car or bus, but will enjoy the apparent wind got from the speed. You will still sweat while going uphill but, if using e‑bikes, it won't be that bad! Early booking is strongly recommended for this season.

Also bring:

  • short sleeve clothes;
  • swimming suit;
  • sunscreen if light skinned;
  • cap if not using helmet.

Winter

Winter icon

January and February are the coldest months, but the average temperature seldom gets below 10 °C. You won't walk around in a t-shirt, but will not be freezing either! In winter, you can enjoy even the main roads of the coast without noises and traffic, under a new light and with different colors. However, the days are much shorter and the chance of rain is quite high, making it not advisable to plan and book early in advance. If you happen to come by at this time of the year, check the short term weather forecasts, and don't miss a great ride on those cool sunny days!

Also bring:

  • thermal windproof jacket or underwear;
  • raincoat;
  • long finger gloves;
  • ear band.

More specific details of each place in the area on the tourist destinations page.

The perfect routes for your wishes…

The Amalfi Coast and Sorrento Peninsula area is not huge, and while in a week you can visit most of its best sights and unmissable places, choosing a route for a single day or half day tour can be a challenge because of the variety of our land. What are you most interested in? Are you looking for the most popular destinations, like Positano or Ravello? Or do you prefer to focus on avoiding busy roads, and discovering less known beautiful places? In which season are you coming, and is it a weekend day? Would you prefer a slow and relaxing trip, or are you looking for a challenge? If you don't already have a clear idea for a route and bike category to choose, let us use all those variables to come up with the itinerary that best fits your needs and preferences.
Our tours normally start and end in Amalfi, but on request it's possible to add our bike delivery service, to start from your accommodation in any other town of the coast (subject to availability).
The routes listed below are just some of the options you can choose from, or to use as inspiration to set up your own trip.

Download GPX file

Starting from Amalfi as usual, we just skip the most busy section leading to Salerno and head west (on the right facing the sea), towards Positano. The route can't get easier than that: you just need to follow the main road, ignoring all deviations on the right, and you will pass Conca dei Marini (with the chance to stop for a visit at the Emerald Grotto, on the way), the lower part of Furore with its famous Fjord, the peaceful fishing village of Praiano and then finally arrive to Positano.
At its first crossroad, you'll be forced to stay on the right, as the road to the left, leading to the center, is a one way. If you got enough cycling and are eager to visit the town, you can just walk to the center as it's just a few minutes away but, for a more satisfying tour, keep climbing to the top and beyond Positano for a few kilometers, and you will notice that the road gets much wider and quieter as you enteri the Sorrento Peninsula area. For a longer ride, you can even reach Sorrento itself, but be warned that you will then have to face a quite challenging climb on your way back.
Coming back from the detour, at a crossroad on the top of Positano (Chiesa Nuova) you can now turn right to descend the one way to the city center, and finally enjoy a tour of the town, before heading back to Amalfi by the same road.

Distance:
~49 km
Altitude:
min: ~0 m, max: ~260 m, avg: ~110 m
Ascent:
~810 m
Max incline:
~14% (8°)
Download GPX file

Reaching Agerola from Amalfi is very easy: just follow the main coast road to the west (right side facing the sea) towards Positano, and a couple of km past Amalfi you will reach a crossroad. Going left would lead you to Positano, while keeping the right you'll be on track to Agerola. Then you just need to follow the main road and avoid detours up to the top (make sure not to turn right towards Pogerola or Tovere).
Once in Agerola, you can keep following the main road until you reach the long tunnel at the very top, detour to any secondary road to explore the little boroughs, or follow our GPS track to reach the two panoramic edges, and then descend back to Amalfi by the very same road. As you can see from our track, there's an optional detour you can take on the way back, to ride on a slightly different way and pass through the center of Conca dei Marini: you can notice the former monastery Santa Rosa while descending, just at the right of a tunnel, and take the tight turn to the right.

Distance:
~57 km
Altitude:
min: ~10 m, max: ~830 m, avg: ~510 m
Ascent:
~1220 m
Max incline:
~15% (9°)
Download GPX file

While it's not easy to get lost around here, there are a few detours you should look out for, to get the best out of this tour.
Starting from Amalfi, follow the main coast road to the east, towards Maiori and Salerno (on the left facing the sea), for just short of a couple of kilometers, after which you will be at a crossroad: take the tight turn to the left, leading up to Ravello. A few kilometers of steep climb later, you will be at another crossroad: you can take the left for an optional panoramic detour in the village of Scala, as you can see on our GPS track, but be warned that you'll meet some very steep slopes, which will be well rewarded by great views over Ravello. The detour will lead you back to the same crossroad, where you can now continue towards Ravello. You will see a tunnel: crossing it and turning left will lead you towards the Chiunzi Pass but, before continuing, you can't skip a stop for a visit of Ravello, so you can go right first, to reach the town center.
Keep going up to the top on the only road available, and after a few chilometers of descent there will be a crossroad, and some other climbing to do; just stay on the left. You will know you have reached the Chiunzi Pass once you are at a big roundabout, with a restaurant on the left. Taking the turn to the right would lead you down to Maiori, but we suggest a different and more quiet road to reach the same place; but, first of all, go around the roundabout and turn left, as in a few meters you'll be able to look at the other side of Lattari Mountains, facing the Vesuvius and Naples area.
For the secondary road down to Maiori, go back for a few hundred meters on the way you came from, and you will see a small deviation with a sign to "Capitignano" (hamlet of Tramonti). Enjoy the long descent and, once you reach the seafront in Maiori, just turn right and ride the main coast road back to Amalfi in six kilometers.

Distance:
~46 km
Altitude:
min: ~0 m, max: ~690 m, avg: ~340 m
Ascent:
~1100 m
Max incline:
~16% (9°)

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