The Amalfi Coast in December feels worlds away from its summer persona. The pace is much slower, visitor numbers drop and the region becomes far easier to explore. If you prefer space, quieter towns and a more authentic version of local life on Italy’s iconic coast, December is a surprisingly rewarding time to visit, even if it’s not the version of the Amalfi Coast most people imagine. While summer gets the spotlight, December may just be the Amalfi Coast’s best-kept secret.
A winter trip does come with its own considerations though and a bit of prior planning. This guide covers everything you can expect in December, including weather and winter activities, where to stay and what to pack, so you can decide if a December visit aligns with the experience you’re looking for.
Amalfi Coast in December
December marks the start of the quietest season on the Amalfi Coast. Gone is the heat of summer and with it the crowds. Instead you’ll find calm coastal towns and a wonderfully local atmosphere. Daytime temperatures usually sit around a relatively mild 12–15°C, with cooler evenings, the occasional rain shower and choppy seas.
If you’re expecting beach days, boat trips and island hopping, December isn’t the time to visit. But if the thought of wandering the coast’s beautiful towns without the crowds, enjoying long lunches, taking scenic hikes and embracing Italy’s festive spirit sounds like your dream escape, winter delivers a completely different kind of magic.
Hotels, restaurants and ferries run on reduced schedules, so planning is important, but this is also when you’ll find the best winter deals and a slower version of the Amalfi Coast that many people never experience.
Best things to do on the Amalfi Coast in December
A visit to the Amalfi Coast in December is all about seasonal traditions, scenic walks and slow travel. Here are the best things to do this month:
Explore the Amalfi Coast’s Christmas lights & markets
December is such a beautiful time to experience the Amalfi Coast, with most towns lit up with sparkling fairy lights, small Christmas markets and community-led celebrations that run throughout the month.
Christmas markets
Both Amalfi and Positano host small Christmas markets featuring regional products, handmade decorations and traditional sweets. These markets are in no way large or on a scale of some of the famous Christmas markets across Europe, but they offer a beautifully relaxed way to pick up local items and enjoy the slower pace of winter on the coast.
Key dates for 2025
In Amalfi, the Christmas Markets in Piazza Municipio and along the Stradone are scheduled for 5–7 December 2025, running from 10:00–22:00 each day. Here you’ll find wooden stalls selling local crafts, small-batch foods and holiday gifts.
The beautiful Anantara Convento Grand Hotel Amalfi will hold its annual markets in it’s historic cloister on 13–14 December 2025, accompanied by a Christmas tree lighting and an evening concert.
For a full list of events taking place in Amalfi throughout December, visit the Amalfi Tourist Board website.
Salerno’s ‘luci d’Artista’
Salerno’s Luci d’Artista installation is one of the region’s main winter events and a must-do during a December visit. Each year, the city hosts beautiful outdoor light displays across its streets, public gardens and waterfront. It’s larger scale than anything on the Amalfi Coast itself and attracts both locals and visitors.
The event typically runs from late November until early January, with exact dates for each year confirmed by the Comune di Salerno. An evening visit to Salerno is the perfect way to enjoy the lights with a relaxed dinner in the city afterwards.
Getting to Salerno for Luci d’Artista in winter
Reaching Salerno in December requires a little planning, as ferries run on a reduced and weather-dependent schedule. The most reliable options are:
Bus
SITA buses run year-round between Amalfi and Salerno, with a journey time of around 60–75 minutes depending on traffic. Services operate less frequently in winter, so checking the timetable in advance is essential.
Private transfer
If you’re staying in Positano, Ravello or smaller villages, a private transfer is often the most efficient option. This is particularly useful for evening visits, when returning by public transport can be slower.
From Sorrento
There is no direct public transport to Salerno from Sorrento in winter so you would need to connect via Amalfi or use a private transfer for a more straightforward journey.
Visit the Duomo of Amalfi without the crowds
December is one of the few times you can visit the Duomo of Amalfi without the usual crowds, and it completely changes the experience. The cathedral, the museum spaces and the Cloister of Paradise feel far more accessible, and you’re able to appreciate the details, especially the beautiful Byzantine influences, without navigating busy groups.
It’s absolutely beautiful and well worth the visit, plus the €3 entrance fee feels like excellent value for what you can see. Just be warned, there are a lot of steps to get to the entrance, so you’ll feel the thigh burn but it’s worth the ‘work-out’. I would highly recommend it as a way to spend the morning, followed by lunch in Amalfi’s historic centre.
During December, the opening hours are:
Until 24 December, it opens from 10:00–15:00
From 26 December to 6 January, hours extend to 09:00–18:30.
Hike the Path of the Gods
The Path of the Gods is one of the most well-known hikes on the Amalfi Coast, and December can be an excellent month to walk it if the weather is clear. Cooler temperatures make the route far more comfortable than in summer, and the views, stretching from the Amalfi coastline towards Capri and the Bay of Salerno, are often beautiful and crisp at this time of year.
The classic route runs from Agerola to Nocelle, ending just above Positano. Most people either take the local bus down from Nocelle or continue on foot via the long staircase into town. The full walk typically takes around four hours at a steady pace.
This isn’t a technical hike, but you do need to be reasonably fit and sure-footed. The path is uneven in places, and good walking shoes are essential. Bring water, check the weather before setting out and avoid the trail after heavy rain, when conditions can be slippery.
You can enjoy the hike on your own, but if you’d like more structure with a knowledgeable local guide, this guided tour runs throughout December – especially useful if it’s your first time on the trail.
Take a day trip to Sorrento’s festive displays
Sorrento goes all-out at Christmas, especially with its huge illuminated tree in Piazza Tasso and its lively seasonal atmosphere. It’s one of the best towns in the region to soak up the Italian holiday spirit and an early afternoon arrival that rolls into the evening is the best time to visit, to see how impressive the lights are once it gets dark. It’s also a lovely place to stay for dinner, with plenty of restaurants open year-round.
Once in Sorrento, I would say the experience is less about working through a list of sights and more about taking in the atmosphere:
What to do in Sorrento in December
Getting to Sorrento from the Amalfi Coast
Reaching Sorrento from the Amalfi Coast towns is quite straightforward, even in December:
Bus
From Amalfi or Positano, take the SITA bus to Sorrento. The route runs year-round, though winter timetables are reduced so its worth checking the timetable in advance.
If you’re staying in Ravello or one of the smaller villages, you’ll need to connect via Amalfi.
Private transfer
Although a private transfer will be more expensive, it’s the most efficient option, especially if you’re visiting Sorrento for the evening.
Hire a car
While I never recommend hiring a car during the summer months when visiting the Amalfi Coast, it can be a great option in December when the roads are much quieter, parking is much easier and it gives you more independence.
Enjoy long lunches at winter-open restaurants
One of the real pleasures of visiting the Amalfi Coast in December is the chance to slow down over long lunches, the kind you rarely get to enjoy in summer when restaurants are full and tables turn quickly. During the winter months restaurants return to serving locals rather than tourists, so you can expect hearty dishes like seafood risotto, pasta with clams, fresh anchovies and local limoncello to finish.
It’s important to know though, that many restaurants in Positano close for the season, and smaller villages often operate with very limited options. Amalfi tends to have the most reliable year-round dining, along with Sorrento further along the coast, which is why these towns work well as bases in winter.
If you’re looking for somewhere with atmosphere even in the quieter months, these spots are lovely and consistently stay open:
Trattoria da Gemma | Amalfi | Open daily (except Wednesdays) from 12pm – 2:30pm and 7pm – 10pm
A long-standing favourite for refined but unfussy coastal cooking close to Amalfi’s Duomo. Great seafood, warm service, and a sense of occasion without being too formal.
Da Maria | Amalfi | Open daily (except Mondays) from 12pm – 11pm
A relaxed, family-run option near the Duomo. Simple, comforting dishes and the perfect spot for a cosy lunch after sightseeing.
A’Paranza | Atrani | Open daily (except Tuesdays) from 12:30pm – 2:30pm and 7pm – 10pm
A small, welcoming restaurant known for excellent seafood (served by a family of former fisherman) and a peaceful setting just a few minutes’ walk from Amalfi.
Make your own fresh pasta, mozarella & tiramisu
Another way to enjoy a fabulous extended lunch on the Amalfi Coast is with a cooking class. Learning classic recipes in a relaxed, hands-on setting, is an excellent addition to a December visit. If making fresh pasta, mozzarella and tiramisu sounds like an afternoon well spent, I would highly recommend Giovanni’s cooking class which runs throughout December and is hosted from a authentic Amalfi farmhouse with amazing views over the southern part of the Amalfi Coast. Don’t just take my word for it though, take a look at the almost 500 5 star reviews the class has received.
Visit Ravello’s peaceful gardens
Ravello sits above the coastline, and in December it feels calm, spacious and much quieter than in summer. Even though the gardens aren’t at peak bloom, the views from Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo are still stunning, and the lack of crowds makes it far easier to wander slowly and appreciate the setting without rushing from terrace to terrace.
As well as the gardens, you can explore the streets around the Piazza Vescovado and the Ravello Cathedral – it’s small and simple but definitely worth a look and usually very calm in December. Followed by a coffee or glass of wine at one of the nearby cafés that stay open year-round.
There aren’t many structured ‘activities’ in Ravello in winter, but that’s all part of the appeal. It’s a wonderful place to take in the views, enjoy a slow wander and the quieter pace.
Getting to Ravello in December
Ravello isn’t directly on the coast, so you can’t walk up from Amalfi as the road is steep, winding and not designed for pedestrians. In winter, the simplest options are:
SITA bus from Amalfi: runs year-round, takes around 25–35 minutes depending on traffic, and drops you in the centre of Ravello. From Positano or smaller villages you’ll need to connect through Amalfi first.
Taxi or private transfer: a more expensive option but more convenient, especially if you want flexibility around timing.
What to wear in December
The best advice I can offer on what to wear in winter on the Amalfi Coast, is layers. Temperatures change throughout the day, and coastal towns can feel cooler due to sea breezes.
Packing List
Where to Stay
Winter dramatically narrows accommodation options along the Amalfi Coast, with most hotels in Amalfi and Positano closing by late autumn. This means the best places to stay in December aren’t limited to the Amalfi Coast itself, but extend to nearby towns such as Sorrento that stay lively year-round and offer reliable services, restaurants and transport connections.
Amalfi does have one standout luxury hotel that remains open – Anantara Convento di Amalfi, and it’s the perfect choice for a December stay with its festive events, Christmas markets and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
For more choice, Sorrento has a good selection of high-end hotels that remain open throughout December.
Where to Stay in amalfi
Anantara Convento di Amalfi
5 star | Spa | Festive events
A converted 13th-century convent overlooking Amalfi, offering panoramic views, beautifully restored spaces and a peaceful winter atmosphere. The hotel hosts its own festive events, including Christmas markets and a New Year’s Eve gala, making it the perfect option for a December stay.
Where to stay in sorrento
Gran Hotel Excelsior Vittoria
5 star | Michelin-starred dining | Leading hotels of the world
The Excelsior Vittoria is one of Sorrento’s most iconic properties, sitting above the marina with extensive gardens, elegant interiors and excellent dining. It’s the perfect choice if you’re looking for a touch of luxury paired with easy access to shops, cafés and Sorrento’s Christmas displays.
Where to Stay in Sorrento
Maison La Minervetta
4 star | Boutique hotel | Excellent location
One of Sorrento’s most characterful boutique hotels, known for its bold design and sweeping bay views. It’s a beautiful choice if you prefer design-led spaces over traditional grand hotels. The open-plan lounge and breakfast room feel especially inviting in winter, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water and plenty of quiet corners to settle into. Just a short walk from Sorrento’s historic centre and its festive lights.
Visiting the Amalfi Coast in December offers a completely different perspective on this famous region with the festive season bringing a gentle sparkle to local life. For a winter honeymoon, a romantic escape or a quiet seasonal getaway, December is a wonderful, and wonderfully underrated time to experience the Amalfi Coast.
Yes, for the right traveller. It’s quiet, more atmospheric and great value, with festive lights, beautiful winter scenery and mild temperatures. If you’re looking for a visit with beaches or boat trips though, you won’t find that in December – summer would be the best time for you to visit.
Not at all. Southern Italy is milder than much of Europe, with daytime temperatures around 12–15°C on the Amalfi Coast. Bring layers and you’ll be comfortable.
Many do and options of where to stay are certainly more limited in December, but Amalfi and Positano maintain a small selection of year-round hotels, including the beautiful Anantara Convento di Amalfi. Sorrento, further along the coast, has the widest choice of winter availability and makes a great base for exploring the region.
