Located high up in the mountains of the Amalfi Coast, the little town of Ravello is a great place for a day trip, especially if you want to beat the crowds in places like Amalfi Town and Positano. Ravello has long won the hearts of many famous people including writers and musicians like Virginia Woolf and Richard Wagner and with it’s stunning mountain and coastal views, it’s easy to see why! This post covers the best things to do in Ravello along with some important things to know.
How Much Time to Spend in Ravello
Ravello is relatively small and can be explored in half a day or full day IF you want to take it slow. You certainly can spend more time here if you want to but you may quickly run out of things to do (if you are someone like me who likes to see and do a lot of things!).
If you opt to spend half a day, then you can either spend the rest of the day in the town of Amalfi along the coast (see below for how to get there) or even higher up in the mountains in Tramonti at a vineyard.
Things to Do in Ravello
Villa Cimbrone
Start your day at Villa Cimbrone, which I think is one of the best things to do in Ravello! Now one thing to note is that there are a lot of steps leading to this villa from the square but I think it is fully worth it! The villa dates back to the 11th century but most of the gardens and buildings you see today are a lot newer. You can actually stay in the villa if you want to. It’s a 5 star luxury hotel or for those (like me), who may not be able to afford that kind of luxury, you can visit the beautiful gardens instead.
The main attraction of the villa is the Infinity Terrace. This terrace, with its marble busts, offers magnificent views of the Amalfi Coast and the lush green lands below. There are lots of other pathways, statues and fountains within the beautifully curated gardens. The Avenue of Immensity is said to be especially beautiful in the spring time when it cascades with wisteria. A visit to the cloister and crypt is worth your time too. Ask for a map, so that you don’t miss out on all the places to see within Villa Cimbrone.
Villa Rufolo
This villa is located right in town and is another one of my recommendations for the best things to do in Ravello. This 13th century villa was built by a wealthy merchant. Over time the villa deteriorated but in 1851, a Scottish botanist purchased it and renovated it and brought it back to its former glory. The villa is run by the Fondazione Ravello today. Most of the buildings are bare but the real attraction is its beautiful gardens with all the colorful flowers and the stunning views of the coast. You can even see the towns of Minori and Maiori from here.
If you have the time and resources, I highly recommend seeing both villas (and yes, you can easily see both even if you have only half a day).
Piazza Duomo
This is the main square of Ravello and you will see it as soon as you get to Ravello. This square is home to the Duomo, cafes, shops and restaurants. You can just sit at one of the cafes and people watch for a long time if you want to.
Duomo di Ravello
This church dates back to 1068. You can also visit the museum and art gallery within the church when you visit.
Shop
There are lots of ceramic and souvenir shops in Ravello if you are interested in shopping.
Walk Around
As I mentioned, Ravello is relatively small so it won’t take you much time to walk around! Get lost in one of the small roads leading from the main Piazza. Just passing the road to Villa Rufolo is a tunnel, when you walk through the tunnel, you will come to an open area with a good view of the coastline! If you have google maps, you can put in “Panorama Amalfi Coast” to get here.
There are also a lot of verdant gardens of various fruits and vegetables everywhere!
Giardini Principessa di Piemonte
A little garden that is a nice little respite from even the slightest crowds in Ravello.
Grab a Nice Meal
If you are spending half a day in Ravello, you may want to grab a nice lunch at one of the many highly rated restaurants in town. Some even come with a good view! A few recommended restaurants are listed below.
- Mini’s
- Villa Maria
- Villa Amore
- Salvatore Ravello
Attend the Ravello Festival
If you are visiting in the months of July and August, you can attend the Ravello Festival. Also called the Wagner Festival, it celebrates Richard Wagner, the German composer who visited Villa Rufolo and was captivated by it. The festival is held in the gardens of the villa, overlooking the coastline. It comprises of piano recitals, orchestras, quartets, sopranos and a lot more. You can learn more HERE
Hike to Atrani and/or Amalfi
If you like to hike, you can hike from Ravello to Atrani and if you want to go further, Amalif Town. The hike from Ravello to Atrani takes you down A LOT of stairs and then once you reach Atrani, you can take the pedestrian pass to Amalfi. Unless you want to not feel your legs the next day, you should do this hike from the top to the bottom verses the other way around. While not a difficult hike, it’s a lot of steps and the route offers very little protection from the sun.
There are 3 walking routes you can take based on Google. I believe I took the middle one. They are all more or less similar in distance and time. I probably would advice against the one that shows on the right side in the map below because it looks like you end up walking on the main road for some time on it. Ask a local for the starting point if you are not sure. I took the road to the left after a small pedestrian tunnel on the way to Villa Cimbrone from the main square (picture below).
How to get to Ravello
There are a few ways to get to Ravello.
Bus – You can get to and from Ravello using the SITA bus. The bus will take you to the town of Amalfi. If you are coming from any other town in the Amalfi Coast (i.e., Positano), your best bet would be to get to Amalfi Town via ferry boat and then hop on a bus to Ravello.
Car – You can drive to Ravello but most of the main town is pedestrian only. If you drive, you will have to park just outside and walk to the attractions.
Taxi or Private Driver – If you are looking for a private driver, not just to go to Ravello but during your entire stay in the Amalfi Coast, I highly recommend Euro Limo. They were extremely communicative, reliable and very easy to work with. You can email them at info@eurolimo.it. You can mention that I recommended them to you.
Shuttle – There is a shuttle that runs a few times a day from Amalfi Town to Ravello and back. They sell out fast during peak season so book in advance. HERE is the link!
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