Amalfi Coast Gay Travel
wolfyy’s Amalfi Coast gay travel guide to hotels & where to stay, local experiences, gay nightlife, & more.
The Gay Travel Experience: The Amalfi Coast
The Amalfi Coast has been a popular gay travel destination for years. The coastal neighborhoods are famous for their easygoing atmosphere and romantic views. Gay and straight travelers alike are increasingly discovering these colorful cliffside towns.
Amalfi, Positano, and Salerno are the largest three destinations among many coastal villages. The Island of Capri is a short sail away.
Gay and lesbian couples are free to be affectionate here. Lying together on the beach or happily holding hands in line for pizza won’t be an issue. It’s clear just how inclusive this seaside wonderland is!
The Amalfi Coast towns warmly welcome the LGBT community, although these towns are not primarily gay. Most Italians support homosexuality, especially here in the paradise towns of Italy.
Where to Stay on the Amalfi Coast
So, you’re a gay traveler headed to the Amalfi coast. Which town is best for you? Each has a different vibe, so choose wisely!
If you’ve got the money to spend, there’s nothing wrong with staying at a hotel in Amalfi proper, which is the popular neighborhood anchored by the Duomo di Amalfi.
I recommend Hotel Luna Convento, which is only a five-minute walk from the town center. The hotel has a classic style and interestingly used to be a monastery!
You can find some stunning, high-quality rentals in Amalfi proper on VRBO. This is where I found my accommodations.
There’s much more to the Amalfi Coast area than just the town of Amalfi. Many gay travelers also stay in Positano hotels.
VRBO rentals in Positano are also frequently cheaper, without sacrificing quality. I’ve seen some awesome deals here.
Hotels in Salerno, a beautiful town to the east of Amalfi, offer a more authentic and quieter vibe. Here you can get away from bustling tourists, a perfect place to embrace local Italian culture.
The Island of Capri on the other hand is quite busy with tourists, yet has a similar vibe to Positano. In Capri, you’ll probably find similar value to the town of Amalfi. In my opinion, Capri is nice to visit, but I wouldn’t want to stay there.
After visiting Amalfi, Positano, Salerno, and Capri during my trip, Salerno was best in my opinion. You can enjoy the beauty of the other towns by day, and return to a peaceful neighborhood after sunset.
While searching vacation rentals in Salerno I stumbled upon a wonderful apartment on Via Mercanto. It’s a lovely street, buzzing every night with locals enjoying their Aperol spritzes.
If you want to stay in the most luxurious homes in any of the Amalfi Coast towns though, Plum Guide is the best high-end rental platform.
Amalfi Coast Hotels I Recommend
Here are a few fantastic hotels in Amalfi and Positano that are highly rated, gorgeous, and not overly expensive for their location.
How to Get to The Amalfi Coast
There are a couple of ways to arrive at the Amalfi Coast. When I visited, I flew into Rome to Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport (FCO) and took a bus the following morning to Salerno. Buses run quite frequently from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, so there are plenty of timing options.
Amalfi also has its own regional airport: Salerno Costa D’Amalfi. There may be flight options for you to arrive there and then take a taxi to your hotel. In my opinion though, why not spend a day or two in Rome?
Amalfi Coast Gay Travel Experiences
What more can a gay traveler ask for than the beautiful shores of the Amalfi Coast? Rent some lounge chairs as the beaches consist of large stones that are quite jagged in this area.
Go to Marina Grande in Amalfi proper to rent beach chairs which charges only 10 Euros per person for the whole day. You can leave your non-valuable items there if you decide to take a walk and come back later. It makes a day trip much easier.
Gay travelers in Positano love to rent boats for the day. After you’ve soaked up enough beach sun, book a boat tour. You can reserve a shared charter boat or even book a completely private full-day boat excursion.
Boats usually anchor a mile off the coast to take in the breathtaking views. Make sure you are out at sea for the sunset. The cotton candy skies will blow your mind.
If you are not staying on the Island of Capri, take a day trip there! Boats leave frequently from Positano and Amalfi (from other towns, you can catch a local boat to these towns first to connect).
Spend an evening at Music on the Rocks in Positano to experience some of the region’s nightlife. This is one of the best spots for dancing.
Music on the Rocks is built into the cliffside, something so unique I regret not checking it out myself. I have heard great things, but I was wiped out from my days in the sun.
There are no explicitly gay bars on the Amalfi Coast, but the nightlife scene is definitely lively with gay tourists.
Amalfi Coast Gay Travel Tips
Hotel Location & Price Tradeoffs
Salerno was my ideal place to stay, however, you should know it is not a beach town. The shore is mostly a large port, and the small area of the beach is muddy—not great for swimming.
If you search online for pictures of Salerno, you will likely find edited images showing crystal clear water. But, this type of shore is found outside of Salerno. Not to worry though as the ferry services are frequent and reliable.
Buses also run between the coastal towns, but I do not recommend this. I’m sure you would much rather be on a boat out in the sun with the breeze blowing through your hair! While boarding my boat back to Salerno, I saw buses jam-packed with tourists-not pretty. Plus, the boat ride is more direct.
If you stay in Positano or Amalfi, keep in mind that the farther inland you go, the steeper the walk becomes. It is possible to get a ride up the hills, but this may not be enjoyable doing several times a day.
Visiting Nearby Cities by Bus
Traveling between other cities in Italy is quite convenient by bus. I traveled all around the Mediterranean coast using FlixBus buses, which are almost always on time, comfortable, civilized, and safe. They’re also pretty cheap.
The beautiful Italian city of Naples isn’t too far away. If you’re still planning your vacation, consider adding this authentic destination to your list. The massive weekend street parties are awesome.
LGBT Rights in Italy
Same-sex activity has been legal in Italy since 1890 and transgender people have been able to legally change their gender since 1982. Also, gays and lesbians are allowed to openly serve in the military and there are workplace protections for LGBT people as well.
However, despite these liberal milestones, the country only allows registration of same-sex unions, does not allow gay marriage within the country, and will not recognize same-sex marriage performed in other countries.
There is still much work to be done, as Italy lacks many of the LGBT protections in comparison to other European and Western nations. Stepchild adoptions remains a pressing issue, currently dealt with on a case by case basis only.
Enjoy the Amalfi Coast!
A vacation to the Amalfi Coast is an absolute must. The stunning views and romantic towns glowing through the night will melt your heart and create memories you’ll cherish forever.
Each of these seaside towns is precious in their own way. And so, I highly recommend visiting, even into the month of September.
For more inspiration, explore wolfyy’s full collection of gay travel guides.
