The boat slows just outside Positano, and the whole town comes into view at once: pastel houses stacked up the cliff, bougainvillea spilling over every wall, a church dome tiled in green and gold catching the late sun. Somewhere above you, a waiter is setting a terrace table for dinner. You already know what you'd wear to it.
Or you would, if packing for the Amalfi Coast were simpler. Positano is all stairs and sea views, Capri dresses up for the evening passeggiata, Ravello sits quietly above it all in its gardens, and a boat day asks for something else entirely.
The good news: one small, yet intentional wardrobe covers every town.
Here's what to wear on the Amalfi Coast, town by town and moment by moment, plus the capsule that carries you through the entire trip.
How to dress for the Amalfi Coast
A few principles make every outfit below work, wherever the ferry drops you.
Plan for stairs.
The coast's towns are built straight up the cliffs, with steep lanes and endless flights of steps. Flat sandals are your everyday shoe, and a low heel you can walk in covers dinner. Leave the stilettos at home.
Choose fabrics that breathe.
Summer here is hot and bright. Satin, linen, cotton, and sheer mesh stay cool, move beautifully in the sea breeze, and look as good at noon as they do at golden hour.
Carry a cover-up for churches.
Churches across Italy, including Amalfi's Duomo, don't allow bare shoulders, and shorts or sleeveless tops can get you turned away at the door, so tuck a light wrap or shirt into your bag before you head out.
Keep one color story.
Lemon yellow, cream, white, coral, and Mediterranean blue all glow against the pastel houses. Pick one palette and one metal, and everything you pack will mix.
For the full framework of fabrics and silhouettes, see the unofficial guide to dressing for a European summer.
What to wear in Positano
Positano is the postcard, and it dresses like one. Days move between the beach clubs on Spiaggia Grande and long lunches in the shade, and evenings belong to terrace dinners with the whole town glittering below.
For Evening: Satin Backless Halter Camisole with Satin Wide-Leg Pants.
The halter's draped front and open back feel made for a terrace at sunset, and the satin wide-leg pants swish like a maxi skirt, with a hidden elastic waist that stays comfortable through a long dinner. Wear them together for an elevated monochromatic dinner look, or split them up: the pants with a simple tank for daytime, the halter with white linen trousers for aperitivo.
For the stairs: Havaianas Slim Sandals.
Positano's lanes are steep, and the beach is pebbles rather than sand, so a slim flip-flop you can slide on and off is exactly right for the walk down to the water and the climb back up.
What to wear on Capri
Capri is the most polished stop on the coast. Day-trippers fill the Piazzetta by mid-morning, but once the last ferries leave, the island slows into its evening passeggiata: a stroll past the boutiques of Via Camerelle in your best dress.
For the evening stroll and dinner: Tiger Mist Morana Backless Maxi Dress.
A cowl neckline, a low open back, and a sculpting fit make it elegant without trying, which is exactly the Capri mood. Add gold hoops and a small straw clutch, and let the dress do the talking.
For shoes: Square-Toe Thong Kitten Heel Sandals.
A low, two-inch heel gives you the evening polish without fighting the cobblestones, and the thong strap nods to Capri's famous handmade sandals.
What to wear in Ravello
Ravello sits high above the sea, quieter and more romantic than the towns below. It's known for its gardens, Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone, and for its summer music festival, when concerts play out against the coastline at dusk. Villa Cimbrone is about a 10-minute walk uphill from the Duomo and the main square, on a footpath with plenty of steps. The Ravello Festival runs from July to September, and in 2027 its famous Sunrise Concert is on August 11.
For a garden dinner or a concert: Satin Strapless Backless Maxi Dress.
A strapless bodice, an open back, and floor-length blue satin feel made for a terrace among the roses, and the backless cut turns an evening in the gardens into an occasion. Bring a light wrap, since evenings up on the mountain run cooler than down by the water.
What to wear in Amalfi town
Amalfi, the town that gave the coast its name, is flatter and more lived-in than Positano, with a busy main square, lemon shops, and the striped Duomo at the top of its grand staircase. It's a day for wandering, shopping for ceramics and limoncello, and long lunches near the harbor.
The look: a cotton sundress, or a linen shirt with the satin wide-leg pants, flat sandals, and a light wrap in your tote for the Duomo.
Choose something that moves and breathes, because Amalfi's lanes trap the midday heat, and keep your shoulders easy to cover. The Wide-Brim Straw Sun Hat and big sunglasses finish it.
What to wear on a boat day
A boat day is the Amalfi Coast at its best: swimming off the deck in a hidden cove, lunch at a restaurant you can only reach by sea, Positano seen from the water on the ride home.
The look: your favorite swimsuit under the Crochet Maxi Cover-Up Dress.
Long sleeves, an open back, and a soft crochet mesh knit keep the sun off on deck and look lovely when you step off the boat for lunch. Add your slim sandals, a straw tote, and a scarf for your hair, and you're set until sunset.
The Amalfi Coast capsule: one suitcase for every town
Here's the formula that covers a week, from Positano to Ravello:
- Evening: the satin halter, the satin wide-leg pants, the backless cowl-neck maxi dress, and the strapless satin maxi
- Day: the crochet cover-up over swimwear, a linen shirt, white linen trousers, and one cotton sundress
- Shoes: slim flip-flops for stairs and beaches, low kitten heels for dinner
- Layers: a light wrap or shirt for churches and cooler evenings in Ravello
- Bag and jewelry: a straw tote by day, a small clutch at night, gold hoops throughout
Every piece works in at least two places, everything shares one color story, and it all fits in a carry-on with room left for the linen dress you'll find in a Positano boutique.
Still planning the trip itself? What to know before your first Amalfi Coast trip covers when to go, which town to stay in, and how to get around, and the Mediterranean dinner dresses edit has more evening options.
Frequently asked questions
What should I wear in Positano at night?
Flowy satin wide-leg pants with a halter top, a slip dress, or a backless maxi dress, with low heels or dressy flat sandals. Positano's dinners are mostly on open-air terraces, so dress up a little and choose shoes you can manage on stairs. Bring a light layer for later in the evening.
Do you need to cover your shoulders in Amalfi Coast churches?
Yes. Churches across Italy don't allow bare shoulders, and shorts or sleeveless tops can get you turned away. Carry a light wrap, scarf, or shirt in your bag so you can cover up in a moment.
Can you wear heels in Positano?
Yes, but low ones. Positano is built on a cliff, with steep lanes and hundreds of steps, so stilettos are hard work. A two-inch kitten heel or a block heel works for dinner, and flat sandals are best for everything else.
What do people wear on Capri?
Capri is the dressiest stop on the coast. Expect polished resort wear: backless maxi dresses, linen sets, gold jewelry, and elegant sandals, especially for the evening stroll through the Piazzetta and Via Camerelle.
What should I wear on a boat day in Italy?
A swimsuit with an easy cover-up, like a crochet maxi cover-up or a linen shirt, plus flat sandals, sunglasses, and a scarf for your hair. Choose pieces that dry quickly and look polished enough for a seaside lunch.
How many outfits should I pack for a week on the Amalfi Coast?
Fewer than you think. Four evening pieces, three or four daytime pieces, two swimsuits, and two pairs of shoes will mix into well over a week of outfits, especially if everything shares one color story.
Pack the satin, the crochet, and the slim sandals, and let the coast do the rest. Save a seat on the terrace for golden hour. Future you is looking absolutely stunning ;)
