This article contains affiliate links; if you click such a link and make a purchase, we may earn a commission.The Best Time to Go to the Amalfi Coast Is... August?

Lane NiesetMon, April 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC

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“Amalfi is my favorite place in all of Italy,” says J.J. Martin, founder of the Milan-based maximalist brand La DoubleJ, “but not in August—and not even in June or July.”

Martin isn’t alone. For years we have listened—with a hint of schadenfreude, admittedly—as friends complained of the sweltering and overcrowded madness that is high season in seaside Italy. Lately the migratory patterns seem to have shifted accordingly, so much so that there is now no better time to be on the Amalfi Coast than in August.

“It is very strange, as so many people are now hesitant to travel in August,” Antonio Sersale, co-owner of Positano’s Le Sirenuse, tells T&C. “It is one of the least crowded months, the days are still long, and the sea warm—I love it.”

Invitation-only luxury travel concierge Scott Dunn Private, a favorite among UHNW individuals and celebrities that is known for its “travel without limits” ethos, has noticed that 59 percent of U.S. bookings to Italy for 2026 are during May, June, and September—and October travel has risen nearly 100 percent since last year. “For years, travelers thought they could avoid the crowds by visiting in May, June, or September,” says private relationship manager Julie Durso. “Now those months are often the busiest.” In other words, peak summer is basically the new shoulder season.

Le Sirenuse is debuting Le Sirenuse Mare, a 27,000-square-foot beach club, this month.Stefan Giftthaler/Le Sirenuse Mare

There are caveats, of course. For a certain subset of the population, these concerns are irrelevant. “If there’s one thing that defines an August on the Amalfi Coast, it’s that the experience is entirely dependent on access,” says Stuart McNeill, CEO and founder of Knightsbridge Circle, an elite UK-based concierge service for whom no demand is too far-fetched, whether it’s arranging private Elton John performances or sourcing rare Birkins. “The coastline doesn’t change; what changes is who can actually move through it with ease.”

Speaking of, having a yacht helps immensely. “You’re not confined to the busiest towns during the day—it’s a completely different kind of trip,” says Jessica Janik, charter consultant at IYC, which manages the world’s largest superyacht charter fleet. “Instead, you can anchor in quieter bays, swim, enjoy the coastline, or go into towns early in the morning or later in the evening when things calm down.”

Adds Carla Sersale, co-owner of Le Sirenuse and founder of fashion and lifestyle brand Emporio Sirenuse: “The Amalfi Coast really reveals itself from the sea. Traveling along the cliffs by boat, you begin to understand the geography that shaped these villages—small communities suspended between mountains and water.”

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For some hoteliers, August has always been a bit slow. At Sorrento’s regal Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, for instance, president and CEO Guido Fiorentino notes that American couples—not families, necessarily—tend to return later in the month, a “dynamic that can actually make August an appealing time to experience the Amalfi Coast,” he says.

August is typically quieter at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, which means more of that fabulous breakfast buffet to yourself.Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria

There is also the assumption, especially among Americans, that since practically the whole of Europe is on holiday for the entire month of August, these hotspots will be all the more busy. “In reality, the Amalfi Coast is not a primary summer destination for many Italians, who often prefer other seaside regions or travel abroad,” says Alessandro Mansi, owner of Hotel Miramalfi, where midcentury modern cliffside rooms and a saltwater pool hover over Amalfi like an amphitheater. “This can make the destination feel more relaxed than people might expect.”

On the other hand, for a particularly status-conscious person who thrives on the scene, finding oneself alone in Amalfi could be its own form of social anxiety. So if August is no longer when everyone is in town, then when is?

In May, the Tre Golfi Sailing Week regatta and the opera performances at the Museo Correale di Terranova have spurted hotel bookings in Sorrento, making it one of the hottest times to visit, along with September, when the Mediterranean Sea is at its prime and travelers are able to wander through the gardens of Villa Cimbrone and its belvedere, the Terrace of Infinity—which “remains one of the most extraordinary views anywhere along the Mediterranean,” per Carla Sersale.

October is also becoming an increasingly popular month. “In recent years, weather conditions have become more stable compared to the past, and the climate is pleasantly mild rather than excessively hot,” says Andrea Zana, general manager of Il San Pietro di Positano. “This makes it attractive for guests who, in addition to enjoying the hotel itself, are interested in exploring the surrounding territory.”

Caruso, a Belmond Hotel, is perched high on a cliff in Ravello.Caruso, a Belmond hotel

Still, there is something undeniably alluring about August in Amalfi, with or without the crowds, when sun-drenched days are divided between beach clubs, festivals, and long, fresh seafood-slathered outdoor meals. “One of the things visitors often discover is how magical the evenings are in August,” says Iolanda Mansi, general manager of Caruso, a Belmond Hotel. “As the heat of the day softens, the towns come alive—terraces fill with people, the piazzas become social gathering places, and the atmosphere feels incredibly joyful.”

And now that word has gotten out about the relatively peaceful charms of Amalfi in August, it won’t stay that way for long: By March, Fora Advisors already booked as much travel to the region for August 2026 as last year—and the number is expected to rise significantly in the next five months (which is a “lifetime given the last-minute summer booking behavior,” adds Fora co-founder Henley Vazquez).

“We’re forecasting one of the hottest Augusts in Amalfi we’ve seen yet,” Vazquez continues. “With the debut of Le Sirenuse’s beach club and the Orient Express Corinthian’s sailing yacht making its maiden voyage along the coast, there has never been a better reason to go—and travelers know it.”

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”