Perched at 374 meters above sea level, Ravello is one of the few tourist villages on the Amalfi Coast that is not located by the sea. The town, known for its refinement, is famous for its luxury villas, the most renowned being Villa Rufolo and Villa Cimbrone. From their gardens, you can enjoy magnificent panoramas over the Gulf of Salerno. It’s a destination not to be missed, even if it is less easily accessible than the other villages along the coast.
What to do in Ravello, Italy ? What are the must-see sights ? How do you get there ? Where to stay in Ravello ? Find all my tips in this travel guide.
Best things to do in Ravello
Basilica Santa Maria Assunta
This is the first building you will see when arriving in Ravello. The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta, also called the Duomo, was built in the 11th century. Like many cathedrals, it has undergone numerous transformations over time. The bell tower on the right is in Moorish style. A restoration in 1973 restored the Duomo’s original Romanesque style. The interior is divided into three naves separated by columns. The overall appearance is quite simple for a cathedral.
A small museum (entrance €3) displays religious objects. We skipped it, as the pieces are not as impressive as those in Amalfi Cathedral.
Opening hours : 9:30 a.m.–12 p.m. and 4 p.m.–7 p.m.
Piazza Duomo
This is Ravello’s main square and the only one in the entire village. Also called piazza centrale (you can guess why), it is surrounded by the cathedral and cafés with large terraces. Apart from enjoying the view and having a drink in the sun, there isn’t much to do in this very mineral square. At the very least, you can use it as a meeting point if you happen to lose your partner or your children (which seems unlikely given the size of the village).
Villa Rufolo
South of Piazza Duomo is the entrance to Villa Rufolo, one of the best things to do in Ravello. An explanatory brochure with a map is provided at the entrance, allowing you to make sure you don’t miss anything. The villa was built in the 13th century for the powerful Rufolo family. The gardens were designed in 1853 by a Scottish Lord who purchased the estate when it had fallen into ruin.
The visit begins with a cloister and partially ruined former furnaces before reaching the Torre Maggiore. This 30-meter-high tower, built in the 13th century, houses a museum that traces the history of the town. I recommend climbing the stairs to the top, where you can enjoy a beautiful view over the gardens, mountains, and sea. The visit then continues with the Lord’s apartments (the eight rooms are quite empty).
You finaly reach the terraced gardens. In early April they are not very flower-filled, and apart from a wisteria, we were left a bit disappointed. But you can’t visit Ravello in the off-season and complain that there are no flowers ! The gardens are more beautiful from May to October. Still, the magnificent panorama from the belvedere makes up for it. If you’ve already seen the photo of the Amalfi Coast with an umbrella pine and the bell tower of a small church, it was taken here. It is one of the most photographed Instagram spots in the region.
Price : €8 (€6 for ages 5–12 and seniors over 65).
Opening hours : 9 a.m.–8 p.m. (last entry at 7:30 p.m.).
Villa Cimbrone
We continue our visit to Ravello with Villa Cimbrone. It is located at the very southern end of the village, about a 10-minute walk away. The villa dates back to the 11th century but was extensively modified in the 20th century by a British baron (very little of the original structure remains). He also designed the gardens during the same period.
Unlike Villa Rufolo, Villa Cimbrone is a luxury hotel whose gardens are open to the public. There is nothing in particular to visit here, you simply stroll through the park among flower beds and statues. The highlight is the magnificent view from the Terrace of Infinity (Terrazza dell’Infinito), which appears in all Amalfi Coast brochures.
I must admit I was disappointed by the gardens of Villa Cimbrone. During our visit there were hardly any flowers (apart from the wisteria, which blooms first), and the rose beds were not in bloom. If we had come the day before, we would have paid €7 for entry (we visited Ravello on April 1), and honestly, it wouldn’t have been worth more. Only the view from the terrace makes the visit worthwhile. It is quite impressive, as it sits on the edge of a sheer drop overlooking the entire coastline.
Price : €10 (€7 for ages 5–12) from April 1 to October 31 and €7 (€4 for ages 5–12) from November 1 to March 31.
Opening hours : 9 a.m.–7:30 p.m. (last entry at 7 p.m.).
Streets of the historic center
Ravello’s old town is quite small and offers few things to see. A main street runs from Piazza Duomo to Villa Cimbrone. It is lined with villas converted into luxury accommodations and a few shops in its northern section. You can buy some souvenirs here, but it’s better to choose another village (such as Positano or Amalfi), or even Sorrento, for more options.
On the way to Villa Cimbrone, you can stop at Chiostro San Francesco, a 13th-century cloister with free access that seems somewhat neglected. There is also a church, but it was closed during our visit.
Where to stay in Ravello ?
I’ll tell you right away, Ravello is not the best base for visiting the Amalfi Coast. The village, located at altitude at the end of a road controlled by traffic lights for alternating traffic, is not the most convenient for getting around. However, if you plan to stay for a few days in a peaceful and charming setting, it is entirely possible to stay in Ravello. Here are some accommodation options I recommend.
- 96 € : Ravello 23 Accommodation, the cheapest place to stay in Ravello while remaining in the center and receiving excellent reviews. The modernly decorated room offers a garden view.
- 96 € : Gelsomino Rooms Ravello, in a similar style to the previous property, this room also includes breakfast. Villa Rufolo is only 100 meters from the accommodation.
- 96 € : B&B il vetraio, at the same price you can choose a fully equipped 25 m² studio with a real kitchen. A small terrace allows you to enjoy the outdoors, especially for the breakfast included in the price.
- 141 € : Al Borgo Torello, this bed and breakfast offers several types of rooms for 2 to 4 people, some with a magnificent sea view. Breakfast included and public parking on the street.
- 188 € : Da Salvatore B&B, the biggest advantage of this guesthouse is the spectacular view of the coast and the sea from the room’s balcony. It is very well located, just 2 minutes from the gardens of Villa Rufolo. Breakfast included.
- 516 € : Villa Barluzzi, want to treat yourself or celebrate a special occasion ? This accommodation in an authentic luxury villa in Ravello with its garden offers the very best. A guaranteed favorite (if you have the budget).
Where to eat in Ravello ?
The village has few options for lunch (or dinner) compared to other villages on the Amalfi Coast. We ate at Babel because the restaurant was recommended by our Lonely Planet guide. The menu offers quite a few dishes that are not from Campania (such as lasagna), so we chose lemon pasta to stick with local cuisine. It was very good, but the prices are a bit high. The restaurant was full, so it’s best to book during high season.
Travel guide and tips
How to get to Ravello ?
We rented a car to get around the Amalfi Coast. This allowed us to be as independent as possible, and in April traffic is still manageable. Ravello is located less than 7 km from Amalfi, but the travel time is much longer than it seems, especially during high season. The SS373 road leading up to Ravello includes a long one-way section controlled by traffic lights. So unless you’re lucky, you may have to wait several minutes before passing (we had to wait about 10 minutes at the light).
If you don’t have a car, you can visit Ravello by bus. There is a private shuttle from the company Amico Shuttle departing from the port of Amalfi. Departures take place every hour from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., with return trips from Ravello every hour from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The ticket costs €10 one way and €16 round trip, and reservations can be made on their website (luggage not allowed).
There is also the SITA Sud bus, which is cheaper than the private shuttle and runs more frequently from Amalfi. You can find the schedules on the company’s official website.
Where to park in Ravello ?
There are three parking lots where you can park your vehicle in Ravello. We used the one closest to the historic center, located next to Piazza Duomo at this address. In early April we had no trouble finding a parking space. The rate is €4 per hour (we paid €15 for 3 hours and 5 minutes).
How much time to spend in Ravello ?
Once again, the village is quite small. Apart from the cathedral and the two villas with their gardens, there isn’t much to do. Allow at most half a day to visit Ravello, including lunch on site. If you are short on time and must choose only one of the two villas, I recommend visiting Villa Rufolo first. It’s the one we preferred.
That’s about everything there is to do in Ravello. If you have any questions, you can ask them in the blog’s comment section. This will be more helpful for other travelers than by email.