Why I loved my stay in Sant’Agnello, a less touristy Amalfi Coast town

The Amalfi Coast welcomes 5 million travelers each year to appreciate its beauty, top-notch food, and magical beaches [source]. The only problem is that places like Sorrento and Positano are overrun by tourists and are extremely expensive. 

Those two qualities didn’t thrill me as a solo traveler in Italy, which is why I was so excited to discover the lesser-known gem of Sant’Agnello. 

This special village stands out among the touristy Amalfi Coast towns and it even ended up on Travel Lemming’s list of the best places to travel in 2024. After staying in Sant’Agnello myself, I much preferred it to the more popular areas. Here’s why: 

Affiliate Disclosure: Travel Lemming is an independent reader-supported blog. You can support us by purchasing via the affiliate links on this page, which may earn us commissions. See our Advertising Policy for further explanation. Thank you!

There were way fewer tourists roaming around

The first thing I noticed when I arrived in Sant’Agnello was that I actually had the sidewalk all to myself. Coming from bustling cities like Milan and nearby Naples during the busy season, this was a luxury. 

When I did come across other people in the streets, it was locals who’d greet me with a smile and a welcoming “Buongiorno.” Not tourists pushing over each other in an effort to get closer to the sights. 

However, the rest of the region is nothing like this. Forget about just Italy, the Amalfi Coast is one of the most-visited places in all of Europe. 

This is obvious when you stroll around somewhere like Positano and you’re surrounded by an inescapable swarm of tourists. Luckily, staying in Sant’Agnello was an excellent way to avoid the crowds that flock to the area. 

You can see clear views of Mount Vesuvius in the distance

My walks around Sant’Agnello always took longer than expected because I kept spotting Mount Vesuvius and was too mesmerized by the views to continue. It looks like a scene from Jurassic Park off in the distance. 

I’d seen the towering geological feature before from the viewpoint at Castel Sant’Elmo in Naples. Yet, it was different to constantly observe it in the background of everyday life in Sant’Agnello. It was almost as if the entire town was a beautiful viewpoint. 

I loved my amazing villa accommodation

Accommodations usually fade into the background for me, but that wasn’t the case with the gorgeous Villa Angela Luxury House in Sant’Agnello. When I think back on my time in Italy, staying here stands out as a highlight of the whole trip. 

As a solo traveler, I opted to book the villa’s cozy one-room stay, but there was also a larger house next door with enough space for up to six guests. The villa was immaculately clean, located in a secure gated community, and had sweet touches like a complimentary bottle of wine. 

While the space was exceptional in itself, the gracious hosts really made the property memorable. Angela and her son went above and beyond to ensure that I had a comfortable stay. They even arranged a tour to the Path of the Gods for me and gave me a lift to the train station after I checked out. 

Sant’Agnello has direct access to a laid-back beach club under the cliffs

While Sant’Agnello doesn’t have the traditional sandy seashore, the town does feature a beach club called Spiaggia La Marinella. It was less than a 10-minute walk from my villa, so I decided to check it out. 

It’s located at the base of these massive cliffs and appears to be inaccessible from a bird’s eye view. I had to make my way down a spiraling cobblestone path that was built into the cliffside to reach it. 

Once I got to the bottom, I was in awe of the coastline above my head and the sea stretched out before me. I rented a lounge chair with an umbrella for around €25, hung out under the sun, and just appreciated the heavenly surroundings. 

Visitors could jump right in the ocean from their relaxation station at the beach club and the water was calm enough for kids. Delicious-looking food and drinks were also available to order without ever leaving your spot. 

There are tons of delicious restaurants like La Marinella and Ristorante Moonlight

Even after eating in amazing restaurants in Milan, Naples, and Parma (the city where parmesan cheese originates), I was still highly impressed with the food in Sant’Agnello. For such a quaint town, they managed to fit in so many delicious restaurants. 

On my first evening, I ate dinner at La Marinella on their patio overlooking the sea. I got a table just in time to watch the colorful sunset with Mount Vesuvius in the distance. Plus, my homemade lasagna was divine. 

Another culinary favorite was the adorable Ristorante Moonlight. Since the Amalfi region is famed for its lemons, I indulged in a limoncello spritz here. I had this signature Italian drink across the country and this one was the best by far. Their citrus risotto was the ideal compliment. 

The town has very walkable streets

I didn’t want to take pricey taxis all over the place when I was visiting the Amalfi Coast. That’s why I was relieved to find that Sant’Agnello had very pedestrian-friendly streets. From my morning coffee to the beach club in the afternoon, I could reach everything on foot. 

I never had to worry about encountering dangerous, sidewalk-less parts of the town. Since Sant’Agnello is much less-visited than nearby destinations, I wasn’t competing for space on narrow walkways either. 

The streets of Sant’Agnello were so pleasant that I spent a lot of my stay just exploring the terrain on long walks. It is surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the Amalfi Coast after all. 

Easy access to the Path of the Gods Hike (your accommodations may even be able to set up a tour!)

Embarking on the Path of the Gods hike along the Amalfi Coast was my original inspiration for going to Italy. I’d seen photos from the journey and I just felt called to do it myself.

Half the reason I chose to stay in Sant’Agnello was that it provided access to this legendary hike. Once I started planning though, I realized that it was going to be very difficult to reach the trail on my own using public transportation. 

I mentioned this to my villa host and how I was visiting the area specifically for the hike and they saved the day. My hosts set me up with this incredible full-day Path of the Gods guided tour for around $50. 

The guide picked me up early in the morning, drove 45 minutes to the start of the trail, and then led our group through the 4-hour trek. We even got to stop halfway through for a specially made lunch with local ingredients. It was even better than I imagined because I had good company along the trail. 

Breathtaking sunset viewing spots all over the place

You know those people who are desperate to get up to the highest point just before sundown to watch the show? That’s me. I’m a sucker for a good sunset spot and Sant’Agnello is rich with them. 

Since the town is located right on the coast, I stumbled across countless places to appreciate this natural phenomenon while I was wandering around. They weren’t official viewpoints, which meant I usually got a private experience because I was the only person there. 

I loved how many of the local restaurants offered outdoor seating with an ocean view, too. It provided a picturesque perspective of the sunset in all its glory with dinner on the side. 

Sant’Agnello is much more affordable than nearby towns like Sorrento, Positano, and Praiano

The Amalfi Coast is one of the most expensive places to visit in Italy. I was stunned by the prices for accommodations in towns like Sorrento, Positano, and Praiano. While it’s an acceptable splurge as a honeymoon destination, it was out of my budget as a solo traveler in Italy. 

Thankfully, Sant’Agnello was close to these iconic places and cost about half the price. If you want to appreciate the region’s opulent atmosphere without running through your whole budget in a day, staying in Sant’Agnello is the way to go. 

My private luxury accommodation was around $150 per night during the high season and I could easily get a full meal for less than $25. That might not sound like the best deal ever, but in comparison to nearby Amalfi Coast towns, it’s a steal. To put it in perspective, the average cost for a hotel in Praiano is around $330 per night [source].  

Sant’Agnello is still within walking distance of the popular city of Sorrento

Even though Sant’Agnello is cheaper and quieter than its Amalfi Coast neighbors, it is still close enough to walk to Sorrento. It took around 25 minutes through exquisite scenery to walk from one town to the other. 

During my stay on the Amalfi Coast, I walked over to Sorrento almost every day. This was a major bonus for me because it was almost like a two-for-one deal. I got the benefits of staying in Sant’Agnello and still had access to the beauty, restaurants, and activities around Sorrento as well. 

For instance, I had the chance to visit one of Sorrento’s emblematic lemon groves for a tour and it was only 15 minutes away from my villa on foot. Since Sorrento has a major port, it also makes it easier to join Amalfi Coast boat tours and visit nearby islands like Capri. 

There is a calmer atmosphere throughout Sant’Agnello

In the end, my favorite thing about staying in Sant’Agnello was the peaceful atmosphere of the town. Most of the places I visited in Italy were so busy and touristy that Sant’Agnello was a breath of fresh air. 

That serene quality is difficult to find in such a famous destination like the Amalfi Coast. When somewhere is that popular, it can feel almost artificial, but that was far from the case in Sant’Agnello. 

The streets were quiet, everywhere I went felt safe, and there was a distinctly warm vibe to the town. It was the perfect combination of authentic and idyllic for me. 

***

As you can likely tell, Sant’Agnello is a very welcoming, one-of-a-kind town that’s outside the norm of popular Italian destinations. If you’re looking to soak up the beauty of the Amalfi Coast region without the crowds and cost, consider booking a stay in Sant’Agnello as your home base. 

After the Amalfi Coast, I headed to Naples and learned a lot about the vibrant neighborhoods there. Check out my guide on where to stay in Naples if you’re planning on making a stop there, too!