Minori, Italy: The less crowded side of the Amalfi Coast
Most international tourists who visit the Amalfi Coast know about Amalfi Town and Positano. But The Amalfi Coast isn’t just about those two places.
Have you heard about Minori and Maiori?
The Amalfi Coast has 13 main towns and many little villages. Lots of them are right by the sea. And are characteristic and pretty just like the famous ones. Minor is one of my favorites among the Coastline’s towns.
In this post, I will introduce you to the town of Minori.
Minori might not be as famous in the international travel scene. But it’s very popular with local Italian tourists. Many Italians pick Minori as their vacation spot. It is a charming destination with excellent local cuisine. And a convenient location for day trips. There is a Roman villa in the center, a beautiful Cathedral, the famous Lemon Path walk, and various hiking options to explore the surroundings.
Consider choosing Minori as your base.
You can use Minori as your home base to stay on the Amalfi Coast. It’s the ideal start to explore other towns on the Amalfi Coast because it has good bus and ferry connections.
You can easily reach Amalfi and Ravello from Minori. Or take a day trip to Positano. Minori is also more budget-friendly than Positano. And less crowded than the center of the Town of Amalfi.
- What to do in Minori?
- Where to eat in Minori?
- Where to stay in Minori?
- Day trips from Minori (Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, Capri)
- Near Minori: Maiori
- How to get to Minori?
Map of Minori with places of interest
What to do in Minori:
Minori has a more local ambiance and is less crowded with tourists compared to Amalfi or Positano. You’ll have the opportunity to socialize with locals at the bars and restaurants.
Minori is by the seaside, so from April to around October, you can sunbathe here. It’s possible to rent a beach lounger from the Beach clubs. There is also a small but free section on the Minori public beach. You can check out my blog post for more details “7 Best Beaches of the Amalfi Coast” where I’ve included Minori Beach.
Join a cooking class.
Try a local cooking class. You can join a cooking class in Minori. Here, you will learn to make Minori’s pasta specialty. It’s called ‘Ndunderi, similar to gnocchi. This pasta probably originates from ancient Roman times.
Visit the Roman Villa.
Minori has a Roman villa. You can visit it for free. It’s open to the public every day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., except on Mondays. On Sundays, it closes at 1:30 p.m. During the winter, the opening hours may be shorter.
Visit the Cathedral of Minori.
The Basilica of Saint Trofimena is worth a visit too. It’s an impressive church with a sumptuous Neoclassical interior and baroque-style elements.
Walks, trails, and hikes around Minori
Walk the famous Lemon Path.
Make sure not to overlook the Annunziata bell tower. You can see it as you walk up along the road. The bell tower dates back to the eleventh century and was built in Arab-Norman style. You can visit it before starting the lemon path.
There’s a family-style restaurant close by. It’s a farm with their own products. Called Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc. I haven’t checked out myself yet. But it has outdoor seating in a lovely garden with a great view. Looks like a place to try out some local dishes.
The Lemon Path is an ancient footpath.
This trail connects Minori to Maiori, passing through the tiny village of Torre.
Check out my detailed post about the lemon path before you go. It’s more of a relaxed walk than a challenging hike. But there are several hundred steps up and down along the way. For a detailed description check out my post on the Path of the Lemons.
Hike to the village of Sambuco.
There’s a fantastic hiking trail from Minori to Sambuco village. Along the way, you’ll pass near the ruins of the old paper mills (Cartiere). Then, you’ll walk under chestnut trees and near a small river. The path gradually climbs up to reach Sambuco village. Once you’re there, you can continue on the road to Ravello.
Walk from Minori to Ravello.
Several paths in the countryside that connect Minori to Ravello. These trails are marked with ceramic signs indicating Ravello. And they’re usually easy to find and follow. But it’s an uphill walk, so you’ll need a good fitness level.
Hike up to Mount Forcella and visit the San Nicola Convent
Visit the San Nicola Convent. It’s just above Minori on the top of a hill.
To reach the convent would be more or less of a full-day hike. It takes several hours to go up and down. You can also walk as a loop.
Restaurants and Bars in Minori
Minori offers a variety of restaurants and bars to choose from. If you decide to stay here, you can enjoy a relaxing evening walk by the seaside. You can also visit the bars on the Promenade. Or explore the ancient alleyways in search of hidden gems.
Sal de Riso
One of Italy’s most famous pastry shops is in Minori. Sal De Riso is an internationally renowned pastry chef. People are coming to Minori specifically to savor his delicious desserts. His famous invention is Delizia di Limone.
The De Riso family is from Minori.
In 2018, Salvatore broke away from the original family business. In an interview, he said the main reason was that he wasn’t happy with how things were going and the service they provided. So he decides to open his own place. The new shop is just a few meters away from the old one.
The original family business is called De Riso Sede Storica. It’s managed by his brother Alessandro. They still sell desserts. But now they’re not made by Sal De Riso or his team. It’s more of a historic, traditional Italian bar. Also, the bar offers dining options. They usually have some fresh fish available and salads.
Restaurant La Botte
I’ve been going to this restaurant a lot lately. My favorite dish there is octopus. They serve good quality and a nice variety of seafood.
They open for dinner as early as 7 p.m. A bit earlier than most other restaurants. Usually, traditional restaurants in Italy close after lunch and reopen for dinner only around 8 p.m.
There’s an outdoor seating area. The inside is cozy, cellar-like with paintings on the walls.
They also have a wood-fired oven for the pizza. The pizzaiolo is friendly and always smiling at the entrance.
It’s better to try this restaurant when it’s not too crowded. The service can be a bit slow when there are too many tables. During peak times and weekends especially. Our experience was much better here when there were fewer people.
The Giardiniello Restaurant serves fantastic food, and you can also try the local specialty, ‘Nndunderi, here. It’s a pasta dish, somewhat similar to gnocchi but made with ricotta.
Azienda Agricola Cuonc Cuonc, as mentioned earlier, is close to the Lemon Path. If you prefer a more rustic experience, this is your place.
Minori as a Base to Explore the Amalfi Coast
Day Trips to Amalfi, Ravello and Positano.
Buses run between Salerno and Amalfi. They are more frequent between Maiori and Amalfi. From Minori, it only takes about 20 minutes to get to Amalfi.
There’s also a pier with regular ferry service during the high season. And less frequent, but still decent service during the shoulder season. The ferries typically operate from April to October. The ride from Minori to Amalfi by ferry takes just 10 minutes. For more information, check out my detailed post on this ferry line.
To reach Ravello, as mentioned earlier, you can take several footpaths. Alternatively, you can go by bus to Amalfi, explore a bit, and take the regular bus to Ravello.
The bus ride from Minori to Amalfi takes about 20 minutes, and then it’s another 30 minutes to reach Ravello.
So it’s possible to visit Amalfi and Ravello on the same day as a day trip, from Minori.
For day trips to Amalfi and Positano, you have two options: ferries or buses, but you’ll need to change in Amalfi either way.
Ferries are more convenient, especially on weekends and during peak season. The road connecting these towns is narrow. Easily leading to traffic jams. Also, the Amalfi Drive is winding, and I personally don’t enjoy very long bus rides here.
The bus from Amalfi is actually the Amalfi-Positano-Sorrento line, so you can also reach Sorrento. But it’s quite a long journey, longer than it appears on the map.
Day Trips to Capri
Until September, you can take a ferry to Capri, but you’ll need to change in Amalfi. After that, you can find more frequent services from Sorrento or Naples to visit the Isle of Capri. Check the ferry routes to Capri in my dedicated post.
Exploring Around Minori: Visit Maiori
Minori and Maiori are like sister towns. The word “minor” means “smaller”. And ‘maiore’ means “bigger” In Latin.
Maiori is the nearby town and is the bigger one of the two towns.
Maiori has some nightlife, a famous pastry tradition, and some really great restaurants.
You can try traditional local dishes at La Pineta in Maiori. And enjoy dining under lemon trees. The outside sitting area is literally a lemon orchard.
Locals have told us that Ristorante Nettuno has excellent fresh fish, though we haven’t tried this restaurant yet.
Maiori also has the longest beach on the Amalfi Coast. And a pedestrian shopping street with patisseries, bars and restaurants. So check this town out if you are staying in Minori.
The village of Atrani
Just before Amalfi, there is the village of Atrani. It’s the most crib-like village on the Amalfi Coast. With a lot of labyrinth-like arched alleyways. A splendid central square, and beachfront too. Worth a visit.
Where to Stay in Minori?
La Zagara is situated on the hillside. The structure is in a traditional Amalfi-style villa. They have a spacious terrace with lemon trees, so you can enjoy breakfast under the lemon orchard here. They also have a swimming pool. It’s a great starting point for hiking up to Ravello.
If you want to be centrally located, I recommend Hotel 7 Bello. This accommodation is right on the main road. The bus stop is literally at the front door. The ferry port is less than a 5-minute walk away. The hotel is only 200 meters from the beach.
For a more upscale option, consider Villa Romana Hotel & Spa. A four-star hotel in the heart of Minori. It features an inside courtyard and a tranquil garden. And a fantastic swimming pool with sun loungers to relax near the pool.
How to get to Minori?
The easiest way to reach Minori is by bus or ferry from Salerno.
You can get to Salerno by a direct high-speed train from many major cities in Italy. There is a frequent train connection between Naples and Salerno.
By Ferry from Salerno:
The ferry to Amalfi stops in Minori. The ferry port is just across the street, about 300 meters from the front of the central station in Salerno. I have a blog post with all the information needed for this ferry line. It runs till the end of October and restarts around April.
By Bus:
The Sita bus line Salerno/Amalfi stops in front of the central station in Salerno. The journey to Minori typically takes around 40 minutes, ideally without traffic. More on public transport on the Amalfi Coast.
From Positano:
You can take the bus or ferry. In both cases, you have to change in Amalfi.
From the Town of Amalfi:
There are frequent buses directing to Minori. Look for a SITA bus that goes to Salerno or Maiori. You can also take the ferry, as it tends to be quicker.
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