Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Amalfi Coast

Before you go

What happens when you get there

Buses and ferries

SITA Sud runs the coast road buses and admits small dogs only, muzzled and on a lead. Small animals ride free and a larger dog needs a passenger ticket, and the driver can refuse a dog when the bus is packed, which in summer is most of the time. The ferries are the better bet. Travelmar links Salerno, Cetara, Maiori, Minori, Amalfi and Positano and takes dogs on a paid pet fare, muzzled and on a lead. NLG runs Naples, Sorrento, Capri, Positano and Amalfi and lets dogs inside on a lead with a muzzle, and may ask for the vaccination papers.

Getting there

Naples Capodichino is the airport, about 90 minutes from Positano by car. The main UK and Ireland carriers into Naples don't take dogs in the cabin, so most people route through a European hub or drive up from further south. From Naples the Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento (EAV) takes dogs of any size on a lead and muzzled, or small dogs in a carrier up to 70 by 30 by 50 cm, with a passenger fare for a medium or large dog and a ban on weekdays between 7am and 9am.

Villa Rufolo and the Ravello gardens

Villa Rufolo admits dogs up to 30 cm at the shoulder and 20 kg, on a short fixed lead with a muzzle, gardens only, and staff can ask to see your poo bags. Open daily 9am to 8pm, EUR 8. Villa Cimbrone's gardens publish no rule, so ring ahead. The Path of the Gods from Bomerano to Nocelle is a free public trail and a dog walks it on a lead.

Beaches

There's no coast-wide rule. Each comune and each lido sets its own, and most of the sand at Positano, Amalfi and Maiori is lido concessions in summer. Ask the lido before you pay for loungers. Villa TreVille has its own rock beach and Torre Sponda a private beach, which sidesteps the question.

Dogs at breakfast and dinner

Palazzo Murat is the only yes for the restaurant. Anantara, Caruso and Miramalfi are a clear no at breakfast. Villa Cimbrone and Villa Margherita keep dogs out of the restaurant and bar. Poseidon, Furore Grand, Palazzo Avino and Villa TreVille don't publish a rule, so ask by name when you book.

Weight limits and two dogs

Caruso caps at about 4 kg, Miramalfi, Palazzo Avino and Villa Margherita take small dogs, Anantara and Villa Cimbrone cap at 25 kg. Palazzo Murat and Furore Grand take any size. Anantara, Caruso and Miramalfi take two dogs. Poseidon and Villa Cimbrone take one.

Seasonal closures and heat

Most of these hotels close from roughly November to April. Poseidon and Villa Cimbrone close November to mid-April, Miramalfi mid-April to early November, Palazzo Avino April to end of October. July and August are hot, the steps in Positano are in full sun and the buses are rammed, so walk early and late.

Vets

Studio Cardamone at Via Castello 1 in Maiori (089 851153) is the vet actually on the coast. For out-of-hours cover, Centro Medico Veterinario Villani in Nocera Superiore (081 934522) lists night, holiday and 24-hour on-call service, about 40 minutes over the pass by car.

Best walks

The Path of the Gods from Bomerano in Agerola to Nocelle above Positano, the Sentiero degli Innamorati from Spiaggia Grande along to Fornillo in Positano, the seafront from Amalfi round the headland to Atrani's small square and beach, the Valle delle Ferriere up from Amalfi into the shade, and Villa Rufolo's gardens in Ravello for a dog under 20 kg.

When to go

Late April to June and September to October. The hotels are open, the sea is warm by June, the ferries are running and the steps are bearable. July and August bring heat, full buses that may refuse a dog, and lidos wall to wall. From November to April most of these hotels are shut and the ferries thin out, so the coast is quiet but hard to reach.