Visiting Salerno Travel Guide
visited: May 2025-april 2026During our year in Italy, Salerno and the surrounding area was where we called home, and we absolutely loved it. If you’re planning a trip to southern Italy consider planning a stay in Salerno, the gateway to the Amalfi Coast and more! It is the perfect combination of city-meets-coastal-town.
Why Stay in Salerno
I know, I know, Positano and Amalfi are beautiful, but the reality of staying there is not always easy: steep staircases with luggage, expensive everything, and unrelenting crowds (even in the off-season).
On the flip side, Salerno is easy to reach by direct train from Naples (and even Rome), cars can drop you off right at your door, and the crowds are a fraction of those seen down the coast.
I recommend staying in Salerno and planning day trips to the other towns nearby.
How Long to Stay
Deciding how long to stay really depends on what you’re looking for.
Two days: if you’re only planning to stay long enough to see Salerno’s highlight reel.
One week: if you’re looking to explore beyond Salerno (seeing the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Pompeii and more) with Salerno as your base.
One month: if you really want to experience the southern Italian way of life, develop a routine, practice your Italian, and fully embrace la dolce vita!
All of our visitors during our year in Italy said they wished they had planned to spend more time here.
→ If you want to read about our year living in Campania, be sure to explore more here.
What to Eat
Italy’s cuisine is best experienced by trying the regional dishes — don’t stay in Sicily expecting top-tier cacio e pepe like you might find in Rome. The Campania region has some pretty noteworthy contributions to the world of Italian food. Here’s a list of what you should try if you’re looking for local favourites:
Pizza! Naples is just a short distance from Salerno and the Neapolitan style pizza here is incredible. Keep things simple and try a margherita, quattro formaggi, or diavolo.
Mozzarella. Specifically bufala mozzarella, especially if you’re a cheese fan. Compared to a cow’s milk mozzarella, the mozzarella made with buffalo milk is a little tangier. Do yourself a favour and order a caprese salad or two while you’re here.
Scialatielli ai Frutti di Mare. If you love pasta and seafood, it doesn’t really get better than this. Fresh handmade noodles, with a mix of fresh-caught seafood, tossed together in a light sauce with tomatoes and garlic. It was my go-to order when we ate out during our year living here. Buonissimo!
Lemon anything. You’ll find lemon-centric food throughout Campania, but especially along the Amalfi Coast. A local favourite dessert is the delizia al limone — lemon cake filled with lemon cream and covered with limoncello glaze. That’s about as lemony as it gets!
Cuopo fritto. Another one for the seafood lovers, the cuopo fritto is a cup of deep-fried seafood and it is delicious! Squeeze a lemon slice over top and you’re on your way to being a local.
Paccheri pasta. Pretty much every area of Italy favours a specific pasta shape, this region is all about paccheri. It’s a wide, short, tubular shape and you’ll often find them in dishes with a tomato-based sauce, some ricotta, or perhaps even stuffed.
Potatoes on everything. Pizza, burgers, you name it, you’ll probably find an option with potatoes. I don’t know why, but I do know it’s delicious and worth trying while you’re here.
What to Do
Though a lot of people choose to stay in Salerno as a place to land while exploring the Amalfi Coast, the city has plenty to do and see on its own. Don’t forget to make time to explore Salerno, too!
Walk the Lungomare
Most coastal towns in Italy have their own lungomare — a seafront promenade — and Salerno is no different. Join the locals in their daily passeggiata along the two kilometres of seaside views!
I particularly loved this walk in the evening with the twinkling lights of the coastal towns. If you’re staying in the historic centre, the stretch near the Spiaggia (beach) Santa Teresa is full of people enjoying the evening air.
If you love the lungomare here, be sure to visit Bari where they have the longest one in Italy or Monterosso in Cinque Terre with its brightly coloured buildings contrasting against the blues and greens of the landscape.
Visit the Duomo
Much like a lungomare, almost every town has its own duomo — the main church of the area. Salerno’s is Duomo di Santa Maria degli Angeli which can be found in the historical centre. While you’re here, be sure to wander down into the crypt which has some beautiful tiling and painted imagery.
Explore the Old Town
One of my favourite things to do when visiting European cities is exploring their old towns — as a Canadian the concept of places with so much history that are still lived in is a novel idea. The streets are just so beautiful. Salerno’s old town is no different. Wander off of the main road, explore the twisting alleys and paths, stumble upon a bar, shop or restaurant you might not have found otherwise.
Visit Castello di Arechi*
If you’re near the old town, you might notice the structure perched atop the hill, overlooking Salerno; this is Castello di Arechi. It’s about 25 minutes by bus and the views are supposed to be pretty incredible.
Go for a Swim
Salerno has a few beaches along the coast that are open to the public with chair and umbrella rentals available to those who want. The main one for tourists is Spiaggia Santa Teresa, but there are more along the Lungomare if you’re staying at the other end of the city!
We also went to Lido La Conchiglia which is an open-air pool/beach spot with sunbeds, washrooms, and bars. It was nice to enjoy the sun and water without lying in the sand from time to time.
Hike to the Cross
A little further than Castello di Arechi, you might spot the cross on top of the hill. If you want to add a little hiking into your Italian itinerary, the trail isn’t too difficult and rewards you with some pretty spectacular views of the coastline! Find information on the hike here on AllTrails.
Seasonal Experiences
While you’re likely not planning your big Italian adventure during the months when it’s too cold to dip in the sea, if you are visiting in the winter, Salerno is the place to be.
Luci d’Artista
Every year, the historical centre is swarmed with people coming from all across Italy to see the Luci d’Artista festival. At first glance they’re Christmas lights, in reality they’re an outdoor art exhibit. Hanging throughout the old town, the lights are lit every evening throughout December and January, with different displays every year.
In Piazza Sedile di Portanova you’ll find their Christmas tree lit up during the holidays.
Join Strucio
On both Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve the entire city of Salerno turns up in the historic centre to enjoy a few drinks before they spend the evening at home with family. I have never seen so many people packed into narrow streets, and the year we were there it was raining on both days!
Strucio literally translates to rubbing shoulders, and that’s exactly what happens. If you’re claustrophobic in large crowds, this local tradition might not be right for you!
New Year’s Eve
If you think you’ve seen fireworks, I almost guarantee it’s nothing like the fireworks we saw along the coastline here. For about an hour, everywhere from Salerno to Agropoli there were endless fireworks. Find yourself a vantage point to watch from and enjoy the sparkly chaos!
Go to a Sagra
A sagra (sagre if plural) is a seasonal food festival — typically found in the smaller surrounding towns and is extremely community-focused. If there’s one happening while you’re here, be sure to go for some incredible local food and drinks.
Panettone d’Artista
If you are in Italy during the holidays and don’t try panettone (or at least some pandoro), I don’t think you can say you were in Italy during the holidays. And what better way to try a bunch of different options than a panettone festival? There is an entry fee, but the price includes samples and wine, so there’s really no loss here. Panettone d’Artista happens annually and my friend says it’s her favourite event of the year!
Plan Some Day Trips
As I mentioned earlier, Salerno is so well connected that it makes exploring more of Campania so easy. Whether you choose to travel by ferry, bus, or train, there is so much to explore. Below are some of my favourite places and a few we’ve saved for when we go back to visit.
Naples
Travel time: Less than 1 hour
How to get there: Train
If you want to try Neapolitan pizza where pizza was invented, experience the Napoli love of Maradona, or take in the views of Capri and Mount Vesuvius, you need to visit Naples while you’re here. Take the direct train from Salerno to Napoli Centrale or the regional train from Salerno to Piazza Garibaldi Stazione which is directly below Napoli Centrale.
Pompeii
Travel time: Less than 1 hour (by train)
How to get there: Train
For the history lovers, Pompeii is an unmissable stop. The incredibly preserved city amazes me every time as I walk the same streets as people from centuries before me.
Paestum
Travel time: Less than 1 hour
How to get there: Train
Another stop for lovers of history, Paestum is somewhere that had never crossed my radar before moving to Italy, and I don’t understand how. The Ancient Greek temples here are in incredible condition.
Agropoli
Travel time: Less than 1 hour
How to get there: Train
A small coastal town, about 45 kilometres (28 mi.) from Salerno, with a beautiful old town on top of the cliffs above the sea. If you want to find a quieter beach, without travelling too far, Agropoli is a great option.
Vietri sul Mare
Travel time: Less than 30 minutes
How to get there: Walk, bus or train
From the edge of Salerno to the edge of Vietri is only about 2.5 kilometres (1.55 mi.) — uphill. Both trains and buses run regularly between the two towns. Vietri sul Mare was where Tys and I lived during our time in Italy and this small, beautiful town that begins the Amalfi Coast was the perfect place to call home.
Amalfi Coast
Travel time: 45 minutes-3 hours
How to get there: Ferry or bus
The Amalfi Coast is made up of a series of stunning, small towns, along the Tyrrhenian Sea. Depending on which town you’re visiting and your method of travel, times can vary a lot. If I have any advice for you, it would be to explore beyond Positano and Amalfi, both of which are beautiful, but severely overcrowded.
Our favourite towns (other than Vietri) were Maori and Minori — beautiful, terrific beaches, and delicious desserts!
Capri*
Travel time: 1.5-2 hours
How to get there: Ferry
Being an island, the only way to get there is by boat, so make sure you check travel times in advance and plan your day accordingly. Ferries are weather-dependent, so make a backup plan in case the weather doesn’t feel like cooperating.
