We don't want to discourage you, but unfortunately January is by far the worst month of the year to visit the Amalfi Coast. After the Christmas and New Year holidays, most businesses close for the season, only to open back up for Easter.
In Positano, most restaurants and hotels are closed, but some to stay open through the winter in Amalfi.
The Weather in January
January is the coldest month of the year on the Amalfi Coast, with overcast or wet days.
Heavy rains often bring mud slides and blockages along the coastal highway 163 that runs between the towns long the coast, and traffic can be blocked for days at a time. There are regular ferries only between Capri, Sorrento, and Naples; the ferry routes linking Positano and Amalfi do not run in winter.
Average high temperature (in Celsius): 15° C
Average low temperature (in Celsius): 10° C
Chance of rain: 30%
Chance of clouds: 50%
Average sea temperature (in Celsius): 15° C
Average daylight hours: 9
So, Should We Skip a Winter Visit?
Not necessarily! There are some advantages to visiting the coast in the winter: prices are lower and there are no crowds or long lines to board public transportation. You can visit Pompeii and Herculaneum in peace, without having to suffer under the hot sun with the summer crowds. The island of Capri has a wild beauty in the winter, and the shops and boutiques in Sorrento hold their winter sales.
With a bit of luck, you may even get a few sunny days to visit the towns along the coast, taking advantage of the light traffic to travel from town to town.
Where to Stay
Choose Sorrento as your base, since it is the most vibrant in the winter. Otherwise, stay in Amalfi, the larges of the towns on the Amalfi Coast proper, where shops and restaurants are more likely to be open.
What to Do
This is the perfect season to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum, or wander the many museums in Naples
Visit Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Mount Vesuvius
A Day in Naples
