5 million visitors/year — 80% come June-August 10am-4pm. The other 20%: the coast is YOURS. The secret is WHEN and HOW, not where.
1. Go Oct-Nov or Mar-Apr (70% fewer tourists, 30% cheaper, swim in Oct). 2. Stay Ravello, Praiano, or Minori (NOT Positano — Ravello elevated+quiet, Praiano sunsets, Minori = real village). 3. Wake EARLY — Positano 7am = 3 joggers. 11am = 3,000 day-trippers. Same piazza, 99% fewer people. 4. Ferry not bus — SS163 = 2h traffic jam. Ferry from Salerno skips ALL traffic. 5. Sentiero degli Dei at 7am (Path of Gods — by noon = queue. At dawn = private balcony).
6. Rent a boat (€100-200/half day, no license under 40HP. Private coves. No traffic.) 7. Eat in Cetara (anchovy capital, HALF Positano prices). 8. Visit Atrani (Italy's smallest town — 5 min from Amalfi, 95% never find it). 9. Reverse the coast — start Vietri east, go west. Day-trippers go Positano→Amalfi. 10. Winter Amalfi — Dec-Feb: EMPTY. 70% cheaper. Rain between dramatic light on cliffs.