Short version: the Amalfi Coast is one giant staircase, so with grandparents and toddlers in tow, the town you choose matters more than the hotel. Base yourselves somewhere flatter and well-connected — Sorrento or Ravello — pick a property with an elevator and a private transfer, and let the coast come to you.
Start with the town, not the hotel
The classic mistake is falling for a photo of Positano and booking there first. On a multigen trip, work in the opposite order: choose the town that’s kindest to the least-mobile person in your group, then find the right hotel inside it.
- Sorrento — the easiest base by far. It’s on flatter ground above the bay, has the region’s best transport (trains, ferries, and drivers), and is packed with gelato, lemon groves, and easy strolls. Not technically on the Amalfi Coast, but the smartest home base for families.
- Ravello — high, green, and blissfully calm, with famous gardens and cooler air. Fewer crowds and less chaos than the coastal towns, though you’ll drive down to the water for beach days.
- Amalfi town — central and walkable at sea level around the piazza, with ferries in every direction. A nice middle ground.
- Positano — the showstopper, and the hardest. It’s vertical, stair-heavy, and crowded in season. Gorgeous for a day trip; tough as a multigen base.
What to look for in a hotel
Once you’ve picked a town, these are the details that decide whether everyone has a good week:
- An elevator — to the rooms and, ideally, down to the pool or beach club. On this coast, that single feature is worth more than any spa.
- Connecting rooms or a suite — so grandparents are close but everyone has their own space (and the toddler’s early bedtime doesn’t end the adults’ evening).
- A private arrival transfer — public stairs and narrow roads are no fun with luggage, car seats, and tired travelers. A driver who meets you at the airport in Naples changes the whole first day.
- A pool — a calm hotel pool is the multigen secret weapon for the hours between adventures.
Parco dei Principi Hotel — Sorrento. A design-forward Gio Ponti landmark with spectacular sea views, a private guests-only beach club, and lush botanical grounds. Best for clients who value setting, architecture, and waterfront access over modern luxury.
Fora perks: complimentary room upgrade (subject to availability) · complimentary daily breakfast · early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability).
Getting around without the stress
Rent a driver, not a car. The coastal road is beautiful and terrifying in equal measure, and parking is scarce. For flat, scenic days, ferries are a joy — grandparents love them, toddlers love them, and you skip the switchbacks entirely.
A gentle daily rhythm
Slow mornings, one “big thing” a day, and a long lunch. Aim activities at the middle of your group’s energy: a boat afternoon along the coast, a lemon-grove visit, a pizza night in the piazza. Leave the late dinners for the adults after the little one’s asleep — that’s what the connecting suite is for.
The Amalfi Coast absolutely works for three generations. It just rewards a little planning up front — the right town, the right elevator, the right driver — so all anyone remembers is the lemon gelato and the light on the water.
Quick answers
- Which Amalfi Coast town is easiest for grandparents and toddlers?
- Sorrento is the most forgiving base: it sits on relatively flat ground above the water, has the region's best transport links, and offers easy day trips. Ravello is a good second choice for a calmer, greener stay, while Positano is the most beautiful but also the most vertical — lots of steep stairs.
- Is Positano manageable with a stroller?
- Honestly, not easily. Positano is essentially a staircase to the sea, so a carrier beats a stroller. If your heart is set on it, choose a hotel low in the village near the beach and plan for taxis and the internal shuttle rather than long walks.