Cilento Coast
Greek temples at Paestum, rocky coves and fishing villages south of Salerno, best reached by car.
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The Cilento Coast is the quiet stretch of Campania, in southern Italy, that runs south of Salerno. Its best-known sight is Paestum, where Greek settlers built Doric temples that still stand on a flat plain near the sea. Behind the coast rises a national park of mountains and forest, and the shoreline holds rocky coves, small beaches and fishing villages.
It suits travelers who want swimming and old villages without the crowds of the Amalfi Coast. The towns and coves are spread along winding roads, so a car is the practical way to reach more than one beach in a day, and village streets are narrow enough that a small rental car is easier to handle. Late spring to early autumn is the time to swim. Allow three to four days, and base in two or three towns to limit the driving between them.
Cilento Coast in five
- Rent a car, and take it slowlyTrains stop at the larger towns, but the best coves and villages sit on winding coast roads. Compare car hire early, and give yourself extra time for narrow lanes.Getting around Europe
- Visit Paestum early in the dayThe Greek temples stand in an open site with little shade. Check the archaeological park's official site for hours, ticket details and any closures before you travel.Paestum
- Pick a base by what you wantAgropoli is the practical choice, with a station and shops. Palinuro has coves and boat trips, and Acciaroli is a small, quiet fishing village. Book early for August.
- Check the boat and beach rulesCoastal boat trips depend on sea state, and some coves are in protected areas with their own access rules. Ask locally and read the official park site first.
- Go in June or SeptemberAugust fills the coast with Italian families and the prices follow. June and September have warm sea, open beach clubs and parking within reach.Best time to visit Italy
Things to do in Cilento Coast
See all attractions in Cilento Coast
Need to know
- Airport
- Naples Capodichino (NAP), about 1.5–2 hr to Agropoli
- Getting there
- Train to Salerno or Agropoli, then car or bus
- Getting around
- Car; a few buses and boats in season
- Best base
- Agropoli, Palinuro or Acciaroli
- Time needed
- 4–7 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain14 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Quiet, closedJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 164 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- FebruaryPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low9°Quiet, closedFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 115 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh15°Low10°Spring, greenMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 119 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, green
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh17°Low12°WildflowersAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 92 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wildflowers
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, quietMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh25°Low20°Beach seasonJuneClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 20°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Beach season
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh28°Low23°Hot, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, busy
- AugustClear7 rainy daysHigh28°Low24°Peak crowdsAugustClear
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Peak crowds
- SeptemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh25°Low21°Warm seaSeptemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 21°
- Precipitation
- 101 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm sea
- OctoberClear10 rainy daysHigh21°Low17°Mild, quietOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 108 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, quiet
- NovemberRain15 rainy daysHigh18°Low14°Rain returnsNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 254 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain returns
- DecemberRain11 rainy daysHigh14°Low10°Quiet, closedDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 14°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 166 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, closed
Average daily high and low in Cilento, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Cilento Coast
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
14
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 70%
- Wind
- 7 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Cilento Coast
09:37 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today15°11°100%Monday: Rain. High 15°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue19°11°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed20°12°10%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Thu19°14°24%Thursday: Cloudy. High 19°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Fri18°15°54%Friday: Rain. High 18°, Low 15°. Chance of rain 54%.
- Sat18°14°61%Saturday: Fog. High 18°, Low 14°. Chance of rain 61%.
- Sun19°13°51%Sunday: Fog. High 19°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 51%.
Updated 09:15 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Paestumabout 30–40 min by car or bus from AgropoliThe best-preserved Greek temples in mainland Italy.Read the guide
- Amalfi Coastabout 1–1.5 hours by car from SalernoCliff towns and boats north of the Cilento.Read the guide
- Cilento National Parkabout 1 hour by car inlandWooded mountains, hill villages and walking paths.
Before you go to Cilento Coast
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Rules for Cilento Coast, checked
- Many nationalities need no visa for Italy. Non-EU visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the small village churches along the coast.
- Check with the Italian Ministry of Culture before you buy antiques or old objects, since some need an export licence to leave the EU.
Plan around Cilento Coast
Regions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guidePaestumGreek temples in a field by the sea
Read the guideAgropoliCilento's main town and rail stop
Read the guideAmalfi CoastThe busier coast to the north
Read the guideGetting around EuropeRail, buses and when a car pays off
Read the guideCapriIsland day trips leave from Naples and Sorrento
Read the guideCilento Coast FAQ
Is the Cilento Coast worth visiting?
Yes, if you want quiet beaches, Greek temples and local food without Amalfi crowds. It is spread out and needs a car, which makes it a poor fit for a short city-hopping trip.
How do you get to the Cilento Coast?
Take a train to Salerno or Agropoli, or fly to Naples and drive. Public transport thins out south of Agropoli, so plan on a rental car for coves and villages.
Where should I stay on the Cilento Coast?
Agropoli if you use trains, Palinuro for coves and boat trips, Acciaroli for a quiet village. Book early for August, when many places require a minimum week.
Is the Cilento better than the Amalfi Coast?
It is quieter and cheaper, with sandier beaches and few big sights beyond Paestum. Amalfi has the dramatic cliff towns and the boats. Many travelers combine them.
How many days do you need on the Cilento Coast?
Four days give you Paestum, a boat day and some beach time. A week lets you add the national park and a base change. Longer stays suit slow beach trips.