Cilento
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
4.5
99 reviews
Excellent
60
Very good
27
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
4
126Martin
Wallingford, UK103 contributions
Jun 2014 • Couples
Cilento Coast near Castelebate: The village of San Marco is quite small, but very pleasant with several bars and gellaterias plus a couple of small supermarkets – but be aware that these close from around 1pm to around 4pm.
If you stroll up the Via Carlo de Angelis (to the right of the cobbled road that runs parallel) you will come to a small supermarket with a place called Palmisciano at the right – they have a wonderful selection of bread, cold meats and cheeses and wines – you can ask them to make up a simple panino and then go next door to the supermarket to buy tomatoes on the vine to add to the mix.
There is a bar on the main road called Torretta which serves an incredible range of pastries and other snacks – a large slice of pizza (enough for two modest appetites) for an incredible 1.5 euro!
Getting around: A local bus service (orange busses) runs between San Marco and several local villages and towns, including Santa Maria and Castellabate. They also go to Ogliastro, but we didn’t go there, although it looked a nice place when we passed on our way to Elia Velia. The bus stop is outside the hotel and tickets may be bought on-board so long as you have the exact fare (1.2 euro per person one way June 2014).
A longer-distance bus service (blue busses) runs between San Marco and run north up the Cilento coast to Agropoli (about 40 mins) and Salerno (about 2 hrs). Tickets may be bought from the bar adjacent to the bus stop on the main road near the roundabout (1.6 euro per person one way – June 2014) Remember to ask for “andata” and “ritorno” otherwise you will need to find another bar to purchase your return ticket.
Santa Maria is a larger town just north of San Marco. It may be reached by local bus (see above) or by walking along the beach (the road has no pavements and would be very risky). Walking via the beach takes about 40 minutes, but be aware that a) the sand is very coarse, b) it gets too hot to walk on comfortably (think Dudley Moore in 10) unless you paddle, and c) the beaches are littered with rubbish – not the pleasant experience you might wish for all-in-all.
Agropoli is a pleasant town with a wide promenade and old town (with castle on top) that are worth wandering around: The bus stops on via Risorgimento which leads to the promenade which changes name to via San Marco (you can get off at the far end of the promenade and walk back to town). There is a small tourist information booth slightly hidden away beyond the south end of Piazza Vittorio Veneto on Viale Europa – the woman we spoke to had excellent English, but the booth closes at lunch time. The return bus stop is nearby, on Via Piava, outside an architecturally unusual shop selling bridal ware (opposite Benetton).
Local walks: We found a useful tourist office at Castellebate – including a quality booklet on local walks entitled:
Comunita Montana “Alento Monet Stella” Monte Stella – the mountain over the sea: Walks and rambles in ancient Cilento
In our opinion, the walking times suggested may only be achieved by Mo Farah and some of the ‘paths’ are more suitable if your name is Chris Bonington (I might be slightly exaggerating…)
We did attempt the walk from San Marco up to Monte Licosa, then down to Punta Licosa (where there is a lighthouse) and back to San Marco. This was a shorter walk marked as part of a longer circular walk from San Marco to Ogliastro – the total time given for that being 5hrs 30 mins and a distance of 18.5km. After 3 hrs on our short walk we plodded back into San Marco having covered about a quarter of the overall distance. Take plenty of water, a good sense of direction and a sense of humour when trying to follow the instructions!
Boat trips: There are several individuals who hang around the harbour next to sign boards suggesting they offer boat trips. None of the individuals seemed that interested in finding customers, but we understood that they charge 60 euro for 1hr 30min ride and usually expect a minimum of 4 people to amortise the cost.
There appeared to be pedalos for hire at Santa Maria, but no idea of the cost.
If you stroll up the Via Carlo de Angelis (to the right of the cobbled road that runs parallel) you will come to a small supermarket with a place called Palmisciano at the right – they have a wonderful selection of bread, cold meats and cheeses and wines – you can ask them to make up a simple panino and then go next door to the supermarket to buy tomatoes on the vine to add to the mix.
There is a bar on the main road called Torretta which serves an incredible range of pastries and other snacks – a large slice of pizza (enough for two modest appetites) for an incredible 1.5 euro!
Getting around: A local bus service (orange busses) runs between San Marco and several local villages and towns, including Santa Maria and Castellabate. They also go to Ogliastro, but we didn’t go there, although it looked a nice place when we passed on our way to Elia Velia. The bus stop is outside the hotel and tickets may be bought on-board so long as you have the exact fare (1.2 euro per person one way June 2014).
A longer-distance bus service (blue busses) runs between San Marco and run north up the Cilento coast to Agropoli (about 40 mins) and Salerno (about 2 hrs). Tickets may be bought from the bar adjacent to the bus stop on the main road near the roundabout (1.6 euro per person one way – June 2014) Remember to ask for “andata” and “ritorno” otherwise you will need to find another bar to purchase your return ticket.
Santa Maria is a larger town just north of San Marco. It may be reached by local bus (see above) or by walking along the beach (the road has no pavements and would be very risky). Walking via the beach takes about 40 minutes, but be aware that a) the sand is very coarse, b) it gets too hot to walk on comfortably (think Dudley Moore in 10) unless you paddle, and c) the beaches are littered with rubbish – not the pleasant experience you might wish for all-in-all.
Agropoli is a pleasant town with a wide promenade and old town (with castle on top) that are worth wandering around: The bus stops on via Risorgimento which leads to the promenade which changes name to via San Marco (you can get off at the far end of the promenade and walk back to town). There is a small tourist information booth slightly hidden away beyond the south end of Piazza Vittorio Veneto on Viale Europa – the woman we spoke to had excellent English, but the booth closes at lunch time. The return bus stop is nearby, on Via Piava, outside an architecturally unusual shop selling bridal ware (opposite Benetton).
Local walks: We found a useful tourist office at Castellebate – including a quality booklet on local walks entitled:
Comunita Montana “Alento Monet Stella” Monte Stella – the mountain over the sea: Walks and rambles in ancient Cilento
In our opinion, the walking times suggested may only be achieved by Mo Farah and some of the ‘paths’ are more suitable if your name is Chris Bonington (I might be slightly exaggerating…)
We did attempt the walk from San Marco up to Monte Licosa, then down to Punta Licosa (where there is a lighthouse) and back to San Marco. This was a shorter walk marked as part of a longer circular walk from San Marco to Ogliastro – the total time given for that being 5hrs 30 mins and a distance of 18.5km. After 3 hrs on our short walk we plodded back into San Marco having covered about a quarter of the overall distance. Take plenty of water, a good sense of direction and a sense of humour when trying to follow the instructions!
Boat trips: There are several individuals who hang around the harbour next to sign boards suggesting they offer boat trips. None of the individuals seemed that interested in finding customers, but we understood that they charge 60 euro for 1hr 30min ride and usually expect a minimum of 4 people to amortise the cost.
There appeared to be pedalos for hire at Santa Maria, but no idea of the cost.
Written July 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria
London, UK51 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
Venture a little further south of Amalfi is the Cilento region characterised by rocky coves, wild flowers and superlative seafood restaurants that the Italians have long kept to themselves.
Unlike most of the rest of Italy the motorway and railway cut behind the Cilento region and so the coast is unspolit by mass tourism. The national park is the second biggest of Italy, offering sea, rivers and mountains. Therefore, the relative difficulty of access has saved Cilento.
Cilento is largely uncharted territory for international tourism but those that do happen upon it find the pleasure of the area are to be found in the thrill of discovering tiny villages in the hillsides, port towns, and larger ruins such as and the 7th-century Greek temples of Paestum or Velia. This stretch of coast offers visitors a genuine welcome that has been lost in the tourist shops of the Bay of Naples, as well as having a cluster of elegant hotels.
The Cilento area, which is protected and fostered through the National Park, is a multi-coloured area along the low coastline going to the high promontories and rolling fertile hills.
The sea is stunning and the mountains are covered in hard-wood beach and chestnut forests and are ideal for wilderness camping trips all year round. The olive-picking season from October to December is my favourite time of year.
An extraordinary mixture between history, culture and nature enriched by a sumptuous culinary tradition, which is deep-rooted in the history of the Cilento region, homeland of healthy and fine food; taste and health, earth and sea, traditional recipes and new technologies work together for an unforgettable food-and-wine experience.
When to visit
Cilento's season runs from Easter to October. Summer is the best time to explore the coastline and enjoy the beaches and bays. The best month is July. Avoid the 2 central weeks of August either side of the 15th (Ferragosto national holiday) at all costs.
Towns to explore..(in no particular order)
- Pollica and its associated hamlets of Cleso, Galdo, San Mauro and the port town of Acciaroli
- Pisciotta - picturesque hillside town
- Palinuro and it's Grottos and rocky coves (get to Baia degli Infreschi and Baia del Buon Dormire)
- Castellabate - great views and food
For a bit of culture - Velia and the temples and museum of Paestum
For some great Mozzarella - Tenuta Vanullo near Paestum
For some fun - from July-Sept all local villages run fairs "Sagre" serving food, wine, local produce for sale and entertaiment - ask any local shop for info
Unlike most of the rest of Italy the motorway and railway cut behind the Cilento region and so the coast is unspolit by mass tourism. The national park is the second biggest of Italy, offering sea, rivers and mountains. Therefore, the relative difficulty of access has saved Cilento.
Cilento is largely uncharted territory for international tourism but those that do happen upon it find the pleasure of the area are to be found in the thrill of discovering tiny villages in the hillsides, port towns, and larger ruins such as and the 7th-century Greek temples of Paestum or Velia. This stretch of coast offers visitors a genuine welcome that has been lost in the tourist shops of the Bay of Naples, as well as having a cluster of elegant hotels.
The Cilento area, which is protected and fostered through the National Park, is a multi-coloured area along the low coastline going to the high promontories and rolling fertile hills.
The sea is stunning and the mountains are covered in hard-wood beach and chestnut forests and are ideal for wilderness camping trips all year round. The olive-picking season from October to December is my favourite time of year.
An extraordinary mixture between history, culture and nature enriched by a sumptuous culinary tradition, which is deep-rooted in the history of the Cilento region, homeland of healthy and fine food; taste and health, earth and sea, traditional recipes and new technologies work together for an unforgettable food-and-wine experience.
When to visit
Cilento's season runs from Easter to October. Summer is the best time to explore the coastline and enjoy the beaches and bays. The best month is July. Avoid the 2 central weeks of August either side of the 15th (Ferragosto national holiday) at all costs.
Towns to explore..(in no particular order)
- Pollica and its associated hamlets of Cleso, Galdo, San Mauro and the port town of Acciaroli
- Pisciotta - picturesque hillside town
- Palinuro and it's Grottos and rocky coves (get to Baia degli Infreschi and Baia del Buon Dormire)
- Castellabate - great views and food
For a bit of culture - Velia and the temples and museum of Paestum
For some great Mozzarella - Tenuta Vanullo near Paestum
For some fun - from July-Sept all local villages run fairs "Sagre" serving food, wine, local produce for sale and entertaiment - ask any local shop for info
Written August 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ELear
Ancona, Italy3,163 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
Welcoming and intelligent people, excellent wine, crystal clear seas, little fishing-boats bobbing in the setting sun, intoxicating air, peace and quiet far from the city... My favourite part of Italy.
Written March 31, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Askevold
Sandnes, Norway53 contributions
Aug 2015
This area is one of the one of the secrets of Italy. Fantastic scenery, mountains, beaches and medieval villages and towns. Interesting archeologic sites as well. Good location for your Italian holiday out of the typical tourist tracks.
Written September 13, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thechimneys
Gloucester, UK28 contributions
Jul 2014 • Couples
We weren't expecting Cilento to be so beautiful vast and varied! It is amazing - so quiet, so unspoilt and so much less expensive than Tuscany and Umbria where we have visited before. Very unexpected and unforgettable.
Written July 19, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JuneauMan
Juneau, AK260 contributions
Sep 2014 • Solo
It was cool in the mountains. People are wonderful and the sights fantastic. Away from the typical tourist areas and the real Italy
Written September 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IngridLanaken
Lanaken, Belgium49 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
We started by car in Petina and followed the road to Sant Angelo a Fasanella. Halfway this way we did the trail to the Antece warrior. half an hour up and half an hour back to car. It was a nice trip and a nice walk. The trail was well marked.
Written July 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elik K
2 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Great food, great atmosphere, real Italian coffee and a waiter with a good singing voice, what else can you ask for 😉
Written October 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Irena B
2 contributions
Sep 2021
It was one of the best culinary experience, the food was in all means “ home made” delicious not to mention hospitality and service ,caring and up to expectations, thank You for making my birthday dinner memorable and so pleasant .Definitely will return for more .
Written September 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
andrean65
Tirrenia, Italy626 contributions
Ciao in estate dove consigliate(località) di soggiornare? Cerchiamo il giorno non situazioni caotiche.. E la sera poter fare 2 passi in un posto carino
Lauraunipd88
Padova8 contributions
Buongiorno, sto valutando il Cilento come meta delle vacanze estive e avrei alcune domande. Io e il mio ragazzo cerchiamo mare sole e tranquillità, ma purtroppo abbiamo la possibilità di muoverci solo ad agosto, per questo motivo vorrei chiedere a chi conosce la zona se effettivamente è poco frequentata come leggo, se la situazione è ancora vivibile in spiaggia. Inoltre vorrei avere qualche consiglio su dove prendere un appartamento in affitto, un posto comodo da cui potersi spostare con la macchina e visitare diverse spiagge. Grazie in anticipo a chi risponderà e buona estate!😃
Sere9088
Rome, Italy19 contributions
Ciao! Anche io sto valutando il Cilento col mio ragazzo e anche noi andremo ad agosto ( dopo ferragosto). Volevo chiederti se ti sei più organizzata o hai avuto info in merito!
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Cilento Information
Excellent Reviews | 60 |
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