Amalfi Coast w/private driver - What do we need to absolutely see?

I can't answer all your questions but let me put my 2 cents in anyway. Ravello is indeed beautiful and yes, it is accessible by car. Since you'll be going from Sorrento, the drive will be extremely scenic. There are plenty of places to pull over and just look at the scenery. I like Amalfi town more than Positano (I joke that Positano is all women's shoe stores). How much you can do by car is beyond my knowledge. I would park in Amalfi and walk. It's easy and some of the shops are fun to walk through. The cathedral is especially worthwhile but as you'll see there is no way a car could get up all those steps!

You've decided to get a driver? Have you thought about taking a ferry from Sorrento around to Positano and then on to Amalfi? Then take the bus back to Sorrento. You bet all the good views. But no matter what you do, it's gonna be crowded. I'm in Sorrento the last week of June every year - it's always been crowded. But oh so worth it!

We did a similar drive a few years ago. We started in Sorrento and, at the end of our drive, were driven to our hotel in Positano. It's a beautiful drive and I'm sure your driver will regale you with stories and tidbits about what you're seeing. As I recall, we stopped for lunch at a restaurant high above the water with a view to die for. We stopped in Amalfi for perhaps an hour (that's all I needed, TBH), and also in Ravello, where we visited the Villa Cimbrone. If the driver has planned an 8-hour drive, then I wouldn't worry -- just sit back and enjoy! Rome2rio says the trip from Sorrento to Positano takes 24 minutes, but I remember it being slightly longer.

Enjoy your trip!

DD

I explored the AC for a couple days while based in Salerno in off-season, so no ferries, no crowds and no tourist shops (not my thing anyway). I didn't get to Ravello but the advice is to be driven up (or take the bus from Amalfi) and then walk down to Amalfi. I didn't find any of the towns very charming or quaint compared to other parts of Italy. The scenery is wonderful. With a driver you should be able to stop for breathtaking views and photo ops while the driver waits, blocking parked cars. I'd bet that the views from the sea are at least as good.

It's not that far from Amalfi to Minori and Maiori. I'd suggest driving the coast from Sorrento to Salerno, then taking the highway back to Sorreno. If you can, stop in Minori at Sal de Riso for their to-die-for pastries. They also have gelato. It was so good, I went back on my second day and also took a box of goodies back to my hotel.

Yeah, I'll agree with Chani in that it's not the towns themselves--Amalfi town, Positano & Ravello--that are interesting in and of themselves, because they're not, and are quite touristed-up at that. Vietri sul Mare or even Salerno are much better places to delve into the history, if that's what you're into.

But the setting on the A.C. cannot be beat, among the most beautiful land-to-sea scenery on Earth. So to sit at an overpriced restaurant for pretty good Italian fare is fine, but in that environment is plain smashing. Definitely makes the food taste better!

I will say, however, that a couple years ago in early March, with most everything still closed down for the winter, we happened upon Li Galli Bar, literally cut into a rock, right near the Sponda bus stop at Positano. It was the only place open, we sat at a rickety table by the road so we could see those vistas I mention above, and these folks kept bringing stuff out--calamari, antipasto, even an Italian-style hamburger. Excellent stuff, and I think they were happy to have someone to cook for!

I imagine your driver has an itinerary in mind, I’d let him do his thing. You’re paying a premium for a private driver, and that should include taking you to a few places that are especially beautiful and/or off the beaten path. Otherwise, this is just a tiny bus. Eight hours is a long time too. I’m sure you’ll have plenty of sightseeing and relaxing in there.

Thank you all SO much for the replies! Really appreciate your input. To clarify one point, our driver is ours for 8 hours...they're not planning on taking us on an 8-hour drive. So they can drop us off places and return to pick us up at a specific time.