13 best things to do in Cetara on Italy’s Amalfi Coast

Explore the best things to do in Cetara on Italy’s Amalfi Coast! The picturesque fishing village of Cetara is known for its rich history of tuna fishing and Colatura di Alici production, a traditional anchovy sauce.

We spent the entire summer traveling around Italy’s Campania region, including the famous Amalfi Coast, where we managed to explore every charming town along the coastline. This includes the picturesque hidden gem of Cetara!

In this blog post, you’ll find all the best things to do in Cetara complete with photos, descriptions, and locations on the map. I hope you enjoy your time on Italy’s so-called Divine Coast as much as we did. Happy travels!

1. Admire the scenic Torre di Cetara

Torre di Cetara or the Tower of Cetara is the symbol of this little seaside village and it is the first thing you’ll notice after arriving at Cetara.

After experiencing many pirate attacks, a whole network of defense watchtowers were built along the Amalfi Coast back in the 16th century. One of them still stands here looming over the main beach of Cetara.

The historic tower sits on a rock overlooking the sea. Except for a small museum at the bottom of the tower, you can’t really explore the inside because today it is a private residence.

The tower is very well visible from the beach but we also walked over to the tower by the main Amalfi Coast road that bends through the village. Because the road goes higher up the hill, we got amazing views of the whole fishing town!

Location: Torre di Cetara

2. Peek into the Church of St. Peter the Apostle

Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Pietro Apostolo or the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle is a neoclassical church of the Patron Saint that dates back to the 18th century.

The church is one of the main attractions of Cetara and we managed to take a quick look inside as well. It features a massive bronze door made back in 2005, a single nave adorned with many side altars, and beautiful stained glass windows.

The most striking feature of this church is the dome adorned with shiny majolica tiles from Vietri sul Mare, another nearby town along the Amalfi Coast.

The shiny dome stands out among the rest of Cetara’s rooftops. Whenever we walked to a viewpoint overlooking Cetara village, the dome stood out with its shiny tiles.

Location: Chiesa Parrocchiale di S. Pietro Apostolo

3. Stop by for Italian breakfast at Chocolamì

Chocolamì is a chocolate shop, a cafe, and a pastry shop in Cetara. It is also one of the best places for breakfast in Cetara so if you arrive here early in the morning before having eaten anything like we did then this is the place to go.

We chose a breakfast Italian style. There is a wide array of cookies, pastries, and desserts to choose from. I recommend combining a plate full of small assorted pastries so that you can try as many local treats as possible with your breakfast cappuccino.

Location: Chocolamì

4. Catch some shade in the seaside garden

Piazza Manfredi Nicoletti Pittore is a small seaside plaza with a lush garden named after an artist in Cetara. It might be one of the few outside places in Cetara where you can get some shade under the trees.

We visited Cetara during the summertime high season with the temperature rising pretty high during the day so this little spot by the beach was our escape.

The garden features small pathways under the trees, some benches, and a playground for kids. This is where locals sit down for a daily chat with their neighbors.

We relaxed on a beach while watching the fishermen of Cetara tending to their small boats to do their daily chores.

This is also the hotspot for different events that take place in the village. Whenever we wanted to sit down and relax or eat a gelato with a view we came right here.

Location: Piazza Manfredi Nicoletti Pittore

5. Stroll along the Beach of Cetara

Cetara has a charming grey-sand beach right by the sea in the village. Like in many Amalfi Coast towns, part of the small beach is paid-for where you can rent a beach bed and an umbrella but a small part of the beach is free for all.

If you visit Cetara during the sunny season the beach will be covered with the typical colorful umbrellas you see all over the Amalfi Coast towns. Looks really charming, if you ask me!

We didn’t go for a swim but the beachside and the promenade is a great place to relax and socialize. Locals gather here to discuss daily life, kids play around, and everyone is just spending time together by the bay.

If you actually want to spend time in the water, I recommend checking out another beach just a couple of hundred meters from the Cetara center called Spiaggia del Lannio.

It is a scenic cliff-side beach with a restaurant where, again, part of the beach is free for all. We saw it from above while passing by and it looked charming with mountain views in the background (see photos above).

Location: Beach of Cetara – Spiaggia del Lannio

6. Check out the iconic Panchine d’Autore benches

While you are at the seaside, don’t forget to check out the iconic Panchine d’Autore benches, a unique collection of artist benches scattered throughout the small town. I found many of them in the seaside garden.

Each bench depicts a different theme from maritime life and local traditions to abstract designs. The benches were painted by local and international artists.

The iconic Panchine d’Autore benches turn Cetara into an open-air art gallery so definitely keep your eyes open when wandering around the fishing village to spot more of these art installations.

I also saw a couple of benches further away from the beach along the main street in Cetara – Corso Garibaldi. I really hope they continue with this unique project and add even more benches to the collection.

7. Stroll along the main shopping street, Corso Garibaldi

Corso Garibaldi street is the main artery of Cetara village and the perfect place to go for a stroll through the little town.

Basically, all life happens on this street that winds right through the heart of Cetara. There are street vendors, boutique shops, markets, restaurants, cafes as well as different tourist attractions along the way.

We walked along this street numerous times when we went for breakfast, when we did some shopping, when we were looking for gelato, and when we looked for a lunch spot in Cetara.

Further down the road, Corso Garibaldi turns into Corso Federici. I recommend walking at least as far as Piazza Martiri Ungheresi – a little square with a fountain (see photo above).

Location: Corso Garibaldi

8. Wander into the Piazza di San Francesco

One of the places to stop by when strolling along Corso Garibaldi is Piazza di San Francesco. It is a charming small square in the heart of Cetara named after the adjacent Church of San Francesco.

We actually walked over there to check out the inside of the church (I had read that it was gorgeous!) but the church was closed whenever we tried to open the door (and we tried multiple times).

The little square with trees and benches is a popular gathering spot for locals. it sits one level higher than the busy Corso Garibaldi street making it a peaceful spot to relax right in the middle of the village.

The square also hosts many of the events that take place in Cetara. If you are looking for a peaceful place to relax then try this square.

Location: Piazza di San Francesco

9. Buy a jar of the famous Cetara tuna

Cetara is famous for its centuries-old tradition of tuna fishery. It is actually one of the few remaining places in Italy where they still use an ancient technique of tuna fishing passed down from generation to generation.

Tuna has been a part of Cetara’s local identity for centuries with locals preserving this prized Mediterranean species through salting and oiling. This is why you will stumble upon numerous gourmet stores offering local produce, including jars of tuna.

There are two ways to try local tuna. You can go to a restaurant and order a tuna dish or you can also buy a jar of tuna in oil, a package of handmade pasta, and make a pasta dish at home.

During our stay in the Amalfi Coast area, we rented an apartment with a kitchen so we opted to make our own pasta dish at home. I boiled pasta, added pesto sauce, and some grated parmesan cheese, and put chunks of Cetara tuna on top. Delicious!

You will find many gourmet stores along the main shopping street Corso Garibaldi. I found a little tuna shop called Cetarii di Gennaro Benincasa by the beach and we got a jar of red tuna there. It is pricey but worth a try.

Location: Cetarii di Gennaro Benincasa

10. See Cetara from above from Amalfi Drive road

I always love seeing places from above! And the iconic pastel-hued towns perched on cliffsides or nestled in a valley between the mountains along the Amalfi Coast are known for their picturesque and postcard views.

One of the easiest places to go to see Cetara from above is the Amalfi Drive road winding through the village and continuing on along the Amalfi Coast.

We simply walked over there from the village and got the photo-perfect view of the whole village, the seaside with beach umbrellas, and the historic watchtower of Cetara. Unbeatable views!

And this place is very easy to get to – it is only a couple of minutes’ walk from the center of the village, slightly uphill. Try to find a spot where you can safely stand and enjoy the view because the traffic there can sometimes be hectic!

Location: View from Amalfi Drive

11. Try pasta with the famous Colatura di Alici sauce

After hiking up and down Cetara hills and exploring all the sights in the village, we looked for a great pasta place to reward ourselves with a nice lunch.

The best pasta place in Cetara is Ristorante Cetara Punto e Pasta where they also serve pasta with the famous Colatura di Alici sauce, a local specialty.

My husband opted for pasta with pesto made with Colatura di Alici (but he said it was too salty for him), while I chose the pumpkin ravioli, which was absolutely delicious.

Colatura di Alici is the local pride and joy in Cetara. Today’s recipe can be traced back to the monks who lived on the Amalfi Coast during the Middle Ages. You can buy this sauce in many gourmet shops in Cetara!

Other local restaurants worth a try are La Dispensa ARMATORE by the sea, Ristorante Acquapazza, Ristorante e Pizzeria da Spadone, Pane Coccos’ as well as the incredible seafront restaurant Ristorante Falalella.

Location: Ristorante Cetara Punto e Pasta