Positano
Western Europe · Italy
Did you know?
- Harbor shops sell painted ceramic tiles and colorful silks.
- Fornillo beach is reached by stairs or a coastal path.
- A Roman villa lies beneath Santa Maria Assunta.
See also
Overview
Positano's colorful buildings cascade down a hillside on the Amalfi Coast. Coastal views and a steep townscape shape a visit here.
Languages: Catalan, Italian
Why Go
Positano is a small picturesque town perched on an enclave on the face of a hill winding down towards the waters of the Amalfi Coast. Naturally beautiful, it attracts thousands of visitors every year with its splendid coastal views, colorful buildings cascading down the hillside, and Mediterranean charm. The town features two main beaches: Spiaggia Grande, the main beach and ferry port, and Fornillo, a smaller more secluded beach accessible by stairs or path.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
When to Go
Best visited during late-spring or early-autumn when weather is beautifully warm and crowds more manageable than summer months. All months from March to November are still great times to visit. Thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, even winter months aren't bad. Summer sees the highest temperatures reaching 34°C with minimal rainfall, while winters stay mild at 11-16°C.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Getting Around
Positano is a vertical town built on a steep hillside. Getting around means navigating many stairs and narrow paths. The SITA Coach runs along the coast from Sorrento via Positano to Amalfi, 2-3 times per hour. A day pass including Ravello costs €10-12. City Sightseeing buses run hourly from Sorrento to Positano (40 min) for €10 one stop. Ferries by Travelmar run between Amalfi and Positano 4 times daily, taking 15 minutes (Adult €8, child €6.50). Hydrofoils run 8 times daily between Sorrento and Positano.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Things to Do
Visit the Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, a famous 1920s church with a majestic dome housing the 13th-century Byzantine icon Madonna di Positano. Beneath the church lies the Roman archaeological museum and villa (MAR), a 1st-century AD Roman villa buried under volcanic debris from Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD, excavated and opened in 2018. During summer, take ferry trips to Capri (including the Blue Grotto), Ischia, or Paestum. Charter private motor-boats through Charter La Dolce Vita for custom itineraries. Cooking and ceramics classes are offered at various shops along the main road.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Where to Stay
Positano is expensive, with budget options limited. Hostel Brikette is the only low-budget hostel in town and books out quickly by American travelers—book well in advance. Villa Nettuno offers clean low-budget rooms with spectacular sea views, run by a brother and sister team. Hotel Casa Albertina Positano (Via Tavolozza) offers 3-star rooms starting from €170 for a double. Casa Celeste is a family-run bed and breakfast on Via Fornillo where Nonna Celeste makes breakfast. For splurges, Le Sirenuse (€1000-1600) is famously featured in the 1994 film Only You starring Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Food and Drink
Positano offers everything from pizza to Michelin-starred dining. Mediterraneo and Saraceno D'Oro near Grotto of Fornillo serve local specialties for budget-conscious travelers. Da Vincenzo (Viale Pasitea 172) is known for spaghetti alla vongole and homemade desserts by Marcella. Next2 (Viale Pasitea) features innovative dishes like 'Italian sushi' and fish tempura, popular with locals on weekends. La Serra inside Hotel Le Agavi earned a Michelin Star in 2018 for its seafood specialities. For nightlife, Music on the Rocks is the main dance club on Spiaggia Grande with DJs and theme nights.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Buy
Positano is famous for lemons—the region produces extra-large lemons and all sorts of lemon products. Buy limoncello, the lemon liqueur produced mainly around the Gulf of Naples and Amalfi Coast. Colorfully painted ceramic tiles and colorful silks are also popular purchases, available at shops near the harbor.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Day Trips
Take the local bus to Montepertuso from the church, then follow steep footpaths to Santa Maria, a small church high up with stunning views of Capri, Positano, and the sea. Spring brings rare spices and flowers between cypress trees. Julian Tippett's walking guide from the Sunflower Countryside Guides series is recommended. Nearby destinations reachable by ferry or bus include Pompeii and Herculaneum (ancient Roman cities), Mount Vesuvius, Paestum (Greek temples), Ravello, Naples, Capri, and Ischia.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Go Next
From Positano, continue along the Amalfi Coast to Amalfi itself, or head to Sorrento for connections to Naples. Ferries connect to Capri and Ischia islands. Inland, visit the archaeological sites of Pompeii or Herculaneum, or hike up Mount Vesuvius for panoramic views. Ravello, perched high above the coast, offers gardens and classical music concerts.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Field guide adapted from Wikivoyage contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0. Text has been adapted and organized for this guide. About our sources.
Places to know
A few starting points from the guide. Check current hours and prices before you go.
- sleep
California Hotel Positano
A three star hotel in an 18th-century building that belonged to a Neapolitan noble family, with 15 guestrooms divided into 14 doubles and one quadruple with 2 bedrooms and 2 baths.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Casa Celeste
Family-run bed and breakfast. Nonna Celeste makes breakfast every morning. Casa Celeste also owns a beach bar, Da Ferdinando, on Fornillo Beach.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Conca d'oro Hotel
Opened in 1949 from an idea of Giovanni Cappiello. An ancient villa in the middle of a beautiful garden full of orange and lemon trees surround the hotel. The Villa Giacinta is operated by this hotel, and is a beautiful (if expensive) option for traveling groups. The villa contains 4 bedrooms (3 doubles and one twin-sized), ~4 bathrooms, a large foyer and living room, and a comfortably-sized kitchen (great for cutting down on expenses in this expensive tourist town). Additionally, there are tiled porches at the front entrance and off the master bedroom and small balconies with great views in some of the other bedrooms. The Villa is cleaned daily, and the cleaning staff are friendly, nice, and deliver fresh figs to the kitchen in summer. Be warned, though, that both the villa and the Hotel Conca D'Oro are a 15-minute very steep walk to and from the beach/port, and parties with elderly visitors or children may be better off near the beach.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hostel Brikette
It is apparently the only low-budget hostel in town. You would want to book well in advance since it gets booked out by American youngsters. It is clean, has a lovely breakfast, and terraces where you can admire the view in the evening and drink some red wine. The girls at the check-in speak an almost too native American English, so don't be afraid to call. You will be kicked out from 11:00-14:30 for cleaning, but you want to be somewhere else admiring the area during this period, anyway.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Casa Albertina Positano
Three-star hotel with 20 bedrooms including also a family room that can host 2 children and 2 adults. Besides the facilities expected from a three star hotel of the Amalfi Coast, such as TV, private bath, mini bar, terrace and telephone, some rooms also have a hydro massage bathtub. The rates start from €170 for a double standard.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Le Agavi
A view of the entire bay, swimming pool with solarium, three bars, a gourmet restaurant and private beach.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Maricanto
Great infinity pool.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
- sleep
Hotel Palazzo Murat
Luxury resort is in a historical residence. Features a private botanical garden with a panoramic pool, gourmet restaurant Al Palazzo and a selection of rooms and suites with sea and city view.
Adapted from Wikivoyage contributors
Before you go
Culture
Positano maintains traditional Italian charm with colorful houses cascading down hillside. Beach bars line Fornillo Beach. Limoncello and painted ceramics are local specialties.
Money
Italy uses Euro (€). Positano is expensive—budget accommodation is scarce with only one hostel. Double rooms at 3-star hotels start from €170. Expect to pay more for beachfront dining.
Packing
Bring comfortable shoes for stairs and steep paths. Beachwear for Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo Beach. Light layers for spring/autumn visits.
Transport
SITA buses run 2-3 times hourly along the coast (Sorrento-Positano-Amalfi), day pass €10-12. Ferries to Amalfi take 15 min, €8 adults. Town is very steep with many stairs.
Weather
Mediterranean climate with hot summers up to 34°C (June-August) and mild winters 11-16°C. Best visited late-spring or early-autumn to avoid peak crowds.