Positano is a place that requires some planning for what to do when you visit, whether you're here for a holiday or just a day trip, due to the large crowds. We’ve gathered our top experiences from our visits to this beautiful town, so you can skip the research and focus on enjoying your vacation.
The first time we visited Positano, we arrived by ferry from Sorrento. We were completely captivated by the sight of the town from the sea. After disembarking, we paused to let the other passengers pass by. We stood on the pier, speechless, taking in the spectacular view. Slowly, we made our way into the town, and it was only then that we truly realized how steep Positano is. Carrying luggage up stairs and through narrow alleyways to our accommodation was a challenging task.
If you’re visiting Positano for several days, we highly recommend exploring the upper parts of the town. Many of the best restaurants are located here, the streets are quieter and more beautiful, and you’ll get a completely different experience than down by the harbor and the main beach. There are also beaches just outside the town that are worth visiting.
In the mountains above Positano, you’ll find the villages of Montepertuso and Nocelle, accessible by foot or bus. Below, we’ve gathered detailed information about Positano and the surrounding areas, including our favorite restaurants and our preferred places to stay.
Positano…
Positano is perhaps the most beautiful of its kind along the Amalfi Coast. This town is both debated and adored. Undeniably, it has become one of the busiest and most tourist-heavy coastal towns in the region. Nestled deep in a bay on the Amalfi Coast, Positano looks as though it has been carved directly into the mountainside, earning its nickname, the “vertical city.” In this charming town, you’ll climb hundreds of steps daily, yet that doesn’t seem to deter the throngs of tourists who flood the harbor each day. Despite its population of just 3,000 residents, Positano is visited by hundreds of thousands throughout the season.