Positano is a quaint and picturesque village situated on the cliffside of southern Italy’s Amalfi Coast. Known for its beauty, this village has made its way in the books and Instagram feeds of various globetrotters who have a thirst for adventure.
Being one of the most picturesque places in Italy, if not the world, it is no wonder that so many people visit Positano every year.
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Positano’s dramatic outlook works as a magnet for tourists and has been doing it successfully for quite some time now. This has gradually gained the name of being the romantic getaway, this village houses beautiful pastel- colored homes and buildings with a hint of white in between. It also has world-class restaurants, boutique shops, and a charming atmosphere which justifies its connection with the Amalfi coast.
This town lives with the phrase- La Dolce Vita- enjoying every bit of the sweet life to the fullest in all its splendor.
If you are planning a day trip to Positano, you might have just got your hands on the best itinerary!
Table of Contents
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Where to Stay in Positano?
Luxury – Villa Boheme Exclusive Luxury Suites is a luxury accommodation in Positano a 3 minute walk from the beach. The property is family owned on the cliffside overlooking Positano’s Spiagga Grande beach.The accommodation features free WiFi and a private terrace with panoramic sea views. There is a fully equipped kitchenette, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. There is also access to a pool with a view.
There is a bus link to the centre of Positano which is 0.6 miles away which stops outside the accommodation.
Read more and book your stay at Villa Boheme Exclusive Luxury Suites here.
Mid-range – Villa Yiara is a beautiful and bright accommodation with incredible sea views. This adult only property is situated in an 18th century building overlooking the bay of Positano. The accommodation has free wifi and air conditioning and some of the rooms will feature a spa bath.
Read more and book you stay at Villa Yiara here.
Budget – La Maliosa D’Arienzo is an accommodation in Positano that offers sea views over Positano bay. The property is a 1 minute walk from the beach and is surrounded by olive and citrus groves. There is free wifi in the rooms and all rooms are air conditioned with a minibar.
Each day, breakfast is served under a veranda surrounded by flowers.
Where is Positano?
Positano is a scenic village located on the Amalfi coast in Italy. The nearby destinations are Naples (58 kilometers/ 1.5 hours drive) and Sorrento (16 kilometers/ 35 minutes drive). The routes are narrow and along the mountains giving you a splendid view of the sea. The road leading to the Amalfi Coast is one narrow mountain path that only the bravest will drive along with a steep drop below.
The nearest airport to Positano is Naples and the easiest way to get to Positano from the airport is via an airport transfer, however this can be expensive.
Another option is to get a train to Sorrento and then a public bus to Positano or a train to Salerno and either getting the public busy or the ferry to Positano.
Why Should You Visit Positano?
Positano has grabbed the attention of visitors more and more over the years with the introduction of social media and made its mark as one of the most famous and iconic places on the entire Amalfi Coast.
It has a different vibe and atmosphere which usually sticks with the tourists and explorers, leaving you wanting to return for more.
It has a lot for you to see in a day like the pastel-hued homes, cute tiny boutiques, delicious restaurants and bars, a beach with a breathtaking view, and quaint narrow streets.
When is the Best Time to Visit Positano?
Italy is bliss for tourists all year round but to witness the best of Positano, try visiting in spring and autumn (May/ June and September/ October). With pleasant weather and soothing breeze, the temperatures here are bearable and also, this season helps you avoid too much of a crowd. However, if you wish to witness floral beauty, try visiting it in April – June.
Another hack to avoid crowds is to visit the location early morning. You can take as many photographs and videos as you like without having others in it!
Visiting early would also help you reserve yourself a seat at the beach and enjoy the serenity before it gets too busy.
Hiking in Positano
If you want to enjoy a different view of Positano there are many beautiful hikes around. If you are doing this during summer, we would recommend getting up early for it as the temperatures will get very hot throughout the day.
Vallone Porto
The Vallone Porto is a walking route that connects Gulf of Naples to the Gulf of Salerno. The route takes around 3.5 hours.
Path of Gods
The Path of Gods is a 5.6km trail near Praiano. The walk is considered moderate and takes around 3 hours to complete.
These trails aren’t too steep but rather give you a fantastic view of the sea. If you are lucky with the weather and an early bird, you might ge t to see the most beautiful sunrise.
Some trails stretch long and hence would require more than just a day in Positano. You can plan on several days for a full hiking trip around the Positano landscape and explore the unexplored.
While you are on this scenic journey, you might come across various wildlife. Be on the lookout for falcons, eagles, owls, and salamanders as you walk further into the lush green vegetation. You might even unfold other natural wonders here- waterfalls and rock pools.
Salvator Fruit Stall
After your hike, you will most likely be feeling extremely thirsty. The next stop in your Positano itinerary should be a drive to the Salvator fruit stall to enjoy some fresh fruits and juices. Budget-friendly and organic, the fruit juices cost 4 euros.
While here, you can look over the magnificent view of Positano and absorb the vibrant atmosphere. After you have purchased something, Mr. Salvator allows you to take photos and videos of his very aesthetic fruit stall and even has some props that you can use too.
Vintage Dream Car Rental
A trip to the Amalfi Coast usually means indulgence, relaxation and enjoyment. How about renting a vintage car along the coast whilst letting your hair blow with the wind.
You can use it to drive around or rent it for a photoshoot, which is a very popular thing to do in Positano.
A popular vintage car rental company is Positano Vintage Dream.
Church of Santa Maria Assunta
Glittering in the midst of stacked pastel-hued houses along the cliffside, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta is a sight to behold. The brilliant majolica tiled cupola of the church tells a story of royalty. Its intricate pattern of green, yellow, and blue tiles gleaming against the blue sky and sea is simply stunning.
Built in the 12th century, the church is home to a Byzantine icon that represents the Virgin Mary, admired by many visitors who visit here.
Go Shopping
The floral importance of Positano is easily visible on the ceramics found here. Available at various shops, you can buy items like ceramic diffusers, accessories, souvenirs, and much more.
Spend some time at the Beach
One of the most popular things to do in Positano is spend time at the beach.
You can have pizza while sitting at the beach and dipping in the natural beauty of the sea. While you reserve yourself a seat on the beach, you can scan a QR code and order yourself some food and drinks with a perfect view of the beach.
After a delightful food session, you can relax on the beach or ride the waves.
The beach clubs will charge around €20-30 for a sun lounger and an umbrella for the day. Alternatively, there is a small public beach area where you can lie out on your towel for free.
Sunset Boat Cruise
The perfect way to end your day in Positano would be to go on a boat cruise. There are various companies that offer sunset boat trips that can either be booked online or when you are in Positano itself. These trips give you a completely different view of Positano from the sea and some of them will include drinks and snacks onboard.
Where to Eat in Positano
We enjoyed a meal at Le Sirenuse which sits on the seafront by the beach in Positano and had a delicious ravioli for under €20. For a seafront view in Positano, this is not too bad a price!
We also loved La Pergola Pizzeria and got a take away pizza to have on the beach at sunset.
How to Prepare for Your Visit to the Amalfi Coast
Before you set off on your trip to the Amalfi Coast, there are a number of things you will need to organise to ensure a smooth and successful trip. These include what to pack for Italy and what is the best travel insurance for your trip. Both of these will be discussed in the following section.
Where to Stay in Positano
Luxury – Villa Boheme Exclusive Luxury Suites is a luxury accommodation in Positano a 3 minute walk from the beach. The property is family owned on the cliffside overlooking Positano’s Spiagga Grande beach.The accommodation features free WiFi and a private terrace with panoramic sea views. There is a fully equipped kitchenette, air conditioning, and a private bathroom with a hairdryer. There is also access to a pool with a view.
There is a bus link to the centre of Positano which is 0.6 miles away which stops outside the accommodation.
Read more and book your stay at Villa Boheme Exclusive Luxury Suites here.
Mid-range – Villa Yiara is a beautiful and bright accommodation with incredible sea views. This adult only property is situated in an 18th century building overlooking the bay of Positano. The accommodation has free wifi and air conditioning and some of the rooms will feature a spa bath.
Read more and book you stay at Villa Yiara here.
Budget – La Maliosa D’Arienzo is an accommodation in Positano that offers sea views over Positano bay. The property is a 1 minute walk from the beach and is surrounded by olive and citrus groves. There is free wifi in the rooms and all rooms are air conditioned with a minibar.
Each day, breakfast is served under a veranda surrounded by flowers.
What is the Best Travel Insurance for Italy
Regardless of what type of trip you are heading on, one thing that is essential for everybody is good travel insurance. Accidents can happen anywhere and at anytime and unexpected hospital bills will ruin a holiday. Remove the stress from your next adventure and get covered for the worst.
World Nomads Travel Insurance provides budget reliable travel insurance that will keep you covered for any level of adventure.
You can get your quote before you leave on your trip right here.
What Should You Pack for your trip to the Amalfi Coast?
What you need to pack for Amalfi Coast will rely highly on when you make your trip to Italy. During the Spring and Autumn months, temperatures and weather patterns vary wildly between beautiful sunny skies and rainy days. During the Summer, you are pretty much guaranteed nice weather with temperatures ranging from 20-35 oC. The hottest months are July and August, so these will be the most popular for a Summer holiday.
During the Winter months in the Amalfi Coast, the weather can go as low as freezing, so make sure you wrap up warm if you are coming between October and April. If you need more inspiration on what to pack for your trip, check out our full packing guides for all-weather conditions over here.
When it comes to toiletries, we recommend that you don’t forget to pack sunscreen. The sun in Italy is very strong, especially during the summer months. Apply a lot of cream regularly to prevent a nasty burn from ruining your trip. We use this specific sunscreen to protect us as it is not as oily and irritating as other sunscreens.
Given the beautiful sights and scenery that you will see in Italy, we highly recommend packing a good camera for your trip. If you want to read more about the cameras we use and why we love them, check out the link below.
Photography Equipment
Main Photography Camera – Sony A7v Mirrorless Camera and Sony A7iii Mirrorless Camera
Microphone – Sony Mic ECM-B1M
Main Lens – Tamron 17-28mm f/2.8
Zoom Lens – Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8
Camera Tripod – ZOMEI Z669C Camera Tripod
Gorilla Pod – JOBY JB01507-BWW GorillaPod
Action Camera – GoPro Hero 11 and Insta 360 One RS
Drone Camera – DJI Mavic Pro 3
Camera Bag – Wandrd PRVKE 41L and The Nest by Tropicfeel
Phone Tripod – Manfrotto MKPIXICLAMP-BK, Mini Tripod with Universal Smartphone Clamp
Sturdy Phone Tripod & Selfie Stick – ATUMTEK 61″ Selfie Stick Tripod, Sturdy Phone Tripod Stand with Wireless Remote
Hard Drives – LaCie Rugged Mini, 5TB, 2.5″, Portable External Hard Drive
SSD – SanDisk Extreme Pro 1TB Portable NVMe SSD
Travel Adapter –Worldwide Travel Adapter Universal Travel Plug with 4 USB Ports+Universal AC Socke
So there you have it, all of the best things to do in one day in Positano, including cliff views, and beaches. If you have visited the Positano recently, let us know what you thought of the sights listed above, or if you have any suggestions let us know in the comments below.
As always, sharing is caring so make sure to share this photo guide with your family and friends and inspire them to head off on their own Positano adventure. If you are planning the trip for yourself, make sure you have a look at the rest of our Scotland content for more inspiration to our beautiful home country.
When you set off on your own adventure, be sure to tag us in your photos on Instagram and we will share them with the rest of our community. In the meantime, why not follow us over there to see what we are currently up to and keep up with us on our Instagram Stories.
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