Positano
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Positano, Italy • Europe

Positano

Pastel cliffside houses tumbling to the sea - Positano is the Amalfi Coast's most photogenic village, made for slow lunches, boat days, and sunset spritzes.

#Coastal#Romance#Beaches#Luxury#Scenic HikesCouplesLuxuryFamilyFriendsHoneymoon
5 Attractions
4 Restaurants
4 Hotels
2 Itineraries

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Quick facts

Best time to visit

May, June and September are the sweet spot - warm, swimmable seas, sunshine and slightly thinner crowds than the July-August peak, when prices soar and the coast is packed. April and October are quieter and lovely but cooler, with the sea on the chilly side. Many hotels and restaurants close from November to March, when the coast goes into hibernation.

Daily budget
$390
Time zone
Central European Time (CET), UTC+1 (CEST, UTC+2 in summer)
Language
Italian (English spoken in tourist areas)
Currency
€ (Euro (EUR))
Emergency
112 (all emergencies)
Power
Type C, F, L · 230V / 50Hz

About Positano

Positano is the jewel of Italy''s Amalfi Coast - a near-vertical cascade of pastel houses, bougainvillea and lemon groves tumbling down to a pebbled beach and the shimmering Tyrrhenian Sea. There are no real roads through the centre, only sun-bleached staircases that zigzag past boutiques, trattorias and dome-tiled churches. It is impossibly photogenic, gloriously romantic, and has seduced artists and travellers since John Steinbeck immortalised it in the 1950s. Beyond Positano, the Amalfi Coast unfurls one of the world''s most beautiful coastlines. The town of Amalfi gives the coast its name and its striped Arab-Norman cathedral; cliff-top Ravello floats above the sea with its dreamlike villa gardens and music festival; and hidden coves, the Emerald Grotto and the legendary Path of the Gods reward the adventurous. Ferries and the white-knuckle coastal road link a string of villages, each more vertiginous than the last. This is a place for slow pleasures - long lunches of spaghetti alle vongole and chilled limoncello, lazy boat days to Capri, sunsets that turn the cliffs gold. It is small, steep and seasonal, so come prepared to climb steps, book ahead, and surrender to la dolce vita.

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Things to Do in Positano

5
Beach

Spiaggia Grande

Positano's main beach - a crescent of dark pebbles framed by the town's tumbling pastel houses and bobbing boats. Rent a sunbed, swim in clear water, and watch the cliffs glow at golden hour.

Half day Free / sunbeds from €204.6
Adventure

Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei)

A breathtaking cliff-top hiking trail from Bomerano to Nocelle, with jaw-dropping views over the coast and Li Galli islands. Around 7km of mostly downhill walking - wear proper shoes and bring water.

3-4 hours Free4.9
Amalfi & Cathedral of St Andrew Positano
Historical

Amalfi & Cathedral of St Andrew

The coast's namesake town, crowned by the dramatic striped Duomo di Amalfi atop a grand staircase, with its Cloister of Paradise and crypt of Saint Andrew. Wander the lanes and paper museums below.

1-2 hours Cathedral complex €34.6
Ravello & Villa Rufolo Positano
Culture

Ravello & Villa Rufolo

A serene hill town floating high above the sea, famed for the romantic terraced gardens of Villa Rufolo (which inspired Wagner) and a celebrated summer music festival. Pure, panoramic magic.

Half day Villa Rufolo €74.8
Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) Positano
Nature

Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo)

A sea cave near Conca dei Marini where sunlight filtered through the water glows an unreal emerald green. Reached by lift or boat, with a short rowing-boat tour inside.

30-45 min €54.2

Where to Eat in Positano

4
La Sponda (Le Sirenuse) restaurant food Positano

La Sponda (Le Sirenuse)

Fine Dining Italian $$$$4.7

The Michelin-starred dining room of Le Sirenuse, lit by 400 candles each night, serving refined Mediterranean cuisine with the coast's most romantic terrace view. A special-occasion classic.

Da Vincenzo restaurant food Positano

Da Vincenzo

Campanian $$$4.6

A beloved family-run Positano trattoria serving handmade pasta, fresh seafood and seasonal Campanian dishes with genuine warmth. Book ahead.

Lo Guarracino restaurant food Positano

Lo Guarracino

Seafood $$$4.4

A romantic terrace tucked along a cliffside footpath, perched above the sea, perfect for seafood pasta and a glass of local white at sunset.

Chez Black restaurant food Positano

Chez Black

Beachfront Italian $$$4.3

A Positano institution right on Spiaggia Grande since 1949 - wood-fired pizza, spaghetti with clams and people-watching by the water.

Where to Stay in Positano

4
Le Sirenuse hotel Positano

Le Sirenuse

Luxury $1,500/night4.9

A glamorous former private villa and the icon of Positano, with a sea-facing pool, the Michelin-starred La Sponda and impeccable old-world service.

Il San Pietro di Positano hotel Positano

Il San Pietro di Positano

Luxury $1,800/night4.9

A discreet five-star cut into the cliff just outside town, with cascading flowered terraces, a private beach club and a lift down through the rock to the sea.

Hotel Marincanto hotel Positano

Hotel Marincanto

Boutique $460/night4.7

A stylish clifftop boutique hotel with a panoramic pool, sea-view rooms and steps down to a private beach - luxurious without the palace price.

Hostel Brikette hotel Positano

Hostel Brikette

Hostel $48/night4.2

Positano's rare budget option - a friendly, colourful hostel high in the upper town with knockout views, dorms and a few private rooms.

Positano Itineraries

2
4-day trip

4 Days on the Amalfi Coast

easy $1,200 total

Positano at its most romantic, plus the headline sights of Amalfi, Ravello and a boat day along the coast.

View day-by-day plan
7-day trip

7 Days: Amalfi Coast & Capri

moderate $2,300 total

A week of la dolce vita - Positano, the coastal towns, a Capri day trip, and an excursion to Pompeii.

View day-by-day plan

Positano Budget Guide

CategoryBudgetMid-RangeLuxury
Flights$450 - $1,200$450 - $1,200$450 - $1,200
Accommodation$95/night$260/night$750/night
Food$30/day$70/day-
Activities$40/day$40/day$40/day
Local Transport$25/day$25/day$25/day
Daily Average$160$390$950

Local currency: Euro (EUR)

Positano Travel FAQ

Everything you need to know before you go: best time to visit, visas, getting around, safety and more.