Travel Guide to The Amalfi Coast: Positano
The Amalfi Coast is one of the most beautiful places in Italy, let alone the world. The cascading canyons are lined with Italian homes all the way to the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Many tourists come in the Summer to honeymoon, vacation, and enjoy the breathtaking landscape. Actually getting to the Amalfi Coast is far from relaxing though as it can be difficult to decide which coastal town to stay in, how to get here from Naples (the closest airport, about 2 hours drive away), and what to do once arriving. I highly recommend doing research before visiting the Amalfi Coast than any other Italian travel destination.
How to Get to Positano from Naples
I won’t lie, it is quite a journey to get to the Amalfi Coast from Naples. The journey will likely take about 2 hours, but there are a few different options of transportation:
Driver Service: 1 Hour 30 Minutes, €40 to €300
You can book a driver to come pick you up from Naples Airport and they’ll drop you off right by your hotel in Positano. Try to sit on the right-hand side as the drive along the coastline is beautiful. There are both private and carpool options leading to the wide pricing range. I highly recommend daytrip which has price-friendly options, super friendly staff, and amazing customer service based on my own experience.
Ferry: 2 to 3 Hours, €36
You can take the NLG ferry from Naples to Positano. There are typically only five ferries that go out throughout the day so it’s important to plan the departure times carefully. Note that the ferry leaves from the Naples Beverello port which is about a 12 minute drive from the airport. You’ll arrive at the Positano Port and will need to walk to your hotel – be prepared for a difficult climb up the 200+ steps or to pay a porter to help carry your luggage.
Train + Ferry: 3 Hours; €27 (€7 for train, €20 for ferry)
You can catch a train at the Napoli Centrale or Piazza Garibaldi Stations to Sorrento which depart every 30 minutes between 6 AM and 11 PM. This leg is specifically 1 hour 10 minutes before you arrive in Sorrento. Im Sorrento, you’ll then catch one of the ferries to Positano. You’ll arrive at the Positano Port and will need to walk to your hotel – be prepared for a difficult climb up the 200+ steps or to pay a porter to help carry your luggage.
Bus: 2 Hours, €12
You can catch the Curreri Viaggi bus from Naples airport to Sorrento. Once in Sorrento, you’ll need to change busses and catch the 5070 SITA bus to Positano. If you get easily car sick, this may not be the best option as the roads are windy, narrow, and along the cliffside.
Top 9 Things To Do In Positano
1. Stroll and Shop Along the Streets
Positano is lined with boutiques to step into along the one main road running through the coastal city. These shops mostly sell Italian-made dresses, kitchen pottery, leather sandals, and linen clothing. You can expect to pay around $180 for a top and $350 for a dress so for me this consisted of mostly just window shopping.
2. Spend an Afternoon at One of the Beach Clubs
You’ll find the most popular beach club on Spiaggia Grande, the main beach in Positano. There are many other incredible beach clubs around Positano however that are also absolutely worth snagging a beach chair at for the afternoon and aperol spritz. Some of the more private, yet top-rated beach clubs are: Arienzo, Treville, and Pupetto
3. Take a Day Trip to Capri
Capri is one of the most beautiful spots on the Amalfi Coast! You can easily get from Positano to Capri by one of the many direct ferries that leave throughout the day. It costs about €25 and takes only 30 minutes. In Capri, make sure to take a boat out to see the grottos and go up the Monte Solaro Chair Lift. These were the highlight of my entire month-long trip!
4. Hike the Path of the Gods
If you’re looking for an hike to do on the Amalfi Coast, this is absolutely the one to do. This 4.7 mile, easy to moderate hike will start at Bomerano (I strongly recommend taking the bus to this starting point) and end in Positano. You’ll get incredible views of the sea along the way! There can be very little shade though so make sure to pack lots of water, sunscreen, and begin the hike in the morning.
5. Book a Sunset Boat Cruise
Taking a boat out on the water is one of the must-do items while on the Amalfi Coast, and what better time to do this than during sunset? The view of the Positano cliffs is absolutely stunning from the water and many sunset tours will provide champagne for the full experience.
6. Enjoy a Meal at One of the Top Restaurants
Positano has some of the best restaurants, full of incredible views and tasty food & wine. The pictures above are from Il Tridente of Hotel Posiedon, the first on this list of the top-rated restaurants for food and atmosphere:
- Il Tridente of Hotel Poseidon
- Maestro’s of Villa Treville
- La Sponda Restaurant of Le Sirenuse
- La Tagliata
- Chez Black
You will need to make a reservation far in advance for these, for some even the night new dates drop as these will book out quickly!
7. Get Handmade Italian Leather Sandals
You’ll find many shops around all of the Amalfi towns offering to make handmade Italian sandals. You’ll pick out your design and then they’ll measure your foot exactly to carve the leather perfectly to your feet size. This is one of the best “souvenir” items to take home from your trip!
8. Visit Music on the Rocks
This is the center of all nightlife in Positano. It is one of the only nightclubs in the area so plan to come here if you are looking for a fun night out! It’s uniquely carved out of a cliff, making it inside the mountainside.
Note that it is much better to go on Friday when there is no cover. When I visited, they were charging upwards of €100 to enter around 12AM.
9. Stop to Appreciate the Views!
One of the best parts of visiting Positano is simply the view. It is so breathtaking and is truly one of the main reasons so many visit the Amalfi Coast each year. I recommend stopping to enjoy the canyon-side just as much as water as it offers so much unique beauty despite it not being photographed as often! I couldn’t believe how massive the cliffs are in person as I had rarely seen photos of the non-beach front views.
Deciding Where To Stay in the Amalfi Coast
It depends on what type of vacation you are looking for! These are the top four towns to consider:
Sorrento: I would opt for Sorrento if you’re looking for more price-conscious options. While still expensive as all of the Amalfi Coast is, this is where you’ll find the more affordable accommodations and even food. Sorrento is also extremely central, giving you easy access to all the other towns (and to/from Naples) as many ferry and bus routes are from here.
Capri: Capri is a small island, just a 30 minute boat ride away from the coastline. While many do a day trip to Capri, those who opt to stay on the island experience it when its most peaceful once the crowds are gone. This is the more private, relaxing of places to stay as you’ll mostly enjoy beach clubs and high-end shopping.
Positano: This is for those who want the quintessential Amalfi stay. Positano is the heart of the Amalfi Coast and the backdrop of all the photos you typically see. This is also the priciest to stay and the most touristy as this attracts the bulk of visitors.
Amalfi: While Amalfi might seem like the main town on the Amalfi Coast given it’s name, this is one. of the lesser visited towns. It is less central than many of the other options and offers less of the typical highlights of canyon homes, lemon gardens, etc. This may be best for those more interested in the history as you’ll find the Amalfi Cathedral and the Paper Museum (Museo della Carta).
I personally opted for Positano to get the “true” Amalfi experience, but if I could do it again I would chose Sorrento. It’s central location, charming town (free of hundreds of steps), and cheaper pricing is hard to beat. I think you can get nearly as much out of Positano by traveling into it for the day if you are also planning on exploring the other coastal towns on other days.
Must Know Travel Tips
#1. Most of the restaurants and shops here will shut down in the off-season to save costs. You’ll find many of the hotels and places close in October and reopen in April.
#2. There is a local bus within Positano that has stops along the main road. You can buy tickets at the local tobacco shops for just €1 and is an absolute life saver in avoiding walking up all the stairs to your hotel or restaurant after a day in the sun.
#3. You can travel from Positano to the other coastal cities by SITA bus, ferries, and vespa (if you have an international drivers license to rent one!). If traveling by ferry, make sure to buy your tickets in advance and pick up the physical tickets ~2 hours early at the port. These often sell out and then are overbooked.
#4. The beaches in the Amalfi Coast are rocky, not sandy! Pack the approrpiate shoes for a beach day here as you’ll feet will otherwise hurt barefoot.
