This is an updated Positano Travel Guide with the latest picks from 2020. This is the ultimate Positano travel guide because of our 11 year experience of coming here almost every summer. I’m so excited that you have discovered it.
Amalfi coast and Positano is one of our favourite places in the world! I'd say it's in the Top 3. We love it so much we go there every year and this is our 11th year coming back to this magical place. We are no
The picturesque drive from Naples to Amalfi Coast
I recommend coming here for at least 4 days so that you can see most of the recommendations I will mention in this guide. I highly recommend making Positano your base as it is situated perfectly to allow you to explore the Amalfi coast. Both Amalfi and Capri are just 25 minutes away by high-speed ferry. From Amalfi you can catch a bus or a taxi to Ravello which is a very special place .
Now that you are in Positano you can enjoy everything that it has to offer, beautiful views, food, and of course the amazing workout you will get by walking up and down all of those stairs.
How to Get to Positano
Car Pick-up Service
The easiest way is to get a direct flight to Naples International Airport and then have a private car transfer service pick you up from the airport. A driver will meet you at the airport with your name, grab your luggage and drive you direct to Positano which takes a little more than an hour depending on the traffic. This service usually ranges from 100-200 euros depending on the company and type of car that will be picking you up. I highly recommend this option especially if you are travelling with a group as it’s the most hassle free.
Drive Yourself
You might be thinking I’ll just get a car rental and drive myself. We usually rent a car most places we go to in the world but Positano is one place we choose to skip to rent a car and drive ourselves. It’s just too much hassle and parking is very difficult in Positano and very expensive (30-40 Euro a day). Plus, you won’t be really driving much once you park. One of the top reasons we love coming back to Positano so much is that we can fully relax by not needing to drive. The best mode of transport once here is by boat, whether ferry or taxi to various beach clubs in the region (more about that later).
Public Transport (Train and Bus)
We first came to Positano when we were young and broke. We did it on a serious budget and even with those restrictions it was a trip that made us fall in love with this region. I have fond memories of taking the train from Naples Termini station to Sorrento and then a SITA bus from Sorrento to Positano which will drop you off at either the first or second entry to the town. The first by Bar Internazionale where you can then wait for the Interno Positano bus that will take you down to your destination. The second drop off is by the exit of the town and it can be closer to your hotel or B&B depending where it is located.
From Rome
When coming from Rome all above work and you can either drive directly from Rome, have a private car service, take the train from Roma Termini (a little more than an hour ride) to Naples Train station and then follow steps above.
The beautiful colorful houses of Positano
Where to Stay
Positano isn’t the cheapest destination to come to but you can make it work with any budget. I will give you some options to make it work for any budget and still make it a very special trip.
$ - Best Value
The place I recommend staying in if you are on a budget and still want to experience the magical views of Positano is Casa Cosenza B&B. Josephine (owner) is the nicest lady and we feel like family every time we go there (stayed there 3 times already). . The rooms are cute and all are facing the sea. One of the most spectacular views of the coasts can be seen from this B&B.
The view from Casa Cosenza
Let's talk breakfast now. In Italy the typical breakfast is a cappuccino and croissant. If that's your thing, go for it. I personally enjoy a nice healthy breakfast with eggs and veggies. The best place to get your breakfast fix is Casa e Bottega. Everywhere we go now, we wish there were a Casa e Bottega. This is also not just a breakfast place as it's our go to lunch place as well. For breakfast you can get a nice omelette and for lunch enjoy a great salad. It's easy to eat healthy in this cafe. Their desserts are also very tempting, so it's a good place to cheat a little bit, haha. They even have gluten free desserts.
Now when it comes to dinner, our favourite restaurant is Da Vincenzo. Make sure to make a reservation and have a feast. Have the eggplant parmigiana for me. It's delicious! Sitting inside or outside is both great here and the owners who are a couple are lots of fun. Ask them to ring the bell for you.
Other great restaurants that I recommend in Positano are:
(reservations are a must)
Next2 - this is a more modern restaurant that is ran by the same owner of Casa e Bottega. The food is fresh and made out of quality ingredients.
Casa Mele - this is also a more modern restaurant. It's fairly new restaurant that is run by a very passionate young chef. Truly great food with a modern twist.
Le Sirenuse Hotel Restaurant - best breakfast with the best view of Positano (see pictures below). It's quite pricy, however we think it is worth it. They have a great buffet of local fruits and veggies, salads, pastries, etc.
The view from Le Sirenuse
Recommendations for day trips
Beach and lunch at Da Adolfo (reserve a table for lunch before going). This is probably one of our favourite experiences that we do every time we come here. You have to go to the main dock and wait for a boat with a red fish sign "Da Adolfo" on top. This boat comes every 30 minutes starting from 10 am to 12:30pm... We usually catch the earlier one and spend the time before lunch on the beach enjoying the sun and swimming.
Da Adolfo has their own sun beds which you can rent but we choose to hang on the public beach on the left at the very end as you exit the boat. They have really fresh seafood! The mussels and the mozzarella lemon leaf is their specialty!
Da Adolfo Beach - Alex going for a swim
Another day trip with lunch I recommend is Capri (a vlog + blog post coming soon). Catch the ferry from the main dock and head to Capri in the morning after your breakfast at Casa e Bottega. Before you go make sure to make reservations at La Fontelina for lunch. It's quite and adventure to get to but it's all worth it when you are there. You'll feel like you are on a set of a James Bond movie with amazing food of course.
Before lunch or after discover the island and walk around. Alex highly recommends grabbing a gelato at Buancorne. They make fresh waffle cones right in front of you and have really fresh gelato! It's delicious! :) Capri also has a small beach which you can try going to as well after you have lunch. La Fontelina also offers to rent sun beds but there's no beach and you will swim off the rocks. Very stylish scene nevertheless.
Main Positano beach
Back to Positano
Positano has the main beach which I love to swim in as you have a truly epic view of the town as you swim or hang out on the beach.
Another lunch or dinner place you can try in Positano is La Guarrancina. It's located on the way to Positano's second beach (Fornilla) that many people don't know about. This is a great beach to spend a morning in and then grab lunch at La Guarrancina.
De Fernanindo is another place located right on the beach and it a great place for casual food.
For one of the evenings or afternoons head to Amalfi and Ravello on a ferry. You can first stop by Amalfi and discover the town or head straight to Ravello on a bus which is a true gem of the Amalfi coast. Make sure to go to Villa Cimbrone and enjoy truly unforgettable views at sunset.
For dinner, make reservations at Villa Maria which has a great view and a very romantic setting. Or if you just want some really good Italian cooking, then go to Campo Casimo which doesn't have a view but great food that will make up for it.
Grab the Sita bus to go back to Positano as the ferry won't be running anymore.
Some other activity ideas
Hike the Path of Gods - you can do this on your own or you can be part of a guide tour with Zia Lucy which is great as well! She also offers other experiences as well but path of gods is our favorite.
Take the 1750 steps from Positano to Nocelle. The breathtaking views and the hard yet rewarding walk up the stairs will make you feel like you are on top of the world when you reach Nocelle. (Make sure to take a few bottles of water with you. You can thank me later, haha)
The view from Nocelle
1750 steps - done!
