A quick guide to Positano — Positano tips & what to do in Positano

Positano is definitely my most favorite city in Italy. It is not merely an attractive destination, but also emotionally involved. I was “adopted” into an Italian family here. Almost every year I go to Positano several times. Gradually, the love of pure beauty turned into an attachment to this lovely town where home to my second home. I write this article with the hope that you will fall in love with Positano as I do. So, is Positano worth visiting and what to do in Positano (Positano what to do)? Let’s check out our Positano blog with some Positano tips as well as things to do in Positano to help you planning a perfect trip to visit one of the most beautiful villages on the legendary Amalfi Coast of Italy!

Positano blog: How to get to Positano?

Getting to Positano is not difficult, it’s just a little bit roundabout. Due to Positano becoming a town located on cliffs, facing the sea, there are no direct trains, only buses and boats.

The easiest way to reach Positano is from Naples. I often travel on this route most because I lived a year in Naples. Later, even if I traveling around, when I want to go to Positano, I still go to Naples first and then depart from here. However, there are many different ways to get to Positano.

Bus/train

The cheapest way is to catch Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento. Circumvesuviana is a regional metro, from Naples to suburban towns. Circumvesuviana platform is downstairs in Naples’ main railway station. Buy this ticket usually at the ticket counter right in front of the Circumvesuviana ticket gate (or at a tabacchi – a tob@cco shop. Ticket vending machines don’t sell this type of ticket, they only sell train tickets). This ticket costs about 3.60 euros.

Then, after arriving in Sorrento, you look to the left/right, finding the ticket office, then buy a bus ticket from Sorrento to Positano, at the tabacchi shop. Then exit the train station, go down the stairs, right across the street you will see a bus of SITA. This company operates passenger buses on the route: Sorrento – Amalfi – Positano. You can check the timetable on this page. Usually from around 8pm onwards, the bus runs very irregularly, sometimes it doesn’t even run. Saturdays and Sundays are even more unusual. The ticket for this route is quite cheap, under 5 euros.

Ferry

If you don’t like the bus, you can take the boat (ferry) from Sorrento to Positano. This way is more expensive, ranging from 18, 19 euros/one-way. With each piece of luggage you will pay extra fee of 2 euros. But if you want to try the “water bus”, it is highly recommended, the Mediterranean Sea is ravishingly beautiful. There are 3 ferry lines sailing from Sorrento to Positano, namely NLG, Alilauro, Seremar. Of these three firms, only Alilauro operating 3 trips per day. Please refer to the schedule here. The remaining two firms are weekly: NLG with 7 trips per week; Seremar wit 14 trips per week.

You also do not need to book tickets in advance, just go there and directly to buy tickets. It’s like a “passenger car” running on the sea.

There is no direct boat/ferry from Naples to Positano. There may be bus services running from Naples to Positano. But the way I shared above is the most classic way. My friend is Italian and only goes this way.

Positano blog: Where to stay?

Particularly in Positano, I recommend Casa Clemy (Agoda.com or Booking.com), if you want stay on a budget. This hostel is located in a location with a perfect view to see the whole beautiful Positano, good service and friendly host (the host is my friend). So I can guarantee 100% satisfaction for you. I myself have stayed in this apartment many times. Everything is complete and wonderful.

Also if you want to stay in more luxurious hotels and resorts, you can refer to the hotels below

Le Sirenuse Hotel (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Il San Pietro di Positano (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Poseidon (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Some mid-range and budget hotels with good reviews in Positano you can refer to

Hotel Reginella (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Pensione Maria Luisa (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Savoia (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Royal Prisco (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel La Bougainville (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Montemare (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Casa Albertina (Agoda.com or Booking.com).

Hotel Pupetto (Booking.com).

The room rates in Positano is quite high compared to the common room rates in Italy, especially with the hotels with beautiful views, near the main beach. You can refer to the room on Booking.com, Agoda.com.

Positano tips: Some experiences and tips you should know before visiting Positano

• You’ll have to do a lot of walking, and a lot of climbing. The small towns on the Amalfi coast are famous for their stone steps and mountain paths. Remember to bring a comfortable shoe.
• Positano’s tourist season lasts from July to September. In winter it is extremely cold. I’ve been in Positano almost every month of the year. I think June and October are the most beautiful, because of less tourists, but it is already sunny. June is a bit cold, suitable for hanging out. In October, you can still swim. And August is especially crowded, please avoid.
• Positano is an expensive destination – especially accommodations of all kinds. Besides, this is not the ideal place to carry luggage around. If possible, I recommend you to visit Positano as a day tour from Naples. And if you want to play? With bulky luggage? There is a service to hire people to carry luggage.

Positano blog: What to do in Positano & things to do in Positano

Coming to this part becomes… difficult for me. Unlike other places I usually go alone to explore, in Positano I usually stay with my friend family. They took me to places that they said were “true Italian”, not to popular places. Because Italy is too crowded with tourists, and the dreamlike Positano cannot escape the billowing lines of visitors from all over the world. I will share with you some tourist-friendly activities for you to discover Positano.

Stroll around the beautiful streets of Positano

I found the best things to do in Positano is… just walking, looking at the street and seeing the houses, shops, people pass by. No need to say far away, just looking at the photos you can imagine how beautiful Positano is. It’s basically this: you just get lost. The more you lost, the better you experience!

Instead of swimming at the main beach, go to Fornillo

The main beach, I advise you to just go down to play, not to swim. That huge number of visitors will make you disillusioned. Although there is a super nice view of the whole village on the cliff, but if you see the scene of thousands of people, you will get tired. Going down to the main beach is the most beautiful at night, when the whole village lights up, and almost tourists will looking for places to hang out at night. At this point, it is quiet and comfortable.

Instead, go down to Fornillo beach, a smaller and more hidden pebble beach with a view overlooking the watchtower. This beach is much more deserted and clear. If the Positanos themselves want to bathe, they will go to this beach, or take a boat to the surrounding islands, but never go down to the main beach.

Try everything from… lemon

Positano is famous for its lemon tree, so anything made with its lemons will be delicious. Try the lemon sorbet (granità), limoncello, etc., all in all.

Shop for enamels

Positano and Amalfi are also famous for their skills in hand-painted porcelain enamels. My friend’s family owns an enamelware factory. I highly recommend you to check it out. This is not only a traditional profession, but also an expression of love for this small but soul-rich land. The most beautiful enamel maker is Ceramics Casola. It’s all hand drawn.

Conclusion

It’s a pity that I can only share it here, because most of my experiences are with my friend family. However, Positano is a small town with many interesting activities, such as renting boats, kayaking, hiking, climbing mountains, etc. You should ask more locals about these interesting activities. And if you go to Casa Clemy, I can guarantee you’ll get the best local advice possible.

Some best day tours, trips, activities and transfer services, tickets in and from Positano you can refer to

• Positano and Amalfi Coast Day Tour
• Amalfi Coast and Positano Guided Day Trip from Rome
• Guided Day Tour of Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi (Naples Departure)
• Guided Day Tour of Amalfi (Naples Departure)
• Guided Day Tour of Capri Island (Naples Departure)
• Pompeii, Positano, and Amalfi Coast Full Day Tour from Rome
• Positano and Amalfi Coast Guided Walking Tour from Naples
• Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello Guided Day Tour
• From Naples: Sorrento, Positano and Amalfi Full-Day Tour
• Amalfi Coast: Boat and Snorkeling Tour in Small Group
• Naples: Boat Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
• From Naples or Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip
• From Rome: Pompeii, Amalfi Coast and Positano Day Trip
• From Naples: Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip
• Salerno: 7-Hour Amalfi Coast Small Group Boat Tour
• From Naples: Group Day Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
• Sorrento: Full-Day Boat Tour to Positano, Amalfi and Ravello
• From Rome: Pompeii and Amalfi Coast Group Day Trip
• Pompeii and Vesuvius Full-Day Tour from Amalfi Coast
• From Rome: Amalfi Coast & Pompeii Full-Day Small Group Tour
• From Naples: Pompeii & Amalfi Coast Full-Day Trip
• From Sorrento: Amalfi Coast Scenic Full-Day Drive Tour
• From the Amalfi Coast: Capri Full-Day Trip by Boat
• Naples: Small-Group Positano and Amalfi Boat Tour
• Naples Airport to Sorrento and Amalfi Coast Shared Transfer

Are you looking for more top things to do in Positano: Let’s check it out here. And if you are looking for another coastline paradise destination in Italy let’s check it out: Cinque Terre travel blog — The fullest Cinque Terre travel guide for a great trip on a budget for the first-timers. Check out more Italy travel guide series to find inspiration for upcoming trips.