I have traveled a lot of places in this world and I never have longed to go back to a place so quickly as I have with Italy. My trip to Italy is one of the best things I have done to date. Olivia is still begging to go back to Italy. If you ask her, she will tell you she wants to go back and sit on our AirBnb deck in Positano. The Amalfi Coast is truly unique and special. The cuisine, landscape and traditions are different. Since I know this is a popular stop for many land vacations and cruises alike, I decided to put together this Italy Travel Guide on Positano.
How to Get There/Transportation Options
- The Amalfi Coast is located on Italy’s Western Coast. It is South of Naples and North of Salerno.
- The best way to get to the Amalfi Coast if you are in another part of Italy is to take a train from ItaliaRail to Naples or Salerno.
- Once in Naples or Salerno, you need to rent a car or hire a car service/taxi to transport to the coast. I highly recommend hiring a car service or taxi. The roads are very narrow and zig-zag between the cliffs. Traffic does tend to back up during peak season. The average cost from Naples to Positano is $125-200 each way. Salerno is roughly the same price. I used Positano Queen Transfers!
- The best way to get around Positano is on foot. There are places to rent mopeds but I don’t recommend that for the novice traveler. If you have never driven one, Positano is not the place to practice.
- Looking to go to Amalfi, Sorrento, Ischia or Capri? There are ferries that leave from Positano between April-October/November. Ferries are also available if you decide to not rent a car from Naples or Salerno. Here is where to check the ferry schedules!
- You could also book an inclusive Italy trip with an Italian Agency like Carrani Tours.
Positano Area Overview
- Positano is the most popular tourist spot on the Amalfi Coast. During the peak season it is very busy and crowded.
- Be ready to do walk more stairs than you ever will in your lifetime! I spent some time doing a stairmaster before I went. This town is located on cliffs and there are stairs to everything.
- There is an Interno Bus that has stops up and down the cliffs. Tickets are available cheaper in the Tobacco Shops Marked with a T (Tabacchi) at 1.10 Euro. They are 1.35 Euro on the bus. I recommend buying a bunch of tickets ahead of time.
- There are two beaches in Positano. Spiaggia is the big beach that you’ve seen in almost every Positano photo. Around the other side of the cliff is Fornillo beach which is smaller and has less tourists. Spiaggia is located in the Centro in the middle of town and is lined with restaurants and shops. There are also chair and umbrella rentals. Fornillo does not have the amenities but is fun if you want to bring a picnic for lunch!
- Public Bathrooms in Positano are not Free! You need to have 50 cents to go in. I recommend have some coins on hand for this.
Food Recommendations Positano
- Positano has a variety of highly rated restaurants including some Michellin star venues. If you are going during peak season, you need to make reservations ahead of time. I personally recommend Da Vincenzo for a family-style sit down restaurant.
- If you are renting an AirBnb or want some food to take back to your hotel mini fridge you need to check out Gargiulo Positano! I cannot tell you how much money I spent here but this lady is amazing. She has a kitchen in the middle of her store is cooking items that you can take on the go. Her meatballs, daily pastas dishes and other specialties are top notch!
- My favorite bakery in Positano is Angelo Pasticceria Artigianale 1970. They have a fabulous cornettos, pastries, cookies and other Italian goodiese!
- One of the best avocado toasts I’ve ever had in my life was at Posides. This is right next to the bakery I mentioned above. This little cafe was a go to because it next to my AirBnb. They have great meals and gelato. I frequently went down to this place around 3pm every day for a double espresso and a treat before I’d start working remotely for the day. During Easter they also serve a fabulous Pastiera pie.
- Make sure you do a little research before you go. The cafes closer to the water are not as high quality as some of the restaurants that are tucked away. They serve touristy versions of Italian classics. It costs more to eat on the coast versus bigger cities like Rome so make it worth it!
Currency and Money Tips
- Italy uses the Euro. You can purchase some ahead of time through your bank. Make sure you purchase at least 2 weeks prior to departure.
- ATMs are not as plentiful as in bigger cities so I recommend having a little more cash for this area. There are stores that accept Visa and Mastercard while others are cash only!
- Take a credit card that does not have foreign transaction fees. Not sure if your card has fees? Give them a call before you travel!
Excursions
- My favorite excursion was taking a ferry to Amalfi for a lemon grove/limoncello tour!
- Go for a walk along Spiaggi beach. There are plenty of boat operators that will let you rent a boat for the day or half a day with a guide to go swimming and exploring through some caverns!
- Positano itself is a destination and I enjoyed just strolling around and relaxing.
Hotels & Rentals
- My biggest recommendation is to find a place with a view of the water if you are going to spend some time in Positano. I spent a lot of time just relaxing on our private deck with a glass of wine!
- If you have a big party, I recommend this Airbnb. I stayed in this one with a group of 6 adults and 1 child. The deck itself is a region to book this one. The hosts were amazing and had wine bottles that you could purchase by the bottle in the villa for 8-12 euros a bottle.
- If you are going to stay in a hotel, book it ahead of time. Positano is a summer hot spot and they fill up fast.
- Remember good housing is going to cost more because you are in a luxury destination.
My Personal Recommendations:
- Consider going on the shoulder season which is Mid April/May or September/October. The weather is still beautiful and there are fewer tourists.
- Get in moderate cardio shape prior to arriving. There are a lot of stairs. My Airbnb entrance was in the middle of the cliff with two-way steps above and below. The steps are not even in between the buildings either.
- This is not recommended if you have travelers who have limited mobility. If you want to stay on the coast with these travelers, consider Amalfi instead. There are not as many steps and the hills are more moderate.
- Learn some Italian before you go. I recommend Rosetta Stone since they have a great Travel oriented program. A lot of the shop owners near my AirBnb did not speak a lot of English. It is Italy so be respectful and learn a few phrases.
- Consider staying on the other side of the cliff in Positano (see the address of the Airbnb above). It is closer to Fornillo beach. This area felt more authentic and less touristy.
Positano should be on your bucket list. Italy is a dreamy destination and a stop by the water needs to be on every itinerary. These are the travel basics for this destination. If you have questions please feel free to reach out. I hope you enjoyed this Italy Travel Guide on Positano!
Check out some of my Positano Vlogs!
Stopping in Rome too? Check out some of my favorite cuisine!
