One of the most iconic views on the Amalfi Coast is Positano’s Spiaggia Grande beach covering in striped umbrellas against a background of colourful buildings sloped down the mountain side. Here is your guide to visiting this beautiful Italian seaside town – what to do, where to eat, and how to find the best views.
When you think of the Amalfi Coast, Positano is likely the image that comes to mind. It’s the most well-known and popular town due to its natural beauty and Italian summer vibes.
Positano is located around 45-minutes to one hour from Sorrento by bus. The entire town is mostly vertical as it’s located on a cliff side, meaning everything is on an incline. I cannot overstate how uphill Positano is. Even if you’re only visiting for a few days, your legs will feel it.
Positano is only a small town and, due to its increased popularity on social media, it attracts a huge number of visitors when the weather warms up.
We stayed in shoulder season so the prices were lower, it was less crowded, and you could just about walk into any restaurant without a reservation. However, the weather was less-than ideal and it did rain a lot. We made up for it by trying all the amazing restaurants in town.
Even in May, the narrow alleyways were bustling with visitors including lots of day-trippers. I think it’s worth staying in Positano, even if only for a few days, because its charm really comes out at night.
Where to stay
We stayed at Hotel Pupetto which is the only accommodation directly on Fornillo Beach. It is only a ten-minute walk to main part of town and has a popular bar and restaurant.
What to do
Visit a beach club and go swimming
Positano’s main beach is Spaiaggia Grande, one of the largest on the coast. Here you’ll find the iconic view of the colorful sloping buildings and beach clubs where you can hire umbrellas and sun lounges for the day. Go early to score a chair and good spot on the beach.
If you walk ten minutes further along the coast, you’ll reach the quieter and more tucked away Fornillo Beach. It doesn’t have a view of the town, but it’s a good escape from the crowds.
The Amalfi Coast and Positano are best to visit for a relaxing beach holiday so go when it’s warm and plan to spend a lot of time in the water.
Go shopping
While Positano does have your regular souvenir shops, I found there were more high-end clothing stores than the other towns. Some of my favorite stores along Viale Pasitea were C+B, Theodora, and Sunflower.
Day trip to Capri
This isn’t technically an activity to do in Positano, but if you plan to do a day trip over to Capri Island, Positano provides a fantastic base. It’s only a 25-minute ferry ride so I’d suggest catching the first and last ferry of the day to make the most out of exploring the island.
The best view spots
La Sponda Restaurant at Le Sirenuse
La Sponda has arguably the best view in town, with their outdoor terrace overlooking the iconic sloped buildings which light up when the sun goes down. It is however extremely expensive to dine here and is booked out months in advance.
We did pop in for a drink at the bar and took a sneaky terrace photo on our way out. The restaurant’s atmosphere was incredible, and its guests were basically in black tie so if you do decide to go, prepare to get dressed up and spend big.
If you’re not fussed with eating here, then I’d recommend skipping La Sponda and going next door to Franco’s Bar instead.
Franco’s Bar
Franco’s was one of the highlights of Positano as the alfresco bar has the most picturesque view of the town. It’s open between 4-10pm but doesn’t take reservations so you’ll have to line up to get in, but it’s worth the wait.
Go just before the sun sets for the best view and enjoy a pre-dinner cocktail served with popcorn and olives. The blue and white patterned furniture, gold water feature, and huge lemon tree in the middle of the bar creates an amazing vibe. Everyone comes here for the view so don’t be embarrassed to take lots of photos.
Via Cristoforo Colombo
If you’re keen to enjoy the views without drinking or spending money, the best free photo spot is along Via Cristoforo Colombo, just past La Sponda and Franco’s. There’s a staircase going down to the lower part of town, but at the top of the stairs is the perfect place to take in Positano’s beauty.
Spiaggia Grande
Of course, anywhere on Positano’s main beach Spiaggia Grande is beautiful and captures the essence and main highlights of the town.
Where to eat
We found Positano restaurants to not be budget friendly and there’s aren’t many take-away options, however there’s no denying you’ll eat well. Avoid the restaurants right near the main beach as they are more expensive, and not as good as the other side of town.
Here were a few of our favourite spots:
Breakfast/lunch
Casa e Bottega — healthy, fresh salad bowls, smoothies, and dishes focusing on local ingredients.
Posides — one of the best meals we had in Italy.
Lunch/snacks
Vini e Panini (The Wine Shop Positano) — cute little supermarket, wine, and sandwich store in the centre of town.
Dinner
Ristorante Max — art gallery, wine bar, and fine dining restaurant. Order the lasagna.
Next2 — elegant, high-end restaurant with a gorgeous outdoor area.
Dessert
Buca di Bacco — indulgent pastry shop with delicious gelato-filled cannoli.
Read a full rundown of these restaurants in the blog The best places to eat in the Amalfi Coast.
Keep in mind that in Italy shops close in the afternoon between lunch and dinner, they’re usually open from around 12-3pm then again at 6:30/7pm until late. Make sure to check times online or on store windows.
A lot of places in Italy such as restaurants and museums are also closed on Mondays.
With its delicious food, iconic views, and incredible beaches, Positano is a must-visit town if you’re travelling to the Amalfi Coast. When the day-trippers go home and the whole town lights up, you can really see why this is one of the most beautiful places in Italy.
