Positano
The most photogenic town on the Amalfi Coast, where colorful houses cascade down the cliffs to the beach. It is known as the “vertical city.”
Positano sits on the south side of the Sorrento Peninsula and is the most famous and most expensive town on the Amalfi Coast. Pink, yellow and white houses stack up along a nearly vertical valley down to Spiaggia Grande, the main beach. The majolica-tiled dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta anchors the view. The town has no flat streets, only steps and slopes. From the bus stop on the SS163 coastal road above, it takes about 20 minutes on foot to reach the beach, passing boutiques, lemon product shops and handmade sandal shops. Positano sandals are a local specialty and can be custom-made on the spot. The beach is dark pebble, and sunbeds rent for about €25–35 per day. You can also walk 15 minutes west along the coastal path to the quieter Fornillo Beach. Boats leave from the beach pier for coastline rentals and day trips to Capri. The classic panoramic viewpoints are along the SS163 (Via Cristoforo Colombo) and on the Fornillo path, best in late afternoon when the light is warm. Above the town, the village of Nocelle is the endpoint of the Path of the Gods (Sentiero degli Dei), a hike from Bomerano to Nocelle of about 7.8 km and 3–4 hours that overlooks the entire coastline. Afterward, you can take a minibus or descend the 1,700 steps back to Positano. Getting there: from April to October, ferries reach the beach pier from Sorrento, Amalfi, Capri and Naples. From Sorrento the trip takes about 30 minutes and costs around €20. SITA buses from Sorrento take about 50 minutes (€2.40). Tickets must be bought at tobacco shops, and buses are often too crowded to board in peak season. Allow 3–5 hours, or stay overnight. If you have a lot of luggage, be sure to choose a hotel with porter service.
Opening hours
All day