Planning on visiting Positano this year? If not, you should be! The Amalfi Coast is renowned for its picturesque towns, but Positano is perhaps the most beautiful of them all.

Why you should visit Positano

After visiting Positano, the author John Steinbeck wrote that the town “…bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”

And he wasn’t the only one to find inspiration in the charming little streets of Positano. Patricia Highsmith wrote The Talented Ripley after her stay in the luxurious Albergo Miramare, where rooms have stunning views of the sea.

Essentially, Positano is picture-perfect Italy – the stuff of art, literature and cinema. 

While there are many pretty little towns along the coastlines of Italy, there’s nowhere quite like Positano. 

When viewed from the sea, the colourful houses almost seem to rise vertically. The artist Paul Klee observed that Positano was “the only town in the world conceived on a horizontal rather than a vertical axis.”

Positano was originally a sleepy fishing village. Today, it has a population of just a few thousand people, but during the spring and summer, the streets are bustling with visitors. Positano is the place to come for shopping, seafood, and of course, spectacular views – both of the ocean and from the ocean! 

So, if you’re travelling in the south of Italy, you should definitely plan a day trip to Positano at the very least – discover “the pearl of the Amalfi Coast” for yourself!

Where to eat in Positano

There’s no shortage of delicious things to eat in Positano, including the usual pizzas and pasta dishes. But make sure you try some local specialities, like spaghetti al limone (lemon spaghetti), vermicelli di Positano (spaghetti-like pasta with herbs and tomato), or zuppa di cozze (mussel soup). As a general rule, you can’t go wrong with fish and seafood!

Here are just a few of the best restaurants in Positano:

• Buca di Bacco – delicious, historical restaurant right next to the equally historical hotel Buca di Bacco.
• Da Vincenzo – this Michelin restaurant is right in the centre of Positano, and it’s the perfect place to try traditional dishes like zuppa di cozze. Although it’s not cheap, the prices are reasonable for food of this quality.
• Chez Black – a Positano institution, popular with tourists and locals alike. Enjoy a plate of seafood pasta on the beachfront terrace.
• Il Tridente – the Hotel Poseidon has an excellent cocktail bar, and one of the best restaurants in Positano. Come here for a romantic dinner with views of the sea.
• Da Adolfo – a charming, rustic restaurant on a private pebble beach which can only be accessed by water taxi (it’s free, here you can find the schedule). The food is fresh, delicious and reasonably priced. Make sure you book in advance.
• Pupetto – a family-owned restaurant where you can find traditional fish dishes and enjoy them in a relaxing setting.

How to get to Positano

Visiting Positano on a day trip is easy. Just make sure you plan ahead and check timetables if you’re planning on taking public transport.

If you’re based in Naples, your best option is to travel to Sorrento first (by train – trains depart roughly every 30 minutes, and journey time is about 1 hour).

If you’re staying in Sorrento, you can reach Positano by direct bus, which departs from Sorrento train station. The journey takes about 1 hour. Unfortunately here are no trains to Positano, because the town doesn’t have a train station!

Alternatively, you can take the ferry from Sorrento to Positano, which takes about 40 minutes. Keep in mind, this service is only active from April to October. 

If you can, take the ferry, as this will give you the chance to enjoy the incredible views of Positano from the sea.

Positano private tours

For a more relaxing and comfortable experience, we recommend booking a Positano private tour with ItalianArtVentures. 

You’ll explore the Amalfi Coast with a private driver, who will pick you up at your accommodation, take you to Positano and other towns along the coast, and drop you off at the end of the day. 

You’ll also be accompanied by an expert local guide, who can show you all the highlights of the Amalfi Coast, as well as some hidden gems. It’s by far the best way to visit Positano!

Read more: Positano Travel Guide (Conde Nast)