Our Italy Vacation Guide: Positano

Positano: Highly Recommend

While we were in Italy over the past few weeks we received SO many requests for details about where we stayed and what we did, that we figured it would be helpful to put together a guide for each location. After three days in Rome (check out the post), we hopped on a train—and then a ferry—for the Amalfi Coast. Even though it was a little more difficult to reach, we chose to stay in Positano.

Getting There & Arrival

The remoteness of Positano is one of the reasons why it was a favorite on our Italy trip—although it does make traveling to and from Positano a little more difficult. In our research we discovered that there is only one 7am bus that goes directly to Positano from Rome. There are several ways to get there, but we decided to take a train to Salerno and then the ferry. The views were beautiful and it was such a pleasant way to enter the city.

If you arrive in Positano with bags, don’t make the mistake we did and try to carry your bags up the stairs. The city is built on stairs! When you get off the ferry, give your bag to one of the porters waiting just off the dock. Even if you’re staying in an AirBnb like we did, the porters will drop your luggage off outside of your rental.

The other way to get to and from Positano is by bus from Sorrento. The bus station is at the top of the city so getting down to your hotel or flat is easier if you have a bag.

And of course you could always drive—just be aware that there isn’t a lot of parking in the city. Most likely you’ll pay to park on a tiny road and then end up walking or taking the shuttle bus around town.

 

Where to Stay

We stayed in this gorgeous Airbnb and absolutely loved it! After eating all of our meals out in Rome, it was so nice to have a home base with a kitchen. We ended up visiting different markets each day and picking up fresh seafood, veal, sausage, pasta and veggies for our dinners. The food in Italy was so fresh and we loved finding new things to try at the market. The views from the back patio were so beautiful we ended up skipping the day trips we had planned and sunbathing on the patio.

Although we didn’t do any hotel research, the Positano Art Hotel was on the street below us and it looked beautiful!

 

Where (& What) to Eat

The only restaurant we visited was Caffè Positano. The views were incredible and we had the pizza (of course!). We visited the pastry shop La Zagara for a few treats + sandwiches. Do yourself a favor and get the chocolate donut pastry-thing. I have no idea what it was because my father-in-law picked it up, but it was incredible.

We were told by a few people to grab drinks at Le Sirenuse because the views & the restaurant decor are incredible, but we never actually made it to the hotel.

We did pick up and try Limoncello. Be warned—it’s strong! We ended up watering it down with club soda.

 

What to Do

We had originally planned to take day trips to Capri and Pompeii as well as hike the Path of the Gods, but once we sat down in the lounge chairs on the patio, we decided not to move for the next few days. We did venture all around the city and visit the beach a few times. There are two private beaches where you can rent chairs for the day. We found a small, public beach right in between the two private beaches and swam there.

Although the clothes were expensive, there was pretty great shopping in Positano. We picked up some beautiful street art and a ceramic fish Christmas ornament at one of the shops.