17 Fun & Best Things to do in Positano, Italy

Positano is a town on the southern Italian coast that’s been attracting visitors for hundreds of years. With its colorful buildings, wild beaches, and breathtaking views, it’s not hard to see why John Steinbeck wrote, “Positano bites deep. It is a dream place that isn’t quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone.”

Positano is a place of wonderful scenery and small streets that wind down from the top of a mountain into the sea. It’s also known for its vibrant nightlife, exceptional fine dining opportunities, and fantastic beaches. Most of all, this is a major destination along the Amalfi coast that makes for both a great place to stop or stay along the famous route.

The nearest airport to Positano is Naples, also home to a high-speed rail station with quick connections to Rome. Tourist season is during the summer when the beautiful coast becomes busy with beachgoers and people on day trips to the many historic and scenic places nearby.

The spring and fall shoulder seasons are an excellent time to visit Positano, too, while winter reveals a peaceful quiet along the coast that few tourists experience.

If you’re planning a trip to this magnificent gem on the Amalfi Coast, you’re in for the experience of a lifetime. Use our first-hand travel advice below to find out more about the top Positano attractions, accommodations, and tips.

TL;DR

• Most significant landmark – The many amazing views of the Amalfi Coast
• Best free activity – Lounging and swimming at Positano Beach
• Best activity for kids – Boat tours of the coast, islands, and caves like Emerald Grotto
• Best activity for adults – Having an Aperol Spritz on a beach chair at Arienzo Beach Club
• Best food – Da Vincenzo Positano 1958
• Best nightlife – Music On The Rocks
• Best all-around accommodation – Hotel Palazzo Murat

Best & Fun Things to do in Positano, Italy

Positano is even more than the amazing views it’s known for. This is a village packed with history, heritage, and hidden gems to discover. Read on to take a look at the top things to do in Positano, Italy!

1. Visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Address: P.za Flavio Gioia, 84017 Positano SA, Italy

Let’s start with La Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, or The Church of Santa Maria Assunta, an essential feature of Positano’s cultural, pastoral, and architectural landscape. Note that Positano is a town with almost no flat land; its buildings are nearly on top of one another along the cliff’s edge.

This church’s domed roof, with its intricate pattern of yellow, green, and blue majolica tiles, makes for a striking icon among them, flashing against the blue sky and the Mediterranean Sea.

The church is one of Positano’s most visible and photographed landmarks, right in the heart of the town – just a few steps from Marina Grande Beach. It has stood in the center of Positano for hundreds of years, being a constant source of inspiration for painters, poets, and other artists since its construction. One of its prized treasures is a 13th Century Byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary.

Today, painters sell their works on the beach and along the romantic staircase leading down to Santa Maria Assunta, many of which reflect this lovely Positano church. You’ll also find plenty of souvenir shops in this central area. All of this makes central Positano a great place to stay – the Hotel Palazzo Murat is a highly-rated luxury hotel steps from the church, with an especially popular infinity pool.

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2. Spiaggia Grande Beach

Next up is Positano’s main beach and its most famous: Spiaggia Grande. On maps and around town, you’ll also hear people refer to it as Positano Beach or Positano Spiaggia. You’ll find it right in front of Santa Maria Assunta, separating the city center from the sea.

There are beach clubs at which you can rent a sun lounger for the day or open areas where you can lay a towel down on the dark sand. Paddleboard, kayak, and pedal boat rentals are readily available at the water’s edge. The Mediterranean is infinitely refreshing on a hot summer day, and this is the most convenient place in town to enjoy it.

But even if you’re not looking to get wet or even lounge on the sand, there’s still a reason to come here. The view of the town and the cliffs that envelop it is truly magnificent from here, especially as you get closer to the water. Don’t miss a chance to snap a photograph or gaze at the landscape behind this lovely beach.

See Related: Best Vacation Dresses for Summer & Beach Trips

3. Arienzo Beach Club

Address: Via Arienzo, 16, 84017 Positano SA, Italy

While we’re on the subject, beach people will surely want to hear about the one that enjoys the sun the longest in Positano: Arienzo Beach, as well as its famous beach club.

Located just to the east of the village center, Arienzo Beach is one of the most cherished sights on the Amalfi Coast. Part of its allure is its remoteness – to get there, you’ll either need to descend down 300 (breathtakingly beautiful) steps or hop on a free boat shuttle from the Positano main pier. As you can imagine, either method of arrival is super scenic.

Once there, the Arienzo Beach Club is the place to grab a lounge chair and relax for the day with an Aperol Spritz. They also serve a tasty food menu of Italian delights. This is yet another place to catch the magnificent views the Amalfi Coast is famous for, with steep cliffs and perched villages in the distance.

See Related: Best Beach Vacations in the World

4. Dance the Night Away at Music on the Rocks

Address: Località Grotte Dell’incanto, 51, 84017, Positano SA, Italy

While Positano is a relaxing paradise by day, it can be lively and exciting by night if you know where to go. The best place for nightlife here is undoubtedly Music on the Rocks, a club at the eastern end of Positano Beach.

From dinner time to the wee hours of the morning, Music on the Rocks is partying, with a DJ mixing international and local hits and a steady stream of cocktails available. The coolest part of this club is that it is literally on (or in) the rocks – the space is like a cave carved into the cliffside, an appropriate venue for the Amalfi Coast.

If you aren’t a partier, don’t let the presence of this nightclub discourage you – Positano is largely a quiet village in the evening, and the location of Music on the Rocks isn’t a bad one for the rest of the town. If you like the idea of an adult beverage but don’t need to stay up all night around a ton of people, consider an Amalfi Coast wine-tasting tour instead.

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5. Enjoy Ridiculously Tasty Italian Food

The only thing better than a beach vacation is a beach vacation with great food, and the only thing that could make that better is if it’s Italian food – and Positano has that in spades. This town is famous for its restaurants within walking distance of the beach, some making for spectacular sunset views at dinner time.

If you’re looking to dine with a view, there’s no shortage of tables. There’s the romantic La Sponda in the Hotel le Sirenuse, with its stunning environment and high-end pasta dishes to enjoy while overlooking the cliffside and sea. Nearby is Ristorante Adamo ed Eva Positano, a more casual restaurant with excellent local pasta and seafood dishes, plus outdoor dining with that million-dollar view.

Don’t miss an opportunity to try one of the best restaurants in town, even if it doesn’t have a cliffside view. When it comes to wine and dining in Positano, few places can match the experience of dining at Da Vincenzo Positano 1958.

Casual yet upscale, this local icon has been making gnocchi, pasta, pizza, and more for decades using seafood caught just down the road and burrata made by local farms. Make a reservation to ensure you get a table.

See Related: Best Tours in Italy: Food, Walking & Bike Tours

6. Take a Cooking Class

Let’s stay on the subject of exceptional Italian food – it’s not easy to get out of your head once you’ve had it. So why not learn what makes it so great and take that knowledge home with you? Positano and the surrounding places are great places to take an Italian cooking class.

This Positano culinary experience includes a local market tour where you will learn how to pick the best ingredients, a cooking lesson to see how three dishes are prepared, and then dinner with your host to enjoy your creations. Others specialize in specific delicacies such as mozzarella and tagliatelle or gnocchi and tiramisu – that last one’s my personal choice.

Experiences like these contain more than your average tour as you get to take home a special ability, plus you have the opportunity to casually mingle with a typical local who loves good food. Seek out those that emphasize regional specialty ingredients, like Amalfi Coast lemons.

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7. Franco Senesi Fine Art

Address: Via dei Mulini, 16, 84017 Positano SA, Italy

You’ll find several art galleries scattered around Positano’s center. It makes sense, given the sheer beauty of the place, that artists would want to display their work here. One of the most popular in town is Franco Senesi Fine Art, a gallery and garden located in the village center.

Several rooms and outdoor exhibition spaces showcase the paintings, sculptures, and other art pieces of Italian artists. Most pieces are modern and range in theme from dreamy interpretations of the colorful local scenery to abstract rock and metal sculptures. It’s an amazing variety to see and a great capture of Italian talent.

Art lovers will be glad to spend a short time during their stay strolling around the different rooms and gardens, while those who fall in love with a piece are welcome to buy it and take it home. The staff there can arrange packing and shipping, too.

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8. Go Back in Time at the MAR Positano Villa Romana Museum

Address: P.za Flavio Gioia, 7, 84017 Positano SA, Italy

One of the top things to do in Positano for history fanatics is to visit the MAR Positano Villa Romana Museum. It’s conveniently located steps from Santa Maria Assunta in the village center and contains a wonderful collection of artifacts and stories from the past.

Well, I should say that it’s the entrance that’s located right next to the church – the ancient Roman villa that houses the museum sits underneath it. Archaeologists located this preserved piece of the past that was buried when Mount Vesuvius erupted over 2,000 years ago. Today, it houses items that were found inside, along with others that educate visitors about life in that era, the eruption, art, and more.

I truly believe this is a must-do in town, as it doesn’t take long, and the history you’ll learn is incredible. To take it a step further, a guided tour of Positano that includes the museum plus more reveals even more.

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9. Hike the Amalfi Coast Trails

There are several ways to see the Amalfi Coast, each with its own advantages: from the water, from the road, or from above. The latter is a necessity for outdoor adventure lovers, as the mountains above the seaside villages are crossed by scenic trails.

In the direction of the Sorrento Coast to the northwest, Le Tese di Positano is a trail based on the oldest road connecting the communities separated by the mountains. This former mule trail served as the only road for farmers and merchants until the first half of the 19th Century. Today, it’s a challenging adventure for the physically fit who want to see this spectacular place from the forests above.

There’s also Montepertuso il Buco (hole in the rock), a strange-looking mountain with a natural hole held in it. Photographers love this spot high above Positano in the village of Montepertuso. Guided hikes are available to this iconic spot.

Perhaps the most famous hike of all here, though, is the Path of the Gods, or the Sentiero degli Dei. This trail connects Nocelle, a tiny hamlet next to Montepertuso, with Agerola and other villages of the Amalfi Coast. Take in all the scenery of this spectacular trek with the expertise of a local guide, pointing out terraced vineyards, the best viewpoints, and what life would have been like back when this was the main method of transportation around the Amalfi Coast.

See Related: Fun & Best Things to do in Ravello, Italy

10. Take a Boat Tour

That brings us to another fantastic way to enjoy the Amalfi Coast – by sea. The dramatic cliffs, picturesque villages on the seaside, and azure waters are arguably even more photogenic from a boat, and you can explore underwater and coastal treasures that you otherwise couldn’t find.

You can’t go wrong with a full-day sightseeing cruise of the Amalfi Coast. Setting off with your friendly and knowledgeable captain from Positano, you’ll sail past the village of Praiano, the famous Fiordo di Furore (more on that below), the iconic village of Amalfi, and even waterfalls. You’ll also have the chance to enter the Emerald Grotto, a surreal sea cave with stalactites and emerald-green water on which a rowboat can take you around.

There are tons of other, more specific boat tours, too. Many include focuses on the best snorkeling spots and beaches that can only be reached by boat, like this one on an iconic Amalfitan Gozzo boat. Others are sunset cruises to get an unobstructed waterfront view of that magnificent time of evening.

See Related: Best River Cruises in Europe

11. Explore the Villages of the Amalfi Coast

Well, let’s finish off the methods of exploring the Amalfi Coast with the remaining one – on the land. The first time I went, everyone told me not to drive the Amalfi Coast, as it’s not as beautiful as it is by sea or from above. But having done it, I most definitely disagree, and I highly recommend traveling the coast by car, guided tour, or bus.

The part of the road west of Positano is shorter but contains a few magnificent spots to stop for a photo of the coast ahead of you. Moving east from Positano contains more villages, beginning with Praiano and Conca dei Marini, both certainly worth a photo stop at the minimum.

Next is the namesake of the coast, Amalfi town, with its spectacular natural setting beneath towering cliffs. Definitely stop here to meander through old piazzas to get a sense of local life and view the city’s beautiful cathedrals and abbeys.

Photographers will be very happy with the combination of winding alleyways, colorful houses, and sun-filled squares. This is a place to relax, enjoy the view, and order a limoncello or gelato.

After Amalfi, you’ll come to Maiori and Minori, each with its own wonderful scenery and tasty eateries. Continue on to Salerno to see the whole coast and more tiny seaside villages. If you don’t want to drive it yourself or worry about catching local buses, take a guided sightseeing tour from Positano, or even a tour by bicycle.

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12. Visit the Island of Capri

One of the best Positano things to do is to get away from it – by crossing the sea to a tiny island off the coast called Capri. This can be done by ferry, on a boat tour, or by arranging for a private boat tour.

Capri is a treasure of southern Italy, and it’s famous for various reasons. The island features stunning natural beauty, delectable cuisine, and high-end shopping.

It’s also a location to see and be seen, which is why so many celebrities dock their yachts in Marina Grande. The magnificent coastline is dotted with majestic mansions, and the flashy Italian island has long been a haven for jet setters.

Boat tours are a popular method to experience the natural beauty of Capri. Some of the popular sights include the Blue Grotto, Green Grotto, the Punta Carena Lighthouse, and the Faraglioni di Capri rocks that tower out of the sea just offshore. There are a ton of boats selling circle-island tours around the main port and Marina Grande Beach, but from my experience, paying just a bit extra for a private cruise is very much worth it.

Don’t forget to explore what’s on land, too. Capri and Anacapri’s twisting alleyways are packed with boutique shops, historical sights, and restaurants.

You can also ride the chairlift to Mount Solaro or stroll to the Natural Arch if you like to get outside and find the perfect sight. If you’re going to need to spend a night or two on this spectacular island, the Villa Marina Capri Hotel & Spa is among the best of the best.

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13. Furore Di Fiordo

Back to the mainland, another Amalfi Coast icon you won’t want to miss is the Furore Di Fiordo. Located just beneath the roadway that connects Amalfi and Positano, Furore Di Fiordo is tucked away in a secluded corner of the coast. You’ll need to drive or take a bus from Positano, but this magnificent and one-of-a-kind beach is worth it.

You’ve probably seen this beach on Instagram while doing Amalfi Coast research – it’s a long, narrow cove in between steep cliffs with a sandy beach in the back. An arched bridge crosses it towards the sea. It’s absolutely stunning and highly photogenic.

The beach is accessible by descending cliffside steps from the highway into the swimming area. The beach is relatively small, making for a more intimate beach day experience, and the views from your beach towel are unparalleled.

Visitors can swim in clear blue waters during the warmer months or hike around, enjoying unusual granite formations year-round. Visit early in the morning in May or September for the best chance at having it as your own private beach.

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14. Fornillo Beach

Let’s fit in another beach while we’re at it, and one closer to Positano. Fornillo Beach is just a short walk from Positano’s main center, just west of Positano Beach.

The trek to Fornillo Beach is along a wonderfully picturesque coastal path that is well worth the effort. It sits below Fornillo, a much quieter neighborhood in Positano, providing an off-the-beaten-path experience without requiring a long journey.

This beach is far less busy and feels more authentically Mediterranean. The sea is incredibly beautiful.

There are beach clubs where you can rent towels and chairs, numerous eateries, clean bathrooms, and a great environment. Hotel Pupetto is a great mid-range accommodation option that sits directly on the beach for those who want their toes in the water at every opportunity.

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15. Shop for Beautiful Footwear at Safari – The Positano Sandals

Address: Via della Tartana, 2, 84017 Positano SA, Italy

To enjoy all of these beaches, you’re going to need a good pair of flip-flops. Make a quick stop at Safari – The Positano Sandals’ small shop on the staircase near Santa Maria Assunta to get something just right.

You’ll get something truly just right, too – they make custom sandals and footwear at this little boutique. Using an assortment of leather and colors, you can design your own footwear with the advice of the shoemaking experts there. It really doesn’t cost as much as you might imagine, and the comfort and long-lasting quality are exceptional.

There is also an assortment of already-made sandals, and you may spot something you like on the wall ready for you. You can pick up water shoes for the rockier beaches of the Amalfi Coast here as well.

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16. Day Tour to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius

There are a ton of day trip opportunities around this part of southern Italy, but my top recommendation outside of the Amalfi Coast would be to the ancient city of Pompeii and to the volcano that destroyed it. You’ve certainly heard the story or learned about the Neopolitan village that was buried by volcanic ash in a flash, preserving its society to be found by us thousands of years later.

It’s an easy place to visit from Positano, being just about an hour’s drive away. Various guided tours are happy to pick you up from the Amalfi Coast, take you there, and provide expert insight along the way. This day trip includes Pompeii, Vesuvius, lunch, and wine tasting all in one – potentially checking off several boxes on your Italy to-do list.

You could also easily separate these two attractions into two separate day trips. We only spent an afternoon in Pompeii, and I left feeling like I could have spent three days wandering around. It’s a huge amount of fascinating history to absorb, and every corner presents a new photo opportunity.

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17. Laurito Beach, La Porta Beach, and Fiumicello Beach

Finally, we’ll leave you with a few more of the area’s pristine beaches, because we all know you can’t get enough of them. If you’re looking for a beach that’s more exclusive than the crowded shores of Positano, Laurito, La Porta, and Fiumicello are a few excellent options.

Set against the coastline’s rugged cliffs, the hidden gem of Laurito is a small beach tucked into a cove just below the neighborhood of the same name. There are two restaurants on the beach offering food, drinks, and chairs, as well as transportation from the main pier in Positano – there’s really no other way to reach Laurito Beach. It’s tiny and exclusive, so be sure to arrive early to get a spot, and you won’t be disappointed with the peace and views here.

La Porta Beach is another one only accessible by boat but has a long and broad expanse of sand that allows for plenty of room for beachgoers to spread out. You’ll also find boat shuttles from the Positano marina here, but there are no sunbeds, so bring your towels and beach equipment to make this spot more pleasant.

If you’re looking for absolutely minimal crowds, Fiumicello is a gorgeous option located relatively far from Positano and offering plenty of room. Again, you’ll need to arrive by boat – it’s a 3-hour ride, which basically combines your beach day with a coastal cruise. Once there, though, you’ll certainly be one of the only visitors to enjoy its stretch of sand at the entrance of a gorge.

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