Our 1 Day in Positano Itinerary is written from an Italian perspective about how Italians most love to spend their day. Positano is one of the most sought-after destinations for Italian and international tourists who flock to the pearl of the Amalfi Coast every year to revel in breathtaking views, crystalline waters, azure skies, and excellent cuisine. Today, we’ll guide you through discovering one of the world’s most beautiful towns, helping you plan how to spend a day in Positano.
Where is Positano?
Positano is an Italian municipality that during the winter season has just over two thousand residents.
However, during the spring and summer months, it welcomes tens of thousands of tourists from all around the globe.
The town is situated in Southern Italy in the Province of Salerno, a city with a population of 200,000 located 40 km south of Naples.
Positano is just over 40 km from both Naples and Salerno: a strategic location allowing visitors to reach Positano by car, taxi, local buses, or by sea from the nearest airport.
Positano is not far from other beauties of the Amalfi Coast such as Amalfi, and Ravello, and it’s just over 10 km from Sorrento, in Naples province. This makes it a brilliant day trip destination from anywhere in Salerno and Naples provinces.
How to Reach Positano?
Positano is nestled in the world-unique setting of the Amalfi Coast.
In this area of Italy, over the centuries, local fishermen began building their homes starting from the local beaches overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, gradually climbing up the surrounding hills.
Today, therefore, the towns of the Amalfi Coast, like Positano, consist of white houses, churches, and narrow alleys perfectly blended into the greenery of the local vegetation and the blue of the sky and sea that bathes the coast.
Due to this particular geography of these steep hillsides cascading down to narrow beaches, there are no highways connecting the towns of the Amalfi Coast.
One of the most convenient means of transportation is the ferries and boats that reach the local port about every 30 minutes. Ships and boats depart from the ports of Salerno, Naples, and Capri.
If you’re planning on driving to Positano, the only access road is a narrow and winding road that connects all the towns of the Amalfi Coast. It’s insanely narrow and you will often have to reverse to find a slightly wider part of the road where a bus can pass you!
You can reach Positano by car, taxi, or one of the many shuttles and buses that operate daily. If you’re coming by bus, get off at Positano and walk down the hill, through the town, to Spiaggia Grande Positano.
The nearest airport is Naples Capodichino, about 40 km from Positano, reachable in just over 1 hour by car.
Is a Day Trip to Positano Worth It?
But what can you do in a day in Positano? What’s the best way to spend your time?
Visiting Positano in the Morning: Breakfast + Beach
Start off early in the morning, wearing comfortable shoes because there will be walking involved to visit all the town’s beauties.
Firstly, to start your day right in Positano, we recommend grabbing a good espresso in one of the many local bars.
You can then have one of the specialties from the renowned local pastry shops, I am a bit of a traditionalist when it comes to food, and I like to order a nice “cornetto” or a “brioche.”
For those fond of savory breakfasts, instead, try the warm bread stuffed with local cold cuts, cheeses, and vegetables.
After a hearty breakfast, you can head to the main beach of Positano, called Spiaggia Grande, which is only a few hundred meters from the town center.
In summer, the beach is equipped with the best beach clubs and sometimes hosts more than a thousand people.
After a refreshing swim in the crystalline waters bathing Positano, you can have lunch at one of the many restaurants directly overlooking the sea, offering visitors the best local specialties.
Visiting Positano for Lunch: What to Eat
In Italy, the most important meal of the day is lunch, which generally takes place from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.
Treating yourself to a nice lunch in one of Positano’s restaurants will allow you to take shelter from the scorching sun during the hottest hours of the day, and we assure you that in summer, temperatures in Italy can even reach and exceed 40°C.
In one of the globally renowned restaurants nearby, you can savor delicious food like mixed seafood or meat appetizers and fully immerse yourself in the sweet life.
Our recommendation, however, is to order a nice pasta dish accompanied by local wine. Italy offers good food everywhere, but Southern Italian cuisine is particularly appreciated for its authenticity and freshness.
Dishes based on fish are particularly good, but those with tomatoes and vegetables are also worth trying at least once in a lifetime.
Le Sireneuse (above) is a Leading Hotels of the World property, a famous Amalfi-Coast wedding venue, and where you’ll find Franco’s Bar and La Sponda restaurant. As the owners of Le Sireneuse say, it’s “no wonder so many marriage proposals have taken place over the years here.”
It’s a restaurant dedicated to simple Italian food, which I think is perfect. Try their pasta al pomodora.
What to Do in the Afternoon in Positano? Discover Positano Town
If your stay in Positano is just for a day, there won’t be time to rest or take what Italians call a “pennichella,” a “power nap.”
Immediately after lunch, therefore, you can visit the main town church, the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, a true architectural masterpiece with its dome covered in tiles, one of the main architectural attractions of the entire Amalfi Coast.
A Walk Around Positano Town
Here’s a mini Positano itinerary for a walk around Positano town, beginning and ending at the beach:
1. Spiaggia Grande Promenade: Starting at Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, embark on a stroll along the vibrant promenade. The colorful buildings cascading down the cliffs create an iconic backdrop for that perfect Instagram shot.
2. Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta: The prominent church along the coast boasts a striking dome adorned with intricate majolica tiles. Inside, a stunning Byzantine-style icon of the Virgin Mary catches the eye.
The church’s standout features include a magnificent 13th-century Byzantine icon of the Black Madonna and an opulent altar adorned with gold leaf.
Admire the intricate frescoes and the vibrant, detailed majolica floor depicting religious scenes, a true marvel of craftsmanship.
3. Artisanal Boutique Shops and Galleries: Explore the exquisite craftsmanship at “La Bottega di Brunella,” famous for its elegant linen clothing, and “Ceramica Assunta,” where artisans create vibrant ceramics reflecting Positano’s coastal charm.
Don’t miss “Galleria Romanelli” for local artworks and sculptures.
4. Scenic Viewpoints: Piazza dei Mulini offers breathtaking vistas, but for an offbeat view, head to Via Positanesi d’America’s overlook.
This street also boasts quaint trattorias and offers stunning views of the village’s terraced buildings and the sea.
5. Via Positanesi d’America: This street to the west of the main beach honors the village’s ties with the United States. At its pinnacle stands the Collegiate Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, offering picturesque views of the coastline.
6. Ancient Pathways and Staircases: Narrow streets and many, many stairs, greet you as you walk upwards away from the coast. Some are impossibly charming. Others leave you breathless (there really are a LOT of stairs in Positano!)
7. Return to Spiaggia Grande: Complete your walk by returning to Spiaggia Grande which will allow you to capture the breathtaking scenery from a different perspective.
Boat Tour
After taking a short walk around the town, you can then head back to the sea where you can cool off in the town’s waters.
A much better option, however, is to treat yourself to a boat tour in the afternoon and evening hours.
It’s at sunset that Positano shines its best. At this time of day, the spectacular views of the Amalfi Coast turn red, and the red of the sun illuminates the villages along the coast, which suddenly transform from white to red.
What to Do in the Evening in Positano?
If you rent a boat for at least a couple of hours, return to Positano before 8:30 PM.
If you’re staying at one of the many luxury hotels in Positano, there will be just enough time for a quick shower and a change of clothes.
The evening is still young, and before experiencing Positano’s nightlife, you’ll need to recharge by having dinner at a restaurant.
Here, you can again taste fresh and delicious food and enjoy local fish-based specialties while street performers entertain you with live music.
Right after dinner, you can go shopping in one of the many shops scattered in the alleys of the town, hosting some of the world’s best brands, or have a drink at one of the bars like Franco’s bar, one of the most beautiful and suggestive along the entire Amalfi Coast.
Immediately after dinner, Positano’s nightlife venues are open and full of beautiful people, great music, and lots of fun.
Positano is bustling with young people who want nothing more than to have fun and enjoy the typically Italian Dolce Vita until early morning. Music on the Rocks is the most well-known venue.
Alternative Activities in Positano: Trekking in Positano
In case your stay in Positano lasts more than a day, or spending some of your one day in Positano on the beach is not your thing, spend a few hours trekking.
In recent years, the towns along the Amalfi Coast have set up several breathtaking paths perched on the sea that will allow you to hike between the various villages of the “Divine.”
One of the most beautiful trekking trails in the world, acknowledged as such by enthusiasts, is the “Path of the Gods,” which connects the town of Amalfi to Agerola, another gem of the Amalfi Coast.
You’ll be walking on paths at 500 meters above sea level, overlooking the blue sea, with the green of the local vegetation alongside and only the blue sky above!
What to visit near Positano?
Positano is certainly not the only town worth visiting along this stretch of coastline. Notable places include Amalfi, with its cathedral, and Ravello, which offers the absolute best panorama, and fishing villages next to Positano, like Priano.
You can easily take a day trip to Naples and Salerno from Positano: two cities that will immerse you in the true Italian life, full of beauty, good food, and many contradictions.
The atmosphere throughout the Amalfi Coast is unique: one of the few places in the world where depictions of the Virgin Mary harmonize with the luxury and elegance of the city boutiques.
So although with this itinerary, you see the best of Positano in one day, the next time you visit, stay for at least a week! There are too many activities to do, too many things to see, and too much beauty to enjoy.
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