Postcard pretty Positano, the best things to do

The charming little town of Positano teeters on the cliffs of the Amalfi Coast between Sorrento and Praiano. Read on for the some of the best things to do in Positano, Italy's picture perfect, pastel painted town.

Pretty as a Picture Positano

To call Positano picturesque would be an understatement.

The pastel-painted houses, built on terraces, precariously stacked upon one another, cascade down the steep cliffs towards the small beach below.

Lemon groves give the town a dreamy feel and you'd almost expect to see a young Audrey Hepburn drive past in an ice-cream coloured sports car, chiffon headscarf billowing as 'Moon River' floats on the breeze behind her. Positano is a Roman Holiday in glorious Technicolor and has retained a charming fifties feeling.

Small alleyways weave between the houses lined with galleries, shops, restaurants and cafes. A backdrop of verdant covered hills against a cobalt blue sky completes this picture postcard of a town.

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...

John Steinbeck

So now you've got an idea of what Positano is like and where to find it, you'll want to discover the best things to do in Positano? Read on...

Things to do in Positano, Italy

Head to the beach

Head down to Spiaggia Grande beach where the fishermen launch their boats and sunshine-coloured parasols spike the sand.

Lively restaurants and bars line the waterfront where artists sit in shady spots replicating the beautiful Positano views onto their canvases. 

Buy a gelato and wander over to the far side of the beach and look back for one the best views you’ll see of Positano’s primrose, pink, peach and terracotta houses tumbling down the hillside. When you've done that pick a sunbed and a parasol and soak up the sunshine.

Buy some Positano souvenirs

The little lanes down to the beach are lined with shops and artist’s stalls. They're perfect for browsing on the way back up the steep alleyways and the perfect excuse for rest stops. You'll find beautiful ceramics, art, jewellery and clothing.

You’ll find some beautiful ceramics in Positano, and as the area is famous for its lemon-groves, many are decorated with the citrus fruit. Treat yourself to some lovely lemony bath products or limoncello.

If you love shoes then pick up a pair of bespoke leather sandals from one of the artisan shops – there are lots to choose from. Pick your style and colour, get measured and your new sandals will be made on the spot.

The hundreds of steps can be hard work and there are no lifts but every other building is a bar or restaurant so there's no shortage of places to catch your breath and besides you'll know you've burnt off the calories from that gelato before you've got back to the top.

Visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta

The Collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, founded in the 13th century is topped with a gorgeous majolica dome encrusted with vibrant yellow, blue and green tiles; yellow for the sunshine, blue for the sea and green for the lush foliage. 

The softly rounded dome contrasts beautifully against the pastel coloured cubes clambering down the hills. Inside the church make sure to see the icon Tavola of the Madonna Nera or Black Madonna.

Have lunch with a view

Tucked into the hills above Positano is Montepertuso, a short bus-ride or taxi away, where you’ll find a fabulous restaurant, La Tagliata.

The food is Italian cuisine at its home-grown, home-cooked best. Enjoy a medley of antipasti followed by fresh pastas – cheese-stuffed ravioli, gnocchi, meat cannelloni and fusilli cooked with a tasty burst of Mediterranean freshness. It comes nicely al dente and served with a good wine.

There’s a meat course if you’ve got room, and the desert looks too good to eat but that probably won’t stop you digging into the fresh fruit and pastries, rounded off with a glass of Limóncello. And (yes it gets better!) from your table you’ll enjoy one of the best views of The Amalfi Coast and Positano. You’ll want to stay forever.

Positano makes for a dream of a day-trip during your stay in Sorrento or Amalfi. The views on the drive to the town are stunning and there are many lookout points dotted along the coast with wonderful views of the town, La Galli islands and the Costiera Amalfitana. 

So, that's how to spend a perfect day in postcard pretty Positano. Have you been? Would you like to?

There are so many things to do in Positano and the Amalfi Coast that you'll want to think about spending a few days there and take day trips to Pompeii, Paestum, Amalfi and Sorrento.

How to get to Positano from Sorrento

The SITA bus departs twice-hourly from the front of the Sorrento train station to Positano, continuing on to Amalfi. The journey takes around 45-minutes. Purchase individual tickets or a UnicoCostiera pass for unlimited travel all along the Amalfi Coast – valid for 24 hours or 3 days.

The bus can get very busy in high season and a seat is not guaranteed. For the best views when travelling from Sorrento to Amalfi sit on the right-hand side of the bus (as you face the front) and swap to the left for the return journey.

For a different perspective on the return journey, a ferry is a good option giving beautiful views of the coastline from the water with Metrodelmare. Frequency varies seasonally and there are roughly six daily trips between Amalfi and Positano (20 minutes) and four daily between Amalfi and Sorrento (60 minutes).

If you’re a confident driver you could hire a car and drive yourself. That’s not something I’d recommend if you really want to take in the views because your eye will be on the oncoming traffic. Out of season would be less crowded but still not for the faint-hearted.  Also, parking is extremely limited in Positano.

Alternatively, you could hire a driver or take a guided tour from Sorrento. The train service, Circumvesuviana, from Naples ends at Sorrento.