Itineraries for Your Trip to Positano
2 Days in Positano for First Timers
Positano is the Amalfi Coast’s leading star, a lovely confection of pastel-colored houses cascading down sheer cliffs toward the Tyrrhenian Sea. In an enviable (and strategic) location about 20 minutes south of Sorrento, it’s also often the first place travelers stop on a day’s journey into Southern Italy’s most glamorous coast.
Though the area is tourism-heavy, it has beauty enough (and, as I remember, affordable, made-to-measure leather sandals and sea-themed jewelry) to draw locals for beach days and short hikes. With two days in Positano, you can take one to settle into place and another to explore the marvelous coast, from Amalfi to the Path of the Gods (Sentiero Degli Dei) hiking trail. Follow this itinerary to make the most of your visit.
If you only have time for one thing, make it hiking at least part of the Path of the Gods trail.
Positano is breezy but warm—during summer and early fall it’s almost always beach weather, or hotter.
Positano’s cute, wisteria-scented lanes are made for walking. On the first morning of your visit, your walking itinerary could go something like this: From Amalfi Drive, stroll down Via Cristoforo Colombo and Via dei Mulini toward Spiaggia Grande beach. Along the way, stop at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta (Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta) and the MAR Positano (Museo Archeologico Romano), home to an excavated villa.
After all that walking, you’ll have worked up an appetite. Avoid the overpriced restaurant scene on Spiaggia Grande and join a food tour to taste local specialties, such as pasta al limone (pasta with lemon sauce) and ndunderi (a variety of ricotta gnocchi). This wine- and food-rich hamlet is also brimming with wine tasting experiences and cooking classes.
The UNESCO–listed Amalfi Coast is best seen from the water. You can spend hours navigating the area’s hairpin turns and traffic, or explore uninterrupted on a comfortable boat tour. The choice is yours. Views aren’t limited to the coastal towns either, as some cruises will head inside grottos and past beautiful spots, such as the Li Galli (Sirenuse) islands and even Capri, both less than an hour away by sea.
The glitzy Amalfi Coast dishes healthy portions of la dolce vita but is also home to some of the Campania region’s best hiking trails. Among them, none are more epic than the Path of the Gods. The roughly 5-mile (8-kilometer) hike takes about 3–5 hours. After you’ve caught the breathtaking views and conquered the final staircase (it’s long) to Positano, take a dip at Arienzo Beach.
Positano is only one of the Amalfi Coast’s many postcard-perfect villages—it would be remiss to miss visiting at least another one. Amalfi, another coastal gem with a famous cathedral and paper museum, and Ravello, with a scenic terrace and villa up in the hills, are popular options. Smaller spots like Minori and Maiori, known for their exquisite ceramics, are hidden gems.
On your last night in Positano, dine near the water. You can try the clutch of restaurants in central Positano, or opt for dining experiences along other coastal towns nearby. Cooking classes typically provide wine and take place in the home of host families, a lively setting for getting to know locals—how they cook, dine, and socialize.
