Positano Vs Amalfi: Which Is Better?

The Amalfi Coast is an indescribable region of Italy that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime. But, because there are so many towns that make up the Amalfi Coast, it can be hard to decide exactly where to stay. The two most commonly debated towns? Positano vs Amalfi.

Here, we’ll discuss the difference between Positano and Amalfi, which town is best for a day trip, if Positano and Amalfi are truly worth the visit, and which town is better to visit overall.

Are Positano And Amalfi The Same?

First thing’s first, are Positano and Amalfi the same?

No, Positano and Amalfi are not the same. Positano and Amalfi (also known as Amalfi Town) are two separate towns that are both located on the Amalfi Coast of Italy.

Positano is the most iconic town in the region. When you see “Amalfi Coast” photos or Instagram geotags, the photos were more than likely taken in Positano. If you’re looking for the viral stacked pastel buildings, you’ll want to go to Positano, not Amalfi.

On the contrary, Amalfi, AKA Amalfi Town, is another town on the Amalfi Coast, like Positano. While it’s a beautiful bustling town to visit, be aware that it is not the same as Positano. In fact, it’s a 50 minute boat ride away from Positano (no traffic, pedestrians or winding Italian streets).

Lastly, to further clarify, the Amalfi Coast is the coastline and, therefore, a region of Italy. When someone refers to Amalfi Coast, they are referring to the area, not to a specific town.

If you didn’t know the difference between Positano, Amalfi and the Amalfi Coast, don’t worry. I didn’t understand at first either!

Should I Take An Amalfi Or Positano Day Trip?

If you have to choose between Positano vs Amalfi for a day trip, you’ll probably want to visit Positano. When you picture the Amalfi Coast, you’re more than likely actually picturing the town of Positano. You’ll be disappointed if you’re expecting Positano views but you’re in Amalfi.

Don’t get me wrong, Amalfi is beautiful. You can definitely happily spend a day trip in Amalfi.

However, if you’re looking forward to stacked pastel buildings, umbrella covered beaches and endless iconic Amalfi Coast views, you should take your day trip to Positano.

Is There More To Do In Amalfi Or Positano?

There is a lot more to do in Positano than Amalfi. Positano is much bigger and more touristy than Amalfi.

In Positano, you can relax on the beaches, indulge in fresh seafood, shop, take vintage car tours and more. For more details on what to do in Positano, I have an entire guide on the top 10 things to do and see in Positano here.

Furthermore, I have several complete, free itineraries for your Positano trip, depending on how long you’re staying:

One Day In Positano: The Perfect Day Trip Itinerary.

Is Amalfi Town Worth Visiting?

That being said, Amalfi Town is worth visiting if you’re spending more than a day or two on the Amalfi Coast.

In Amalfi Town, you can find gorgeous Amalfitan architecture, the incredibly unique Duomo di Amalfi (Amalfi Cathedral), the legendary Amalfi paper mills, shopping, lemon sorbet served in a lemon and more.

Furthermore, Amalfi is much more accessible, as the town is much more level. There are not nearly as many stairs as Positano.

If you’re looking to take a day trip to Amalfi Town from Positano, I highly recommend taking a boat tour with Blue Star, a family-run boat tour and excursion business. The day trip will cost less than 100 euro per person and includes a round-trip semi-private boat ride to Amalfi, swimming in the Mediterranean, complimentary refreshments, a tour guide, an afternoon in Amalfi Town and more.

Or, if you’re interested in a more budget-friendly option, you can also take the daily ferry from the Positano marina. Whichever option you choose, just be sure to book your tickets at least a day before your desired Amalfi Town trip date.

Positano vs Amalfi: Which Is Cheaper?

Positano is the most expensive town on the Amalfi Coast, which obviously means it’s cheaper to stay in Amalfi than Positano. The average hotel rate in Amalfi is $150 USD per night; whereas, the average hotel rate in Positano is over $350 per night.

At the end of the day, you will be paying for the elevated experience in Positano. There are still ways to stay in Positano on a budget, though, if you want.

Moreover, Amalfi is slightly farther away from big cities (namely Rome and Naples) than Positano, which means that Amalfi is even harder to get to than Positano. Regardless, if you’re looking to visit the Amalfi Coast on a major budget, you may consider staying in Amalfi over Positano.

Is Amalfi Or Positano Better?

Overall, Positano is definitely better than Amalfi.

Both cities will take your breath away. But, because your expectations of the Amalfi Coast will likely be more fulfilled by Positano than Amalfi, Positano is the winner.

Despite the accessibility and affordability of Amalfi, Positano is where you will want to stay if you’re splurging on a your dream Italian vacation.