Positano: Everything You Need To Know About Positano, Italy

Planning a trip to Positano, Italy? Here, you’ll learn everything you need to know before your upcoming trip.

From how to pronounce the city name like a local and how to get to there to where to stay and what to do, you’ll be filled with ideas for your Amalfi Coast vacation.

Positano: Everything You Need To Know About Positano, Italy

Also, if this is your first time on my blog, welcome! Each month, thousands of people find me from my Amalfi Coast travel guides. I’m so excited to share more about this special place with you.

Here are a few quick links to a couple of my most popular guides:

If you ever have any questions about Italy or any other travel destination, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help!

Now, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Positano Pronunciation

“Positano” is pronounced “poh-see-TAH-no,” not “poh-sih-TAN-oh.” You’ll hear many North American’s pronounce it incorrectly.

The correct pronunciation comes from the original Italian pronunciation of the word. The “a” is an elongated “ah” sound, as opposed to a harsher “a” sound like in the English word “tan.”

Positano Airport

Naples Capodichino Airport (NAP) is the closest public airport to Positano and the Amalfi Coast. However, most people fly into Rome Fiumicino Leonardo da Vinci International Airport (FCO) because it is cheaper to fly into Rome than Naples.

If you happen to be flying private, on the other hand, you could also fly into the Pontecagnano Airport in Salerno, which is even closer to the town. This airport is primarily used for private flights.

How To Get To Positano From The Airport

Here’s how to get to Positano from the Rome airport:

Take a train from FCO to Naples (Napoli), and then take a bus to Positano. This is overall the best option for transportation from FCO. Even though you will have to carry your luggage through train stations and bus stops, and even though it will take longer than a direct drive, it is by-far the most cost-effective and, therefore, popular alternative.
Hire a private or group driver. By hiring a private driver, you will save time (direct drive, no stops, no search for parking). Likewise, you won’t have to carry heavy suitcases around because you will be dropped off right outside your hotel. Also, you won’t have to think twice about driving stick-shift in a tiny car alongside Italian drivers. The only downside to hiring a private driver, then, is that it is the most costly option — most likely a couple hundred euro per person.
Rent a car. Between the car rental, expensive tolls, high gas prices and hassle of parking, I would avoid renting a car. It may seem like the least stressful option, but trust me when I say that is is not any less stressful than the following options. We rented a car for our first trip, and we will not be doing it again.

Now, here’s how to get to Positano from the Naples airport:

Take the bus from Naples to city center.
Hire a private or group driver.
Rent a car. (Again, I personally do not recommend renting a car.)

Unfortunately, there’s not really an easy way to get to the Amalfi Coast unless you’re flying private. Although, the journey is definitely worth it, as you’ll soon see.

Positano Weather

During peak tourist season, May through October, you can expect the Positano weather to be sunny and warm with daytime temperatures ranging from 70-85 degrees Fahrenheit (21-29 degrees Celsius).

So, expect plenty of sunshine and beach-worthy weather. We went to the Amalfi Coast at the end of September, and the weather was definitely still warm enough to swim in the ocean.

For more guidance on what to wear on the Amalfi Coast for its weather, check out my Positano outfits guide here.

Positano Beach

Positano is home to a variety of beautiful beaches where you can lounge, swim, sunbathe and indulge in some of the freshest Italian seafood in the world.

The best beach for views of the city is, by far, Positano Beach, also known as Spiaggia Grande. If you’re looking for the iconic view of striped blue and white umbrellas under a massive tower of Amalfitan buildings, you can’t miss Spiaggia Grande.

If you’re looking for more information about Spiaggia Grande (address, directions, things to do, sun bed rentals, etc.), visit my ultimate guide to Positano Beach here.

Positano Hotel

When in comes to finding the perfect Positano hotel, you have to consider a few key factors: travel style, budget and location.

For example, if you are a luxury traveler planning a trip to the Amalfi Coast, consider staying at either Le Sirenuse or Hotel Poseidon, the two most famous luxury hotels in Positano.

Or, if you’re on a budget but still want to experience the iconic Positano views from your own hotel balcony, I highly recommend Hotel Casa Albertina.

Not only does Hotel Casa Albertina offer incredible balcony views from both the individual rooms and the hotel terraces, but this beautiful family-run boutique hotel also offers the best free continental breakfast I’ve ever had in my life.

For my full review on Hotel Casa Albertina, click here.

Additionally, you may want to consider hotel locations when choosing your Positano hotel, as Positano can require a lot of cobblestone stair climbing. If you want better accessibility to the beach, shops and restaurants with minimal stairs, I suggest staying at Hotel Buca di Bacco or a neighboring hotel.

Positano Restaurants

The foodie scene on the Amalfi Coast is absolutely incredible. If you love the food in Rome, you’ll die for the food on the Amalfi Coast.

Some menu highlights include seafood pasta, pizza margherita and basically anything with the legendary Amalfitan lemon flavor.

The best restaurants in Positano are:

Ristorante Bruno (get the shrimp in lemon sauce, you can thank me later).
Da Vincenzo (Michelin ranked restaurant loved by the locals).
Covo dei Saraceni (the tenderloin for two is a must when traveling with a friend).
Buca di Bacco (the pasta scampi, per favore).
Chez Black (decorated like a ship at sea, making it a tourist hotspot).
Franco’s Bar (fancy bar with light snacks located in Le Sirenuse Hotel).

More Things To Do Here

This quaint Italian town on the Amalfi Coast of Italy is one of my favorite places in the entire world. Even though I could spend an entire week looking at the views without getting bored, there are plenty of other amazing things to do.

Here are the best things to do in Positano: