One of the major cities along Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast, Positano is a dream destination for many vacationers. Best known for its incredible beaches and relaxing atmosphere, Positano offers visitors a seemingly endless amount of things to do and see. To make the trip planning process as painless as possible, we’ve come up with a list of the 10 best things to do in Positano, Italy.
Whether you’re a beach-goer, you want to check out amazing feats of architecture and engineering, or you want to hike some of the best trails in the world. Positano has it all. The perfect trip just depends on what activities and destinations you choose to focus on during your vacation.
The faster you plan your trip, the sooner you’ll be relaxing on the Italian coast. Here are the 10 best things to do in Positano, Italy!
Enjoy the Famous Beaches
As anyone traveling to Positano is likely already aware, the city is home to the best beaches along the Amalfi Coast. But what some might not know is that the beaches here are some of the best in all of Italy. The two main beaches that Positano offers are Spiaggia Grande and Spiaggia di Fornillo, both of which are absolutely incredible. It just comes down to personal preference and what you want to get out of your beach day.
The more popular of the two is by far Spiaggia Grande. This beach offers soft white sand and endless views of the Mediterranean sea. Due to its popularity, expect it to get pretty crowded during the summer months. For something a little quieter, try visiting Spiaggia di Fornillo. There’s always a warm breeze present, and it’s a much calmer atmosphere. But no matter which you choose, you’ll have some of the best beach views and most relaxing days of your life.
Hike the Path of the Gods
Known to the locals as Sentiero degli Dei, the Path of the Gods is one of the most incredible hiking trails anywhere in the entire world, much less along the Amalfi Coast in Positano. This hiking trail will take you a few hours in total — maybe a bit more as you take in the amazing views — and goes from Positano to the neighboring town of Agerola.
As you walk the trail, you’ll ascend over 1,500 feet into the air, climbing halfway to the top of Mount Sant’Angelo a Tre Pizzi. And the views you get along the way are some of the most breathtaking views that any trail in the world will give you. You can look out over the entire Amalfi Coast, peer endlessly into the Mediterranean Sea, and take in the true beauty of Italy. It’s a surreal experience and one that you can’t truly understand until you make the hike yourself.
Walk the City Streets at Night
Although Positano is famous for its amazing beaches and is certainly the place to relax during the day, the city becomes even more enticing to explore after the sun goes down. As the locals and tourists alike are settling in after long days at the beaches, the city quiets down, and the true ambiance of a small Italian city takes over.
It’s the perfect time to just walk through the streets and take it all in. The smells of the area and the whispering silence all around makes for such a peaceful experience. As businesses turn on their outdoor lights and street lives above start to light up the night sky, it’ll feel like you’re walking through an old movie scene, where life is exactly the way it should be. Sit down at a dessert shop or grab a coffee and just watch the world go by.
Ride a Vespa Through the City
Without a doubt, the best way to get around Positano is by renting the famous Italian scooter known as a Vespa. On the scooter, you can get all around Positano and even the Amalfi Coast as a whole, with the warm Italian breeze flowing your hair. If you aren’t comfortable with scooters or motorcycles, you might want to avoid doing this. But those that are comfortable are in for a real treat.
Vespas are ideal for exploring Positano and the entire coast because they’re super easy to ride and small enough to squeeze past the crowds and seemingly endless tour buses that you’ll find. Just imagine riding along the Italian coast on a famous Italian scooter, with the wind in your face and the Mediterranean Sea before you. It’s a fun experience that you’ll never forget.
Go to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta
As with most Italian cities, Positano has its own major church as the centerpiece of the city. In Positano, that is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta. Any time you’re in Positano and unsure where to go or where you are, just check your location relative to the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, as it’s the main landmark of the small town.
The famous church is most known for the towering dome that enables visitors to easily spot it from any vantage point in the city. Not only is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta marvelous to look out from the outside, but the inside is arguably even better. Adorning the interior is Byzantine treasures from the 13rg century and beautiful artwork everywhere you look.
Take a Boat Tour Off the Coast
As one of the premier cities along the Amalfi Coast, you’ll want to be sure to go out on a boat tour through the area. There are all sorts of tour options to choose from in Positano, and it doesn’t really matter which one you settle on. They all offer unique views of the coast and the endless blue sea.
Depart from Positano and take a guided tour along the Amalfi Coast, taking in the views as well as the history from the guide. Peer out into the endless waters all around you and take it all in. Turn around and look at the cliffs of the coasts, the many towns in the area, and the incredible landscape that Italy has to offer.
Hike Up to Montepertuso
If you’ve finished your hike along the Path of Gods as suggested above and you’re still itching for more trails, you should hike up to Montepertuso in the upper part of Positano. Translating to English as “hole in the mountain,” you’ll see the massive stone structure as you make the hike, which is said to be where the Virgin Mary battled the Devil. As the legend goes, the hole in the mountain that it refers to was supposedly made by the Virgin Mary’s index finger.
With the depth of the legend behind this area, you can see why it’s so important to the locals of Positano and why it’s something that you just don’t want to miss out on during your visit. There are multiple additional hiking paths all around once you reach Montepertuso, so you’ll have no problem keeping yourself busy as you explore the area.
Take a Wine Tour Along the Coast
Although Positano is best known for its beaches as a coastal town, heading inland into the rolling hills and endless countryside of Italy is a great way to spend a day during your visit. The hills around the city are plush full of vineyards with all of your favorite wines.
Whether you like sweet or dry, red or white, or a combination thereof, the vineyards of Positano will deliver. Take a guided wine tour to explore the different vineyards in the area and try the locals’ favorite wines. For any wine-lovers out there, what could be better than a trip through the Italian countryside sampling some of the best wines in the world?
Get Dinner at Da Vincenzo Positano
While you’re visiting Positano, most of your meals will likely be unplanned and just based on where you happen to be at when you get hungry. The one exception that you need to make to that, however, is Da Vincenzo Positano. This amazing restaurant is one of the few in Positano that you need to make sure you get dinner at while you’re in town.
At Da Vincenzo Positano, you’ll be served by the welcoming staff and a slew of delicious dishes that are worth trying. They offer everything you’d hope to find in an Italian coastal town, including all kinds of pasta and seafood. And no matter which entree you settle on, you’ll be able to pair it with the perfect wine to add the final touch to an incredible meal.
End Your Night at Music on the Rocks
While your nightlife options might be fairly limited in Positano, visit the cave club known as Music on the Rocks. Located along the Spiaggia Grande beach mentioned above, Music on the Rocks is the only club in Positano and is one of the world’s most unique.
The club is actually carved into the rock wall of a cave, and you can hear the waves of the sea crashing into the club’s walls while you’re enjoying your night. So spend your day at the relaxing beach before heading to Music on the Rocks to grab a drink, listen to great music, and dance the night away.
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