Located in the heart of the Amalfi Coast, Positano, Italy is a place where you can wander romantic alleyways, share a bowl of homemade pasta like Lady and the Tramp, gaze out beyond the mesmerizing coast and kiss publicly with no judgment. The land of love, food and wine, my friends. For our anniversary trip, I planned a jam packed itinerary along the Italian coast, including a two-night stay in Positano. This was just enough time to explore every inch of this small seaside village and capture a few amazing moments with tesoro mio (my darling).
My husband and I share a passion for travel. We enjoy meeting new people and experiencing different cultures, leading us to visit over 60 countries together. In all of these incredible trips we often look back at the terrible photographs taken of us together. See, when we travel alone as a couple, we often resort to the horrid “selfie arm-stick pictures” (i.e., my husband’s long arm) or we reluctantly ask a complete stranger to take a photograph of us. These always turn out horrible no matter how hard we try to get it right.
Part of the fun in traveling, is capturing memories that you can look back on and share with others. On this particular trip, I wanted to be sure that we could capture at least one “frame-worthy photograph” we could have to remember our time together in Italy. I looked up local photographers and found an awesome company – Localphragher. This company specializes in screening the best photographers in a specific foreign region and matches you with them for an hour long photography shoot. What a fantastic way to capture professional photographs as a couple, group of friends, or family on vacation. For a bit of extra money, this photography service is worth every penny. When your vacation ends, you will forever have vivid memories captured in stunning photographs to share when you return.
Below are some pictures from our time spent in Positano at the iconic Le Sirenuse Hotel, as well as wanderings around the small town, including a visit to the old Cathedral square. You can skip on through these snaps from Positano and find my trusted Ladyhattan Guide to all things you need to know when visiting this charming coastal town.
LADYHATTAN GUIDE TO POSITANO, ITALY
Quick Tips
- Fly into Naples, Italy and arrange a car-service transfer for an easy drive (1 to 1.5 hours)
- Alternatively, you can fly into Rome which is about 2-2.5 hours to Positano by drive
- Avoid renting a car because driving is challenging and parking options are limited
- You can take a ferry service from the Naples region to all the major villages along the Amalfi Coast (including Positano)
- Visit in early October for the same great weather and far less crowds (the end of high-season)
- Avoid off-season winter months not only because of bad weather, but shops/restaurants will likely be closed and ferry service limited
- Pack kaftans, maxis and comfortable beachwear
- Best for couples or families, as the village has a very romantic yet family-friendly vibe
- The ferry station in Positano is 5 minutes walking distance from nearly every hotel, rental apartment or restaurant in town – so you can easily make Positano your base for a week-long trip and take day trips by utilizing the convenient docking of the ferry system
Stay
- Plan to stay for at least 2 nights in Positano, ideally 3 nights
- Le Sirenuse for the ultimate splurge (rates are $800+/night)
- Buca di Baco for the same views you get at Le Sirenuse (higher up the hill) but better prices (rates $250/night)
- Honeymooners prefer the remote Il San Pietro (tucked away from the busy town) and ultra luxurious but pricey (rates $800+/night)
- Another favorite hotel by fellow travel bloggers is Hotel Poseidon, a luxury 4-star hotel with reasonable rates for the region ($300+/night)
- If you are on a budget, there are ample AirBnB and apartment rental options with stellar locations to the beach
Shop
- Shop at Antica Sartoria for colorful and coastal cover-ups, sandals and adorable beach baskets
- Botegga di Brunella for fine quality, yet casual linens
- Check-out Safari for hand-made sandals the region is famous for
- Find right ceramics, beach hats and bottles of Limoncello for great gift options
Sip + Savor
- For lunch, check-out Chez Black and try the classic spaghetti vongole with extra garlic (pasta with clams)
- For a casual dinner off the beaten path and along the ocean, we had one of our best meals at LO Guarracino
- Ristorante Max is a must for dinner (I received over 100 recommendations to try this place) – but you will need to make a reservation in advance
- Venture out of the central part of town to the Hotel Il San Pietro for appetizers and a glass of wine with a priceless view – they offer a complimentary shuttle if you make a reservation in advance to have a meal there and it is about a 10 minute ride away
- Da Gabrisa is a fantastic spot for either cocktails or lunch with instagram-worthy views
- Although almost all hotels will have a complimentary breakfast spread, try Collina Bakery for breakfast pastries on the go (and only 1 euro)
- Franco’s Bar at Le Sirenuse is a fantastic pre-dinner cocktails spot, and if you are not staying at the hotel – it’s the perfect place to snap surreal pictures from the top of the hill
Ladies Should
- Take at least 3 hours to simply get lost in the narrow pedestrian only streets while shopping, exploring and tasting your way through this coastal village
- Grab a bottle of Prosecco and walk down the hill to enjoy an afternoon sitting on the beach – the best time to do this is an hour or so before sunset when all the crowds start to leave the beach
- Plan to spend one of your afternoons at Da Adolfo Restaurant – book in advance then take a water taxi to this little island for lunch and lounging on a private beach
- Hike the Path of Gods (4 hours) to work off all the pasta
- Enjoy a day trip to Capri Island by taking the 1 hour ferry
- Pack only half your suitcase and set aside $100 to spend on several new colorful cover-ups/dresses you can buy once you arrive and wear on the trip
- Get yourself a pair of handmade sandals – Positano is famous for them
- Eat buffalo mozzarella for breakfast, because hey, it’s the only place in the world where it’s totally acceptable
- Spend an hour of your trip taking professional photographs with Localgrapher to ensure your memories are captured forever