Positano: top attractions & road trip guide
Positano is a steeply vertical village on the Amalfi Coast, its pastel houses stacked up a cliffside above a small beach and harbor in a way that has made it one of the most photographed towns in Italy. Once a modest fishing village, it grew into a fashionable retreat after World War II and remains known for its cliffside architecture, ceramics, and handmade sandals.
On a road trip, Positano sits on the SS163, the narrow, winding Amalfi Coast road that clings to the cliffs between Sorrento and Salerno; the town itself has almost no flat streets, so cars are typically left in a paid clifftop car park and the village is explored on foot down a network of stairs and lanes. Traffic on the SS163 backs up badly in summer, and many drivers visit Positano by boat or bus rather than attempting to park directly in town.
Top attractions
Spiaggia Grande
Positano's main beach, a curved strip of grey sand directly below the town, lined with restaurants, boat rentals, and the classic postcard view of stacked houses above.
Church of Santa Maria Assunta
The town's main church, easily spotted from the beach by its majolica-tiled dome, home to a Byzantine icon of a black Madonna venerated as the town's protector.
Path of the Gods
A high coastal hiking trail above Positano with sweeping views over the Amalfi Coast and the island of Capri, popular as a half-day trek starting near Bomerano.
Fornillo Beach
A quieter beach reached by a short seafront path from Spiaggia Grande, backed by a watchtower and offering a calmer alternative to the busier main beach.
Li Galli Islands (viewpoint)
A small archipelago visible offshore from Positano, linked in legend to the Sirens of the Odyssey and once owned by the ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev.
Plan your route with EuroDrive Scout →