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How many days in Positano? 3 days, with the boats doing the driving
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Positano is a vertical town: pastel houses poured down a ravine to a grey pebble beach, linked by steps rather than streets. It is small enough to see in an afternoon, but it is also the best base on the Amalfi Coast for the Path of the Gods and for ferries along the coast. Give it three days: one in town, one on foot high above it, and one for Amalfi and Ravello. Use boats rather than the coast road whenever you can, because the single road is often jammed in summer.
Short answer
Two days covers the town, its two beaches and either the Path of the Gods or a ferry to Amalfi. Three days lets you do both, with a slow evening on the beach between them.
The 3-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Positano town, Spiaggia Grande and Fornillo
Morning. Walk down from the upper road along Via Cristoforo Colombo and the lanes of shops selling linen and sandals to the church of Santa Maria Assunta, with its dome of green and yellow majolica tiles. Under the church, the MAR archaeological site shows rooms of a Roman villa buried by Vesuvius in 79 AD (about €15-20, guided entry; check times).
Afternoon. Swim at Spiaggia Grande, the main beach, where the public section is free and rented sunbeds cost about €30-50 a pair in summer. Or walk 10 minutes west along the cliff path Via Positanesi d'America to Fornillo, a smaller and calmer beach with cheaper beach clubs.
Evening. Watch the sunset from the steps above Spiaggia Grande, then eat scialatielli ai frutti di mare, the coast's thick fresh pasta with seafood, at a terrace restaurant; expect €25-35 for a main dish.
The town is almost all steps. Use the small orange Interno local bus (about €1.50-2), which loops along the one road through the upper town, to save your legs.
Day 2: The Path of the Gods
Morning. Take the bus to Bomerano in the hills of Agerola (via Amalfi, about 1-1.5 hours) to start the Sentiero degli Dei early. The path runs about 7-8 km along the cliffs to Nocelle, some 500 metres above the sea, with views over Positano and the Li Galli islands; most people take 2.5-3 hours. Bring water and wear good shoes.
Afternoon. From Nocelle, walk down about 1,500 steps to Positano (roughly an hour), or take the small local bus from Nocelle via Montepertuso. Rest on Fornillo beach, or have a late lunch in Nocelle at a family trattoria.
Evening. Have dinner in the upper town near Chiesa Nuova, where prices are lower than by the beach (pizza or pasta about €12-18), and look down on the lights of the town.
Walk the path from Bomerano to Nocelle, not the other way: it is mostly level or downhill. Avoid midday in July and August, as there is little shade.
Day 3: Amalfi and Ravello
Morning. Take the ferry from Positano's beach to Amalfi (about 25 minutes, around €10-15; check current timetables). Climb the steps of the Duomo di Sant'Andrea and visit its Cloister of Paradise (a few euros), then walk up the main street to the paper museum, the Museo della Carta.
Afternoon. Take the bus 25 minutes up to Ravello, 350 metres above the sea. Visit the gardens of Villa Rufolo (about €10), which inspired Wagner, and walk 10 minutes to Villa Cimbrone and its Terrace of Infinity (about €10), one of the great views of the coast.
Evening. Return to Amalfi by bus and take one of the last ferries back to Positano, usually in the early evening (check timetables). If you miss the boat, the SITA bus takes about 40-50 minutes depending on traffic.
Buy bus tickets before boarding, at tobacconists or newsstands; drivers often do not sell them. Buses fill in summer, so start at the first stop when possible.
Only have 2 days?
With 2 days, do Day 1 as written and choose between the Path of the Gods and Amalfi with Ravello for the second day. Walkers should choose the path; everyone else, Ravello.
Got extra days?
A 4th day is best spent on the water: a boat trip around Li Galli, the small islands off Positano, and along the coast to the grottoes, or a ferry to Capri (about 40-50 minutes). Pompeii is also possible via Sorrento and the Circumvesuviana train, about 2 hours each way.
Where to stay in Positano
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Upper town / Chiesa Nuova | The few hostels and guesthouses on the coast road, with buses at the door. | €90-180 |
| Mid-range | Fornillo | Quieter side of town, small family hotels and the calmer beach. | €220-400 |
| Mid-range | Nocelle / Montepertuso | Hill villages above Positano, cheaper rooms and views, on the Path of the Gods. | €150-280 |
| Comfort | Hotels above Spiaggia Grande | Sea-view terraces and pools in the heart of the town. | €550-1,500 |
Getting around
Positano has no train. From Naples airport, take a bus to Sorrento and then the SITA bus along the coast (about 2-2.5 hours in total), or a ferry from Naples or Salerno in summer; a private transfer costs about €120-160 per car. Along the coast, ferries link Positano with Amalfi, Capri and Salerno from about April to October; check current timetables. SITA buses link Positano, Amalfi and Sorrento; the local Interno bus loops through the town, Montepertuso and Nocelle. Driving is not recommended; parking costs €5-8 an hour.
What to eat in Positano
This is the coast of lemons and seafood. Order scialatielli ai frutti di mare, spaghetti alle vongole with clams, totani e patate (squid with potatoes) and fish baked in acqua pazza. From nearby Cetara comes colatura di alici, an anchovy sauce used on spaghetti. End with delizia al limone, a sponge dome filled with lemon cream, and a small glass of limoncello. Beachfront restaurants charge €25-40 for a main course; lunch is cheaper in the upper town, and grocery shops make good sandwiches for the Path of the Gods for about €6-8.
Best time to visit
May-June and September-early October, with 22-28°C and warm sea. July and August are hot, crowded and the most expensive, with traffic queues on the coast road. Many hotels and restaurants close from November to March, and ferries stop; the town is quiet and some paths are best then, but check what is open.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | €60 | €160 | €450 |
| Food & drink | €40 | €70 | €150 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €35 | €80 |
| Local transport | €10 | €25 | €80 |
| Total per person, per day | about €120 | about €290 | about €760 |
Approximate 2026 prices in euros for May-September. Positano charges a tourist tax of a few euros per person per night, depending on the hotel category, paid at the hotel.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Positano or Amalfi a better base?
Positano is more beautiful and has better views, but it is steep and expensive. Amalfi is flatter, has more bus and ferry connections, including to Ravello, and is cheaper. For walkers and couples, Positano works best; with children, heavy luggage or mobility problems, Amalfi is easier. Both are linked by ferry in about 25 minutes.
How hard is the Path of the Gods?
From Bomerano to Nocelle it is moderate: about 7-8 km, 2.5-3 hours, mostly downhill with some rocky stretches and no railings in places. The hard part is the descent of about 1,500 steps from Nocelle to Positano, which you can avoid with the local bus. Bring water, a hat and good shoes.
Can I drive on the Amalfi Coast?
You can, but it is rarely worth it in summer. The coast road is narrow, with tour buses and queues, and parking in Positano is limited and costs €5-8 an hour or more. Some periods have number-plate restrictions for non-residents. Ferries and buses are slower to plan but far less stressful.
Is Positano worth it in winter?
Only if you want quiet. From November to March many hotels, restaurants and shops close, ferries stop running and the beaches are empty. Prices drop sharply, the Path of the Gods is pleasant on dry days and buses still run. Check that your hotel and a few restaurants are open before booking.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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