Chances are you’ve seen picture-perfect photos of this little (but mighty) cliffside town. Located in the south of Italy on the Amalfi Coast, Positano is a fabulous town where travellers can spend their days soaking up the sun, hiking the coastal paths, exploring the nearby towns and getting lost in the colourful and steep streets.
While the Amalfi Coast is often thought of as an expensive trip, staying in a Positano hostel is the perfect way to experience the town's dramatic cliffside accommodation and stunning ocean views on a budget. Expect a daily workout and have your camera ready because Positano really doesn’t have a bad angle! Stay in a family-owned villa with sea views, have breakfast in a cute hostel courtyard filled with plants and backpackers. Take your pick of rooms from deluxe doubles to private singles. You’ll always have the azure waters of the Tyrrhenian sea in sight.
Stay in Lower Positano for all your pizza and gelato cravings, as this area is buzzing with restaurants and cute cafes. If you’re after a nature immersion, then head to Montepertuso, as it has access to some great hikes and some of the best views on the island. For those seeking authenticity and tradition, the Chiesa Nuova neighbourhood is your spot. Its historic church is low-key beautiful and a great place to people-watch and get a feel for Positano’s daily life.
To explore the coast from a different perspective, why not hop on a boat and ride along the coast where you can get a feel for the extreme (and impressive) topography around the area. For some R&R make your way down to the beach where travellers from all around the world come to bask in the sunny weather, eat deliciously tasty food and splash about in the warm ocean waters. The main beach is often crowded during the summer which makes beach hopping a great option. Along the cliff path, you’ll find a few other picturesque beaches that the locals love. For the trekkers, we’d recommend the Path of the Gods hike along the coast and for the very best sunset views – do it the Italian way and have a Limoncello en route!
Many travellers arrive in Positano via Naples and arrive on the Amalfi Coast by bus, boat or car. You can also travel by train to Sorrento and hop on a local bus from this nearby town. Getting around Positano is easy, apart from the fact that it’s located on a cliff. Exploring the town on foot is a great way of getting to know the quirky streets. For the experienced rider a moped or motorcycle is also a good option. It will give you the ultimate freedom to explore the coast at your own pace. You could also hire a regular bike, which means the coast and town’s narrow streets are more accessible. If you’ve hired a car that’s very handy to explore neighbouring towns but expect daily traffic jams as the roads are one-way and very narrow, also driving cliffside isn’t the best for the faint-hearted. There’s also a local bus, which is the ideal option for those with plenty of time and want to gaze leisurely at the breathtaking views.
