Positano in 3 Days: a guidebook for getting the most out of your visit

Positano is a town on the Italian Amalfi Coast, whose privileged location on a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean gives this village a breathtaking scenic beauty. In addition, the region has important monuments, a line of beaches and access to some neighbouring villages with interesting things to offer.

Among the things to do in Positano in 3 days, you can explore the old town and visit the Santa Maria Assunta church and the MAR Museum. You will also have the opportunity to explore towns such as Ravello, Amalfi, among others, visit Fornillo Beach and the vineyards of the region. Here is an itinerary for a short trip, with what I consider to be the must-see destinations.

For the first day of the itinerary, the recommendation is to explore the old town. You can visit several religious sites such as the church of Santa Maria Assunta, the church of Santa Maria del Rosario and the Chapel of Santa Caterina. This is undoubtedly one of the best tours in Positano, to wander the narrow streets, shop, admire the scenery and learn about its history.

Stroll through the picturesque alleys of Positano

A good way to start your first day is by strolling through Positano's quaint, narrow cobbled streets. You will be amazed by the variety of handicraft products. Moreover, thanks to the town's cliff-top location, as you walk up the streets, you will see different perspectives of this magical place.

Among the main streets of Positano that you should not miss are the following:

• Viale Pasitea: this is the main street of the town, where you will find terraces with restaurants and bars, some fashion shops, art galleries, hotels, among others.
• Piazza dei Mulini: this is another very popular street and therefore quite busy. This is because it offers many tourist services and viewpoints with really photogenic views of the whole town.

Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Once you are in the historic centre of Positano, you can choose to take a 7-minute walk to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

Once you are there, you will have the opportunity to visit the various chapels of the church. For example, some of them are:

• San Biagio, this is a well-known auxiliary saint who in his lifetime was a doctor and bishop.
• The Immaculate Conception orImmaculate Conception.
• Saint Anthony, one of the most popular Catholic saints.
• St. Vitus, who is the patron saint of Positano.

Likewise,

• Statue of the Madonna and Child, dating from the 18th century and located inside the chapel of Santo Stefano.
• Painting by Fabrizio Santafed, displayed on the altar of the Circumcision.

Useful information

• Price: free of charge.
• Hours: 8.00 am to 12.00 pm and from 4.00 pm to 8.00 pm.
• Location: Piazza Flavio Gioia, 84017, Positano.

MAR Museum of Positano

Just a 1 minute walk from the church you will reach the MAR Museum of Positano, where you can see a spectacle of conservation: it is a Roman Villa that survived an eruption of the volcano Vesuvius, the same volcano that in ancient times destroyed the city of Pompeii.

During your visit you can take a guided tour and see both the remains of the villa and the frescoes that are preserved in very good condition and are of high artistic value. All this in the company of an expert who will tell you about the history of the villa and other cultural facts.

• Price: 15 euros per person.
• Opening hours: from 1 April to 31 October from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm and from 1 November to 30 March from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.
• Location: Piazza Flavio Gioia, 7.

Church of Santa Maria del Rosario

When you leave the Museum, you can head north along Via dei Mulini, a 4-minute walk away. This will bring you to the church of Santa Maria del Rosario. This Catholic complex was a monastery founded in 1614 and has great architectural appeal.

You can see its single rectangular nave with a barrel vault. In addition, in the entrance doorway you will see a representation of the Assumption in polychrome glass.

You can also see the Roman sarcophagus representing the myth of Bacchus, the well-known mythological god of wine. And, if you are religious, this site can be a good place to give thanks and pray, as it is quite peaceful.

Useful information

• Price: free.
• Opening hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
• Location: Piazza dei Mulini, 84017 Positano.

Chapel of Santa Caterina

Located about 900 metres from the previous destination, you will find the Chapel of Santa Caterina, so you can walk for about 15 minutes to reach this place. You will be amazed by the dome, which is covered with coloured ceramics, making it much more striking.

It is a neo-Gothic style building, which was built by maritime merchants who came from Alexandria, the city of origin of the saint after whom the church is named. The structure has undergone some alterations and the element of the original chapel that you can still see is the marble altar, which dates from the 18th century.

• Price: free.
• Opening hours: vary according to whether there is a religious event taking place or if there are locals in charge of opening the premises.
• Location: Viale Pasitea, 212, 84017 Positano.

Taking a day trip to the Amalfi Coast from Positano to discover some of its villages is the plan for the second day of your itinerary. You can enjoy the natural scenery and stop to explore the towns of Praiano, Furore, Amalfi, Atrani and Ravello and learn about their history.

Praiano

Praiano is a town located only 20 minutes by car from Positano or 37 minutes by bus approximately. As you approach the region, you will see the imposing figure of Monte Sant'Angelo. One of its attractions is the beaches, so you could go to Marina di Praia or Gavitella, although there are many other options.

If you want to continue your visit to religious sites, then you can go to the centre, in the upper part of the town and visit the main church, in honour of San Luca Evangelista. As you move around the town, you will have to go up and down steps. You can go down to the lower part to visit some restaurants, bars and shops and then continue your tour of the other villages.

Furore

Leaving the previous destination, you will arrive in Furore, after a drive of about 40 minutes. Many people don't get to know this town, as its entrance is a bit hidden, but the truth is that it has interesting things to offer.

When you enter the town, you will see some historical buildings. Such is the case:

• The church of San Giacomo, which stands out for its three naves and high bell tower.
• The church of San Michele, which stands out for its asymmetrical entrance.

You can walk around the church of Sant'Elia, which has a central corridor that serves as a route for walkers along the Amalfi Coast. In fact, this route is known as the path of love, so you could walk it with your partner.

Amalfi

Now it's time for Amalfi, a town you can reach in about 20 minutes from the previous destination or half an hour if you go by bus. It is a town of great importance and, in fact, it is the one that gives its name to the coast.

During the tour of this town you will have the opportunity to visit some places of tourist and cultural interest. For example:

• The Cathedral of Sant'andrea, also known as the Cathedral of Amalfi, which stands out for its combination of architectural styles.
• Museo Arsenale Amalfi, located in a medieval shipyard.

Afterwards, you can take a short walk up the historic stairs to take pictures, stroll around Piazza Duomo, Piazza dei Dogi and Piazza del Municipio. You may also consider visiting some beaches: Lido Delle Sirene, La Marinella or Duoglio.

Atrani

Overlooking the sea and the cliffs, Atrani is another must-see destination on the Amalfi Coast. You can reach it in just 11 minutes on foot from Amalfi or in 3 minutes if you go by car.

You will see the narrow streets full of stairs that suggest a simple effort: the more you climb, the better the view from the place and the better the pictures you can take.

If you wish, you can enjoy some of the beaches of the town or then choose the tour of the centre, where you will find some chapels and churches, such as St. Michael Outside the Walls and St. Mary Immaculate. You can also take the opportunity to enjoy a coffee in one of the bars around the main square.

Ravello

Ravello is only a 15-minute drive from Atrani. This picturesque village is the end of your itinerary for the day. This village is very attractive because of its height, which is 365 metres above sea level, so it offers a viewpoint for you to enjoy the view and breathe the fresh air coming from the sea.

Although Ravello has no beaches, it allows you to have an exceptional view of the rocks that emerge from the water that surrounds the whole region. Thus, you will be able to see the plain of Paestum and the Gulf of Salerno in all its splendour.

For the third day in Positano the aim is for you to select one of the following three options, according to your tastes and needs. You can venture out on a hiking route along the Path of the Gods, or you can give yourself over to the sea and visit Positano's most famous beaches with water activities, or you can sign up for a wine tour of some wineries.

Option 1: Walk along the Path of the Gods

Many visitors describe the visit to the Path of the Gods as the best activity they have done on the Amalfi Coast. It is a staircase-like path that spans approximately 1500 steps. You can choose to walk it with a guide or on your own.

You can do the walk starting from Nocella or Bomerano. In both cases, it is a downhill route. If you choose this option, you can join a guided group. This way, you can hear about the history of the trail, appreciate various panoramic areas that only the guides know about, and of course, make the visit in the company of other people, to make it more pleasant.

This route generally takes about four hours, with various stops to take photos, drink water and eat snacks. The length is 9 kilometres and, if you are not in good physical condition or simply don't want to push yourself too hard, remember that you can make the return journey by public transport, depending on where you are staying.

Option 2: Enjoy a day on the beaches of Positano and do some water activities

With this option you will have a unique beach experience. Remember that Positano has several beaches where you can walk, lie on the sand to enjoy the sun or swim in the sea and do some water sports. You can sign up for a snorkelling or boating experience in Positano: the plans are varied.

Among the beaches you should visit are:

• Marina Grande, which is one of the best known in the region, with high tourist activity.
• Fornillo Beach, with very attractive panoramic views and close to the previous beach.
• Playa Arienzo and Playa Laurito, two slightly more private beaches, ideal if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, meditate, relax and appreciate the sun in silence.

Martin's Traveller Tip

Remember that these beaches are small to medium-sized pebbles, so walking barefoot around them can be uncomfortable. So don't forget to wear appropriate footwear. Also bear in mind that, in some cases, access to the beaches is only by sea, so you will have to travel by boat.

Wine lovers will find in Positano a real treasure: a wide range of grape cultivations and wineries that produce this delicious drink, with exotic varieties and unique productions of the region, so you can dedicate a day of your itinerary and make one of the best wine tours in Positano.

Among the wineries you can visit, you can find:

• Bodega Antico Castello Winery, a place with colourful vineyards and barrels that store the drink with all the care it deserves. You can also do a wine tasting and taste some aperitifs, while listening to historical facts about the area.
• Sertura Vini d'Irpinia Winery, in the heart of the Irpinia region, you can take a guided tour with a specialist who will explain how the fruit is grown and harvested. You will also get to know the vineyards and experience three or four choices of wines to expand your taste buds. At the end of this visit, you can return to Positano in time for your transfer to the airport.

If you plan to travel around Positano by bus you will want to purchase a 24-hour SITASUD ticket , which allows you to hop on and off the different bus routes for the time mentioned above. All for €12.

In addition, some of the SITA bus lines allow you to visit the towns along the Amalfi Coast at your own pace. For example, Furore, Tramonti, Ravello, among others.

The means of transport in Positano are varied. You can choose between the public service: bus or train lines. All of them, with routes that will allow you to access the different points of the city. There are also private means of transport: taxis, shuttles or rental cars.

Whatever your destination, inside or outside Positano, you will have good road connectivity. In addition, you will have different options to travel safely and comfortably.