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 facing the Mediterranean gives this village an impressive scenic beauty. In addition, the region has important monuments, a line of beaches and access to some neighboring villages with interesting things to offer.

Among the things to do in Positano in 3 days, you can tour the old town and visit the Santa Maria Assunta church and the MAR Museum. You will also have the opportunity to explore towns like 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 go into 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. Undoubtedly one of the best tours of Positano, to stroll through its narrow streets, shop, admire the scenery and learn about its history.

Stroll through the picturesque streets of Positano

A good way to start your first day is to stroll through the picturesque and narrow cobblestone streets of Positano. You will be amazed by the variety of handicraft products. In addition, thanks to the cliff condition of the city, as you go up the streets, you will contemplate different perspectives of this magical place.

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

• Viale Pasitea: this is the main street of the city, where you will find terraces with restaurants and bars, some fashion stores, 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 walk through the historic center and find yourself in the center of Positano, you can choose to make a journey of about 7 minutes on foot, to visit the Church of Santa Maria Assunta.

Once in this place, you will have the opportunity to get to know the various chapels of this enclosure. For example, some of them are:

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

Likewise,

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

Information of interest

• Price: free.
• Hours: 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
• Location: Pza Flavio Gioia, 84017, Positano.

MAR Museum of Positano

Just 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 one that in ancient times destroyed the city of Pompeii.

During your visit you could 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 the history of the villa and other cultural facts.

• Price: 15 euros per person.
• Hours: from April 1 to October 31 from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and from November 1 to March 30 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
• Location: Piazza Flavio Gioia, 7.

Church of Santa Maria del Rosario

Leaving the Museum, you can head north along Via dei Mulini, 4 minutes away. This will bring you to the church of Santa Maria del Rosario. This Catholic compound 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 portal you will contemplate a representation of the Assumption in polychrome glass.

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

Information of interest

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

Chapel of Santa Caterina

Located about 900 meters from the previous destination, you will find the Chapel of Santa Caterina, so you can walk for 15 minutes to reach this site. You will be amazed by the dome, which is covered with colorful ceramics, which makes 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 that gives the name to the church. The structure has undergone some renovations and the element of the original chapel that you can still see is the marble altar, dating from the eighteenth century.

• Price: free.
• Hours: vary according to whether a religious event will be held 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 see some of its villages turns out to be the plan for this 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

It 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 are the beaches, so you could go to Marina di Praia or Gavitella, although there are many other options.

If you want to continue the visit to religious sites, then you can go to the center, in the upper part of the town and visit the main church, in honor of San Luca Evangelista. As you move around the town, you will have to go up and down steps. You can go to the lower part to visit some restaurants, bars and stores 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 do not get to know this town, since 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 is striking for its asymmetrical entrance.

You can walk through the church of Sant'Elia, which has a central corridor that serves as a route for hikers traveling 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 that you will 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 that town you will have the opportunity to visit some places of tourist and cultural interest. For example:

• Sant'andrea Cathedral, also known as Amalfi Cathedral, 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 through Piazza Duomo, Piazza dei Dogi and Piazza del Municipio. You can 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 will arrive 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 pictures you can take.

If you wish, you can enjoy some of the beaches of the town or then choose the tour of the center, 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 some of the bars that surround the main square.

Ravello

To reach Ravello from Atrani it will only take you 15 minutes by car. In this picturesque village you will end your itinerary for the day. This village is very attractive for its height, which is 365 meters 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 entire region. Thus, you will be able to see in all its splendor the plain of Paestum and the Gulf of Salerno.

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

Option 1: Walk the Path of the Gods

Many visitors describe the visit to the Path of the Gods as the best activity they did on the Amalfi Coast. It is a path in the form of a staircase that spans approximately 1500 steps. You can choose to walk it in the company of a guide or do the tour on your own.

You can do the tour 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 the history of the trail, appreciate various panoramic areas that only the guides know and, of course, make the visit in the company of other people, to make it more enjoyable.

Generally, this route can take about four hours, with several stops for photos, hydration and snacks. The extension is 9 kilometers and, if you are not in good physical condition or simply do not want to exert yourself too much, remember that you can make the return trip 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 water sports. You can sign up for a snorkeling or boat ride 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 location close to the previous beach.
• Playa Arienzo and Playa Laurito, two beaches a little more private, 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 and medium-sized pebbles, so walking barefoot around them can be uncomfortable. So don't forget to wear appropriate footwear. Also keep 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 make 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:

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

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

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

The means of transportation 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: cab, shuttle 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.