Are you considering a visit to Positano? Positano is a crowded, expensive, but beautiful beach town along Italy's amazing Amalfi coast. It is my humble opinion that everyone should visit Positano at least once in their lifetime. My husband, aka Mr. Travel, and I have been to Positano several times and share many great family memories.

Visit Positano - Four Great Reasons

#1 - BEACH

Positano Beach - Spiaggia Grande

In Positano, all roads lead to the beach. The main beach, Spiaggia Grande, is easy to find and usually, the first view you have of Positano. One small public beach is free, so get there early. The rest of the beaches are private.

Because most beaches in Positano are private, you will have to pay for chairs and umbrellas. Typically the cost is 20 to 25 euros for each chair.

A few things stand out for me about the beaches here. First, the water is COLD (granted, I am from south Florida, where the ocean is relatively warm), cold but very refreshing. I LOVE SWIMMING HERE once I am over the cold water's shock.

Secondly, the beaches are not sandy; they are rocky. However, I have collected a handful of coveted teal blue sea glass among the rocky pebbles commonly found at beaches along the Amalfi coast.

You will need water shoes, which can quickly be purchased upon your arrival in Italy. Henry bought a pair of yellow crocs for the beach and only wore them in Italy. Yikes!

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Fornillo Beach

If you want to get away from the crowds, check out Fornillo Beach. This beach is a bit down the coast and costs much less to rent chairs and umbrellas. You can get more information on this beach at https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g194863-d669732-Reviews-Fornillo-Positano_Amalfi_Coast_Province_of_Salerno_Campania.html.

#2 Landscape

I love magnificent landscapes simply because it allows me to reconnect with nature. Positano has some of the most stunning landscapes in all of Italy. You will have to walk many steps to experience this, but it is worth it. And this is the best way to escape the crowds.

Henry and I have spent entire afternoons walking the steep cobblestone paths of Positano. Exploring is our favorite pastime in Positano (other than visiting with friends we have made over the years).

Clusters of olive trees line the road, offering shade. You will also find strategically placed benches providing rest and photo opportunities. Bougainvillea hugs the landscape and eventually winds its way atop every available pergola. In June, you will see many flowers, including abundant, multi-color hydrangea that grows effortlessly along the roadside.

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And oh, I would be remiss, not to mention the Amalfi lemons. The lemons from this area of Italy are so big that people put sunglasses on them!

Photo by Muhammad Qadeer from Getty Images via Canva.com

On your way back down, take the time to experience another scenic adventure by wandering through all the small alleyways. Here you can admire the Old World architecture and the quaint landings which lead to the arched wooden doors. These doors are indeed a work of art, as you will never see two alike.

Also, along the scenic paths are restaurants, hotels, pharmacies, and local shops, but they are not intrusive to the views and offer a nice break from the walk. Pictured below is our daughter, who enjoys exploring, especially when it includes a little shopping!

You can always book a walking tour. We use the Roman Guy for any tour that we take or recommend. They work throughout Italy, so it is nice to work with just one company if you are visiting. Here is the link: https://theromanguy.com/tours/italy/positano

#3 Great Cusine

Ok, let's talk about food. Before your visit, take some time to inquire about the best places to eat. The food here is expensive. I will be direct-not all the food here is good. Because, well, Positano is a popular tourist destination and you know the rest.

Here are some of the favorites that we return to every time we visit:

Chez Black - https://www.chezblack.it/index-en.php.

The good news is that it is in Positano's main center. Beautiful views of the water at night. Great wine. Bustling place.

Ristorante Mediterraneo -http://www.mediterraneopositano.com/index.html.

Here you will find delicious seafood and pasta. You will have to walk uphill to reach this restaurant, but it is worth it. Also, there is usually some live music in the evening, and the staff is entertaining.

Buca Di Bacco - http://www.bucadibacco.it/restaurant.asp

Great restaurant/hotel. Located in Positano's main center. Excellent food. You can also sign up for cooking classes.

Music On The Rocks - http://www.musicontherocks.it

This is the "Disco dinner club of Positano." You can have dinner here or have dinner and then dance the night away in the famous club carved out of a cave.

Music On The Rocks for Dinner Or Dancing Or Both

In 2010, Anthony, one of our sons, DJ'd there. We spent a great evening there with our kids and had a great time. The club is open until 4:00 AM and is filled with locals. The most fun is watching all the beautifully dressed girls rushing in with their high heel shoes in hand. Just don't go early; the club is open but doesn't get started until around midnight.

Limoncello

Limoncello is the second most popular drink in Italy. So, when you visit Positano, you must try the Limoncello. You should have some shipped home. The lemons along the Amalfi coast are considered among the best in the world. You can even eat their skin ( I haven't tried this).You can taste many things infused with this beautiful Amalfi lemon; Lemon gelato, lemon pasta (delicious), lemon granita, lemon tea, and the mother of all things lemon, Limoncello.

#4 Shopping

I like the shopping in Positano because it is essentially goods produced by local artisans who use top-quality products.

All things lemon -Souvenir shops offer all kinds of lemon-inspired goods such as soaps, scarves, dresses, table cloths, ceramics, and more. I still have the lemon apron that Henry bought me ten years ago. It doesn't get much use, but it has great memories.

Handmade sandals - You can walk into most leather stores in Positano and design your sandals. You select the materials, and the local artisans will assemble your one-of-a-kind sandals in under 20 minutes.

Ceramics - The ceramic shops in Positano are just beautiful. Henry and I purchased several ceramic espresso cups and saucers on one visit. We selected each cup individually and then found a saucer to coordinate with the cup. The process was fun, and the cups were small enough to fit in my suitcase.

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My Favorite Linen Shop In Positano

Linen- Positano has many great linen shops for men, women, and children. Their selection of children's linen is among the best I have ever seen. Expensive, but again top quality.

My favorite linen shop is La Bottega de Brunella, and I usually stop at the boutique up the hill. She also has another boutique closer to the main center, but I prefer this location. I love how her pieces aptly capture the Positano vibe. Henry has purchased several pieces for me over the years. I also love that Brunella's linens are all machine washable. https://www.brunellapositano.it/index.php/it/.

POSITANO

Positano is not all magic - getting here can be a nightmare (but that is for another blog). There is not a lot to do. Once again, it is a crowded and expensive beach town. You will need to make hotel reservations many months in advance. And, once you get here, you may have hundreds of steps to walk to get to your hotel. So, Positano is not for everyone. The landscape, beautiful as it is, will be challenging for the very young or the very old.

However, if you love the sea, beautiful landscapes at every turn, great food, and interesting shopping, Positano will deliver, and quite frankly, she is just too pretty to ignore.

See you at the sea,

VISIT POSITANO - FOUR GREAT REASONS