Positano hotels

Hotels in Positano

On the sun-drenched Amalfi Coast, Positano is a hilly enclave with a traditional Italian atmosphere. It started as a small fishing village, and started gaining popularity in the 1950s after John Steinbeck published an essay about it in Harper's Bazaar. Positano is also strongly linked with international arts and culture. It's said to be where the Rolling Stones wrote the song ‘Midnight Rambler', and the backdrop for 1994 movie Only You.

Relaxing in Positano

Simply strolling around is the best way to see and experience the local area.

At the Church of Santa Maria Assunta, gaze up at the dome made of tin-glazed majolica tiles. The church also has a 13th-century black Madonna dating from the Byzantine era.

The steep steps up and down Positano's hills link the village to Montepertuso. The Thousand Steps, as they're known, wind through Positano – with incredible views of the coastline and out to sea on the way.

On the beach side of the village, sights are more accessible. Positano has two beaches, the popular Spiaggia Grande and the more secluded Fornillo. Both have beachside bars.

The Amalfi Coast

Many of Italy's main tourist attractions are on the coast, including the city of Naples and romance-filled Venice. With any Positano hotels as your base, you can explore to your heart's content.

The world-famous Amalfi Coastal Drive takes you the whole way from Sorrento to Salerno. It's a trip that can also be made by bus. You pass the volcano Mount Vesuvius on the way to the ancient city of Pompeii that it destroyed.

Italian dining

Fish and seafood are key ingredients in many dishes, as you'd expect from a coastal area bordering a major sea. The Tyrrhenian Sea is part of the Mediterranean Sea, and the region's specialities include spaghetti alle vongole (with clams) and pastiera napoletana, a ricotta-based tart with citrus.

An unusual souvenir item in Positano is the lemon. Lemons appear on painted silks and pottery, in hand-made produce, and in the popular alcoholic drink limoncello. You can also take a walk through the nearby lemon orchards.

The Amalfi Coast is also well known for its coffee culture. An espresso or capuccino is the perfect accompaniment as you sit back and gaze out to sea.