A Perfect Day in Positano: Itinerary for First-Time Visitors

Positano is one of the most gorgeous and sought-after vacation destinations in the world, and for good reason. Despite the fact that Positano is a small town with narrow streets that was built into a cliff face, it attracts millions of tourists to the Amalfi Coast each and every year due to its romantic and picturesque aesthetic. However, not everyone who visits has the time or money to visit for multiple days. If you're looking to visit Positano for a single day and you want to maximize your time, make sure to use the itinerary below. I've been two Positano on two separate occasions, both for a day trip, and I've come up with a compilation of all the best experiences you can do without tiring yourself out too much.

1. GRAB AN ESPRESSO AT CASA E BOTTEGA

Casa E Bottega is a healthy breakfast spot in Positano and the perfect way to start your day. The cafe is covered in greenery both outside and inside of the shop and it has the most beautiful view of Positano just outside it's open doors, so it's high on my recommendation list. Their cafe menu features classic sweet and savory breakfast options, including but not limited to avocado toast, pancakes, omelettes, yogurt bowls, and poached eggs, which means there's a little something for everyone. Prices for breakfast at Casa E Bottega are between €16 to €35. While this might sound a little pricey compared to just grabbing a pastry and a coffee to go, many options that you find in Positano will be more expensive than usual since the town is such a tourist hot spot. Atleast with this spot you can sit, enjoy the view, and have a few minutes to savor the first meal of the day before you get a lot of walking in (trust me on this one).

2. HIT THE SPIAGGIA GRANDE & RENT A DAY BED

The Spiaggia Grande is the main beach in Positano, located at the bottom of the town. It's a rocky beach, complete with multiple restaurants and beach clubs on the beach. There's also a public portion of the beach where anyone can come and lay their towel down for free but this spot gets filled up super fast. The rest of the beach, which is the majority, is filled with lounge chairs and umbrellas affiliated with beach clubs like L'Incanto, Leonelli's Beach, and Marameo Beach Club. Despite the fact that beach chairs about about €30-€45 total for two chairs, reservations ensure that you have a spot with an umbrella, comfortable chairs, and that you can get beach service for any drinks or food that you want for the entire day. My friends and I went to this beach during our day trip for about 4 hours and we absolutely loved it. It's an iconic beach where many take an Instagram picture that shows the entire city, and the views are unbelievable. If I only have time to do ONE thing in Positano, this would be my personal choice! If you aren't too much of a beach person, just sit on the free beach for a little and take photos of the view (that's a must) but if you are I would rent a daybed. 

3. TAKE A BREAK FOR LUNCH AT RADA BEACH BISTROT

If lunch at a beach club on the coast doesn't strike your fancy, no problem- there are PLENTY of exceptional restaurants in Positano for you to swing by for a quick lunch. Rada Beach Bistrot is a great convenient option though if you do go to Spiaggia Grande beforehand because it's directly on the beach with both covered and uncovered seating areas, and the food is exceptional. It is considered a bit of a fancier restaurant though compared to others in the area like Capricci and La Brezza, and they do have a dress code of smart casual. If I were you, I would personally either go all out and hit Rada Beach Bistrot, or I would save spending money until dinnertime and I would get Restaurant L'Incanto, which has seafood and cocktails directly on the beach!

4. SHOP AT SOME OF THE MOST FAMOUS BOUTIQUES & STORES IN THE WORLD

If you've got some extra room in your carry on for the flight back, you're going to want to shop in Positano. From ceramic bowls, plates, and cups to handmade dresses and custom leather sandals, the narrow streets of Positano are filled with cute little locally owned shops. Some popular favorites include:

5. HAVE DINNER AT SUNSET AT A RESTAURANT WITH AN OCEAN VIEW

One of the most appealing parts of Positano is the view. Whether you're at the bottom of the town looking up at all the brightly colored houses, restaurants, and shops up above or you're at the very top of Positano, enjoying the cliffside view of the beaches and vibrant lounge chairs, the view is like nothing else. If you followed this itinerary so far and you are going in order, then you've already gotten the iconic view from Spiaggia Grande, one of the most famous beaches in the world.  Now it's time for you to get the cliffside view. Schedule a dinner reservation as in advance as possible (trust me, everything books up like THAT, especially from June to September) at one of the following restaurants:

6. GRAB DRINKS AT THE CHAMPAGNE BAR AT LE SIRENUSE OR IL TRIDENTE

The perfect end of the night to a full day in Positano is drinks on a rooftop. Since you've seen the town lively during the day, it's time to see it light up at night! Oftentimes musicians will play and many businesses stay open later during the tourist season so there will still be plenty to do and see. If you're contemplating where to grab a drink I would highly recommend the champagne bar at La Sponda (otherwise known as Sirenuse) or Il Tridente. Both have gorgeous views with fantastic drinks so you really can't go wrong with ending your night here. Just make sure you have a safe ride home! At the end of my 14 hours in Positano, my friends and I decided to hire a car to drive us back to our Airbnb, which was in Praiano. This was a great decision because then we were able to pick the exact time and place we wanted to be picked up, and we didn't have to worry about how to get home. If you really want to end your Positano day trip with a bang, definitely do this.

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