Holiday in Positano

What makes Positano special as a destination?

Positano is the epitome of Italian Dolce Vita on the Amalfi Coast — a village that hangs like a colorful painting on steep cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea. Pastel-colored houses in pink, peach, yellow, and white cascade down the slope to the dark pebble beach of Spiaggia Grande, while the majolica dome of the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta shines in the sun. John Steinbeck wrote in 1953: Positano is a dream place that doesn’t seem quite real while you are there, and becomes tangible only in memory. The narrow stairways (there are no real roads, only stairs) wind past boutiques with handmade fashion, ceramic workshops, and lemon gardens. Moda Positano — airy linen dresses and colorful sandals — has been a distinct fashion style since the 1960s when Brigitte Bardot and Jackie Kennedy made the place famous. The Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) is one of the most spectacular coastal hikes in Europe: From Agerola to Nocelle (7.8 km, 3-4 hours), the path leads high above the Amalfi Coast with breathtaking views of Positano, Capri, and the open sea. The descent from Nocelle to Positano is via 1,700 steps — or more conveniently by bus. Boat trips to the island of Capri (40 minutes), to the Emerald Grotto (Grotta dello Smeraldo) near Conca dei Marini, or along the entire Amalfi Coast are among the most beautiful experiences. In the evening, when the lights of the houses illuminate the steep slope and fishing boats sway on the dark sea, Positano reveals its full magic.