Holiday rentals in Positano

Positano is the most famous village on Italy’s spectacular Amalfi Coast — a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built vertically into the face of a cliff, Positano is mainly a pedestrian village with many stairs that lead down past houses in hues of lemon, apricot, and rose, along with restaurants and bars to Spiaggia Grande — the centre of Positano’s waterfront. This picture-postcard beach adorned with rows of boldly coloured umbrellas is the biggest on the Amalfi Coast and attracts a fashionable crowd who come to bask in the sun, swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters, and admire the amazing views out to the Li Galli islands in the Mediterranean Sea. For a quieter but no less beautiful spot, head to smaller Fornillo beach via a paved footpath from Spiaggia Grande — you can head back around the bay in a kayak.

Take a late-afternoon passeggiata (slow stroll) along Via Cristoforo Colombo, where you’ll find boutiques and cafes. Or climb up the Scalinatella stairs to Punta Reginella, the highest part of Positano, where you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking views of the village and out to sea.

Summer in Positano is filled with warm, sunny days and balmy nights for enjoying the beaches and alfresco dining in the village’s restaurants and bars. In July and August, the annual Positano Teatro Festival takes place with a selection of indoor and outdoor theatre performances. Spring and autumn are also good times to book villas in Positano, as the town is a little quieter, but the weather is still sunny and pleasant. Festa Del Pesce takes place on the last Saturday of September and is a celebration of the village’s love of the sea. You can enjoy a feast of local seafood and sangria down on the shore, accompanied by live music from local folk groups. In winter, Positano begins winding down with cooler conditions and fewer visitors. You can also expect some restaurants and shops to be closed at this time.

Spiaggia Grande

All roads lead downhill to Spiaggia Grande, the 300-metre beach lined with sundecks you can rent for the day, with umbrellas to shield you from the midday Mediterranean sun. You can look out to the glittering sea in one direction and admire the pastel-hued buildings and winding main road clinging to the hillside in the other. When you need to refuel after a swim in the clear blue waters, it’s easy to grab a pizza or gelato from one of the restaurants along the waterfront.

Capri

A 30-minute ferry trip away, the island of Capri is known for its stunning beaches, gardens lined with fragrant lemon trees, historic villas, and restaurants serving fresh seafood and pasta. The island is surrounded by sea caves and rock formations — the most famous being the Blue Grotto. You can only enter the cave in a small rowboat, where you’ll find glistening blue water, caused by a refraction of sunlight into the cave. Take the chair lift from central square up to Mount Solaro for spectacular views over the island.

The Path Of The Gods

The Path of the Gods — or Sentiero degli Dei in Italian — is a five-mile clifftop trail between the villages of Agerola and Nocelle, just above Positano. The moderate walk will lead you through historic towns, following along ancient mule routes, showcasing breathtaking panoramas of the Amalfi Coast and the Island of Capri in the distance. Top tip — starting at Agerola and heading towards Nocelle, the trail is mostly downhill.