Best Tours of Positano

In your visit to the locality of Positano you will find a wide range of tours to do. Discover the unmissable destinations and live an unforgettable experience.

Ana Caballero

Ana Caballero

10 min read

Best Tours of Positano

Viewpoint in Positano | Pixabay

Positano is a destination with great architectural and natural appeal in Italy. You will be amazed by its iconic narrow streets, endless stairways and great natural beauty due to its coastal location.

During your stay you can experience many of the best things to do in Positano, such as gastronomic and photographic experiences, stroll along the region's beaches, walk around the old town and enjoy the local nightlife. You can also visit the surrounding area and discover some traditional vineyards and wineries. These are just some of the tourist activities you can enjoy during your stay in the city. Here are the essential ones.

1. Discover the wine culture in Positano and take a tour of the main wineries in the Irpinia region

Antico Castello Winery| ©Antico Castello
Antico Castello Winery| ©Antico Castello

Make the most of your visit to discover the wine culture of the region. Join one of the best day trips from Positano to Irpinia, a route of approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes by car. You will visit a couple of traditional wineries, learn how to taste wine, see the production process and taste some award-winning vintages.

This wine tour in Positano will allow you to drive overland along part of the Amalfi Coast and enjoy the panoramic view. All this, while heading to two renowned vineyards such as:

Antico Castello Winery

During your visit to the Antico Castello Winery you will be able to walk through the colourful vineyards and the tanks with the barrels. During the guided wine tasting, you will learn about the history of the place and taste some aperitifs.

Sertura Vini d'Irpinia Winery

The next stop on this wine tour is the Sertura Vini d'Irpinia Winery. There, a specialised guide will take you through the vineyards, while explaining the process of growing and harvesting the fruit. Afterwards, you will stroll through the cellars and taste an average of three wines, before returning to Positano.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 327€ per person.
  • Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: minivan.
  • Advantages of this option: you will see the winemaking process up close in a winery with a long history in the region. In addition, you will have the opportunity to taste several vintages.
  • Disadvantages of this option: Generally, the activity does not offer wheelchair or pram access.

Book a wine tour in Positano

2. Join a boat tour to enjoy the crystal clear waters of the Amalfi Coast from Positano

Positano boat trip| ©dcmagna
Positano boat trip| ©dcmagna

During your stay you can escape the crowds and join one of the day trips along the Amalfi Coast from Positano by boat. You'll discover beautiful natural scenery and get to do water activities in the crystal clear waters of the region.

The activity usually incorporates pick-up at the hotel door, from where you'll be transported to the marina. There, the boat tour in Positano will start , the route of which can vary according to your tastes and needs.

You will sail along the Amalfi Coast and reach places that are only accessible by sea. You will see some grottoes, caves, fishing villages, watchtowers, among other hidden places.

The itinerary usually incorporates:

  • Grotta dello Smeraldo: this is a picturesque grotto with calm emerald green waters, stalactites and stalagmites.
  • Li Galli: in this small archipelago you can swim, snorkel and relax with its beautiful panoramic view.
  • Fiordo di Furore: this is a cliff with an imposing arched bridge and calm waters for swimming.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 830€ per person.
  • Duration: 8 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: private car and boat.
  • Advantages of this option: because it is a private activity you can select the route you want and the stops for swimming.
  • Disadvantages of this option: entrance to the attractions and lunch are not usually included.

Book a boat tour in Positano

3. Take a walking tour with a local guide through the old town of Positano to discover its history and architecture

Stroll through the streets of Positano| ©petiteowl
Stroll through the streets of Positano| ©petiteowl

Exploring the old town is a must during your stay. So, once you've checked into your hotel or before you think about boarding the transfer service to Positano Airport, you should take this guided tour. You will discover the history of the region and see its architecture.

This activity is usually available at any time of the day, so you can enjoy the old town during the day or after sunset. Either way, your guide will take you to hidden destinations. You will pass through narrow paths with stairs, getting different panoramic views of Positano.

You will visit sites of historical interest. Such is the case of:

You will also take a walk along the Fornillo Beach to enjoy its crystal clear waters. Afterwards, you will have time to visit some craft shops, pottery shops and a number of galleries displaying the work of local artists.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 89€ per person.
  • Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will explore the entire old town of Positano in a short time while discovering its history, thanks to the commentary of an experienced guide.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the activity is usually not suitable for people with mobility problems or people with children who are still travelling in prams.

4. Visit the Positano Roman Archaeological Museum and take a guided tour of its rooms

Archaeological Museum of Positano| ©MAR Positano
Archaeological Museum of Positano| ©MAR Positano

During your visit to Positano you will pass by the Roman Archaeological Museum on many occasions, as it is located on the routes through the historic centre. However, you will not have direct access to it. Therefore, a good idea is to join a guided tour through the rooms of the museum, to get to know everything it has to offer.

When you arrive at this museum, you will notice that it is an underground structure, a product of the excavation process carried out during its restoration. For this reason, you will have to go down some transparent stairs to access the exhibits.

During the tour you will visit multiple rooms with exhibits from different periods. The guide will also take you through the medieval crypts and you will see a series of artefacts melted by the heat and pressure of the volcanic eruption that covered the village in 79 AD.

Among the findings you will be able to enjoy are the following:

  • The bone structure of approximately 1000 individuals.
  • Roman artefacts and frescoes.
  • A Roman triclinium, where they used to eat in ancient times.
  • Ancient pillars and columns with several centuries of history.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 15€ per person.
  • Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will be able to contemplate a series of findings with more than 2000 years of history.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the activity is not usually adapted for pushchairs or wheelchairs.

5. Experience half a day in the kitchen of a local person to discover the gastronomy of Positano

Home-made pasta dish| ©Nerfee Mirandilla
Home-made pasta dish| ©Nerfee Mirandilla

If you are an Italian cuisine enthusiast and want to learn how to make some traditional dishes, then this half-day tour could be one of the best things to do in Positano during your stay. You'll visit an orchard and, in the company of a local, gather the ingredients needed for cooking.

You'll connect with the foodie guide in Montepertuso, which is approximately 18 minutes away from the centre of Positano. From there, you will walk to the family garden, where you will get some fresh produce: strawberries, aubergines, tomatoes, onions, courgettes, potatoes, among others.

Afterwards, you will enter the kitchen of the house to prepare the recipes step by step, some of them are usually:

  • Fresh pasta: this is the most representative ingredient of Italian food. You will learn how to make gnocchi (a variant of oriental dumplings), scialatielli (rectangular pasta) and spaghetti (long thin strings).
  • Grilled vegetables: grilled aubergines wrapped in mozzarella cheese.
  • Tiramisu: delicious cold cake made in layers.

Afterwards, you will taste each preparation and accompany it with a delicious wine harvested in the region.

Details of interest

  • Price: from 150€ per person.
  • Duration: 4 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will learn how to prepare some of the region's traditional recipes as if you were a local.
  • Disadvantages of this option: no transfer from the hotel to the meeting point in the main square of Montepertuso 84017 Positano, Salerno.

6. Part of a photo tour to capture the best of Positano's natural and historical scenery

Viale Pasitea| ©Sander Crombach
Viale Pasitea| ©Sander Crombach

During your visit to Positano you will find amazing natural and architectural landscapes, which you will surely want to capture in pictures. If so, you should take part in a photographic tour of some of the region's scenery.

The adventure is usually aimed at groups, couples or solo travellers, who wish to learn how to take high quality photographs with their mobile phone and take advantage of natural light. You will be accompanied by a professional photographer who will teach you the basics of photography. This way, you will capture the best memories.

You will walk through the streets of the old town of Positano, stroll along the marina and visit some beaches and terraces. Everything will depend on the route you wish to take, according to your needs and tastes.

You can incorporate this activity at any time of your itinerary and discover the best panoramic views of Positano at night or during the day. You will undoubtedly get different perspectives of the archipelago.

Interesting details

  • Price: from 250€ per person.
  • Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: you will learn how to take professional quality photographs and capture the most photogenic scenery of Positano.
  • Disadvantages of this option: the activity does not include transfer to and from the hotel.

7. Enjoy a panoramic tour visiting some of Positano's viewpoints

Via Cristoforo Colombo| ©Sebastian Leonhardt
Via Cristoforo Colombo| ©Sebastian Leonhardt

Positano is a colourful place with a beautiful view of the sea, which you can enjoy during your stay in the town. Just take a tour of the main viewpoints and contemplate the natural beauty of the Italian Amalfi Coast.

You can connect with a free tour, where a local guide will take you to discover the best sights of Positano:

Via Cristoforo Colombo

Via Cristoforo Col ombo is another viewpoint from where you can get another unique panorama of Positano. It is a road easily accessible from anywhere.

Along this road, you will find a number of benches where you can sit and relax. And if you visit at sunset, you will capture a beautiful moment.

Positano's streets and stairs

Whether you walk up or down the streets of Positano, you will be able to see different perspectives of the region, due to its characteristic staggered shape. Basically anywhere you decide to stop will serve as a vantage point to admire the surroundings.

Franco's Bar

For this panoramic tour, the terrace of Franco's Bar is an unmissable destination. There, you will get a privileged view of the blue waters of the coast and the boats that navigate them daily. You will also see part of this picturesque archipelago.

Details of interest

  • Price: as this is a free tour, the price is determined by the consumption you make in each place.
  • Duration: 4 hours (Approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: while touring the best viewpoints of the region, you will be able to observe different panoramic views of Positano and, thus, create unique memories of your trip.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this activity does not usually include any type of meal.

8. Take a visit to the Church of Santa Maria dell'Assunta

Church of Santa Maria Assunta| ©Reka Fabian
Church of Santa Maria Assunta| ©Reka Fabian

Positano is a colourful place with a beautiful view of the sea, which you can enjoy during your stay. All you have to do is take a tour of its main viewpoints and contemplate the natural beauty of the Italian Amalfi coast.

When you arrive at the church you will see the main façade, where the famous bas-relief of mythical creatures (foxes and fish) stands out. There is also a tombstone in honour of Flavio Gioia, who was the creator of the compass.

Inside the church you will see the majolica tiles covering the central dome. Likewise, on the main altar is the 12th century Black Madonna, considered an important Byzantine icon.

On the arches there are small cherubs, while on the altars and in the side chapels you will see the frescoes of the Circumcision. This last pictorial work belongs to Fabrizio Santafede (Italian painter of the Baroque period).

Interesting details

  • Price: free admission.
  • Duration: 2 hours (approx.)
  • Means of transport: on foot.
  • Advantages of this option: during this visit you will have the opportunity to discover important examples of sacred art that are unique in the world.
  • Disadvantages of this option: this type of activity in the Church of Santa María de la Asunción does not usually include a specialised guide, so you will have to do it on your own.

Duration of Positano tours

Tourists being guided in Positano| ©Mourad Saadi
Tourists being guided in Positano| ©Mourad Saadi

The duration of Positano tours can vary from a couple of hours to a full day. It all depends on the route you wish to take by sea or land, as well as the complementary activities incorporated into each of the tours.

In fact, if you wish to take advantage of your stay to explore the surroundings of this seaside resort, you will find activities scheduled for 2 or 3 days in Positano.

What are the advantages of taking a guided tour vs. visiting Positano on my own?

Empty seats before the tour| ©Jonathan Borba
Empty seats before the tour| ©Jonathan Borba

Positano is a place that you can visit on your own without any inconvenience. However, this means a greater investment of time and money to get to each of the destinations: beaches, viewpoints, neighbouring villages along the coast, among others.

On the other hand, by connecting with a guided tour, you can go directly to each of the destinations on your itinerary, without fear of getting lost. This is because during each route or activity you will be accompanied by a local guide. In addition, this type of service generally includes transport to and from the hotel.