Positano is the most photographed village on the Amalfi Coast — stacked houses descending a near-vertical cliff to a small pebble beach, with the dome of the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in pinkish-majolica tile at the centre. It is also one of the most expensive and busiest, which makes getting out of the village onto the water or up into the hills the best use of your time here. The coastline between Positano and Capri is spectacular from a boat; the Sentiero degli Dei (Path of the Gods) hiking trail above the village is one of the finest walks in Italy. Below we break down the tours that are worth your time.
We have mapped 8 top-rated Positano tours by traveller type. Prices are approximate in EUR as of 2026; check at booking as peak-season rates vary significantly.
Top Positano Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Approx. Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capri Boat Tour from Positano | Full day | From €80 | Couples, luxury |
| Amalfi Coast Private Boat Tour | 3–8 hrs | From €120 | Groups, flexibility |
| Amalfi Coast Snorkelling Boat Trip | 3 hrs | From €35 | Families, active |
| Path of the Gods Guided Hike | 4 hrs | From €45 | Hikers, nature |
| Sea Kayaking along the Amalfi Coast | 3 hrs | From €50 | Active, couples |
| Ravello and Amalfi Town Day Trip | Full day | From €55 | Culture, first-timers |
| Sunset Boat Cruise from Positano | 2 hrs | From €40 | Couples, romance |
| Limoncello and Cooking Class, Positano | 4 hrs | From €85 | Foodies |
For Couples and Luxury Travellers
Capri Boat Tour from Positano
The Capri boat tour from Positano is the most popular full-day excursion from the village — a 45-minute crossing to Capri by wooden gozzo or speedboat, with stops at the Blue Grotto (dependent on sea conditions and tide), the Faraglioni rock stacks, and the Arco Naturale sea arch. On Capri, the boat waits while passengers spend 2–3 hours in Capri town or at the beach at Marina Piccola.
The Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra) is the most famous feature — bioluminescent light reflected from the seabed illuminates the interior in bright blue — but entrance depends on sea conditions: even moderate swell blocks the boat entrance. If entry is closed, the exterior is still impressive. Groups are taken in by small rowboat; the experience lasts about 5 minutes inside.
Duration: Full day | Price: from approximately €80 | Includes: boat, guide, fuel, swimming stops | Tip: The Blue Grotto has a separate entry fee (approximately €18) not included in tour prices
Sunset Boat Cruise from Positano
The 2-hour sunset cruise from Positano is the most efficient way to see the Amalfi cliff villages from the water — Li Galli islands (the three small islets associated with the Sirens in Homer’s Odyssey and once owned by Rudolf Nureyev), Praiano, Amalfi’s facade from the sea, and the coastline back to Positano in evening light. Prosecco and snacks are served on board. Groups are typically 8–12 people.
Duration: 2 hours | Price: from approximately €40 | Includes: boat, prosecco, snacks | Departure: typically 18:30–19:00 depending on sunset time
For Groups
Amalfi Coast Private Boat Tour
The private Amalfi Coast boat gives a group the entire vessel — typically a classic gozzo Sorrentino or modern speedboat for 4–8 people — with an itinerary customised the morning of the tour. Standard routes combine the sea caves at Conca dei Marini, a swim stop at the Emerald Grotto entrance, the Fiordo di Furore (a narrow fjord with a dramatic arch bridge), and lunch at anchor in a sheltered cove. The skipper advises on sea conditions and best anchorages each day.
Duration: 3–8 hours | Price: from approximately €120 for the boat (plus fuel, meals, and entry fees) | Includes: skipper, boat | Booking note: The best boats book 2–4 weeks in advance in July and August
For Families and Active Travellers
Amalfi Coast Snorkelling Boat Trip
The 3-hour snorkelling boat trip visits the cleaner, less-visited underwater environments along the coast west of Positano — the rocky headlands of Punta Campanella (where the coast turns toward Sorrento) have the best coral and sea life on the northern coast, with sea bream, octopus, and dense posidonia seagrass meadows. Equipment is provided; the guide enters the water with the group.
Duration: 3 hours | Price: from approximately €35 | Includes: boat, snorkelling equipment, guide in water
Sea Kayaking along the Amalfi Coast
The 3-hour sea kayak tour from Positano paddled at water level along the cliff base gives a perspective the boats can’t — sea caves inaccessible at height, the texture of the tufa limestone close up, and the sound of the coast rather than the engine drone of tourist ferries. Routes typically head west toward Praiano, exploring two or three caves. No experience required; guides demonstrate technique at the beach before departure.
Duration: 3 hours | Price: from approximately €50 | Includes: kayak, guide, equipment | Fitness note: Moderate paddling for 3 hours — manageable for most adults
For Hikers
Path of the Gods Guided Hike (Sentiero degli Dei)
The Sentiero degli Dei runs along the ridge above the Amalfi Coast between Bomerano and Nocelle (the hamlet above Positano), with views from 600 metres altitude across the Tyrrhenian Sea to the islands of Capri, Ischia, and Procida. The trail is approximately 7.8 km one way, with no serious technical difficulty but sustained exposure and a steep final descent to Positano.
This guided hike from Positano begins with a van transfer to the trailhead at Bomerano (to walk the trail in the right direction, downhill toward Positano), guided walking of approximately 3 hours on the ridge, and arrival at Nocelle with an optional descent into Positano by mule path or bus. The guide identifies the terraced lemon groves, wild rosemary, and the Lattari mountain formation along the route.
Duration: 4–5 hours | Price: from approximately €45 | Includes: guide, transfer to trailhead | Footwear: Proper hiking shoes required — the descent into Positano is on stone steps
For Culture Lovers
Ravello and Amalfi Town Day Trip
Ravello sits 370 metres above the sea on a cliff shelf accessible by hairpin road from Amalfi — a town of artists, musicians, and composers since the 19th century (Richard Wagner, Virginia Woolf, and Gore Vidal all lived or worked here). Villa Cimbrone and Villa Rufolo are the two main gardens; the Belvedere at Villa Cimbrone is the most famous viewpoint on the Amalfi Coast.
This full-day Ravello and Amalfi tour combines the Amalfi waterfront and cathedral (with its distinctive black-and-white cloister), a bus ride up to Ravello, 2 hours in the Villa Rufolo garden complex (venue for the Ravello Festival each summer), and the Belvedere terrace. Return to Positano by late afternoon by private vehicle or ferry.
Duration: Full day | Price: from approximately €55 | Includes: guide, transport | Ravello Festival note: July concerts at Villa Rufolo require separate booking; tickets from approximately €30
For Foodies
Limoncello and Cooking Class in Positano
The Amalfi Coast produces the sfusato amalfitano lemon — an elongated, thick-skinned variety with very high essential oil content that is the basis for authentic limoncello. This 4-hour cooking and limoncello class runs in a local home kitchen above Positano, covering pasta making (scialatielli, the local pasta shape), a fish or seafood second course, and the limoncello process including maceration, syrup ratios, and filtering. Each participant takes home a bottle.
Duration: 4 hours | Price: from approximately €85 | Includes: all ingredients, limoncello bottle, lunch of what you cook | Group size: Typically 6–10 people — book well in advance in summer
Practical Information
Getting to Positano: Positano has no train station. From Naples: SITA bus along the SS163 coastal road (approximately 2.5 hours, subject to traffic jams). Ferry from Amalfi or Sorrento (approximately 40 minutes). The Circumvesuviana train to Sorrento + ferry to Positano is the most reliable route from Naples.
Car warning: Positano is almost impossible to drive to and park in July and August. The village has no real car park — leave the car at the SS163 layby and walk down. Better yet, arrive by ferry.
Peak season note: July and August in Positano are extremely crowded. The main beach (Spiaggia Grande) charges beach clubs from approximately €25 for a sunbed. Shoulder season (May–June, September–October) gives the same scenery at half the price and a quarter of the crowds.
Overnight visitors: Visitors who stay overnight get Positano to themselves before 09:00 and after 18:00 when the day-trippers leave — a completely different experience.