Positano is a dream trip for many, and for good reason. With its striking views, gorgeous coastline, and beautiful beaches, it has become one of the most sought-after holiday destinations in Europe.

That being said, There are several common mistakes to avoid in Positano that many tourists make, some of which might completely ruin a dream vacation. With a little research and some preparation, you can have the best experience possible and fall in love with Positano!

Here are 10 Mistakes to Avoid In Positano, to ensure you have the best experience possible in the Amalfi Coast

Don’t book last-minute accommodation in Positano

Positano is a small town and there are limited accommodation options. Being such a small, yet popular town, hotels and B&Bs tend to book out far in advance – especially during peak season.  Any well-rated lower-cost accommodation will be the first to book out, so you will want to book months in advance to stay in the heart of Positano without breaking the bank.

ALSO READ: Where to Stay in Positano on a Budget

Don’t visit during Positano’s peak season

Peak season in Positano is from June through August, with July and August being the busiest months. There are several reasons as to why peak season is arguably the worst time to visit Positano. First of all, it can get insanely crowded. 4,000 locals call Positano home, while on average 12,000 tourists visit Positano daily during peak season. As you can imagine, for a small town with limited space, there’s no avoiding the large crowds of tourists, and streets will be cramped, lines will be long, and seats in restaurants, buses, and beaches will be VERY limited.

With the number of tourists visiting Positano every summer, accommodation options become quite limited, so hotel prices are the highest at this time of year due to the high demand (they can sometimes be twice as much, or more, as low season prices). Positano in the summer is a budget traveler’s worst nightmare, unless you can secure a bed in Positano’s only hostel, which books out far in advance.

Finally, summers can be miserably hot in Positano. Unless you plan to laze around the beach or hotel pool all day (which many tourists do!) you will get overheated quickly and it will be harder to enjoy other activities like hiking, or even strolling throughout the town.

The best time to visit Positano is during the shoulder season, which is April-May and September-October. During this time, hotel prices are significantly lower, there are far fewer crowds, and the temperature is much more pleasant this time of year. If you plan to go swimming, water temperatures are still comfortable in late May, September, and October, so you don’t need to worry about that!

Don’t Hire a Rental Car

While renting a car sounds like a good idea for exploring various towns along the Amalfi Coast, parking in Positano is limited, and most accommodations don’t have parking (and if they do it is often very expensive). On top of this, the roads along the Amalfi Coast are narrow and windy, and there can be a lot of traffic, making it difficult to drive. You have to be a confident driver in the Amalfi Coast. We rented a car from Salerno that was delivered to our hotel in Praiano, and driving out of the coast was pretty challenging. Parking is tight and limited throughout the Amalfi Coast, so even if you are a confident driver and your hotel has free parking, you might get frustrated when it comes to finding a place to park as you visit the surrounding towns.

Instead, take public transportation, hire private taxis (though these can be quite expensive), or if you have experience, rent a scooter. Public transportation is cheap and easy to use but be prepared: if you visit during peak season, expect to wait around because buses will fill up quickly.

Don’t rent a scooter if you’re not experienced

Scooters can be a great way to explore the Amalfi Coast – if you have experience driving one. The Amalfi Coast is famous for its winding roads, which can be very challenging for those who have not ridden a scooter before.

We were interested in renting a scooter, but the rental company suggested not renting one because neither of us had driven one before. They said that unless you are experienced, it’s not a good idea to drive a scooter in the Amalfi Coast, and many scooter accidents occur every year from inexperienced tourists.

We were so happy we took their advice – we saw a poor girl who crashed her scooter and had to be taken away by an ambulance. There were many kind locals that ran up to help her, but I think we can all agree that spending your Amalfi Coast vacation in the hospital with a broken leg is NOT how you want to spend your Italian holiday.

Don’t book accommodation without researching the location

Positano is a cliffside village, so the higher up you go, the more steps you will have to climb. Many of the accommodations higher up in town are not accessible via roadways, so you may have to walk up many flights of stairs to get there.

There are definitely some benefits to booking these types of accommodations. They tend to be more affordable, and many of them offer spectacular views. However, if you have a physical disability or you don’t want to deal with lugging your heavy bags / suitcases up countless flights of stairs, I suggest you take the time to research the location and accessibility of a hotel before booking.

Don’t only visit the Amalfi Coast’s most famous towns

When many tourists visit the Amalfi Coast, they will only visit Positano and maybe Amalfi. The Amalfi Coast has dozens of quaint towns that are SO worth visiting outside of the most well-known locations. I suggest visiting Praiano, Ravello, Furore, and Atrani, all of which are very different from one other and have a more local vibe.

Don’t spend your entire trip lounging at the beach or pool

While you might want to spend one (or several) of your days in Positano relaxing at the beach or the hotel pool, there are so many other things to do in the Amalfi Coast! From hiking the Path of the Gods, ziplining down the cliffs of Furore, or exploring the beautiful gardens of Ravello, the Amalfi Coast has plenty more to offer than beaches and hotel swimming pools. Make sure to get out and see everything the Amalfi Coast has to offer!

Don’t be stingy during your time in Positano

Positano is an expensive destination, and as such, it’s worth splurging on certain things and spending a little more than you usually would on accommodation. You don’t have to shell out $1,000 a night on a hotel, but you can find really nice hotels and B&Bs in the center of Positano that range from $250 to $300 a night. I understand this may be much more costly than what most budget to mid-range travelers are used to throughout Europe, but you are paying for the prime location and the experience, and a great place to stay can really elevate your trip!

If you want to stay more than a few nights in the Amalfi Coast but you are on a budget, I suggest splurging on 2-3 nights in Positano and then spending the rest of your time in a different town. We spent most of our time in the Amalfi Coast in Praiano, which is about a 20-minute drive from Positano. I honestly preferred Praiano to Positano because it was less busy and had more of a local feel. Praiano also had some stunning beaches and direct access to the Path of the Gods hike. The hotels we stayed at there ranged from $125-$200 a night when we visited in October. We also spent time in Scala, which is a mountain village across from Ravello and above Amalfi town, and we only spent $100 a night for a beautiful hotel with breathtaking views, delicious breakfast, and super friendly staff! Here are the hotels we stayed at in Praiano and Scala:

• Maresca Hotel Praiano
• Locanda Degli De
• Ravello View

I also suggest splurging on any excursions that sound exciting for you. We decided to splurge on a private sunset charter, and while it was definitely pricey, it was so worth it and such a memorable, romantic experience. There are lots of fun excursions in and around Positano, and I recommend checking out Viator or GetYourGuide for your options!

Don’t forget to bring water shoes

I strongly suggest packing water shoes with you when you visit Positano. Many of the beaches in Positano and along the Amalfi Coast are pebbly and can be uncomfortable without a pair of water shoes. While water shoes aren’t necessarily an essential item, trust me when I say they will make your time at the beach much more pleasant. I personally suggest these water shoes from Amazon – they are super durable and look like sneakers, so you can get away with wearing them before and after the beach too (I often didn’t bother packing an extra pair of shoes for this reason).

Don’t wait to buy sunscreen until you are in Positano

Another item I suggest packing is sunscreen. The sun in the Amalfi Coast can be intense, and if you will be spending a lot of time at the beach or even just walking around town, you will need to lather on the sunscreen. While markets in Positano do sell sunscreen, the prices are much, much higher than the sunscreen that you can bring from home. I also noticed that most sunscreen was at most SPF 30, so if you usually prefer a higher SPF you will have a difficult time finding that in town.

Conclusion

In order for your trip to Positano to be a true dream trip, a little planning is required so you can avoid some of the most common mistakes people make when visiting Positano. Positano is truly a beautiful destination that is so worth visiting, and by avoiding these mistakes, you’ll be sure to have a wonderful experience!