Positano is our personal preference and in our opinion the top choice of town to base yourself in for your Amalfi Coast vacation.
It is a truly beautiful little town, in the day you will see all the pastel colours of the buildings whilst at night the lights will illuminate the town.
Most accommodation options have beautiful views of the colourful buildings with the Mediterranean in the distance. There are also plenty of things to do and places to eat in Positano.
Positives:- Really charming and colourful little town
- Beach access
- Day trips and tours make a starting point from Positano
- Local buses and ferries make it easy to explore the coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- Pretty touristy
- Accommodation is more expensive than in surrounding towns
- Lots of stairs to get to the beach if you are staying in the top area
- Can get busy as it is the most popular town on the coast
Praiano | Quieter Alternative
Praiano is around 15-20 minutes from Positano.
A lot of people prefer to base themselves in Praiano simply because accommodation is cheaper here (almost around half the price per night in comparison to Positano) and it is typically less busy than at the other towns on the list. This is an important factor to take into consideration when choosing the best place to stay in Amalfi Coast.
There are some beautiful sights to see here and most accommodation have splendid views over the Mediterranean.
Positives:- A town that is beautiful with white buildings and gold churches
- Less crowded and quieter
- Beach access
- Accommodation is more affordable than at Positano
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- Lots of stairs to get to the beach
- You will need to head to Positano if you wish to join any day trips or tours
In high season the local buses fill up quickly and it can take a very long time to get to Positano or Amalfi due to backed up traffic
Amalfi | Central Location
Amalfi is in a central location on the Amalfi Coast.
If you have limited days and you wish to explore the Amalfi Coast towns, then this might be a great town to base yourself at. This is also a great option if you wish to avoid stairs and steep roads.
The beautiful town of Amalfi has plenty of cultural attractions, including cathedrals and museums. If you're visiting Amalfi between February and October, it's common to see lemons growing in terraced gardens around the whole island. The scatterings of yellow make for a picturesque scene.
Because the island is so easy to navigate, with far fewer stairs and steep roads, this is also our top pick if you are choosing to travel with kids.
Positives:- Flatter terrain in comparison to Positano and Praiano
- Easy Beach access
- Day trips and tours make a starting point from Amalfi
- Local buses and ferries make it easy to explore the coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- Great sights to see in the town itself
- Atrani is walking distance away
- Pretty touristy and busy
- Accommodation is pricey and slightly more expensive than in Sorrento and Praiano
- Cruise boats make a stop at Amalfi, so it can get pretty overwhelming with waves of tourists
Sorrento | The Gateway to the Amalfi Coast
Sorrento isn't really located on the Amalfi Coast, but it is named the 'gateway to the Amalfi Coast' as so many people choose to base themselves there. It's a larger town and makes a true impression due to the fact that it is built right on top of steep cliffs.
Sorrento is a great pick if you have a rental car and you wish to explore the famous 43-mile Amalfi Coast Drive. It is not a good pick for those who wish to spend a lot of time on the Amalfi Coast unless you enjoy spending a lot of time hanging out on local transport.
Positives:- A beautiful town set on high cliffs
- Beach access
- Accommodation is more affordable than on the Amalfi Coast
- Lots of great restaurants to enjoy
- Brilliant starting point for the Amalfi Coast Drive
- Closer to Naples
- Great tours and day trips to enjoy from Sorrento
- Challenging to get down the cliffs to the beach
- Far away from the Amalfi Coast towns. It will take you around 40-60 min to get to Positano (if there is no traffic, and in summer there will be backed up traffic) and around 1h15min to get to Amalfi.
Hopefully, this post has helped you to figure out which town you would like to stay in for your Amalfi Coast holiday. If you're looking for the best things to do on your Amalfi Coast trip, be sure to check out our Amalfi Bucket List Experiences.
If you need more info to help you plan your Amalfi Coast trip, sign up for our Insider Amalfi Coast Travel Guide. We will send you bitesize info each day to help you make your travel planning a piece of cake!
If you need more info to help you plan your Amalfi Coast trip, sign up for our Insider Amalfi Coast Travel Guide. We will send you bitesize info each day to help you make your travel planning a piece of cake!
After more Amalfi Coast Inspiration:
Amalfi Coast Bucketlist Experiences Best Amalfi Coast Town to Explore A Day Trip to Capri Island Things to do in Positano Top Beaches in PositanoWhere to next?
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Leave us a Comment:- Which town did you decide is the best town to stay on the Amalfi Coast?
